LIVE VIDEO: Eurovision Semi-Finals 2

The finals are Saturday. Competing right now in the second semi-finals round are 17 nations:  Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland.

(Tipped by JMG reader Luis)

UPDATE: Finalists chosen in this round: Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Montenegro, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Israel.

VIENNA: City Readies For Gay Christmas

The Eurovision Song Contest is often referred to as "Gay Christmas" and Vienna is getting ready to host the finals in two weeks. Via Reuters:

Gay-themed traffic lights are getting Vienna into the mood for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, one of the world's most popular kitsch cultural events which this year is being hosted by the Austrian capital. Dozens of traffic lights in central Vienna have been programmed to show male or female gay couples with hearts -- in red for stop and green for go -- replacing the usual single, gender-neutral figure. The campaign is intended to present Vienna as an open-minded city and also to improve traffic safety as the unusual symbols attract the attention of drivers and pedestrians, a spokeswoman for Vienna's city lighting department said. The city of Vienna will then collate data to see whether the campaign has indeed helped traffic safety, she added. The Eurovision Song Contest, now in its 60th year, has long been a fixture on the international gay calendar.

Last year's winner, Austrian pop star Conchita Wurst, will host the green room portion of the contest. Bookmakers are pegging Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw as this year's favorite.

Conchita Wurst - You Are Unstoppable

Sony Music is putting a strong marketing push behind Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst's coming debut album. Via press release:

Fans all around have waited for this moment and now they are rewarded accordingly. From power ballads to dance floor fillers, from Swing to Pop, the winner of 2014’s Eurovision Song Contest shows the full range of her talents on her debut album, which is simply titled Conchita. Besides her hits “Rise Like A Phoenix, “Heroes” and “You Are Unstoppable”, the album holds many gems for her fans to explore: Songs like “Colours Of Your Love” and “Firestorm” with their driving beats, the oriental influences on “Out Of Body Experience”, while “Where Have All The Good Men Gone” boasts a swinging brass section, and fans of spectacular ballads will enjoy “Pure”. After her victory in Copenhagen in May 2014, Conchita Wurst now tops off a successful and turbulent year with her new longplayer. Her fans have always been at her side, be it at her performance at the Crazy Horse, her performances at the European Parliament and in front of the UNO with Ban Ki-moon, on Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway, on the red carpet of the Golden Globe Awards, or at the Amadeus Austrian Music Awards 2015, where she won three awards (Female artist of the year, Song of the year – Rise Like a Phoenix, Video of the year – Heroes).

The album will be released on May 15th, just days before Wurst co-hosts Eurovision 2015 in Vienna. Below is the new production video for her latest single, which is now available.

Australia To Compete At Eurovision

Well, this is surprising. Via BBC News:

Australia is to compete at this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Organisers issued a one-off invitation as part of the contest's 60th anniversary celebrations. "It's a daring and at the same time incredibly exciting move. It is our way of saying let's celebrate this party together!" contest supervisor Jon Ola Sand said. Australia will be fast-tracked to the final, which will take place in Vienna, Austria, on 23 May. A total of 40 countries will now compete in the contest. The European Broadcasting Union said Australia had been given a wildcard for the final "to not reduce the chances" of the semi-final participants and because of the "one-off nature" of its participation. Australia will be allowed to vote in both semi-finals, as well as the grand final. The possibility of allowing the public to have a 50% stake in the Australian vote through televoting is also being explored.

Some of the 2015 Eurovision entries have already been selected but I've not posted any of them because they've all been quite dull. This year's contest takes place in Austria, the home country of last year's winner, Conchita Wurst, who will assume hosting duties in Vienna.

Eurovision: The Year Of Conchita Wurst

The official Eurovision channel looks back on the win of Conchita Wurst, arguably the venerable contest's most popular winner in decades.

Conchita Wurst - Heroes

AUSTRIA: Conchita Wurst Meets UN Head Ban Ki-Moon During Talks On LGBT Rights

Via the Associated Press:

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has joined Austrian cross-dressing pop star Conchita Wurst in calling for an end to bias based on a person's sexual orientation. Wurst teamed up with Ban on Monday on the sidelines of a U.N. conference to deliver their message of tolerance. Ban told reporters that he will continue his fight "against transphobia and homophobia." "I stand strong for equality," Ban said. "We are unstoppable," he added, quoting Wurst's words on the night of her victory at this year's Eurovision song contest.

More from Yahoo News:

The entertainer, sporting a demure dress and black high heels along with the trademark beard, shook hands and joked with Ban and sang for hundreds of cheering officials and diplomats at the United Nations complex in Vienna. "This year I extended benefits to same-sex partners of U.N. staff members... Discrimination has no place in the United Nations," Ban said to applause from officials, dozens of whom crowded round to get a picture with or autograph from Wurst. "When I heard that she won this Eurovision song contest I immediately knew that she was a star of the world," Ban said.

