Turns out, bung notes weren’t the only sounds that Eurovision organisers were hoping not to hear during this year’s sequin-studded final in Vienna. For the first time ever, the song contest deployed anti-booing technology, reportedly to spare Russian contestant Polina Gagarina from an international shaming.
Russia has a colourful history of copping boos and jeers at Eurovision you see, not due to its lack of talent, but rather its heavily criticised military actions in Ukraine, and its political stance on homosexuality.
We won’t know if Russia is booed for #LGBT laws during #Eurovision2015. Show will use boo-cancelling tech tonight http://t.co/6wsD0pXm7N
— John Forrest Ales (@JFAtweets) May 23, 2015
As Fairfax reports, last year’s Russian contenders, the Tolmachevy Sisters, were booed multiple times during their Eurovision campaign, with the crowd’s loudly articulated distaste souring every point they scored during the big final.
This year, organisers were having none of it. “It was very embarrassing for us last year when this happened, as it is not in the spirit of the contest,” Eurovision communications coordinator Jarmo Siim told The Moscow Times.
Though refusing to go into detail about how their state of the art boo-muffling technology worked, Sim explained that the industrial buffer was a “plan B” and would stifle booing on the broadcast. Science, bitch.
And it seems to have worked. Even though media attending the event reported hearing some booing from the 11,000-strong crowd in the audience, cheers and applause were the main sounds transmitted into lounge rooms and pubs across Australia and the world when Gagarina belted out her song, A Million Voices.
More boos in green room for Russia. (More booze for Austria and Germany on nul point?) #eurovision2015
— BBC Eurovision (@bbceurovision) May 23, 2015
One person who didn’t need the help of an anti-boo machine was Aussie contender, Guy Sebastian. Though Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow ultimately took out the competition, the original Australian Idol did his country proud, scoring enough international votes to chart in the top 5.
Since making his Eurovision debut, Sebastian has also reportedly been storming the Swedish charts, with the song he performed in the contest, Tonight Again, soaring to No. 2 on Swedish iTunes, just behind Eurovision winner Zelmerlow’s Heroes at No.1.
As SBS reports, Sebastian’s Eurovision anthem has also reached No. 4 in the Bahamas, No. 7 in Estonia, No. 8 in Norway and the Netherlands, No. 9 in Austria, No. 10 in Denmark and No. 12 in Australia.
“Thanks everyone for your kind messages I’ve had the best time here in Europe so far. Top 5! Thanks Europe for making Australia so welcome,” the singer said on Twitter.
You go, Guy.
Thanks everyone for your kind messages I’ve had the best time here in Europe so far. Top 5! Thanks Europe for making Australia so welcome
— Guy Sebastian (@GuySebastian) May 24, 2015
Meantime, Australia’s future as a Eurovision contestant remains in murky waters. While it’s too early to tell if our koala-cuddling country will ever receive another wildcard entry to the contest, experts are predicting China might be next in line for a guest cameo.
“If Australia put in quite a lot of voting they might consider [inviting us back],” SBS commentator Julia Zemiro said. “But really I don’t think they know. The script is being written.”
