Eurovision Drag Queen Draws Controversy
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Lifestyle FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2014 Conchita Wurst gives a per- formance in front of a small audience of fans on May 1, 2014 at Huset, one of the sites hosting fans of the May 10 Eurovision song contest, in Copenhagen. — AFP photos Conchita Wurst poses on the red carpet during an opening ceremony in Copenhagen. Bearded Eurovision drag queen draws controversy ustria’s bearded drag queen accused of being “blatant propaganda of Eurovision: Five acts to watch Conchita Wurst has hogged the homosexuality and spiritual decay”. Alimelight ahead of Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest final, but things Cultural divide hile host country Denmark was widely which has seen its odds slashed since Tuesday. have gotten hairy for her among socially The outrage highlights a cultural divide tipped to take the Eurovision crown last year, “Understated” is hardly a word associated with conservative Europeans. “I created this between Eastern Europe and the countries the outcome looks more uncertain this time Eurovision, and faced by competition from Greece’s W bearded lady to show the world that you of the west. Wurst said her own song round. Here are some of the songs people in trampoline, Ukraine’s giant hamster wheel and two Copenhagen have been talking about this week: Russian twins on a seesaw, this number may fail to can do whatever you want,” said Wurst, the reflected the experience of growing up as leave an impression. However, if an outsider is going drag persona of 25-year-old Austrian singer an outsider in rural Austria. “It’s a story of Armenia: Aram MP3 - ‘Not Alone’ to win, this could be it. Tom Neuwirth, at a recent press conference going through bad times and struggling Long the bookmakers’ favorite, Aram MP3’s dubstep in Copenhagen. through difficult things, and growing out of ballad was abandoned by punters after Tuesday’s Britain: Molly - ‘Children of the Universe’ “If you’re not hurting anyone you can do it and hopefully becoming a better person,” semi-final in favor of Sweden’s Sanna Nielsen. The For many Brits, Eurovision is an excuse to get drunk whatever you like with your life and, it’s so she said. “For me of course it’s so close to emotional song may have been and drop mildly xenophobic jokes cheesy, but we’ve only got one (life),” she my life ... emotionally, growing up,” she hampered by a somewhat unemo- about other Europeans, after which it added. Wurst’s James Bond theme-like bal- added. Her creator, Tom Neuwirth, rose to tional performance by the stand-up is concluded that for political reasons, lad “Rise Like a Phoenix” is widely expected fame after finishing second on Austrian tal- comedian, whose name dates back nobody voted for them. But things to make it through today’s semi-final in the ent show Starmania in 2006, after which he to his previous career impersonat- could be about to change. After the Danish capital, but few pundits believe she joined a short-lived boyband. Conchita ing famous singers. name recognition of eighties power will take the Eurovision crown. Wurst first appeared in 2011, when she ballad icon Bonnie Tyler failed to deliv- However, comments by Armenian made it to the final of another reality show. Sweden: Sanna Nielsen - ‘Undo’ er last year, Britain is represented by Eurovision hopeful Aram MP3 — one of the The following year she came second in the The Swedish balladeer became the unknown singer-songwriter Molly bookies’ favorites this year-that Wurst’s TV program that selects the central bookies’ top choice by a narrow Smitten-Downes, who some British lifestyle was “not natural” have boosted her European country’s Eurovision entry. margin after delivering a stellar fans believe could hand them their profile, even though the stand-up comedi- Although much of the controversy over semi-final rendition of what could first victory since 1997’s “Love Shine a an later claimed his comments were a joke. her appearance has centered on Eastern well have been a Disney theme Light” by Katrina and the Waves. song. To be fair she has had time to “He apologized by saying his comments Europe, it hasn’t always been smooth sail- practise-this year was the blonde Austria: Conchita Wurst - ‘Rise Like a were a joke and badly translated,” Wurst ing in her home country. The leader of the singer’s seventh attempt at becom- Phoenix’ said. “I have to say that if it’s a joke it’s not right-wing FPOe party, Heinz-Christian ing Sweden’s Eurovision candidate, Although hardly a candidate for the funny ... but he apologized and that’s fine Strache, called her “ridiculous” and threw a tough task in a country that takes top spot, Austria’s bearded drag queen for me,” she added. There have also been his support behind another singer, Alf the event incredibly seriously. is likely to get a lot of attention for her petitions to have her removed from the Poier, who suggested she needed psychi- eye-catching appearance, which has competition in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, atric help. “If someone doesn’t know if The Netherlands: The Common prompted petitions in eastern Europe where a law banning “gay propaganda” they’re a man or a woman, they should go Linnets - ‘The Calm After the Molly representing the to have her removed from the compe- was signed by President Vladimir Putin last to a psychotherapist rather than to the Storm’ United Kingdom at the tition. The beard and the hair may be year. song contest,” Poier was quoted by Singers Ilse DeLange and Wayon Eurovision Song Contest fake, but Wurst is a real star whose St Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Milonov Austrian media as saying. A German-lan- travelled to Nashville, Tennessee to with her song ‘Children song would not sound out of place in reportedly asked his country’s Eurovision guage Facebook page protesting the deci- perfect this mellow country song, of the Universe’. —AFP the next James Bond movie. — AFP selection committee not to send any sion to send her to Copenhagen has gar- Russian musicians to the event, which he nered over 38,500 “likes”. — AFP.