Last Saturday, May 14th, marked the annual evening of glitter, wind machines, questionable outfit choices, and general craziness that’s also known as Eurovision. This year’s contest was held in Sweden, following Måns Zelmerlöw’s victory with ‘Heroes’ in Austria the year before. Hosted by none other than the reigning champion, Måns himself, alongside Eurovision regular Petra Mede, the theme this year was ‘come together’. As the show kicked off, fans around the world took to Twitter to share their thoughts about the 26 competing countries. But what did the Twittersphere have to say? I take a look at some of the best tweets from the night.
I don’t understand people who don’t enjoy #Eurovision. It’s Pitch Perfect vs The Hunger Games IN REAL LIFE. With added Graham Norton banter.
— Amber (Book Blogger) (@MileLongBookS) May 14, 2016
The competition got off to a great start with a bouncy, feelgood number from Belgium.
ALL THE SEQUINS. ALL THE GLITTER. #Eurovision #BEL ?? pic.twitter.com/Lt9BTAd8AO
— ABC News (@abcnews) May 14, 2016
And we can’t not mention the Netherlands and THAT pause…
Thought the song was called slow down not stop in the middle #Eurovision #NED
— Laura (@LozzaBookCorner) May 14, 2016
Israel seemed to be going for the astrophysicist votes.
He’s right, in an astro-physics kind of way. #BBCEurovision
— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) May 14, 2016
Song number 9 came with a heartfelt tribute to former Eurovision host, the late Sir Terry Wogan, from current host Graham Norton.
How beautiful from Graham. Here’s to you Sir Terry #Eurovision
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) May 14, 2016
Next we were treated to a rather bizarrely dressed German entry.
@KettleMag if I didn’t know she was from Germany, I would’ve pegged her for a Japanese girl #kawaii
— Francesca Poggi (@francyp79) May 14, 2016
Poland included one of the most important aspects of a winning Eurovision song – the key change!
Of course there was a key change #eurovision
— Nathan Sykes (@NathanSykes) May 14, 2016
Ah, Australia, that well-known European country.
Australian entry on stage at #Eurovision. Just in case you were wondering, this is how the world map looks now. pic.twitter.com/J5hFylpv2r
— innocent drinks (@innocent) May 14, 2016
Cyprus brought the rock… and all the special effects ever invented.
A zoom in so intense EVERYONE has now got whiplash. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/l9J00L0Zvj
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 14, 2016
It looked like Lithuania had jumped straight out of a timewarp.
I didn’t realise Jedward had split up? #Eurovision #LTU
— SJN (@SJNeve) May 14, 2016
Innocent drinks were definitely one of the Twitter Eurovision winners this year:
WHAM! called. They want their jacket back #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/eXMhe4TtSR
— innocent drinks (@innocent) May 14, 2016
WHAM! called again. They said thanks for giving back the jacket #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/SMSe4pQwZt
— innocent drinks (@innocent) May 14, 2016
Croatia won the award for most impractical outfit.
“No we said a size 10, not a size 100.”
“Err… we’ll think of something.”#Eurovision #CRO— Emily Lowrey (@emilymaylowrey) May 14, 2016
Upon hearing that the Russian entrant owns a dog confectionary business called ‘Poodle Strudel’ (yes, you read that right!)
life goals:
1. buy a dog
2. visit Poodle Strudel— BEN S (@Benasch) May 14, 2016
Spain went for a sporty theme.
Someone’s been to Primark #ESP #Eurovision
— Kettle (@KettleMag) May 14, 2016
Latvia were next…
#LAT is the hot, sensitive boy in college that you love so much but he’s only into himself. #EurovisionSongContest #Eurovision
— Danielle (@TinkleQueen) May 14, 2016
Then it was the turn of Ukraine.
Backstage at Eurovision:
“What’s your song about?”
“Stalin and forced deportation. Yours?”
