Conchita Wurst gives Eurovision fans goosebumps after welcome gig

Viewers of the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome event got goosebumps after watching Conchita Wurst on Monday.

Austrian singer Conchita, real name Thomas Neuwirth, 34, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with her song Rise Like a Phoenix.

She returned to the stage on Sunday for the welcome concert in Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s competition final, with her performance of her winning song broadcast on BBC One on Monday.

And music fans were so impressed with her singing that they took to Twitter to say they’d had “goosebumps,” with some calling her performance “spectacular” while calling for her to rejoin in the future.

One person wrote: ‘Conchita Wurst is still a fantastic performer, her #Eurovision return is near, isn’t it?’, while another person posted: ‘I think if Conchita Wurst was in every Eurovision Song Contest since she won, she would have every year won.’

Success story: Austrian singer Conchita, real name Thomas Neuwirth, 34, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with her song Rise Like a Phoenix

Another shared, “Goosebumps every time I hear Conchita sing Wurst Rise Like a Phoenix. Astonishing.’

Another person posted: ‘Conchita Wurst is the undisputed queen of the Eurovision Song Contest. Just say it.’

Conchita Wurst = simply delicious. #Eurovision2023,” another viewer commented, while another fan tweeted, “Conchita Wurst is the moment.”

“High marks to Conchita Wurst for a spectacular performance,” someone else shared.

Someone else commented: “Phenomenal performance by @ConchitaWurst, and the drones in the sky light up #eurovisionwelcomeparty #Eurovision #IStandWithUkraine.”

While another person wrote, “Well @ConchitaWurst definitely got that right. What an achievement to kick off this week with. @bbceurovision #eurovisionwelcomeparty.’

Another Twitter user shared, “Conchita Wurst – Rise Like a Phoenix. What a blast.’

In addition to Conchita, Ukrainian Jamala, who participated in 2016, was also part of the line-up for the performance, hosted by AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett.

On-air: She returned to the stage on Sunday for the welcome concert in Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s final, with her performance of her 2014 winning song broadcast on BBC One on Monday

Watched: Music fans were so impressed with her singing that they took to Twitter to say they had ‘goosebumps’

Born to perform: Conchita won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 when she represented Austria (pictured during the 2014 final)

Other acts with a Liverpool connection on the line-up included girl group Atomic Kitten, funk band The Real Thing and The Lightning Seeds – singers of the football anthem Three Lions.

Elsewhere, the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood reunited after their split in 1987 to perform to an audience of nearly 30,000.

This year’s Eurovision acts were welcomed to Liverpool with an opening ceremony earlier in the day on Sunday.

The Turquoise Carpet ceremony opened in the city, which is preparing to host the Eurovision final on Saturday on behalf of last year’s winners, Ukraine.

Hosted by Olympian Sam Quek and Ukrainian presenter Timur Miroshnychenko, the ceremony saw all 37 acts take to the carpet for a welcome to the city.

Eurovision fans stood on one side of the carpet waving flags and scarves in support of their country.

All smiles: Earlier in the day, British entrant Mae Muller stepped out at the opening ceremony of the 67th annual Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool

Duo: Those who performed included Natasha Hamilton and Liz McLarnon from Atomic Kitten who dressed to impress for the evening

Norwegian act Alessandra arrived first on the carpet, where the contestants were photographed and interviewed.

She said, “I feel so blessed. I feel so good here. I’m the first out and that’s an honor.’

Conor O’Donohoe, from Irish band Wild Youth, said: ‘It’s all starting to feel very real. Everyone is coming here now, all the press is here and family is starting to fly in, so it’s all starting to take some getting used to really.’

The contestants wore their best clothes for the occasion, with Croatian group Let 3 taking to the carpet in busy dresses with military-style peaked hats and facial hair.

In scenes reminiscent of Bucks Fizz, the 1981 UK Eurovision Song Contest entry, the group stripped off their dresses as they posed for photos to reveal white petticoats and cardigans.

All stars: Norwegian act Alessandra arrived first on the carpet, where the contestants were photographed and interviewed

Latvian group Sudden Lights paid homage to Liverpool’s most famous music act, the Beatles, by recreating the outfits worn on the Abbey Road album cover.

Preparations for the Eurovision song contest are in full swing in Liverpool, which is hosting the festival instead of Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

The Eurovision Village, in the town’s Pier Head, opened on Friday with a performance by last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra and Jake Shears from Scissor Sisters performed there on Saturday after a screening of the coronation.

The first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place on Tuesday.