A FOUR-PIECE band of Italian rockers won the Eurovision Song Contest in the early hours of Sunday, giving one of the countries hit hardest in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic reason to cheer.

Maneskin’s win was Italy’s third victory in the immensely popular contest and the first since Toto Cutugno took the honor in 1990.

The music festival was canceled last year amid the pandemic but this year’s event in Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena with its regime of testing and strict hygiene protocols was seen as a step toward a post-COVID-19 return to live entertainment.

“We think that the whole event was a relief. We think that we were really thankful to have had the chance to be part of this huge event,” Maneskin lead singer Damiano David said.

Italy, the bookmakers’ favorite, trailed Switzerland, France and Malta after the national juries delivered their votes but its singers were propelled to victory by votes from the viewing public.

A crowd of 3,500 fans watched the finalists perform live.

Maneskin is Danish for moonlight, a tribute to bassist Victoria De Angelis’ home country. The band, which honed its musical style busking in Rome, won with a total of 529 points from second-placed France. Switzerland, which led after national juries had voted, finished third.

United Kingdom singer James Newman’s song, “Embers,” failed to ignite any love at all and did not score a single point, finishing last, just as the U.K. did at the previous Eurovision two years ago.

U.S. rapper Flo Rida didn’t manage to translate his star power into points for San Marino’s entry that was sung by Senhit. They finished with just 50 points.

German singer Jendrik played a sparkling ukulele and danced with a woman dressed in a giant hand costume optimistically showing the victory sign. He finished close to last.

Lithuanian band The Roop danced in bright yellow costumes in a tongue-in-cheek homage to 1980s synth pop.

French singer Barbara Pravi’s song “Voilà,” was a restrained ballad that built to a swirling crescendo on a largely darkened stage, but there was still plenty of the over-the-top spectacle that has become Eurovision’s trademark.

Norwegian singer Andreas Haukeland, whose stage name TIX is a reference to growing up with Tourette syndrome, sang “Fallen Angel” in a pair of giant white wings while chained to four prancing devils.

At the other end of the spectrum — Finland’s hard-rocking Blind Channel played their song “Dark Side” amid bursts of pyrotechnics and Ukraine’s Go_A performed surrounded by skeletal white trees.

The popular Icelandic band Dadi og Gagnamagnid, known for its kitsch dance moves and green leisurewear costumes, could not perform live because one member tested positive for the virus earlier in the week. Instead, viewers saw a recording of one of the band’s dress rehearsals.

Maneskin lead singer David said the victory was a vindication of the band’s career trajectory that started with them busking on the streets of Rome.

“We feel like everything we did since the day we met and since the day we started playing and playing on the streets is really making sense and it’s worth it,” he said.

(SD-Agencies)