Eurovision 2018 is well underway — and it's been a lively competition so far, with the UK's entry having to contend with a rowdy stage invader. Here are the highlights and lowlights of the competition so far — and a warning, SPOILERS AHEAD.
Last year, it was some dope draped in an Australian flag jumping on stage to waggle his bare bum at an audience of millions. This year, the UK's entry, singer SuRie, was mid-song when a man leapt on stage and snatched the microphone out of her hands.
Viewers praised SuRie for her handling of the rattling moment, as security bounded on stage and dragged the man away.
As many called for organisers to allow SuRie a do-over, the BBC's Eurovision correspondent Graham Norton kept fans updated about the unfolding situation on social media.
"SuRie was offered the option to perform again by the EBU. SuRie and her team are extremely proud of her performance and have together decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again," he tweeted.
Coming after last year's much-seen stage invasion, the question has to be asked: How does this keep happening?
That poor woman. What a great performance despite that guy breaking through security. Me nerves. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/SvV3VxwN3T
— DailyEdge (@dailyedge) May 12, 2018
That was everyone who's ever been on stage's worst nightmare and it must have been scary, but what a pro, what a recovery @surieofficial #Eurovision
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 12, 2018
Bloody hell. Just rewound that. It must have been terrifying. Does anyone know what the stage invader said? #eurovision
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) May 12, 2018
I was already going to give @surieofficial a vote but she’s getting a stack more from me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such professionalism in what must have been a terrifying situation. An incredibly poised and vocally powerful finish #Eurovision
— Joanna Holman (@joannamuses) May 12, 2018
Get the SAS in there NOW. #Eurovision
— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) May 12, 2018
Just to confirm SuRie is ok. More news when we get it. #Eurovision
— BBC Eurovision🇬🇧 (@bbceurovision) May 12, 2018
On to happier moments: Everyone's favourite European country, Australia, once again competed this year, with our very own mini-Beyonce Jess Mauboy putting in a powerhouse effort with her anthem We Got Love.
She earned rave reviews for her performance (and was mercifully untroubled by stage invasions).
Best reuse of Quality Street wrappers ever. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/M4Hef24mNV
— Justin Myers (@theguyliner) May 12, 2018
Brilliant Australia, just brilliant! 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 #AUS #Eurovision
— Miriam Kennedy (@Miriam_Kennedy) May 12, 2018
She even got the seal of approval from pop royalty - Claire from Steps:
That is a good pop song! Australia 🇦🇺 #eurovision
— Claire Richards (@_ClaireRichards) May 12, 2018
Singer Elina Nechayeva nailed her operatic belter La Forza, climaxing in a cacophony of Mariah Carey-esque whistle notes.
But all eyes were on her dress, which cost a reported 65,000 euros and could after tonight be upcycled as a projection screen to view next year's event:
Poor girl spent 65k and she still had to suffer viewers comparing it to a dunny roll holder, though:
I figured out what the Estonian singer reminded me of. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/HdkHJGzWu2
— Dr Fiona Whelan (@FionaEWhelan) May 12, 2018
Noway's Alexander Rybak is a previous Eurovision winner, but he seems unlikely to make it to the top a second time with his offering this year, That's How You Write A Song.
Consider this chorus:
had to Google the lyrics to be certain but, yep, pretty sure that is not sage songwriting advice #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/pFiMPSN4lA
— Eoin Sheahan (@EoinSheahan) May 12, 2018
Shoobie doobie dat dat indeed.
She was the hot favourite to win, and Cyprus' entry Eleni Foureira had everything: Big hair and an even bigger song. A hip-wiggling dance breakdown and a costume she'll probably need to be cut out of post-performance. Cruicially, her song Feugo sounds like one of the few in competition this year you'd actually still want to listen to in a year's time.
thank me later#Eurovision2018 #EUROVISION #Cyprus pic.twitter.com/GEyzCxjAEU
— kristina (@_taeiI) May 12, 2018
Israel's entry, Toy by Netta, was another hot favourite with a killer chorus - but has also proven divisive, depending on your individual tolerance to a song peppered with chicken noises. If nothing else, it provided ample meme fodder:
When you and your friends are too far gone at pre’s #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/cCh0pJnZMn
— •Sam• (@imaspacemonkey) May 12, 2018
#Israel, Netta, "TOY". Best lyrics ever. #MCEvision #Eurovision #Allaboard #ESC2018 pic.twitter.com/ML7WEnDdus
— My country? Europe. 🇪🇺 (@mycountryeurope) May 12, 2018
Blimey.. I seem to be winning !!@bbceurovision @Eurovision #ESC2018 pic.twitter.com/XBtQzCfsXI
— Dawn French (@Dawn_French) May 12, 2018
In the end, Israel's quirky Netta and her chicken clucking Toy romped it home, earning 526 points when jury and public votes were combined - almost a 100-point lead from her nearest competitor, the polished Eleni Foureira from Cyprus, who scored 436.
And it seems the novelty of Australia being part of Eurovision has well and truly worn off. Despite her fantastic effort, Jessica Mauboy's We Got Love earned Australia's worst placing in our four years of the competition, landing in 20th place - the first time we've fallen out of the top 10, and a far cry from just two years ago, when Dami Im placed second.
We weren't helped by a dismal last placing in the public votes, with Australia awarded a grand total of just nine public points to add to the 90 jury points, giving us a total of 99. We only beat out six other countries, including the poor old UK who had to suffer the indigity of coming a distant 24th place after a stage invasion.
In Australia and abroad, fans took to social media to ask: WTF?
Australia didn’t deserve that
— Nigella Lawson (@Nigella_Lawson) May 12, 2018
Can we just talk about Australia? She deserved better, the song was amazing 😢 #Eurovision
— cloe⁷ (@Kookiexo_) May 12, 2018
And that's it for us. A paltry 9 votes from the fan vote. Jess has definitely been robbed. Not happy Europe #eurovision
— Kathy McCabe (@McCabeRadar) May 12, 2018
Turns out the viewing public really, really don’t want Australia gate crashing their contest #Eurovision
— Simon Hinton (@simon_hinton) May 12, 2018
I am feeling very sorry for poor @jessicamauboy after that outrageous voting. But comforting to remember she has something many #Eurovision winners don’t have.... a career!!!!
— Matt Gilbertson (@matt_gilbertson) May 12, 2018
Umm did we get no votes from the UK?! Right. Empty the hostels! #eurovision #sbseurovision pic.twitter.com/akClhAvavc
— Scott Dawkins (@dawkins_scott) May 12, 2018
And for those saying "Yeah, but Australia's not even IN Europe": Neither is Israel, and they won the damn thing.
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