The Netherlands wins the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with Duncan Laurence's piano ballad "Arcade"

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Netherlands wins the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with Duncan Laurence's piano ballad "Arcade" . </s> TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Netherlands wins the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with Duncan Laurence's piano ballad "Arcade" . </s> The Netherlands' Duncan Laurence has been declared winner, with 492 points, of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with "Arcade," a soul song with an intimate style and electronic arrangements that brings that country its fifth victory in the competition, the first since 1975.

The gala was held in the Expo Tel Aviv facilities in this Israeli city, where the Spanish candidate, Miki, ended up with his song "La Venda" in 22nd place with 50 points, the same result as Barei in 2016 and ahead of Alfred and Amaia last year. </s> Duncan Laurence has achieved his first win of the night at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Netherlands entry’s song Arcade has been named the Best Song by the press in the annual Marcel Bezençon Awards.

The Marcel Bezençon Award chooses the best song of the year in three categories – Press (voted for by accredited media in the host country), Artistic (voted for by the commentators) and Composer (voted by a jury of participating composers) – and this year, the press has honoured Duncan.

The 25-year-old shared a picture with his trophy to Instagram and wrote: ‘Whuuuut?! I just won a Marcel Bezençon Award for Best Song voted by the press! Thank you so much!’

The press haven’t given the Best Song award to the eventual winner since 2014, when they honoured Conchita Wurst and Rise Like A Phoenix.

Last year, they chose France’s Madame Monsieur and their 13th place song, Mercy; in 2017, they voted Occidentalli’s Karma by Franceso Gabbani of Italy, which came sixth; 2016 saw Russia’s Sergey Lazarev and his third place song You Are The Only One win; while in 2015, Il Volo’s Grande amore for Italy won Best Song and went on to come third.

However, the press have previously voted for three other winning songs – Alexander Rybek’s Fairytale, Lordi’s Hard Rock Hallelujah and Turkey’s Everyway That I Can.

Duncan is the firm favourite to take the crown tonight at the grand final, with his Sam Smith, James Blake-esque ballad Arcade being a huge hit within the Eurovision community since it was selected by the Netherlands.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk ahead of the competition, the singer-songwriter said: ‘I do think it adds a bit of pressure, yeah, both positive and a bit “woah, don’t expect too much, we still need to qualify and win!” There are a lot of other really good participants – I love Mahmood especially.

‘But I see it as a really big compliment, that people would love to see me win. Especially since Arcade is the first song I’ve ever released. It’s kind of weird. It’s the American dream – well, the Dutch dream come true.’

The Eurovision Song Contest airs tonight from 8pm on BBC1.

MORE: Iceland’s Eurovision song from Hatari translated into English is pretty dark </s> The Netherlands won the 64th Eurovision Song Contest in Israel on Sunday in a songfest that passed off without serious incident, despite calls by pro-Palestinian groups to boycott the event.

Duncan Laurence singing ‘Arcade’ beat off 25 other contestants in the grand final in Tel Aviv to win the glass microphone trophy.

Cyprus, with Tamta and the song “Replay” finished in 15th place.

The 41-country singing competition featured a guest appearance by Madonna, who caused some controversy when two backing dancers briefly appeared on stage wearing costumes emblazoned with the Israeli and Palestinians flags. Iceland’s contestants also displayed small Palestinian banners during the voting.

With its victory, the Netherlands wins the right to host next year’s competition. </s> Singer Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands has emerged victorious at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. The finals were held Saturday night in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The 25-year-old Laurence won the international competition with a song called "Arcade," which he co-wrote. The song is a sweet, emotional ballad that stands in contrast to Israeli singer Netta's wacky "Toy," which won in 2018.

Laurence, whose real name is Duncan de Moor, participated in the Dutch version of "The Voice" in 2014. He's also been writing for other performers, including the K-pop band TVXQ.

In all, 41 countries started out in this year's competition. The 26 finalists' songs included a number of power ballads alongside Duncan's, as well as perky, anodyne pop from artists like the Czech Republic's Lake Malawi and Denmark's Leonora; and aspiring club bangers from the artist Tamta, the singer representing Cyprus, and Belarus' Zena, among many others.

But because this is Eurovision, where camp appeal often outweighs other factors, there was also Serhat — a dentist turned-television impresario-turned singer, who channels Leonard Cohen at the disco and represented tiny San Marino — and Iceland's Hatari, which describes itself as an "anti-capitalist performance art group inspired by BDSM and anti-authoritarian dystopic aesthetics."

Hatari reportedly "tested the patience" of the European Broadcasting Union, which mounts Eurovision, in the week leading up to the finals by repeatedly speaking out against the Israeli government.