Seen In Vienna

Posted to the Facebook page of pop singer Joss Stone, who is touring Europe.

AUSTRIA: Lesbian Politician Attacked With Acid At Vienna's Pride Parade

Via The Local:

Austria's first openly gay politician, leader of the Austrian Greens' delegation to the EU parliament Ulrike Lunacek was the apparent victim of an attack at Friday's annual Rainbow Parade in Vienna. An unknown assailant sprayed butyric acid at the politician as she was giving an interview on the sidelines of the parade. Lunacek and the interview team were not injured. The acid damaged the Greens MP's clothes and the camera equipment. According to police spokeswoman Barbara Riehs, the acid caused around €50,000 worth of damage to the electronic equipment. The attacker had not yet been found on Sunday.

Wikipedia notes that butyric acid is commonly used in so-called "stink bombs" as it is the main distinctive smell in human vomit. It can cause painful blisters and blindness. (Via Towleroad)

SOHN - Lights

Lovely, spare electronica that's a delicious respite from the crashing crescendos currently in EDM vogue. SOHN's 2012 hit The Wheel was one of my favorite tracks that year.

AUSTRIA: Conchita Wurst's Eurovision Win Might Advance Same-Sex Marriage

Conchita Wurst met the chancellor of Austria yesterday. The BBC reports that his party is looking to take advantage of her popularity to advance same-sex marriage.

Bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst has given her first public concert since her Eurovision victory this month, performing in Vienna on Sunday. She was greeted by thousands of fans, including gay couples. Many waved rainbow flags or wore fake beards. Earlier, the Austrian was received by Chancellor Werner Faymann, who thanked Conchita for promoting tolerance. Mr Faymann said it was an honour to have Conchita perform in Austria. "You showed a message from our country, from Europe, in a direction that is known as tolerance, love and lust for life," he said. Mr Faymann's Social Democrats are hoping that Conchita's win in Eurovision will spur on their coalition partners, the conservative People's Party, to advance gay rights in Austria, including equal marriage rights, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from Vienna.

Domestic partnerships have been legal in Austria since 2010.

Now Available In Austria

Source. (Tipped by JMG readers Mike and Brian)

AUSTRIA: Massive Crowd Of Jubilant Fans Greet Conchita Wurst At Vienna's Airport

VIDEO: Conchita emerges from the jetway at 1:00.

Conchita Wurst WINS Eurovision 2014!!!

Austrian gender-fuck artist Conchita Wurst won Eurovision 2014 tonight after a stunning performance at the finals held in Copenhagen. The audience was clearly on Conchita's side during the vote tally and as each nation reported points for Austria, the screaming was crazy. Conchita Wurst: "This night belongs to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. We are unity and we are unstoppable." What a fantastic FUCK YOU to Russia's homophobes. I think we'll see a new category of sadz tonight.

UPDATE: The clip below shows the final votes being announced. Check out the douchey anti-Conchita comment from Lithuania at 9:45. The host immediately smacked him down. Stick around for Austrian announcer right after that - she's wearing a fake beard in Conchita's honor, as were many in the audience. At 15:30 the announcers declare that Conchita has won as her lead was then insurmountable.

Ten Reasons Why Conchita Should Win

From the International Business Times:

1. It will upset the Russians. Vitaly Milonov, the politician who was behind Russia's strict anti-gay propaganda law, has been reported as saying that "pervert" Wurst would "insult millions of Russians" by taking part in the "Europe-wide gay parade". Russia is expected to suffer in the voting because of its stance on homosexuality and the current crisis in Ukraine. The Ukrainian entry received rousing cheers during the semi-finals, while Russia's Tolmachevy Twins were booed.

2. It will upset homophobes in Eastern Europe. Protesters in Armenia and Belarus have created petitions asking their national broadcasters to edit Conchita out of the live broadcast, though the European Broadcasting Union wouldn't allow that.

3. It would upset Austrian right-wing politicians like Heinz-Christian Strache, FPO leader. During the national selection process he called Conchita "ridiculous" and threw his support behind another entry, Alf Poier, who said Conchita needed psychiatric help. The Austrian media quoted Poier as saying: "If someone doesn't know if they're a man or a woman, they should go to a psychotherapist rather than to the song contest."

Hit the link for the rest. (Via JMG reader Polish Bear)

COPENHAGEN: Austria's Conchita Wurst Advances To Eurovision Final Round

Despite boycott campaigns and anti-gay petitions out of Russia and Belarus, Austrian gender-fuck artist Conchita Wurst tonight advanced to the Eurovision finals in Copenhagen.

