Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday after a nail-biting last-second victory over Israel, whose participation in the contest has been a source of controversy for the organizers of the contest and many fans.
The victory was shocking, because the Bulgarian entry, “Bangaranga,” performed by singer Dara, did not appear among the pre-show favorites. But when the results of the public vote were added to the points awarded by the national judges, Dara surpassed the Israeli entrant, Noam Bettan, beating him by a wide margin.
It was the first victory of Eurovision for Bulgaria, which started competing in 2005 and stayed for the last three programs, counting the high costs.
The unexpected victory ended the troubled program of the high camp singing competition, which was eventually overshadowed by protests against Israel’s involvement. Five nations, including the Eurovision giants, boycotted the event because of the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza.
Those countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, also expressed concern that the Israeli government had previously spent a lot of money on YouTube ads seeking Israeli voters and launched a campaign on social media. The actions of the government did not violate the rules of Eurovision, but they improved the agreements in the case where the bills called themselves political.
Despite the noise, fans seemed to be more focused on the music and stage plays than politics when the tournament kicked off on Saturday night at the 16,000-capacity Wiener Stadthalle. The four-hour show included the usual mix of pyrotechnics and costumes, including a Finnish violinist in thigh-high boots and a Lithuanian singer in silver body paint.
Dara didn’t wear much, but her winning song had its own visual appeal. Little known outside of his home country before Eurovision, he is a Bulgarian star who first participated in the country’s version of the talent show “The X Factor” 10 years ago. Since releasing her debut single in 2016, Dara, whose real name is Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, has recorded two albums and has been a coach on the Bulgarian version of another talent show, “The Voice.”
Throughout this week, during the Eurovision semi-finals in Vienna, journalists repeatedly asked Dara about the meaning of the word “bangaranga.” He posted a description on Instagram, describing it as “your highest progression” and noting that it was “inspired by kukeri – ancient Bulgarian artists who scare away evil.”
He told one interviewer that “bangaranga” can mean anything: If you “don’t know what to say, just use ‘bangaranga,'” he said.
Despite the victory of Bulgaria, this year’s Eurovision will probably be remembered mainly for the tension of Israel’s participation. The five voting countries, including Iceland and Slovenia, had asked for a vote last year by Eurovision member broadcasters on whether to ban Israel from the event. Instead, Eurovision announced changes to the rules that limit how artists can promote their songs before the final and reduce the maximum number of votes each viewer can cast from 20 to 10.
The director of Eurovision, Martin Green, said the rule changes address the perception that Israel was having an undue influence on the results of the contest, rather than any real problem.
But questions about Israel’s participation in Eurovision look set to continue. On Saturday, a spokesman for Belgian broadcaster VRT said it wanted a vote among Eurovision members on the rules for the countries participating in the contest and “a clear statement against war and violence.”
“Today,” he added, “it is unlikely that VRT will send an artist next year.”
