Lesbian kiss and debt crisis set to feature in Eurovision

Deutsche Welle, 18 May 2013

Glitzy and kitsch acts ranging from euro-pop, to a song inspired by the Greek debt crisis and a gay marriage anthem featuring a lesbian kiss are set to tussle it out for Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest crown.

Twenty-six countries are set to compete in Saturday's 58th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden.

Bookmakers are tipping Denmark's entry, 20-year-old Emmelie De Forest with her song "Only Teardrops," to take out the competition comfortably. Other hot contenders for the title include Norway, Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan.

"It's just a catchy song, it's sort of true Eurovision," Jessica Bridge, spokeswoman for bookmaker Ladbrokes, said of Denmark's entry. "It's euro-pop, and I think it's just struck a cord with people really. I think that's the one."

Lesbian kiss controversy

Other final highlights will no doubt include Eurovision's first on-stage lesbian kiss featuring Finland's entry, Krista Siegfrid with "Marry Me." The singer drew international media attention during Friday's dress rehearsal when she reportedly kissed one of her female dancers on stage at the end of her act (pictured above), vying to do the same on the final's night.

Helsinki's former reality show contestant says she was using the stage to champion the cause of gay marriage and hoped Finland would legalize marriage for homosexual couples "as soon as possible," after the issue became the subject of a citizens' initiative which garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures.

Public broadcasters in socially conservative countries across eastern Europe responded, saying they may be forced to cut the Nordic singer's act from their broadcast should she go ahead with the lesbian kiss.

Greek and Turkish newspapers reacted negatively to Siegfrid kissing one of her female dancers, Swedish media reported.

Greece competes despite crisis

Greece's entry in the competition, Koza Mostra will perform "Alcohol is Free," a metaphor-laden piece describing the predicament the crisis-stricken country is in. Athens initially said it would be unable to send an entry to this year's competition, citing budget cuts.

Germanywill be represented by the internationally renowned group, Cascada from Bonn. Having sold millions of albums worldwide, the group was forced to defend itself after allegations were made that their entry, "Glorious," plagiarized last year's winner Loreen.

The Eurovision Song Contest began in the 1950s with the premise of uniting Europe after World War II.

More than 125 million people globally are expected to watch Saturday's final, which draws a larger crowd than the Super Bowl in the United States.

The ESC has kick-started careers for internationally renowned acts such as ABBA, Julio Iglesias and Celine Dion.

During Saturday's final, viewers across Europe will be able to vote for their favorite act via telephone or SMS. Fans are unable to vote for their own country's entry. Professional judges votes account for 50-percent of the performer's final score.

Two semi-finals were held this week, with 20 countries chosen to part-take in the final. Britain, Italy, Spain, France and Germany are automatic entries in the final as they contribute the most to Europe's broadcasting union. Host Sweden also automatically qualifies.

The 26 countries competing in Saturday's final are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Ukraine and Britain.

jlw/slk (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)

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