Major and minor stars in Copenhagen
Artists from 26 countries show what they're made of at the Eurovision Song Contest finale.
Conchita Wurst (Austria): The new James Bond girl?
Triumphant Tom Neuwirt alias Conchita Wurst, winner of the European Song Contest 2014. The bearded diva opted for an impassioned ballad in Bond film aesthetic. She was the star of this year's contest well in advance of the finale on May 10. Besides that, Conchita can even sing.
The Common Linnets (The Netherlands): Taking country music nearly to the top
Country music at the European song contest? It's happened before at Eurovision, but never in the form of such a beautiful and harmonious song. "Calm After the Storm“ is the name of the tune by the Dutch duo, who probably won't find much calm now after placing second this year.
Sanna Nielsen (Sweden): Singing in a lit tent
Always good for a bon mot, German ESC television host Peter Urban described this year's Swedish entry as "blond and ballady." That formula has worked often for the country in past ESCs. Ms. Nielsen qualified at the national level only on her seventh try. In "Undo," her voice shows all the practice. It paid off with third place.
Aram Mp3 (Armenia): Top favorite
A modern sound also to the song "Not Alone" by Aram Mp3, whom bookies gave a top ranking from the word go. An entertainer and comedian in "real" life, Aram sings about loneliness dispelled by a kiss. Hard to argue with that. Fourth place for Armenia!
Andras Kallay-Saunders (Hungary): Hungarian re-export
Fifth place for Hungary, to the son of a Hungarian model and an American musician. U.S. born and raised, he was one of the most eye-catching male contenders this time around. Kallay-Saunders' "Running" is an indictment of child abuse. By Eurovision standards, unusual material, packaged in a modern sound.
Mariya Yaremchuk (Ukraine): Lover on the hamster's wheel
While this Ukrainian beauty sings, a gigantic wheel evokes the image of a clock's gear. Accordingly, the song "Tick-Tock" is about two lovers' race against time. Mariya not only gives a Rihanna-ripe rendition of it. With her long, black hair she even bears a certain resemblance to the pop diva. For whatever reason, she was placed sixth.
Anastasia and Maria Tolmachevy (Russia): Doing a double-take
They weren't given an overly friendly reception in the hall due to current political tensions, but the Russian twins won a respectable seventh place with an air of innocence and stage tricks, singing their song on a big see-saw. The song is called "Shine" - and it's no Russian roulette.
Elaiza (Germany): No-frills neo-folk
Colorful blouses were the only zany thing about Elaiza's doggedly gimmick-less performance. "Is It Right?" they sang, managing to fill the big stage with their neo-folk - but placed only 18th out of 26.
Pollapönk (Iceland): Anti-prejudice in technicolor
These guys bring substantial color to the stage, entering the fray with "No Prejudice" - not only a plea for tolerance of stutterers but also an appeal to rid the world of prejudice once and for all. Two of the band members are pre-school teachers, so one hopes that they practice what they preach.
Donatan & Cleo (Poland): Slavic arsenal
You could churn butter in that getup. In the Copenhagen performance, the duo's male member remains offstage - while men in the audience may be distracted from the song by Cleo's feminine features. The Poles reject accusations of sexism though, saying you don't have to take it all so seriously. Neither did the TV voters and juries; Poland didn't end up in the upper half.
Dilara Kazimova (Azerbaijan): Dangling alter ego
The ESC 2014 includes an ice skating artist from Montenegro on roller skates and a trapeze acrobat. The latter is the counterpart of this singer, whose act is only one of several athletic entries in this year's Eurovision contest of acrobatics.
Freaky Fortune feat. Risky Kidd (Greece): Trampoline Singing
With Freaky Fortune feat. Risky Kidd, the musicians do the acrobatics themselves - and evidently have great fun in the process - while their breakneck dance number "Rise Up" leaves nobody in the hall seated. A song with summer hit potential and a Greek-sounding intro.
Twin Twin (France): French male fantasies
You can only conclude that Lorent Idir and Francois Djemel are the twins in the trio by ruling out every other possibility. "I want a moustache," warbles Lorent in the appropriately named song "Moustache." In the run-up to the finale, he would have actually had enough time to grow a complete beard. That accessory is currently en vogue in Copenhagen, irrespective of gender.
Basim (Denmark): Danish mix
Lighter fare also from the host country: the "Cliche Love Song" is musically reminiscent of The Jackson Five. The performer is the son of Moroccan immigrants and has a Bruno Mars look. Basim, in Arabic, means "smile." Loved now not only in Denmark, the young man has every reason to.