Top 10 Eurovision Scandals
#10: Technical Glitch?
The 1963 Eurovision Song Contest ended in controversy and confusion. When host Katie Boyle asked TV personality Roald Øyen for Norway’s votes, Øyen read out preliminary results in the heat of the moment. These placed Switzerland ahead of Denmark. However, Øyen asked Katie Boyle to come back to them when Norway had properly counted their votes. When she did, the votes were different, resulting in Denmark’s win over Switzerland. Norway was immediately criticized and accused of playing favorites with their Nordic neighbors, and Switzerland protested the results. It remains one of the most disputed endings in Eurovision history.
#9: Jimmy Jump
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Spanish streaker Jimmy Jump is known far and wide for his creative interference. He has run onto the field during numerous football matches (including the 2010 FIFA World Cup), onto the track in the 2004 Spanish Grand Prix, and onto the court in the 2009 French Open. The following year, he targeted the Eurovision Song Contest. During the performance of Spain’s Daniel Diges, Jimmy Jump ran on stage and enthusiastically joined along in the choreography. Diges was forced to continue, albeit while suppressing a grin. Jimmy Jump fled the stage when security intervened but was subsequently caught and arrested. He was fined the equivalent of $1,800.
#8: Sandra Kim
Born Sandra Caldarone, Sandra Kim is a Belgian singer and the youngest winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, this distinction resulted in some significant controversy. Kim performed a song titled “J’aime la vie” at the 1986 contest, and the song’s lyrics state that Kim is 15 years old. She won, but it was later revealed that she was actually 13. So runners-up Switzerland petitioned to have her disqualified. Kim’s win was upheld, but following some further age-related controversies in 1989, the minimum age requirement was upped to 16. As such, it’s unlikely that Kim’s record will ever be broken.
#7: Jordan Straight Up Lies
Israel performed exceptionally well throughout the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, much to the chagrin of many Middle Eastern and North African broadcasters. When it became obvious that Israel was going to win, many Arabic stations simply stopped airing the show, even though it hadn’t finished yet. Jordan took the idea one step further by ending the transmission, displaying photos of daffodils in place of the contest, and falsely claiming that runners-up Belgium had won. Of course, that wasn’t the case, as Israel easily won with 157 points. Belgium earned 125.
#6: A Kiss
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Finnish singer Krista Siegfrids performed a song called “Marry Me” at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. At the end of her performance, Siegfrids kissed one of her back-up singers on the lips, which was said to be an act of protest against Finland’s stance on same sex marriage. The kiss caused controversy in some socially conservative countries, especially Turkey and China. Turkey refused to air the contest entirely, citing low interest and viewing figures, but many suspected it was in reaction to the kiss. China aired the performance but cut the kiss itself. Finland legalized same sex marriage in 2017, having approved it in December of 2014.
#5: The Most Controversial Win in Eurovision History
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The 1968 contest has what is by far the most contentious ending in Eurovision history. Cliff Richards’s “Congratulations” was the easy favorite to win, but it lost to Spain’s “La, la, la” in a massive upset. The win itself was quite controversial, owing to the widespread praise of “Congratulations” and Spain’s underdog status. But the real controversy came in 2008, when a Spanish documentary alleged that dictator Francisco Franco had bribed officials to ensure Spain’s win over the United Kingdom. Massiel, the singer of “La, la, la”, fiercely objected to this assertion. The man who made the claim in the documentary, Spanish journalist José María Íñigo, later apologized for circulating a rumor and claimed that his words were taken out of context.
#4: “We Don’t Wanna Put In”
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If you think “We Don’t Wanna Put In” sounds like “We don’t want a Putin”, then you are not alone. In fact, that was the intention. The song by Stephane & 3G was going to be Georgia’s entry in the 2009 competition, which was held in Moscow. However, Georgia was pressured to amend the lyrics, including by New Rights Party of Georgia leader David Gamkrelidze. The European Broadcasting Union also asked them to alter the song, as overtly political lyrics are not allowed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Rather than change the lyrics, Georgia withdrew from the competition in protest.
#3: The Syrian Flag
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The conflict between Israel and Syria goes all the way back to Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948. Major peace efforts were attempted throughout the ‘90s but proved unsuccessful. Enter the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest and an Israeli band called PingPong. The band performed a joke song called “Sameach” which was about an Israeli woman who falls for a Syrian man. At the end of their performance, PingPong waved both Syrian and Israeli flags to promote peace between the two countries. It caused significant controversy in their home country of Israel, and the band was disowned and sanctioned by the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
#2: “Ey Sham” & Bulletproof Vests
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Israel’s first entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 1973 with Ilanit’s “Ey Sham”. During the previous year’s Summer Olympics, Palestinian group Black September orchestrated a notorious attack, kidnapping nine members of the Israeli Olympic team and demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. At Eurovision the following year, Ilanit wore a bulletproof vest and performed under intense security protection. In fact, British commentator Terry Wogan claimed that the Eurovision audience was instructed to remain seated, otherwise they risked being shot by mistake. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Stray Dogs Animal Activists Accused Moscow Dog Catchers of Killing Thousands of Strays in 2009 The Longest Kiss in Eurovision History Danish Performers Birthe Wilke & Gustav Winckler Share an Elongated Kiss in 1957 Four Winners In 1969 Spain, the UK, France & the Netherlands All Win, Prompting a Change in Point Allocation Booing Anything Involving Russia Was Booed at the 2014 Contest, Including the Tolmachevy Sisters Drug Rumors Dubious Accusations That Måneskin Singer Damiano David Did Drugs on TV Grabbed Headlines in 2021
#1: Starting a Revolution
In 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo”. It’s a famous song, but that year’s Eurovision is perhaps best known for literally starting a revolution. Portugal’s entry was Paulo de Carvalho, who performed a song titled “E Depois do Adeus”. At the time, Portugal was ruled by a regime known as Estado Novo, which had overseen the country since 1933. At 10:55 pm on April 24, 1974, “E Depois do Adeus” was played over a Portugese radio station. But this wasn’t just any regular song. It was actually the code to begin the Carnation Revolution, which saw the left-leaning Armed Forces Movement overthrow the authoritarian regime. The revolution was successful, leading to a democratic Portugal.
