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Finally, after a 53-year wait, Portugal wins Eurovision

Sunday 14 May 2017

The Independent

 

News

Finally, after a 53-year wait, Portugal wins Eurovision

Salvador Sobral shortly after being announced the winner last night
(Getty)

Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time last night, narrowly beating Bulgaria and Moldova in the grand final. Salvador Sobral's ballad Amar Pelos Dois emerged victorious with 758 points, with the singer describing his win as a "victory for music".

Lucie Jones, the former X Factor contestant who represented the UK with I'll Never Give Up on You, came 15th with 111 points, the UK's highest placing in eight years. Katrina and the Waves last won Eurovision for the UK in 1997.

Portugal, who were one of the favourites this year in Kiev, are the longest-running contestants never to have won the competition, despite 53 years of trying. Amor Pelos Dois was written by Sobral's sister, Luisa, who finished third in Portugal's version of Pop Idol – the same contest that the Eurovision winner finished seventh in.

Lucie Jones’ efforts last night were widely praised (Getty)

As Sobral, 27, collected the trophy, Graham Norton – who provided the commentary for the ceremony – noted that the singer looked as “nonplussed now as he has throughout this competition”.

In his winner's speech, he hit out at “disposable” music in the world: “Music is not fireworks, music is feeling, so let's try to do this and bring music back which is what matters.”

Croatia – whose performance saw singer Jacques Houdek perform what looked like a duet with a giant VT version of himself – finished in 13th place. Last year's victors, Ukraine, finished in 23rd place.

There was also drama of another type last night when a Ukranian streaker interrupted a performance by last year's winner Jamala by flashing his bottom – he was partially wrapped in an Australian flag and he was swiftly wrestled off the stage by a security guard as the singer continued to perform.