Boy George will take to the Eurovision stage tomorrow evening, making his debut at the song contest as he represents San Marino alongside Italian vocalist Senhit in the opening semi-final in Vienna. The 64-year-old co-wrote the entry Superstar and contributed backing vocals to the disco-influenced track that won San Marino's national selection earlier this year.
For George O'Dowd, the invitation began as what he called a “bonkers request,” but it became a collaboration he was happy to join after working closely with Senhit on a performance he said felt “camp” and suited the more unconventional projects he now enjoys. Senhit is back for her third outing representing San Marino, after previously appearing with American rapper Flo Rida in 2021, and the pair reunited for live rehearsals in Vienna this week after Boy George first appeared only via LED visuals during the San Marino Song Contest final in March.
The performance matters because San Marino needs to finish among the top ten acts in the semi-final to move on to Saturday's grand final on May 16th, in a contest that features 35 participating nations. For SMRTV, the microstate's broadcaster, the strategy has been clear for some time: recruit internationally recognised names to raise San Marino's profile on Eurovision's biggest stage and, officials have said, help promote tourism. Boy George's appearance is part of that push, one that has already brought in names with global recognition and given San Marino a louder presence than its size would normally allow.
The project has also landed in a charged atmosphere. Boy George has faced mounting pressure from members of the public urging him to withdraw from Eurovision in protest at Israel's participation, but he rejected the calls. “Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It's not going to happen, it's never going to happen,” he said, adding that he has known many Jewish friends since he was 15 or 16 years old and wore a Star of David from the earliest days of Culture Club. That leaves him on stage in Vienna as planned, with the controversy around him but not enough to keep him away.
