Last week, Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst made a guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Yesterday, she made not one, but two guest appearances in the UK. Her first appearance was on The One Show on BBC One. Her second was on Newsnight on BBC Two. The sausage is here to stay! Here are the highlights of what Conchita had to say.
On persuading fellow guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor to do Eurovision: “It’s a fabulous idea, because it’s such a glamorous event and above it all, it’s so much fun.”
On her special bond with mum Helga: “My mum is, besides my grandmother, the most inspiring person I’ve ever met as far as I can say of your mum. She’s just supporting me all the way like my dad. Mum is different you know, mum is mum. What can I say? She’s just the wind beneath my wings, totally.”
On getting a tattoo of her mum on her back: “You know, my mum is not that into tattoos. I know she’ll be mad so I thought I’ll get her on my back. And then she said, ‘Oh my god, this would be painful’. And I said ‘Yeah well, I know it is’, so I thought, a little pain is okay.”
On her experiences since winning the Eurovision Song Contest: “It’s unbelievable. My life completely changed that night. I have to remind myself every single day ‘You actually won’. And I was like ‘Oh my god, I won’. I really can’t believe it and so many great things have happened so far. I received flowers from Elton John, Cher tweeted, you (Sophie Ellis-Bextor) were watching!”
On Conchita’s beard and the impact it made: “First of all, I’m not the only bearded lady on the globe. In America, there are a few sisters of mine! But you know, it was a whole process. It’s like growing up and I keep on telling that Conchita was there, but she hadn’t had a name for a very long time. You know, I just grew into this stage persona and in 2010 and it felt right the way it was. I tried to be blonde, short, long and all that kinds of stuff. I really wanted to show everybody that you can be whoever you want to be if you’re just happy, and don’t get discriminated by living your life.”
On the backlash from Russia: “I really don’t focus onto negativity at all, because there’s nothing which brings me further by thinking about that. When politicians, like really famous ones, say that I’m a reason Europe will crush into pieces. I have to say I’ve never received a bigger honour. You know they think I’m that powerful – thank you. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m just a drag queen.”
You can also watch Conchita’s interview with Andrew Neil on Newsnight below.
Photo: Thomas Ramstorfer (ORF)
Too bad she is treated as a social/political phenomenon and not a talented singer. No mention of her song and they didn’t even ask her to perform the song (it’s falling hard on iTunes). Conchita won’t enjoy a successful career in Europe and perhaps not even in Austria.
Nice, she’s everywhere at the moment, and I like that.
@Deven: I’m from the Netherlands and Eurovision was until a few years “the annoying singing competition where we were not good at because Eastern Europe voted only on each other” and that stuff. Since the two goods entries in the past two years the interest is growing in the Netherlands. Still most of the people don’t like it really, but still watch it.
Just wonder about her music, did Conchita release an album? I think that must be the most important for all the fans well?
All very nice, but in none of the programmes is she being asked to sing which I think is a pity. She’s labelled as a novelty act and the fact she is an excellent performer is being disregarded. Get her on at Glastonbury!
Hi guys
Does anyone know how popular the Eurovision is in:
1. Austria
2. Netherlands
3. Denmark
4. Ireland
5. Iceland
6. Latvia
Get back to me ASAP. 😀 😀
How can anyone deny that Conchita is the most dignified, eloquent and humble lady? She looks into the face of hostility and ignorance and rises above it. Like a phoenix in fact. Conchita, you are the Edelweiss of Austria, I love you x