More widely, this year's event has been partly overshadowed by politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Tuesday, hackers interrupted the Israeli live webcast of the first semi-final to warn, falsely, that the city of Tel Aviv was under attack. Israel's national broadcaster, Kan, blamed Hamas for the hacking. Palestinian activists unsuccessfully urged performers to boycott Eurovision 2019.

Organizers said the Eurovision finals were being watched by 200 million people across the globe. However, the show was not broadcast in the United States this year after the Logo TV network, which carried the 2016 to 2018 editions, chose not to pick up this year's contest.

Along with this year's competitors, other performers at Eurovision 2019 included previous winners Netta from Israel, who won in 2018, and 2014's winner, Conchita Wurst from Austria — as well Madonna, who performed "Like a Prayer," as well as her new, reggae-flavored song "Future" with Migos' Quavo. </s> This article is more than 3 months old

This article is more than 3 months old

Europe’s annual musical jamboree culminated in triumph for the Netherlands on Saturday night.

In one of the closest competitions in recent years, the battle for top spot in the Eurovision song contest was a tight fight between Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and North Macedonia.

Duncan Laurence, the bookies’ favourite from the Netherlands, justified his pre-contest hype after the public voted his ballad Arcade the winner. It is the first time the Dutch have won since 1975.

Laurence’s haunting track has already become a big hit on streaming services since its release earlier this year.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Duncan Laurence performing his track Arcade. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Sweden’s entry John Lundvik had looked like adding to the Scandinavian country’s illustrious record of six wins, beginning back in 1974 when Abba came first.

Sweden has such a surplus of Eurovision talent it also furnished the song for the UK’s entry, as well as Estonia’s – Victor Crone is Swedish.

The Eurovision show brought together acts from 41 countries. The surprise of the night was North Macedonia, the newly renamed country in the Balkans. Their performer, Tamara Todevska, had previously appeared twice before in the competition but Saturday night’s entry, Proud, proved their most popular entry ever.

The coveted 12 points from the UK’s jury panel of industry professionals also went to North Macedonia. The UK’s entrant, Michael Rice, delivered a rousing performance earlier in the evening singing Bigger Than Us against a backdrop of a starry night sky and racing comets.

Rice had said before the contest that he hoped to improve the UK’s reputation at Eurovision, as the UK had not won in 22 years or been in the top 10 in a decade. However, it was not to be – the UK finished last in the final with just 16 points.

Unusually, none of the performers went home with zero points.

Madonna makes call for Israel-Palestine unity at Eurovision Read more

The contest was staged in Israel, a country that had played host twice before, in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999. The recent policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government towards the occupied Palestinian territories roused considerable anger and calls for a boycott of the contest.

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement claimed that Israel was “shamelessly using Eurovision as part of its official Brand Israel strategy” to “whitewash and distract attention from its war crimes against Palestinians”.

Iceland’s entry, the leather-clad BDSM group Hatari, had slammed Eurovision in Israel as being “built on a lie”, but nonetheless took to the stage – choosing to instead focus on Eurovision as a champion of diversity and inclusiveness. Their song, Hatrið Mun Sigra, was one of the eye-catching performances of the final.

Hatari showed support for Palestine, holding up Palestinian flags as their points scores were read out.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Madonna performed two tracks during the final’s halftime show. Photograph: Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Madonna’s performance during the show received a muted response from the studio audience. Dressed by the designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who said he had been channeling Joan of Arc, Madonna’s show featured as many as 30 dancers dressed as monks.

“You’re all winners,” Madonna told the Eurovision finalists before her appearance.

“Let’s not underestimate the power of music to bring people together. That’s the most important thing. Music makes the people come together.”

Glitz, glamour and geopolitics: is Eurovision hosted by Israel the most contentious ever? Read more

Her decision to perform had provoked furious reaction from fellow musicians in the lead up to the event.

Madonna defended her choice to perform, saying: “I’ll never stop playing music to suit someone’s political agenda nor will I stop speaking out against violations of human rights wherever in the world they may be.”

Roger Waters, founding member of Pink Floyd, wrote in the Guardian that her decision to perform in Tel Aviv “raised fundamentally important ethical and political questions for each and every one of us to contemplate”.

Waters said that “to perform in Israel is a lucrative gig but to do so serves to normalise the occupation.”

• This article was amended on 20 May 2019. The Eurovision song contest was held in Jerusalem in 1999, not Tel Aviv. </s> TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Latest on the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest (all times local):

The Netherlands is the winner of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Duncan Laurence's doleful piano ballad "Arcade" was tapped as an early front-runner before Saturday's Grand Final. But it had to rely on the fan vote to secure the country's fifth win in the competition. Italy finished second, followed by Russia, Switzerland and Norway.

