Man steals mic off singer during Eurovision performance. / SBS
Eurovision 2018 is well underway — and it's been a lively competition so far, with the UK's entry having to contend with a rowdy stage invader. Here are the highlights and lowlights of the competition so far — and a warning, SPOILERS AHEAD.
Stage invasions ... again
Singer SuRie (Susanna Marie Cork) representing Britain, performs at the Grand Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo / Getty Images
Last year, it was some dope draped in an Australian flag jumping on stage to waggle his bare bum at an audience of millions. This year, the UK's entry, singer SuRie, was mid-song when a man leapt on stage and snatched the microphone out of her hands.
Viewers praised SuRie for her handling of the rattling moment, as security bounded on stage and dragged the man away.
As many called for organisers to allow SuRie a do-over, the BBC's Eurovision correspondent Graham Norton kept fans updated about the unfolding situation on social media.
"SuRie was offered the option to perform again by the EBU. SuRie and her team are extremely proud of her performance and have together decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again," he tweeted.
Coming after last year's much-seen stage invasion, the question has to be asked: How does this keep happening?
I was already going to give @surieofficial a vote but she’s getting a stack more from me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such professionalism in what must have been a terrifying situation. An incredibly poised and vocally powerful finish #Eurovision
Singer Jessica Mauboy representing Australia performs during dress rehearsals for the second semi final of Eurovision Song Contest. Photo / Getty Images
On to happier moments: Everyone's favourite European country, Australia, once again competed this year, with our very own mini-Beyonce Jess Mauboy putting in a powerhouse effort with her anthem We Got Love.
She earned rave reviews for her performance (and was mercifully untroubled by stage invasions).
Elina Nechayeva from Estonia performs during Eurovision Song Contest first semi final. Photo / Getty Images
Singer Elina Nechayeva nailed her operatic belter La Forza, climaxing in a cacophony of Mariah Carey-esque whistle notes.
But all eyes were on her dress, which cost a reported 65,000 euros and could after tonight be upcycled as a projection screen to view next year's event:
Poor girl spent 65k and she still had to suffer viewers comparing it to a dunny roll holder, though:
Noway's Alexander Rybak is a previous Eurovision winner, but he seems unlikely to make it to the top a second time with his offering this year, That's How You Write A Song.
Singer Eleni Foureira (C) representing Cyprus performs the song Fuego in the first semifinal of the 63rd edition of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo / Getty Images
She was the hot favourite to win, and Cyprus' entry Eleni Foureira had everything: Big hair and an even bigger song. A hip-wiggling dance breakdown and a costume she'll probably need to be cut out of post-performance. Cruicially, her song Feugo sounds like one of the few in competition this year you'd actually still want to listen to in a year's time.
Singer Netta of Israel performs during the Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Photo / Getty Images
Israel's entry, Toy by Netta, was another hot favourite with a killer chorus - but has also proven divisive, depending on your individual tolerance to a song peppered with chicken noises. If nothing else, it provided ample meme fodder:
In the end, Israel's quirky Netta and her chicken clucking Toy romped it home, earning 526 points when jury and public votes were combined - almost a 100-point lead from her nearest competitor, the polished Eleni Foureira from Cyprus, who scored 436.
And it seems the novelty of Australia being part of Eurovision has well and truly worn off. Despite her fantastic effort, Jessica Mauboy's We Got Love earned Australia's worst placing in our four years of the competition, landing in 20th place - the first time we've fallen out of the top 10, and a far cry from just two years ago, when Dami Im placed second.
We weren't helped by a dismal last placing in the public votes, with Australia awarded a grand total of just nine public points to add to the 90 jury points, giving us a total of 99. We only beat out six other countries, including the poor old UK who had to suffer the indigity of coming a distant 24th place after a stage invasion.
In Australia and abroad, fans took to social media to ask: WTF?
I am feeling very sorry for poor @jessicamauboy after that outrageous voting. But comforting to remember she has something many #Eurovision winners don’t have.... a career!!!!
