Counting down: The 8 most controversial moments from Eurovision.

Thank the Gods of controversy for Eurovision.

Sequins, lycra, feathers and cultural misappropriation (thank you, Poland 2014). These are the things we have come to expect from Eurovision and we are very much looking forward to witnessing them in all their spectacularly camp glory this weekend.

But surprisingly, the last 59 years of Eurovision have also provided the world with some serious controversy.

From political protests and death threats, to non-European performers and pornographic butter-churning, here is our countdown of the eight most controversial moments in Eurovision history:

8. Poland’s borderline pornographic milk maids.

We don’t know about you, but this is definitely how we imagine Polish farm workers churn butter. Sigh.

Donatan and Cleo’s performance of My Slowianie – We Are Slavic, certainly attracted some, ahem, attention. It was the first time in three years Poland had made the Eurovision finals. We can’t imagine why.

7. When Israel’s candidate performed in a bulletproof vest (11 of his country’s Olympians had just been murdered).

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and murdered by Palestinian group Black September.

In 1973, Israel’s participant Ilanit wore a bulletproof vest for his performance. Audience members were advised to remain seated throughout the performance to avoid being shot by security.

6. That time a child won Eurovision.

Thirteen-year-old Sandra Kim from Belgium entered and won Eurovision in 1986 with her song J’Aime La Vie (I Love Life).

We bet you do, Sandra. You don’t have to worry about bills that need paying, whinging kids or, well… anything much yet.

All Eurovision entrants must now be over 16 years of age.

5. When a transgender competitor’s victory sparked protests and death threats.

An Israeli transgender woman called Dana International took out the 1998 Eurovision title. Her victory sparked street protests and death threats from a group of Orthodox Jews, who labelled her an abomination.

Dana competed in Eurovision again in 2011, but sadly did not make it past the semi-finals.

4. That time Jordan just changed the winner to avoid recognising Israel.

When Israeli group Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta performed their song, Abanibi, in 1978, Jordanian television stations refused to broadcast it. Instead, they streamed pictures of flowers.

When Israel went on to win the competition, the media in Jordan announced that the winner was Belgium.

3. Finland’s badass kiss protest for same-sex marriage rights.

In 2013, while performing her song Marry Me, Krista Siegfrids from Finland shared a kiss with one of her female backup dancers in protest of Finland’s same-sex marriage laws.

2. A bearded lady takes the crown.

Controversial or just plain awesome? Probably the second one, but we just can’t get enough of Austria’s Conchita Wurst.

In a stunning ball gown, killer heels, flowing curls and majestic facial hair (plus a pretty incredible voice to boot), Conchita Wurst won Eurovision 2014 with Rise Like a Phoenix. We loved it. Hard.

1. A non-European enters the Eurovision finals.

Firstly, it is wonderful. Guy Sebastian is incredibly talented and we hope he does Australia proud this weekend with Tonight Again, but honestly…

An Australian in Eurovision?

We guess Asiavision or Oceaniavision just don’t quite have the same ring to it.

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