Some 200 million people around the world were expected to watch the annual campy contest with 26 nations battling to be crowned Europe's best pop act.

Europe's ultimate pop extravaganza is hosting the Queen of Pop.

Madonna was the special guest Saturday at the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv where 26 nations were battling to be crowned Europe's best pop act. Some 200 million people around the world are expected to be watching the annual campy contest.

Israel earned the right to host the show after Netta Barzilai carried off last year's prize with her spunky pop anthem "Toy."

Madonna had faced calls to boycott the event by a Palestinian-led campaign. But she rejected them, saying she will "never stop playing music to suit someone's political agenda."

Madonna performed her hit song, "Like a Prayer," marking 30 years to its release, and a new song "Future" from her forthcoming album "Madame X."

The 26 contestants in the Grand Final of the 64th Eurovision Song Contest have finished their acts.

Now the voting gets underway. To maximize onscreen tension, performers are picked Saturday by a mix of fan votes and professional juries from the participating countries. Spectators cannot vote for their own country, but like-minded countries tend to fall into blocs that back their regional favorites.

Israel earned the right to host the show after Netta Barzilai won last year with her spunky pop anthem "Toy."

The Netherlands has been tapped as an early front-runner for Duncan Laurence's doleful piano ballad "Arcade." Other favorites include Switzerland's energetic "She Got Me," sung by Luca Hänni, Sweden's soulful "Too Late for Love," sung by John Lundvik, and Australia's breathy act, "Zero Gravity," by Kate Miller-Heidke.

Iceland's controversial steampunk band Hatari has concluded their live performance without incident.

The band had drawn attention in Israel by initially vowing to stay out, saying it would be "absurd" to participate in Israel because of its policies toward the Palestinians. Later, they vowed to use the Eurovision spotlight to expose the "face of the occupation." But at a press conference after the semifinal, Hatari offered a purely positive message. "We need to unite and remember to love," it said, in the wake of "hate that's on the rise in Europe."

In Saturday's final they belted out their grinding metal rock to cheers from the audience. They are not a favorite to win.

Calls for performers to boycott the show have failed to generate much momentum.

Israel's prime minister has called the country's Eurovision representative to wish him luck in the contest.

Benjamin Netanyahu's office says he spoke to Kobi Marimi Saturday night to tell him the "the entire nation is supporting you."

Marimi, with his song "Home," is considered a long shot to win. He has a tough act to follow after Netta Barzilai won it all for Israel last year with her spunky pop anthem "Toy."

Israel has won the Eurovision four previous times and it has provided the country with some cultural touchstones. "Hallelujah" became the country's unofficial national song after Milk and Honey won the contest Israel hosted in the late 1970s, and Dana International became a national hero and global transgender icon when she won with "Diva" in 1998.

The Grand Final of the 64th Eurovision Song Contest is under way.

Europe's annual music extravaganza will crown one of 26 entries with dreams of following in the footsteps of past winners such as Swedish pop icons ABBA and Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland.

The show is taking place at Tel Aviv's Expo Center, starting at 10 p.m. Saturday (1900 GMT.) Some 200 million people around the world are expected to be watching.

Israel earned the right to host the show after Netta Barzilai carried off last year's prize with her spunky pop anthem "Toy."

The show of European unity brings together acts from 41 countries, including those with little connection to Europe, such as Australia.

The final round's winner will be influenced by TV viewers casting votes via text message. </s> With all performances from the 26 competing countries over and voting now closed, it’s time we think about the big questions of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019: who will be unveiled as the winner? Who will finish bottom? And where on the table will the UK’s Michael Rice end up?

Ahead of the competition, The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence and his song Arcade were strong favourites to win the contest, but we’ll only find out exactly who’s won at the last second, thanks to the new Eurovision voting system.
• Meet the acts competing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
• Who is the UK’s entry at Eurovision 2019?
• Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

Here’s all you need to know about the Eurovision 2019 winner…

Who has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2019?

You can find out the winner of the contest on this page as soon as they’re announced.

When will the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 winner be announced?

The voting window opens after the last song has been performed, and ends 15 minutes later. After this, the Eurovision presenters will call on the spokespersons from the 41 Eurovision countries, who will unveil how their respective juries voted. Finally, the public’s vote will be revealed.

Normally, there’s a 50-minute wait between the lines closing and the winner being unveiled at around 11.30pm.

How well did the UK do at Eurovision 2019?

This page will be updated with the UK’s final position as it’s announced.

What happens after the winner is declared?

The lucky act will be presented with the iconic glass Eurovision trophy before performing their winning song once again.
Duncan Laurence, representing the Netherlands, wins the 2019 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Arcade". It is the country's first win since 1975.