The Winners of Annual Eurovision Song Contest

Turkey has won the annual Eurovision song contest in a nail-biting final vote, with Sertab Erener winning the hearts of millions of Europeans with her explosive mix of rhythm and belly dancing. Erener, a well-established singer in her home country, snatched the lead from Belgium only in the final minutes of voting with 167 points against 165, while Russia's lesbian pop duo t.A.T.u. came a close third with 164. Erener, whose musical career includes duets with Jose Carreras and Ricky Martin and six albums, stood out among the usual Eurovision offerings of soggy ballads and upbeat disco. Belgium's Urban Trad was a huge surprise with their folk-inspired "Sanomi" and low-key stage performance among the many scant skirts and loverboy outfits in the rest of the show. The Belgians rushed to congratulate Erener despite the disappointment of losing the top spot at the finish line.