“…er… saying “Yay!”#Eurovision
— The Media Blog (@TheMediaTweets) May 14, 2016
Everyone seemed to recognise Georgia from somewhere, they just weren’t quite sure where…
I swear I saw this band in a pub in Camden ten years ago… #eurovision2016
— CL Taylor (@callytaylor) May 14, 2016
Austria were very sweet and twee this year. She also sang in French for some reason.
Did Disney lose a princess? #eurovision
— CL Taylor (@callytaylor) May 14, 2016
Then it was time for the UK to perform.
Actually think the British song has merit. But I have been known to support Jedward with worrying relish in years gone by. #eurovision
— Helenography (@Helenography) May 14, 2016
Very Coldplay esque this. Not bad though. #Eurovision
— Alex Veeneman (@alexvlf) May 14, 2016
Bit ironic singing “we’re in this together” given our current relationship with Europe, quite frankly. #Eurovision #GBR
— Elizabeth Windsor (@Queen_UK) May 14, 2016
A lot of people thought our entrant bore a strong resemblance to a certain much-hated Game of Thrones character…
The one on the right reminds me of Ramsay Snow #holdme #Eurovision #GBR #GameofThrones
— Elizabeth Haynes (@Elizjhaynes) May 14, 2016
HIS EYES ARENT CUTE THEY ARE MURDEROUS #GBR
— ellie rice (@helloelli3) May 14, 2016
During the interval, Justin Timberlake rocked up to do a quick performance for reasons that weren’t really clear.
He will do Riverdance, though, won’t he? #BBCEurovision
— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) May 14, 2016
Then the hosts did a surprisingly entertaining ‘how to win Eurovision’ guide through the medium of, you guessed it, song and dance.
This. Is. Amazing
— James Phelps (@James_Phelps) May 14, 2016
That’s it. I’m voting for ‘Love Love Peace Peace’ to win.
(…What do you mean I can’t? So much awesome nostalgia and meta) #eurovision— Chloe Smith (@writeronwheels_) May 14, 2016
LOVE LOVE PEACE PEACE FOREVER
— Time Out London (@TimeOutLondon) May 14, 2016
Meanwhile, Kettle were busy asking the most important questions.
Why is it called the green room when it isn’t a separate room let alone green #Eurovision
— Kettle (@KettleMag) May 14, 2016
Finally it was time for the voting to begin!
Australia cannae win the Eurovision song contest! That would be madness! That’d be like Scotland winning the Superbowl!
— Scott Wilson (@HeartofFire) May 14, 2016
Australia took an early lead, but with the new voting system, things got very tense as Europe saw one of the closest results in years.
Good God #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/OarOF9sOUP
— AlwynHamilton (@AlwynFJH) May 14, 2016
My fav part of #Eurovision was at the end when Dumbledore just gave out a bunch of random last-minute points and the winner changed
— WELCOME TO JOJO HELL (@ElizSimins) May 14, 2016
No wonder the USA thinks Europeans are strange – we’ve chosen this as our winning “song” of Europe.
— Chloe (@ChickLitChloe) May 14, 2016
After a nailbiting finish, Ukraine pipped Australia to the post to take the top spot. The UK came 24th out of 26 (sigh) but at least we did better than poor Germany, who finished in last place.
Germany right now…. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/3sl0EVzcKy
— lauren hogan (@_LaurenH_) May 14, 2016
Predictably, Russia were none too pleased about the final result.
Russia vs. Ukraine? Waiting for Justin Timberlake to come out and sing Crimea River.
— Jack (@JackR_88) May 14, 2016
We might not have agreed about the results, but if there were two things Europe could manage to agree on, it would be these:
Petra is tonight’s real winner ?
Best. Host. Ever #Eurovision
— Kettle (@KettleMag) May 14, 2016
I know one winner for #eurovision – Twitter. Love the commentary on the platform.
— Alex Veeneman (@alexvlf) May 14, 2016
What did you think of Eurovision this year? Who do you think should have won? Let us know in the comments below!
