(#32) — ‘Put That Fire Out‘ — Conchita WURST’s Top 40 Best Live Performances
Back in 2015, Austria was at the forefront of the refugee crisis in Europe. Mainly because tens of thousands of refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan were streaming across the Austrian border every month.
Either on their way to countries like Germany, or seeking asylum in Austria.
Austrian bigots were also out in force — but ain’t that the truth, no matter what country this would have happened in. Because bigots everywhere always spot their opportunity to mouth off with their hatred and lies.
So on October 3rd, 2015 a group of concerned Austrians, who were supportive of the refugees and of Austria’s need to welcome and help them, put on an enormous benefit concert.
Called Voices For Refugees, it was held at Vienna’s iconic Heldenplatz, and featured a long line-up of singers and bands — Conchita Wurst among them.
Seeing Conchita live for the first time
For me, Conchita’s live performance of ‘Put That Fire Out‘ was a special moment, as I had flown from Bangkok, Thailand to Vienna to meet and interview her that weekend.
Her performance of ‘Put That Fire Out’ was the first time I had seen her in the flesh. The first time I had seen her perform live. This after I had already written around 150 articles about her.
What I loved about Conchita’s ‘Put That Fire Out‘ live
But it wasn’t just that it was the first time I had seen Conchita Wurst that was so special to me about her performance. (And yes, she was still a ‘her’ back then).
It was first that she had spoken out before the concert pointing out that, if you were in the situation the refugees were currently in, you would hope another country would help you and your family escape and survive.
So Austria, Austrians and other countries should be doing the same. (Watch the video below)
It was also that ‘Put That Fire Out’ is a song she rarely sang live, and that fact has continued to this day. A pity really, as it is an incredibly powerful song live, and one she should pull out of her repertoire more often.
And finally because she was the teeniest tiniest person up on that stage — not just in stature, but also a very slightly built person at the time (not so much lately, as the gym seems to have become a big part of her/his life) — but her voice, oh my God her VOICE.
It was enormous.
And in front of that crowd of over 100,000 people, she was simply put — a mega-star.
Watch Conchita Wurst’s ‘Put That Fire Out‘ live at Voices For Refugees in the video below.
It’s #32 on my Conchita WURST’s Top 40 Best Live Performances list.
Not just for the performance alone, but also because I think it’s important that she stood up for so many people who were losing all hope.
You will find #40 to #33 on the list here.