Best Eurovision Moments: 7 Craziest, Most Memorable Performances From Past Song Contests

As Saturday's finals for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 approach, fans can't forget the performances that gave the international competition its reputation. Prepare for the upcoming contest by brushing up on some of the wackiest and greatest shows in Eurovision's 60-year history.

1974 - ABBA - "Waterloo"

Critics credit Eurovision for getting ABBA's career off the ground. The Swedish pop band won the competition with "Waterloo" in 1974, and the track later went on to be named the best song in Eurovision history. ABBA was Sweden's first Eurovision winner, though the country has won four times since -- in 1984, 1991, 1999 and 2012.

1998 - Dana International - "Diva"

This performance wasn't revolutionary for its costumes or content, but its star: A transgender Israeli woman named Dana International. Her Eurovision candidacy caused outrage among Orthodox Jewish residents, with one lawmaker calling her an "abomination," BBC reported. But just as many fans defended her, and Dana International won the contest.

2006 - Lordi - "Hard Rock Hallelujah"

KISS-inspired Finnish group Lordi is the only hard rock group to win Eurovision, BBC reported. "Hard Rock Hallelujah" was performed in monster masks and told the crowd of a coming "arockalypse." The pyrotechnics and lead singer's Finland-flag hat make the performance even better, especially when followed up with this fun fact: Lordi's win excited Finland so much it sold a special brand of soda in their honor.

2007 - Verka Serduchka - "Dancing Lasha Tumbai"

This Ukrainian singer won second place in Eurovision's 2007 contest, but the song -- sung in four languages -- confused viewers. Serduchka told reporters that "lasha tumbai" meant "whipped cream" in Mongolian, though others argued she (as Ukraine) was saying goodbye to Russia. The performance got her banned from Russia for a year, according to AllMusic.

2008 - Dustin the Turkey - "Irlande Douze Pointe"

Yes, you read that right. Ireland literally entered a turkey puppet into Eurovision in 2008. "Irlande Douze Pointe," a purposefully misspelled song about the possibility of Ireland getting the top score -- 12 points -- didn't make it to the final round. The mock song fell flat, and Dustin the Turkey was booed by the crowd.

2011 - Zdob şi Zdub - "So Lucky"

This performance from Moldovan band Zdob şi Zdub is a trip, but it earned them 12th place at Eurovision. The members wore tall pointy hats and rocked out next to a trumpet-playing fairy who rode in on a unicycle. The group told reporters the cone hats were their "national costume," adding, "With these hats we have contact with the cosmic spheres. They bring some positive energy to everybody!"

2012 - Buranovskiye Babushki - "Party For Everybody"

Want to see a bunch of cute Russian grandmas perform a song about partying? You're in luck. A few years ago, six elderly members of the Udmurtian pop band Buranovskiye Babushki took the Eurovision stage to sing about being happy. They'd won third place in 2010, and this time around they took second. They used the prize money to build a church.