In defence of Elena Gheorghe

The BBC's Dr Eurovision's analysis of backing singers in Eurovision implies that Elena Gheorghe mimed along in Moscow in 2009 while her backing singer did most of the work.  Unfair in my opinion.  As one respondent already noted, the backing singer was actually harmonising.  Maybe check out Greece's act from that same year and judge for yourself who is doing most of the singing.

I love Portugal's ubiquitous blonde backing vocalist from the '90s as much as anyone, but how in a survey of Portuguese backing singers can one overlook the moves thrown by the backing singers of 1989's Portuguese entry Conquistador?

Furthermore, how can one mention Eurovision and backing singers and completely exclude Israel?  Where to even begin with a back catalogue of such slickly choreographed proportions?  The sideways strut (coined by Wogan I believe); the backing singer who moves away from the group to share a line with the lead vocalist before giving him or her a complicit glance and then retreating; the arrowhead formation, always perfect.  Hard to pick just one out of all of these but 1995 was textbook.

And even though their national final now allows - shock, horror - recorded backing vocals, the Swedes still have backing vocalists that would certainly give Israel a run for their money.  Check out Charlotte Perrelli's from Belgrade.

And one of my all-time favourites:  Ruth Jacott's backing singers in Millstreet.  Enjoy - the audience in the Green Glens Arena certainly did.