Newly-crowned Eurovision Song Contest winner, Conchita Wurst from Austria, has stormed to victory with the highest number of votes across the 37 voting countries for her performance of the ironically-titled song, Rise Like a Phoenix.

But it wasn’t just because she won the show, watched by over 125 million people across Europe and elsewhere, as a bearded drag queen that showed how much this world is changing; it was Conchita’s ‘thank you’ speech that really said it all.

When asked if she had something to say after accepting the 2014 Eurovision trophy, Conchita was adamant: “I do”. What ensued was a short, succinct yet incredibly powerful few words. It was all that was needed to be said.

“This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are! We are unity and we are unstoppable!”.

https://youtu.be/QRUIava4WRM

Rise Like a Phoenix

Performer: Conchita Wurst
Song writer(s): Charly Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, Julian Maas
Song composer(s): Charly Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, Julian Maas

Waking in the rubble
Walking over glass
Neighbors say we’re trouble
Well that time has passed

Peering from the mirror
No, that isn’t me
Stranger getting nearer
Who can this person be

You wouldn’t know me at all today
From the fading light I fly

Rise like a phoenix
Out of the ashes
Seeking rather than vengeance
Retribution
You were warned
Once I’m transformed
Once I’m reborn
You know I will rise like a phoenix
But you’re my flame

Go about your business
Act as if you’re free
No one could have witnessed
What you did to me

Cause you wouldn’t know me today
And you have got to see
To believe
From the fading light I fly

Rise like a phoenix
Out of the ashes
Seeking rather than vengeance
Retribution
You were warned
Once I’m transformed
Once I’m reborn

I rise up to the sky
You threw me down but
I’m gonna fly

And rise like a phoenix
Out of the ashes
Seeking rather than vengeance
Retribution
You were warned
Once I’m transformed
Once I’m reborn
You know I will rise like a phoenix
But you’re my flame