Swiss Eurovision fans were getting ready Sunday to give a hero害羞草研究所檚 welcome to the 68th with 害羞草研究所淭he Code,害羞草研究所� an operatic pop-rap ode to the singer害羞草研究所檚 journey toward embracing a nongender identity.
The singer, who is Swiss but currently lives in Berlin, was to land in Zurich on Sunday night, national broadcaster SRF said.
Switzerland害羞草研究所檚 contestant beat Croatian rocker Baby Lasagna to the title by winning the most points from a combination of national juries and viewers around the world.
Nemo, 24, is the first nonbinary winner of the contest that has long been embraced as a safe haven by the LGBTQ community. Nemo is also the first Swiss winner since 1988, when Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion competed under the Swiss flag.
At a post-victory news conference, Nemo expressed pride in accepting the trophy for 害羞草研究所減eople that are daring to be themselves and people that need to be heard and need to be understood. We need more compassion, we need more empathy.害羞草研究所�
Nemo害羞草研究所檚 hometown of Biel congratulated the newly-crowned star online and said the residents were ready to celebrate them.
害羞草研究所淐ongratulations! The city of Biel is extremely proud and says: Bravo and Merci Nemo for the fantastic song and performance and also for carrying the colors of Biel out into the world!,害羞草研究所� the town said on its website. 害羞草研究所淵our city will celebrate and welcome you.害羞草研究所�
Biel, with a population of around 60,000, is located around 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Basel on Lake Biel. The town is bilingual, German and French, and is considered the watchmaking capital of Switzerland.
害羞草研究所淣emo creates and moves freely between classical, alternative and popular culture,害羞草研究所� the town害羞草研究所檚 culture official, Glenda Gonzalez Bassi, said. 害羞草研究所淎 wonderful example of the dynamic and inclusive culture that we are proud of in Biel.害羞草研究所�
Nemo 害羞草研究所� full name Nemo Mettler 害羞草研究所� bested finalists from 24 other countries, who all performed in front of a live audience of thousands and an estimated 180 million . Each contestant had three minutes to meld catchy tunes and into performances capable of winning the hearts of viewers. Musical styles ranged across rock, disco, techno and rap 害羞草研究所� sometimes a mashup of more than one.
Across Switzerland, people were already starting to think ahead to next year, when the country will host the next Eurovision contest. Traditionally the county of the winner hosts the music competition the following year.
The cities of Geneva, Basel and St. Gallen have already positioned themselves to compete as hosts for the next contest, SRF reported.
害羞草研究所淚t is a great artistic and touristic opportunity to show the world what Switzerland is all about, and it is now up to us to take up this challenge together,害羞草研究所� Gilles Marchand, Director General of the SRG media company, an association of many different Swiss media organizations.
As for Berlin 害羞草研究所� their adopted, second hometown 害羞草研究所� Nemo told German news agency dpa before the Eurovision contest that 害羞草研究所淚 love Berlin so much because it害羞草研究所檚 such a creative city that is constantly changing. It害羞草研究所檚 a fun city.害羞草研究所�
In the Croatian capital of Zagreb, thousands gathered at the main square to welcome second-placed Baby Lasagna on his return home. Chanting 害羞草研究所淲e love you,害羞草研究所� the crowd cheered as the singer performed his 害羞草研究所淩im Tim Tagi Dim害羞草研究所� rollicking rock number that tackles the issue of young Croatians leaving the country in search of a better life.
Croats had hoped for a victory and Baby Lasagna burst into tears when he came on stage, saying he didn害羞草研究所檛 expect such a big reception. 害羞草研究所淲e did our best, I hope you are happy,害羞草研究所� he said.
Croatia害羞草研究所檚 Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic was also in the crowd, saying, 害羞草研究所淲e are proud to have had such a result, which is the best since Croatia became independent害羞草研究所� from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
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