Fado music takes center stage at Eurovision Song Contest
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Lights, music, action! The annual celebration of country and song known as the Eurovision Song Contest got underway in Portugal's capital Saturday night with a paean to the country's traditional fado music.
Accompanied by a Portuguese 12-string guitar and drums, fado singers Ana Moura and Mariza — two of the genre's biggest stars — opened the contest's Grand Final at Altice Arena on Saturday night.
The final of the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest will crown one of 26 entries with dreams of following in the footsteps of past winners such as Swedish pop group ABBA and Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias.
More than 10,000 people are in the audience, and thousands more are watching the show at a downtown fan zone.