Eurovision To Be Signed

For the first time, the Eurovision Song Contest will be presented in international sign language for deaf people.

15:32 22 May 2015

Inspired by the victory of Conchita  Wurst last year, a team of six deaf artists and two hearing interpreters are performing at the semi-finals and the Grand Final.

 

ORF's Eva-Maria Hinterwirth said: "Eurovision is European - so let's make it for the deaf community too," 

 

"It is always said music is a language that is understood by everyone, so we thought, let's make it reality and bring music closer to deaf people."

 

She added: "The interpreters don't translate the lyrics, they tell stories and convey the emotions behind the songs."

 

Delil Yilmaz, a sign language interpreter who can hear, explained his team’s approach: "It's a very energetic song about a man and a woman who are in love. In these three minutes they are proving their love."

 

"The first twenty seconds of the UK song is only instrumental music, so you can't sign piano or violin.

 

"This is information that is not really necessary for someone who has never heard a tone in their life. You just have to put the emotions behind those instruments into a story," he said.

 

"When I turn to the right, I act like a man, very macho with a beard and when I turn to the left side, I am the woman with make-up and perfume. "