| "Rise Like a Phoenix" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byConchita Wurst | ||||
| from the albumConchita | ||||
| Released | 18 March 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Operatic pop | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label | ORF-Enterprise | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Conchita Wurst singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Rise Like a Phoenix" onYouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2014 entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist | Thomas Neuwirth | |||
| As | ||||
| Language | English | |||
| Composers |
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| Lyricists |
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| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | 1st | |||
| Semi-final points | 169 | |||
| Final result | 1st | |||
| Final points | 290 | |||
| Entry chronology | ||||
| ◄ "Shine" (2013) | ||||
| "I Am Yours" (2015) ► | ||||
| Song presentation | ||||
| Official performance video | ||||
| "Rise Like a Phoenix" (Semi-2) onYouTube "Rise Like a Phoenix" (Final) onYouTube "Rise Like a Phoenix" (Reprise) onYouTube | ||||
"Rise Like a Phoenix" is a song recorded by Austrian singerConchita Wurst, written by Joey Patulka, Alexander Zuckowski, Julian Maas, andCharlie Mason. Itrepresented Austria in theEurovision Song Contest 2014 held inCopenhagen, resulting in the country's second win in the contest.
Composer Alexander Zuckowski had originally composed the song for another project, however, every major record label in Austria had refused to produce "Rise Like a Phoenix". Following a request fromÖsterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) about possible song contributions, Zuckowski immediately thought of suggesting "Rise Like a Phoenix", reasoning, "I knew that with this song still something great was going to happen". It was entered into the ORF internal selection process for Eurovision.
On 10 September 2013, ORF announced that it hadinternally selected singerConchita Wurst as its performer for the59th edition of theEurovision Song Contest.[1] On 18 March 2014, ORF announced "Rise Like a Phoenix" as theAustrian entrant for the contest.[2][3]
The song was released by the ORF on 18 March 2014. The accompanying music video was premiered on YouTube on the same day, while the song was offered on the ORF website for download.[2][4] On 21 March, Wurst made the first live performances of the song, on the ORF showDancing Stars.[5][6]
On 8 May 2014, the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held inB&W Hallerne inCopenhagen hosted by theDanish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) and broadcast live throughout the continent. Wurst performed "Rise Like a Phoenix" sixth on the evening. After the grand final it was revealed that it had received in its semi-final 169 points, placing first and qualifying for the grand final.[7] On 10 May 2014, she performed the song again in the grand final eleventh on the evening.[8] At the close of voting, it had received 290 points finished in first place and winning the contest.[9] It was Austria's second win in the contest, its first being in1966.
On 31 March 2015, Wurst performed the song in the Eurovision sixtieth anniversary showEurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits held in London.[10][11]
As the winning broadcaster, theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU) gave ORF the responsibility to host thefollowing edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The contest was co-hosted by Wurst herself, who opened the first semi-final on 19 May 2015 performing "Rise Like a Phoenix".[12]
Stern gave the song a rating of four out of five. 1966 Austrian winnerUdo Jürgens said the song was "a well-composed song with a beautiful musical bow", and as the lyrics suggest, "rises from the ashes".[2]
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 18 March 2014[13] | Digital download | ORF-Enterprise |
| Europe | |||
| United States | |||
| United Kingdom | 11 May 2014[14] |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] | Platinum | 30,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest winners 2014 | Succeeded by "Heroes" byMåns Zelmerlöw |
