Ireland’s Bambi Thug Rises from Eurovision 2024 to Charm Your Soul

If you're like most Americans, the details and performances of the yearly Eurovision Song Contest goes largely unnoticed. Sure, the gays know that ABBA rose to fame when their "Waterloo" won back in 1974, but for the most part, can you name other huge winners? Okay, my friend Reg can, but that's only because he's a huge Eurovision nerd who holds house parties with each round.

Okay, maybe it's just me who's in the dark. But yer boy Hank here might need to be looking more closely if there are performers like Bambi Thug treading their stages. Thug, born Bambie Ray Robinson in Ireland, who identifies as a queer, non-binary witch, has done what many great performers before them have done: raised the hackles and ire of conservative evangelicals with their provocative lyrics and performance imagery. And nothing provides free press and attention like some pissed-off theists. Just ask Sam Smith.

@kelviscedeno At the EuroVision Semifinals, Bambie Thug performed her song “DoomsDay Blue”. The performance was full of satanic/witchcraft imagery; but many will chalk it to up creative expression. However, Bambi Thug has admitted to being witch and claiming that her songs are spells. #bambiethug #eurovision #music #witchcraft #christian #christians #christianity #christianitytiktok ♬ original sound - Kelvis Cedeno

And nothing gives the opposition a chance to dismiss a performer by misgendering them and giving a performative shrug of the shoulders through bad clickbait online "journalism" than really interesting and in-you-face singing, arranging, and stage presence. Like this guy.

Yes, we've see their schtick before in everyone from Screaming Jay Hawkins to Alice Cooper to Madonna to Lady Gaga. But that doesn't make it any less interesting to take in!

Now, wherever you lie on the religion spectrum, or however you feel about musical tastes, you have to admit that Thug's staging of their song, "Doomsday Blue," chosen to be Ireland's submission to the contest and went as far as sixth among nine finalists, was some serious queer-gorgeous chaos opera. With a muscled, pierced-titted faerie dancer, they certainly won over this staid, bored-with-it-all curmudgeon.

Check out Thug and their cohorts backstage before the performance, and wonder at the male cubby beauty that is part of their team.

 

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Things got political, as was to be expected, with Thug denouncing Israel's inclusion in the proceedings due to the Israeli-Hamas war. They're an outspoken supporter of Gaza, often wearing a keffiyeh to show support. Israel, unfortunately, bested Thug in the contest with that country's singer Eden Golan coming in fifth with "Hurricane."

After LOL'ing over what The Catholic Herald has to say about Bambi Thug (again, thanks for the inadvertent support!), you can enjoy their full Eurovision semi-finalist performance below in all its queer, trans-loving, pagan glory.

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