Seven facts you might not know about Eurovision: The IndependentMay 23, 2015 - 09:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Eurovision Song Contest fever is spreading once again, as viewers across Europe plan to gather with friends and cheer on their favorite countries at the final on Saturday, May 23, The Independent says. Google is marking the annual singing competition with a colorful Google Doodle filled with cartoon characters representing Europe’s diversity. As the contest marks its 60th year, The Independent takes a look back at its history with seven facts the readers might not know. 1) Live animals are banned during performances, as is instrumental music. 2) Emil Ramsauer, who represented Switzerland alongside Takasa in 2013, is the competition’s oldest contestant to date. She was 95 when she performed. 3) Ireland has won the contest more times than any other country, claiming the prize in 1970, 1980, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1995. 4) But Norway has had the opposite luck to Ireland, and ranked bottom of the contest as many as ten times. The country came last in: 1963, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1990, 1997, 2001 and 2004. 5) Eurovision super-fan nation Australia is joining in the contest this year as a one off, to mark the contest’s 60th anniversary. 6) Although many contestants sink into obscurity, ABBA (1974), Celine Dion (1988), Cliff Richard (1968 and 1973) and Julio Iglesias (1970). 7) Italy refused to participate in the 1981 Eurovision Song contest, arguing that it was too old fashioned. More history will be made on Saturday evening at the Eurovision Song Contest final in the host nation of Austria, where: Armenia, Belgium, Greece, Estonia, Serbia, Hungary, Russia, Albania, Romania Georgia, Australia, and automatic qualifiers UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, will compete. Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |