Israel was the third country to perform at the annual Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday, and ended up placing a respectable ninth out of the 27 countries that made it to the finals of the pop music extravaganza. Singer Nadav Geudj, 16, supported by a cadre of backup dancers, had the audience on its feet and screaming as he belted out his song, "Golden Boy." The hundreds of millions of viewers all over the globe sent in enough votes to put the young Israeli singer into the top 10. "I'm happy and proud to be in the top 10. Thank you to everyone who was with me. ... What fun!" the singer said. Geudj and the rest of the Israeli Eurovision delegation touched down at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday afternoon, after a trip that offered special in-flight entertainment: Reality star Nicole Raidman bought up the plane's stock of chocolate and handed it out to the passengers, and later sang "Golden Boy" with Geudj. First place went to Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow, who beat Russia and Italy in the world's biggest international music show. The 28-year-old singer and TV presenter, who had been a bookmakers' favorite, performed the winning electro-pop ballad "Heroes," dancing in front of a black screen with animated gnomes. Sweden has won the 60-year-old competition six times, the second-highest number of wins after Ireland. Sweden won most recently in 2012 with "Euphoria" by Loreen. It now gets to host the contest again next year. This year's theme was "building bridges," which many artists interpreted as an appeal for tolerance in performances that included a gay kiss scene by Lithuania. "We are all heroes, no matter who we love, who we are or what we believe in," Zelmerlow told the crowd in Vienna after getting a hug from last year's victor, bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst of Austria. He beat Russia's Polina Gagarina, whose song "A Million Voices" reaped top scores from most former Soviet satellite states, earning angry jeers from the crowd in Austria. "Please remember that our motto is building bridges and that music should stand over politics tonight," presenter Alice Tumler told the audience. The competition was watched by more than 195 million people in 45 countries in 2014 -- more viewers than the Super Bowl.
After the show, Geudj told Walla News that he had "an amazing experience."
Israeli 'Golden Boy' wins 9th place in Eurovision song contest
Nadav Geudj, with his song "Golden Boy," was the third performer to take the stage, and brought the audience to its feet • Sweden wins the grand prize, followed by Russia, Italy • Plane passengers treated to impromptu concert when Guedj returns home.
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