The Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year, and Australia’s participation may be over for the foreseeable future.
Swedish singer Loreen emerged victorious in Liverpool for a second win at Eurovision on Sunday morning, while Australian rockers Voyager finished a creditable ninth.
Loreen, with her power ballad Tattoo, became the first woman, and only the second person, to claim the title twice.
The arrangement allowing Australia to compete in the European showcase expires this year, meaning Voyager’s performance of Promise may be this country’s swan song.
So as the Swedes sing Loreen’s praises, these are the moments that will have Australian fans hoping for a new Eurovision deal.
Kate’s cameo
Kate Middleton surprised viewers by sharing her musical talent when she contributed a short instrumental piano performance to the opening sequence film at Eurovision.
The Princess of Wales, 41, collaborated with the 2021 Eurovision champions, Kalush Orchestra, performing their winning entry Stefania.
Kate’s performance was created by composers, arrangers and musical directors Joe Price and Kojo Samuel, and was recorded earlier this month in the Crimson Drawing Room of Windsor Castle.
Her piece lasted just 10 seconds, but it was more than enough time to have audiences talking.
Milkmaid Mel
Audiences were caught off guard by footage of British comedian Mel Giedroyc, who is of Polish descent, suggestively churning butter in a nod to the 2014 Polish entry Donatan & Cleo.
The BBC Eurovision Twitter account posted: “Mel Giedroyc as a butter churning Polish milkmaid! Give her an NTA right now!
Giedroyc, 54, is more familiar to Australian viewers as a former co-presenter of The Great British Bake Off.
Tweet from @bbceurovision
Belgian ‘Boy George’
Belgian entry Gustaph wowed in pink parachute pants and a giant white hat as he performed in the second semi-final of Eurovision.
He described his ’90s anthem Because Of You – performed to a backdrop of vogueing dancers – as an “unabashed love letter to freedom” and “an ode to the queer community”.
His flamboyant fashion sense earned him numerous online comparisons to UK songster Boy George.
Stand-out host
Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham proved to be one of the breakout stars of Britain’s Eurovision coverage.
The English actor, a renowned musical performer in her own right, gave fans an idea of her range when presenting during the Eurovision semi-finals with Ukrainian “rock goddess” Sanina.
Waddingham got a crash course on “how to rock out” as Sanina lent her an air guitar and showed her how to do the “rock stance”, move her hair and find the “ultimate rock note”.
Waddingham then put it all together and brought the house down.
Tweet from @weltonsmac
The soap dish
Serbia’s Luke Black saw his performance become one of the most commented on – not entirely for his musical prowess.
Co-host Graham Norton observed that Black appeared to start his act from a “soap dish”.
Norton didn’t pull any punches with his assessment of the performance either, adding that “there’s much better ear worms later in the show”, he said. “Sadly Serbia isn’t one of them”.
Tweet from @emiliiijaa
Cha Cha Cha
Black turned to the soap dish, but Finland’s Käärijä began his performance, Cha Cha Cha, from inside a wooden crate.
Wearing an eye-catching neon green bolero jacket Käärijä managed to delight the crowd with his own take on techno.
Käärijä was joined by backing ‘cha cha cha’ dancers in neon pink, who formed what at one point appeared to be human caterpillar.
Tweet from @ericnguyenisok
