End Of Western Civilization As Gay Man In A Dress Wins Singing Contest

Is this ...

really sillier than this?

The first picture is Austrian Conchita Wurst / Tom Neuwirth, winner of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The second is Finnish band Lordi, winner in 2006.

But it’s the win by a bloke in a dress which stirred up the most controversy. Populist, right wing Russian politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, from the inappropriately named Liberal Democratic Party described this year’s winning entry:

“There’s no limit to our outrage. It’s the end of Europe.”

Indeed, sir. Europe’s decadence has rendered it a rudderless ship. What it needs is a firm hand. Let’s resurrect that other Austrian who knew how to wow an audience.

In keeping the beard, Conchita Wurst is making a serious statement about sexual and gender stereotyping. Perhaps the irony helped him / her win. Not having seen the other entries, I don’t know whether this year’s win was entirely due to talent. I’m certainly not convinced 2006’s was.

I think it’s a positive thing that sufficiently many people can judge the performance on its artistic content, as opposed to not being able to get past: “Fuck! Is that a bloke?”

Conchita Wurst isn’t the first drag act to do well in a big singing competition. Australian Courtney Act made the semi finals in Season 1 of Australian Idol (2003).

Here’s Conchita’s winning song and Courtney’s … and Lordi’s for good measure.

Clearly, none of them are as good as 1981 Eurovision winner, Buck’s Fizz. Perhaps that is the true lesson here … the world would be so much better if it was full of blond haired, blue eyed people performing wholesome songs approved by the government.