Last year, the handsome and impossibly charming Swede Måns Zelmerlöw brought glory to his people by taking out the top prize at the Eurovision Song Content. The wonderfully over-the-top event has built up a cult following in Australia – so much so that Eurovision let us get in on the action last year by sending Adelaide’s own Guy Sebastian to perform.
If you’ve never watched Eurovision before, here’s the deal: representatives of European nations sing, dance and (frequently) fake-cry their way to the semi-final (which screens in Australia on SBS at 7.30pm this Friday). Then there’s the second semi-final on Saturday, followed by the grand final on Sunday night. The winner is chosen by voters across Europe, and the winning nation then hosts the event the following year.
As every Eurovision fan knows, the only watch to enjoy the contest is with other people. Preferably, lots of other people. We recommend heading to the Bella Union Bar, where they’ll be going all-out with in-house voting slips, Eurovision cocktails, flags, sparkles, costumes and even a special guest live performer.
For a taste of the pop-tastic tunes that are in store, watch Zelmerlow’s winning performance from last year.
Remember, Eurovision isn't all fun at games: certain people or songs can still cause controversy and act as barometres of Europe's politically charged climate. In recent years, a notable example is bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst. Read Time Out Sydney's interview with Wurst as she prepared to wow the Opera House and this year's Mardi Gras Party.
