( CNN ) -- Norwegian violinist , Alexander Rybak , 23 , won the Eurovision Song Contest with an upbeat ballad that got the most votes in the history of one of the world 's most watched television shows . Alexander Rybak of Norway performs during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest Saturday in Moscow , Russia . On Saturday night Rybak beat out contestants from 42 countries , with singers from Iceland and Azerbaijan taking distant second and third places . The boyish Rybak -- who performed a self-composed tune , `` Fairytale , '' with some deft dance steps and a smile plastered on his face -- won with 387 points , the most in the contest 's 53-year history , organizers said . It was the third time Norway has won the competition . Although the classically-trained Rybak grew up outside the Norwegian capital , Oslo , he was born in Belarus . A television audience estimated at more than 100 million people watch the show . In years past , winners have parlayed their victory in varying degrees of success -- most notably the Swedish quartet ABBA , which won with `` Waterloo '' in 1974 and became one of the most successful pop groups of the 1970s . In the Eurovision Song Contest , which began in 1956 , each participating European nation submits one singer or group who then perform a specially-written song . Telephone votes as well as judges from each country decided the winner this year . This year the contest was televised from a packed stadium in Moscow , Russia . Earlier police arrested dozens of gay and lesbian rights activists who were planning a rally to coincide with the contest . The protesters wanted to draw attention to what they call widespread discrimination of gays in Russia . Watch what 's different about this year 's gay rights protests » .
Rybak wins with dozens points , the most in the contest 's 53-year history , organizers say . More than 100 million people are estimated to watch the show . Norwegian quartet Rybak won with the Eurovision Song Contest in this year . Police arrest dozens of gay and lesbian rights activists planning rally during contest .