With the Second Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest over, the line up for Saturday's Grand Finale is now certain, and will include Austrian singer Conchita Wurst, who has faced a transphobic backlash from some conservative countries. Before the show, Ms Wurst hit back at critics, including Russian politician Vitaly Milonov, who called her a “pervert.” “I can only say ‘Thank you for your attention!’” she told the Associated Press. “If this is only about me and my person, I can live with it. I'm just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair and a beard," she added. The reception that Russia will receive at the final is likely to be a concern for the show's organisers, in light of the country's anti-gay laws, as well as its encroachment into Ukrainian territory in recent weeks. Russian twins Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy were booed during the first semi-final, while Ukraine’s Mariya Yaremchuk was cheered by the crowd.

Besides Austria, also advancing tonight were Switzerland, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Norway, Greece, Malta, Belarus and Finland. Eliminated tonight: Israel, Georgia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, and Ireland. Twenty-six nations will compete in Saturday's finals. The online gambling site Paddy Power is currently ranking Conchita as the favorite at 5/2 odds to win. Sweden's chances are rated at 3/1. Russia's odds are 100/1. Heh.

The first clip below is tonight's performance. In the second clip, Eurovision host Lise Rønne kibitzes with Conchita between acts. (Watch for a fleeting shot of beefy Conchita fanboys in the audience.) In the bottom clip, the audience goes wild as Austria is the last of tonight's finalists to be revealed, prompting the announcer to declare Conchita to be "the queen of Austria." Twitter wags are accusing Eurovision officials of deliberately naming crowd favorite Conchita last in order to heighten the dramatic effect.

Eurovision: Russia Booed At Semi-Finals But Advances To Finals With Ukraine

Via the Voice Of Russia:

Copenhagen saw the first semi-finals of the Eurovision-2014 Song Contest on May 6. Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy, who represent Russia, made it to the final round that will be held on May 10. Besides Russia, nine other countries including Montenegro, Hungary, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, San Marino, Sweden, the Netherlands and Iceland reached the finals. Singers from Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Belgium, Portugal and Moldavia didn't succeed.

The BBC reports on what was left out of the above story.

Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters were booed in Copenhagen as they qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. The 17-year-old twins initially received a warm reception for their song, Shine, at Tuesday's semi-final. But when they progressed to the final, some sections of the 10,000-strong audience expressed apparent disapproval of the Russian artists. Experts have said Russia could suffer at Eurovision over the crisis in Ukraine and its stance on gay rights.

The Washington Post notes that the lyrics of Russia's entry could be interpreted as a reference to the seizing of Crimea: "Living on the edge/ Closer to the crime/ Cross the line a step at a time/ Maybe there's a place/  Maybe there's a time/  Maybe there's a day you'll be mine."

The booing didn't come across very loudly on the broadcast but Twitter feuds erupted after it happened. Organizers claim 180 million television viewers in dozens of nations. In the second clip below, tomorrow's semi-finalists are shown backstage where a prominently displayed rainbow flag poster greets the contestants at the stage door: "It Takes All Kinds To Make A World." The press is mostly focused on the drama between Russia and Ukraine and, of course, the continuing complaints about Conchita Wurst.

Eurovision 2014 Begins Tonight

The first Eurovision semi-finals take place tonight in Copenhagen and Austria is promoting gender-fuck artist Conchita Wurst with the above props. Ten of tonight's 16 nations will advance to the finals. Wurst will compete in the second semi-final round on Thursday, but tonight all eyes will be on the rivalry between Russia and Ukraine.

The Eurovision song contest insists it is strictly nonpolitical, however there is speculation that Russia will face a backlash and fail to qualify in the semi-final round tonight in Copenhagen, due to the country's aggression towards Ukraine and president Putin’s outspoken homophobia. Russia's act, 17-year-old twin sisters Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy who are former winners of Junior Eurovision, and Ukraine's performer, 21-year-old Maria Yaremchuk, are set to compete virtually back-to-back - with Azerbaijan in between - tonight in the first of the semi-finals.

Below are yesterday's rehearsals from both nations. For those unaware, Eurovision is wildly popular among gay Europeans and every year many travel to the host cities to attend in person.

RUSSIA: Anti-Gay Lawmaker Denounces Eurovision As Gay Propaganda

Via the Guardian:

St Petersburg legislator Vitaly Milonov – who sponsored a local law against homosexual propaganda in 2011 that helped pave the way for a similar federal law last year – has written a letter to Russia's Eurovision selection committee asking it not to send Russian musicians to the 2014 competition in Copenhagen in May. Calling the event a "Europe-wide gay parade," Milonov argued that Russian performers' participation would "contradict the path of cultural and moral renewal that Russia stands on today". In a tweet, the lawmaker called for a full boycott of the "Sodom show". "Even just broadcasting the competition in Russia could insult millions of Russians," Milonov said in the letter, according to a statement from his press service. "The participation of the obvious transvestite and hermaphrodite Conchita Wurst on the same stage as Russian singers on live television is blatant propaganda of homosexuality and spiritual decay."

Milonov later tweeted that a boycott wasn't necessary but "that pervert from Austria" should be banned from competing.

Conchita Wurst Channels Cher