For a competition renowned for its sequins, three-minute pop songs and middle-of-the-road winners such as Ms Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988, Finland’s entry in 2006 was a bit of a curveball. Amid the other contestants’ sparkling ensembles, Lordi took to the stage in orc-like costumes. They were the first heavy metal band to win the competition and continue to champion the monster look. Lead singer Mr Lordi (Mr Tomi Petteri Putaansuu) makes all their outfits and masks and they do each other’s makeup, which is possibly the campest thing in a camp competition.

Lordi may represent Eurovision at its wildest, but not every outfit is Comic Con-worthy. When Italian singer Mahmood performed in 2019, his dapper outfit brought street style to the competition. He performed his R&B-esque number “Soldi” in a rigid kimono-like embroidered shirt, black trousers and one hoop earring. He finished runner-up on the night. “Soldi”, sung in Italian and Arabic, a nod to his Egyptian heritage, was an example of the contest’s big-tent style when it comes to music, fashion and identity.

Eurovision has a deep affiliation with the LGBTQIA+ community (previous winners have included drag queen Ms Conchita Wurst), who always embrace Eurovision at its silliest. Take Ukrainian comedian and drag persona Ms Verka Surduchka, who performed “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” in a metallic silver coat dress and tie, sunglasses and a huge star on their head. The song was preposterous. The look wouldn’t have looked out of place at the 2019 camp-themed Met Gala. Ukraine gets the full 12 points from MR PORTER.

The Eurovision Song Contest always dances to its own tune and sometimes a lowly placed song can still make its mark, although not necessarily for the right reasons. Greek rock-singer Mr Michalis Rakintzis came 17th in 2002 and scored only 27 points, but he remains an icon. The Mad-Max-meets-Mr-Kim-Jones robotic leather costumes he and his band wore were the perfect uniform for the apocalypse. Rakintzis blamed his low score on bad production, rather than his off-key singing. Whatever the reason, he deserves those coveted douze points for his outfit.

Eurovision has a reputation for being uncool, especially in the UK. As a result, UK entries tend to be musically underwhelming. Other countries take the contest incredibly seriously (Scandinavian countries regularly send their best pop writers into competition, for example) and embrace its absurdist aspects. Which is where Mr Daði Freyr comes in. Keytars, Icelandic accents, quirky choreography, custom green sweatsuits and a catchy tune were all in the mix for 2021. The song was smart, as were the matching green sweats. How’s that for uncool?

Fun fact: Ireland has won Eurovision more times than any other country, a total of seven wins. Mr Johnny Logan is responsible for three of them – twice as a performer and once as composer of the Ms Linda Martin opus “Why Me?” in 1992. In the 1980s, Logan ruled the Eurovision roost with some style. He represented Ireland in 1980 and 1987 and on both occasions donned an angelic white suit that perfectly matched his big ballads, “What’s Another Year” (1980) and “Hold Me Now” (1987).

The UK may not have a great record at Eurovision, but it set the bar when it comes to the costume reveal. Picture it: it’s 1981, you’re watching Eurovision and this colourful quartet, Bucks Fizz, with shaggy haircuts show up on your TV screen, rock ’n’ roll-dancing in nifty primary-colour sweats. Then, halfway through, Ms Cheryl Baker and Ms Jay Aston, who are wearing long skirts, have them whisked off to reveal… short skirts! OK, so it may not sound like something major now, but it helped them to the winners’ podium.