BANGKOK – Filipino singer Carmelle claimed victory Saturday at the inaugural Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest after delivering a fiery performance of her dance-pop track “Sobra-Sobra.”
The 19-year-old singer defeated 10 other finalists in Bangkok. The winner was determined by votes from national juries in participating countries and viewers around the world.
Carmelle said after the win that her song was a celebration of female empowerment and “a tribute to all Filipino women.”
“I made history, since this was the first time,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s such a big responsibility for me, because this one is a global stage, so thank you everybody who voted for me.”
Thai duo Mang x Daou finished in second place with “Aroma,” an energetic romantic-pop performance. Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên took third with a lively and stylish rendition of “Em Tiên.”
Malaysia’s Aina Abdul came fourth with the powerful ballad “Bluest Sky,” while Laos’ Thinla placed fifth with “Bae,” a playful dance track that prompted audiences to move whenever it was replayed during the show.
Representatives from Bhutan, South Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh also took part in the competition.
Contestants arrived on tuk-tuks, Bangkok’s familiar motorized three-wheelers, before waving their national flags as thousands of fans cheered inside the venue in the city center.
Bulgarian singer Dara was a special guest at the event. She performed “Bangaranga,” the song that earned her victory at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna earlier this year.
The European contest aims to place music above politics, but it has repeatedly been affected by international conflicts. Russia was expelled in 2022 after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has also created tensions around the competition, sparking protests outside venues and prompting organizers to limit the display of political flags.
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — five longtime participants — boycotted this year’s European contest in protest of Israel’s participation.
Eurovision Asia appeared to be less affected by politics, said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic, who attended the Bangkok final.
Vuletic said an examination of the voting patterns could eventually reveal political trends among the participating countries.
“But for now I can say it was a very beautiful atmosphere inside the venue and it was a great window into the musical cultures of Asia.”
