Austria participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Austrian entry was selected through the national final "Wer singt für Österreich?" (Who sings for Austria?), organized by the national broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). The competition took place on 31 January 2014.
Artist and Song
The winner of the national final was Conchita Wurst, a drag persona of Austrian singer Tom Neuwirth, with the song "Rise Like a Phoenix". The song was written by Charlie Mason, Joacim Persson, Lukas Hilbert, and Anton "Seeb" P. H. Möller. It is a contemporary pop ballad with orchestral elements, thematically focused on personal resilience and triumph over adversity.
Eurovision Performance
Conchita Wurst performed 12th in the first semi‑final on 6 May 2014. The staging featured a dark, minimalist set that gradually brightened as the performance progressed, culminating in a golden sunrise effect behind the singer. The performance incorporated a small string ensemble and backing vocalists, and Conchita's signature beaded beard and tuxedo costume were highlighted.
Austria qualified for the Grand Final, placing third in the semi‑final with 174 points. In the Grand Final, held on 10 May 2014, Conchita Wurst performed 22nd out of 26 entries. The final result was a victory for Austria, receiving 290 points. The televote awarded Austria 199 points (including the maximum 12 points from multiple countries), while the juries contributed 91 points.
Voting Details
- 12 points (televote) received from: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom, and others.
- 12 points (jury) received from: Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Aftermath
The win marked Austria's second Eurovision victory; the first was in 1966 with Udo Jürgens' "Merci, Chérie". Conchita Wurst's triumph received widespread media coverage and sparked discussions on gender expression and LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. ORF reported a significant increase in viewership for the national final and the Grand Final compared to previous years. The song achieved commercial success on European music charts, entering the top 10 in Austria, Germany, and Sweden.
Historical Context
- Austria's participation in Eurovision dates back to 1957.
- Prior to 2014, the nation had qualified for the Grand Final only a handful of times in the preceding decade.
- Conchita Wurst's victory contributed to a notable increase in Austria's Eurovision profile and inspired subsequent national selections emphasizing diverse artistic concepts.
