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Home , Electro Velvet, Face the Shadow, Katrina and The Waves, Polina Gagarina

lifestyle THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015

Music & Movies

Last year winner from Austria poses with contestants during first semi-final of the (ESC)in Vienna. — AFP photos Aussie idol set to rock Eurovision kitsch fest

Eurovision acts to watch Douze or nul points?

ho can follow Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst and wow 200 million viewers worldwide to win the Eurovision Song WContest at its 60th edition in Vienna on Saturday? As the Austrian capital dolls itself up for the grand finale of this annual shindig of the kitsch, the catchy and the corny, here are a few of the 27 acts to watch out for:

Take a chance on Mans With five Eurovision victories including ABBA in 1974, Sweden is always a good bet and according to the bookies, Mans Zelmerlow is the man to watch, as long as he remembers his flies. “There are a lot of people supporting me back home in Sweden and they probably think I will win. I am not so sure,” a modest Zelmerlow said. His lucky routine is to “check my zipper, like 50 times.” Nina Sublatti from Georgia performs on stage. Plucky Pole Monika Kuszynska is a combative contestant, refusing to let any- he world’s most famous kitsch pop com- Mans the man thing as trifling as her wheelchair-she was in a car crash in 2006 — get petition-the Eurovision Song Contest-will Bookies’ favorites include Swedish in the way of lifting Poland’s first ever Eurovision title. “I consider my Tbe held in Vienna on Saturday and for the Mans Zelmerlow-who tried to enter twice performance to be proof that it’s possible to not get discouraged and first time include wildcard Australia. Of the 40 before-and Italy’s pop opera powerhouse , to live life to the fullest even when it deals you a severe blow,” the 35- nations competing in the Eurovision’s 60th edi- three young men who performed with Barbra year-old says. tion under the motto “Building Bridges”, only 27 Streisand amongst others. Meanwhile, Portugal will make it into the grand final at the glittering and San Marino languish at the bottom of the from Albania performs on stage. Australian idol Stadthalle arena on Saturday night. Australia’s table, with odds of 969 to one. Austria has high Eurovision has long stretched the geographical definition of is among those tipped to win the hopes that its pop rock outfit Makemakers, , but organizers this year have surpassed themselves by granti- outlandish annual extravaganza, which attracts ranked around 26th by betting agencies, will ng Australia special dispensation to take part. “I’ve been fortunate some 200 million viewers, along with perennial match Wurst’s grandiose victory in Copenhagen enough to perform on various different stages but when you get on favorites Sweden as well as Italy and Russia. last year with her anthem “”. that Eurovision stage it’s like nothing else I’ve ever done in my life,” Among the acts eliminated in Tuesday’s first Wurst, who has become an active campaigner said Australia’s contestant, heartthrob and former “Australian Idol” semi-final was highly anticipated Finnish punk for gay rights, returns to the Eurovision on winner Guy Sebastian. band PKN, four middle-aged rockers with Saturday, interviewing artists after they perform Down’s syndrome and autism, who performed and singing a number off her new album. No politics please, we’re Armenian Eurovision’s shortest-ever song at just 84 sec- There is of course no scientific formula to The Eurovision is no stranger to politics, and although Armenia onds. Russia, Serbia and Estonia, on the other winning the competition, but research shows denies its entry is about the 100th anniversary of the mass killing of hand, are amid the 10 countries that made it that being female helps: of the 59 past winners, Armenians by Ottoman forces-which refuses to recognize as through. Generally the nation that wins the 35 were women. The total cost of the contest is genocide-many perceive it that way. The original title of the entry competition gets to host it the following year. currently estimated at 36.7 million euros ($41.7 from Genealogy, six of whose members are from the Armenian dias- Austria currently holds this honor as home of the million), considerably less than the whopping pora, was “Don’t Deny”. Armenia changed it to “”, say- 2014 victor, bearded drag queen sensation 60 million euros forked out by in ing this was to remove any suggestion of political intent. Conchita Wurst. 2012. “We will organize the whole event with a However, this will not be the case if former pinch of humor,” said Eurovision executive pro- A ‘good girl’ from Russia “Australian Idol” winner Sebastian comes first, ducer Edgar Boehm. “We don’t want to take The Ukraine crisis and Russia’s stance on gay rights upstaged the with organizers saying the 2016 show will never- ourselves too seriously, but present ourselves semi-final of the 2014 Eurovision, where Russia’s entry was booed. This theless be held in Europe. The competition is, as a friendly country. I hope there will be a lot The band Anti Social Media from Denmark performs on stage. year bookie favorite is hoping to woo ’s critics after all, a European affair. Countries don’t need of laughter.”— AFP with her peace song “A Million Voices”. So far things are going well, to be in the geographical confines of the conti- with Gagarina making it through to the final. “I am obviously a singer, nent, but they do have to be members of the an actress, a mother and probably a good girl,” said Gagarina. “My European Broadcasting Union (EBU), an alliance song is about a million voices that speak the same language, the lan- of national broadcasters from Europe and the guage of love”. Mediterranean region. Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become the ultimate pop plat- 19th nervous performance form, catapulting Swedish icons ABBA to world- Brits generally don’t take Eurovision that seriously, but 18 years wide fame, as well as boosting the likes of Celine after won Eurovision gold might Dion, and Olivia Newton-John. be in with a chance with the catchy electro-swing song “Still in Love But it is mostly meant as a bit of fun, with with You”. “It’s the 60th year, so it’s a party year, and I think that we are many of the songs offering an avenue for the bringing quite a party song and a party vibe,” said Bianca Nicholas, camp, the over-the-top and the downright silly, one half of the duo with Mick Jagger impersonator and teacher Alex as evidenced by song titles such as “Diggi-Loo Larke. Diggi-Ley”, “Boom-Bang-A-Bang” and “Lalala”. Memorable contestants down the years have Italian crooners included Irish puppet Dustin the Turkey in 2008, Bookies also include Il Volo, the successful “pop opera” trio who transgender Israeli diva in have collaborated with Barbra Streisand and others, among the 1998, German pop band Dschinghis Khan in favorites to win Italy’s first Eurovision crown in 25 years with “Grande 1979 and six Russian grannies in 2012. Under the Amore”. “Being here is like a dream come true. We will do our best to current rules, songs may be performed in any represent Italy. We hope you like our song, and we are going to bring language but must not exceed three minutes. our ‘Grand Amore’, our big love,” said one of the cheeky trio, Piero The eventual winner will be chosen by a 50- Barone. — AFP 50 ballot split between viewers at home and professional juries. Neither group is allowed to vote for their own country. The EBUs’ five biggest financial backers-Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Britain-automatically qualify for the final along with the previous year’s winner, in this case Austria. Australia, as honorary guest, was also able to skip the semi-finals, the second of which will be held on Thursday. Polina Gagarina from Russia performs on stage. Last year winner Conchita Wurst from Austria performs ahead of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest.