Learning of the death of a former Eurovision entry is always sad, but in the case of the recent passing of Örs Siklósi on 5 February 2021, it is especially so. Örs was just 29 and had been diagnosed with leukaemia last summer. Örs had been lead singer of Hungarian band AWS, who memorably represented Hungary at Eurovision 2018.

To date, Lisbon is the only Eurovision I have been to in person, so I had the fortune to see AWS perform live in both the semi-final and in the (jury) final in the contest arena. It’s fair to say Eurovision has rarely seen or heard anything quite like AWS’s song and Örs‘s intense and powerful performance was an important part of that.

Condolences to his friends and family from all of the Eurovision community.