Photo courtesy: Eurovision 2021

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is in the books with Italy’s Måneskin being crowned the winner thus winning the right for the country to host the 2022 competition. Almost as good as watching this years final was following Radio Times’ blow-by-blow live blogging of the biggest and the most bizarre moments from this year’s event. As usual, some of these performances you just have to see to believe.

It seems like a lifetime ago since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their track Waterloo taking the crown from the UK’s representative, Olivia Newton John, who tied for 4th. Unfortunately, the UK’s third victory since the competition began in 1956 was not to be that fateful night at the Brighton Dome.

Italy’s victory went down to the wire after France, Switzerland and Iceland were perched atop the leader board following the jury vote. It was the public vote that pushed Måneskin over the top. Whether it was their performance of Zitti E Buone or the lead singer’s leather-clad performance that did it, no one will ever know.

James Newman, the United Kingdom entry, took home this year’s Participation Trophy finishing 26 out of 26 entries amassing zero points when both the jury votes AND public votes were tabulated. As the rules clearly state that you can’t vote for yourself, the UK’s Amanda Holden announced that the UK has awarded 12 points to France. That, along with Ireland’s 12 votes going elsewhere, sealed the UK’s fate of sewing up the dreaded zero point total.

The final totals combining the jury and public votes were:

1. Italy, Måneskin – Zitti E Buoni – 524 points
2. France, Barbara Pravi – Voilà –  499 points
3. Switzerland, Gjon’s Tears – Tout l’Univers – 432 points
4. Iceland, Daði Freyr og Gagnamagnið – 10 Years – 378 points
5. Ukraine, Go_A – Shum – 361 points
6. Finland, Blind Channel – Dark Side – 301 points
7. Malta, Destiny – Je Me Casse – 255 points
8. Lithuania, The Roop – Discoteque – 220 points
9. Russia, Manizha – Russian Woman – 204 points
10. Greece, Stefania – Last Dance – 170 points
11. Bulgaria, Victoria – Growing Up is Getting Old – 170 points
12. Portugal, The Black Mamba – Love Is On My Side – 153 points
13. Moldova, Natalia Gordienko – SUGAR –  115 points
14. Sweden, Tusse – Voices – 109 points
15. Serbia, Hurricane – Loco Loco – 102 points
16. Cyprus, Elena Tsagrinou – El Diablo – 94 points
17. Israel, Eden Alene – Set Me Free – 93 points
18. Norway, TIX – Fallen Angel – 75 points
19. Belgium, Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place – 74 points
20. Azerbaijan, Efendi – Mata Hari – 65 points
21. Albania, Anxhela Peristeri – Karma – 57 points
22. San Marino, Senhit – Adrenalina – 50 points
23. The Netherlands, Jeangu Macrooy – Birth of a New Age – 11 points
24. Spain, Blas Cantó – Voy A Querdarme – six points
25. Germany, Jendrik – I Don’t Feel Hate – three points
26. United Kingdom, James Newman – Embers – zero points

See everyone in Italy in 2022!