VIENNA — Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, delivering her country its first-ever victory in the sequin-drenched international pop competition with the upbeat party anthem “Bangaranga.”
The 27-year-old performer, an established name in Bulgaria but not among the pre-show favorites, beat 24 other competitors during the grand final at the Wiener Stadthalle arena. Her tightly choreographed routine and the song’s infectious beats won over both national juries in participating countries and viewers around the world, whose votes together decide the winner. Bulgaria received 516 points in the contest’s convoluted voting system.
“This is unbelievable,” Dara said at a post-show news conference early Sunday. “I don’t even know what’s going on.” She thanked “everyone who felt the bangaranga and felt connected to the force.”
Dara has described bangaranga as an inner force that allows people to “drop this mask of chasing perfection.” She has said the song draws on Bulgaria’s kukeri tradition — elaborately costumed men who perform ritual dances to ward off evil spirits.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second with “Michelle,” a rock ballad performed in Hebrew, French, and English. Israel received 343 points. Bettan was loudly cheered during his performance, though a smattering of boos could be heard in the arena. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for attempting to disrupt his semifinal performance. This is the second consecutive year Israel has placed second, a result driven in large part by strong public voting. Eurovision organizers tightened voting rules this year after allegations the country had mounted an intense lobbying campaign to secure votes for its entrant in the prior contest.
Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu finished third with the rock song “Choke Me.” Australian star Delta Goodrem placed fourth with the midtempo ballad “Eclipse,” and Italian crooner Sal Da Vinci took fifth with “Per Sempre Si,” or “Forever Yes.” The Finnish duo of pop star Pete Parkkonen and classical violinist Linda Lampenius, strong favorites on betting markets, ended up in sixth place.
Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic said the contest frequently produces surprises. “Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars,” Vuletic said. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to see the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”
British act Look Mum No Computer came last with the novelty song “Eins, Zwei, Drei,” earning a single point.
The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere. Five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia — boycotted this year’s competition in protest. The boycott dealt a blow to Eurovision’s finances and viewership, according to the Associated Press.
Hundreds of protesters marched near the contest arena before Saturday’s final, some holding placards reading “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”
“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.
Vuletic said political controversy is nothing new for the competition. The first Eurovision boycott occurred in 1969, when Austria refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.
“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said. “All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues.”
The eclectic 25-country field, whittled down from an initial 35, featured a Serbian metal band, a Moldovan folk rapper, and entries spanning techno-pop, opera-pop, gospel-tinged R&B, and hard rock. Female solo artists dominated the lineup.
Despite the political tensions, Eurovision is pursuing expansion. A spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia is scheduled to take place in Bangkok in November.