Eurovision 2014: Austria

Austria was very unique in their approach to Eurovision this year.  Instead of a national final or a surprise announcement of performer, The Austrian broadcaster, ORF, announce their performer--Conchita Wurst--back in September of last year.

Yet the song, "Rise Like A Phoenix", was one of the last songs presented--announced just a few weeks ago on March 18th.

The process in announcing their choices was intriguing, but then again, Conchita Wurst is an intriguing performer.

Conchita Wurst is the drag persona of Tom Neuwirth.  Wurst  came to national prominence after her second place finish in the 2011 Austrian national finals and has parlayed that success into becoming a minor celebrity in her home country, appearing on reality television shows like "The Hardest Jobs In Austria".  

Conchita Wurst   "Rise Like A Phoenix"

Wurst is serving some Shirley Bassey realness, and in my mind it's the best kind of realness to be served.  Instead of the typical Bond-lite songs that come to Eurovision, this sounds like it could be the anthem of the next Bond movie.

And Wurst knocks it out of the park with both the vocals and the performance.  It's one of my two favorite songs in this contest.

But whether it will do well has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of either the song and performance.  It's going to depend on how people across Europe respond to Ms. Wurst herself.

Neuwirth created Conchita Wurst--a bearded lady--as a statement against the discrimination he faced in his teenage years.  Wurst is a symbol for equality for all people--no matter their gender or sexual orientation--and that sort of freedom is not allowed in the many countries that take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.  That up front statement could potentially be a turnoff to those who don't agree with Ms. Wurst's beliefs.

It's going to be one of the suspenseful parts of Eurovision this year and I can't wait.