Singer Dara wanted to cause chaos with “Bangaranga” – the strategy was well received.Image: keystone
ESC
Outsider Bulgaria wins the ESC for the first time. Singer Dara conquers the hearts of the European audience with “Bangaranga”. This meaning is contained in the catchy tune.
May 17, 2026, 05:34May 17, 2026, 05:34
Bulgaria has outsmarted all the favorites: Practically no one had previously considered singer Dara and her song as possible winners of the ESC in Vienna. Instead, Finland, Greece and most recently Australia were considered the hottest contenders for the ESC crown. The odds from the betting offices reflected this, with Bulgaria always appearing outside the top 5.
That changed after singer Dara’s performance in the final. The 27-year-old and her dance crew delivered a thrilling performance and suddenly she was considered one of the favorites behind Finland and Australia. The fact that it was actually enough to win came as a surprise.
But with the first-ever triumph of Bulgaria, which recently sat out the ESC three times for financial reasons, it is high time to take a closer look at the winning song and its content. Dara, whose real name is Darina Nikolaewa Jotova, explained to the BBC before the final what her song means and what message she wants to convey:
“Bangaranga is this inner feeling that everything is possible and everything will be okay.”
She struggled with anxiety for a long time in her life. What helped her was having an adult conversation with herself:
«I asked myself, what are my values, what is important to me? And I’ve come to the conclusion that being yourself, being authentic, is the most powerful thing of all.”
Specifically, she then began to be brave and, for example, dress the way she wanted.
“I think everyone can awaken this feeling of doing what you want and validating yourself.”
The Bulgarian song title is a variation of the Creole word “Bangarang”, like today.at white. This means something like chaos, uprising or rebellion. Accordingly, Dara sings lines like “Welcome to the riot.” The 27-year-old relates this to her personal development: having the courage to defend herself against limiting conventions and instead stand by herself.
Dara’s appearance in the ESC final:
(con)