OK, everyone, Conchita.....

[Martorana]

........please tell this ancient 70s feminist what to think.

Nice beard, rubbish song. The Netherlands should have won.

Im agreement with Jeebus. I really don't understand hiw a drag act could be labeled anti-women in anyway.

I liked the song.

Conchita seems charming, she had a huge amount of support last night.
Congrats Austria!

I liked the song.

Conchita seems charming, she had a huge amount of support last night.
Congrats Austria!

What is your gut reaction Mart?

It's great to see Europe showing such a positive attitude towards someone who is visibly different. Much better than the weirdly suggestive sidekicks that Poland had doing domestic chores on stage.

Yes, that was a bit grim. All that lip biting whilst scrubbing clothes

The UK public voted Poland as their no 1 choice

www.eurovision.tv/page/results?event=1893&voter=GB

I thought Cheryl cole was brilliant

Is it hugely different to when Dana International won a few years ago?

I didn't watch last night. So I have no idea what the songs were like. But it does seem to be more about gimmick than music these days (it was always cheesy, but used to be somewhat more about the songs, some of which became genuine chart hits).

That's embarrassing Slubber. I wasn't paying that much attention.

It's head in hands embarrassing Sue.

Slubber could that not somewhat relate to the Polish population living here who could vote though? Just as Soain giving the UK points has everything to do with the British ex pats over there!

I'm still distracted by the issue of how a person can wear that much make up without in smearing onto their beard at some point.

Oh, I don't know what to think. I liked the song- I had just about recovered from Hungary(?)'s paen of praise to domestic violence - when it came on.

I suppose I'm troubled by men taking over women's space. Or something. And the Bearded Lady freak show thing. Maybe I need to think more.

I think the beard would have smeared too somewhat without expert makeup setting products.

I hope you are right AliceinSlumberland, I was embarrassed watching that!

I didn't see it as anyone's 'space' (but then I am hopeless and always want to see the good in everything) I saw it as a person, not a gender, just standing there saying 'this is how I want to look and I like it'. Then Europe said 'we DO, we do like it and we don't like people who say you can't do that if you want' and voting for it. I really hope that is how it is.

I've just read the lyrics to Hungary's song . I'm sure that it was Polish expats voting for Poland rather than people being pervy.

I suppose I'm troubled by men taking over women's space. Or something.

I think it's Miss World contestants who will be panicking.

IT describing the whole situation, not the person, if anyone reads my words that way. I'm going to stop talking now.

Hungary's song was wildly inappropriate, I just sat there open-mouthed. As for Austria, I think it's great when someone a bit 'different' is celebrated.

I agree with you, Martorana. I don't think drag is necessarily done with misogynist intentions, but I find all the praise for a man choosing to perform femininity, whereas women are expected to do so and often ridiculed/ostracised for not doing so, a bit off.

I think it's great when someone a bit 'different' is celebrated.

But if someone is prepared to embrace femininity/femaleness/womanhood with a beard FGS, isn't it just a teeny bit depressing that that was the version of femaleness that they chose?

It's interesting to compare the reaction to Conchita and the one to the Polish entry (the butter churning women). I saw lots of comments along the lines of ugh, how tacky, slutty, just getting their boobs out for votes, etc - but if they'd been drag queens, I wonder how different the reaction would have bee.

"I think it's great when someone a bit 'different' is celebrated."

I do too. But Conchita conforms to all the stereotypes of feminine beauty- but with a beard. I wonder what would have happened if she had actually been a woman- but with underarm hair.