EUROVISION'S 30 MOST CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS. 
Part 18: 2007 ("Russia Goodbye?").
Continues tomorrow.

THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSIES

Of the

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

(1956 - 2019)  

From its inaugural year, the Eurovision Song Contest has had more than its fair share of controversial moments. This is a special look back on 30 significant upsets in chronological order.

2007

“Russia Goodbye?”.

The Ukrainian entry at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest was performed in a mix of English, Russian, German and Ukrainian. Verka Serduchka, a drag performer, sang the song “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”..

There remains some confusion regarding the lyrics. When Serduchka sings “Lasha Tumbai”, it sounds like: “I want to see Russia goodbye”. This would be in breach of the rules as Eurovision songs are not meant to be political.

Serbia’s “Molitva”, performed by Marija Šerifović, emerged as the winning entry. On the leaderboard, the Ukrainian dance song finished the night in second place. That year too, Russia took third place.