The inaugural event kicked off with contestants from 11 nations arriving at the Bangkok venue aboard traditional tuk-tuks. Thailand's duo Mang x Daou took second place, followed by Vietnam's Toc Tien in third, while acts from Laos and Malaysia completed the top five. Bulgarian singer Dara, who won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna earlier this year, also made an appearance during the grand final. Historians in attendance commended the contest as an effective celebration of Asian musical cultures.
Key points
Carmelle claimed the historic title with "Sobra-Sobra," an anthem dedicated to Filipino w…: Carmelle claimed the historic title with "Sobra-Sobra," an anthem dedicated to Filipino women and female empowerment.
The outcome of the contest was determined through combined scores from national juries an…: The outcome of the contest was determined through combined scores from national juries and a global public vote.
Observers noted the inaugural Bangkok gathering largely avoided the controversies and boy…: Observers noted the inaugural Bangkok gathering largely avoided the controversies and boycotts recently seen in the European version.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The 19-year-old singer made history with her empowering dance-pop anthem Sobra-Sobra, beating 10 other acts to claim the top prize at the contest’s first Asian edition on Saturday (Nov 14).
Filipino singer Carmelle won the first Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday (Nov 14) with a fiery performance of her dance-pop song Sobra-Sobra.
The 19-year-old beat 10 other acts in the grand final in Bangkok, with the winner chosen through votes from national juries in participating countries and viewers worldwide.
After her victory, Carmelle said her song celebrated female empowerment and was intended as “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 second with an energetic performance of the romantic pop song “Aroma.” Vietnam’s Toc Tien placed third with a lively, stylish rendition of Em Tien.
Malaysia’s Aina Abdul took fourth with her powerful ballad Bluest Sky.…
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