Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest early yesterday, as singer Loreen beat out 25 competitors in the finale of the world’s biggest live music event, hosted by the UK on behalf of Ukraine.
A previous victor in 2012, Loreen is the first woman to win the eccentric, much-loved competition twice and only the second person to do so after Johnny Logan won for Ireland in the 1980s.
It is a record-equaling seventh Eurovision crown for Sweden, and means the Scandinavian nation is to host next year’s contest on the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s win — the country’s first — with breakthrough hit Waterloo.
Photo: AFP
Loreen, whose real name is Lorine Talhaoui, told reporters that her victory with dance-pop track, Tattoo, felt “surreal” and “so beautiful,” and had left her “seriously overwhelmed.”
Born in Sweden to parents of Moroccan Berber origin, the 39-year-old’s win for Sweden over 25 other countries competing in the final was celebrated in her homeland.
“It feels wonderful,” she said.
Photo: Reuters
She narrowly triumphed over Finland’s Kaarija after the public and jury votes were combined following an evening of typically eclectic musical acts in Liverpool. Third place went to Israel, with Noa Kirel’s Unicorn, as more than 160 million estimated viewers watched on televisions around the world.
Last year’s runner-up, the UK, selected Liverpool — home of The Beatles — to stage the Europop music festival after organizers ruled it was impossible for victors Ukraine to do so amid Russia’s invasion.
However, the UK sought to keep Ukraine front and center throughout the contest. Central Liverpool was awash in the yellow and blue of the country’s flag, while displaced Ukrainians were among the 6,000 fans packed into the M&S Bank Arena host venue.
“It feels like I’m home,” said Vasylyna Kindrat, who fled Lviv in December last year, as she headed into the waterfront arena.
The 25-year-old added that she was hoping for victory not in Eurovision “but for the war.”
Earlier, British spectators echoed the sentiment.
“We’re supporting Ukraine, our heart is bleeding for them,” said Jenny Birchett, 70, a theater worker dressed in Ukrainian colors.
“We feel it’s theirs, the Eurovision, more than ours,” she added.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lauded the “fantastic celebration” shortly after Loreen’s win.
“Liverpool, you’ve done the United Kingdom and Ukraine proud,” Sunak said.
Although there was the usual riot of color, camp and unbridled joy, several of the contest’s songs evoked the Ukraine war.
Switzerland’s young singer Remo Forrer conveyed a message of peace with his track Watergun, while Croatia’s extravagantly moustachioed Let 3 performed Mama SC, seen as a veiled attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin and “human stupidity.”
Politics preceded the finale, with a row erupting on Friday over a proposed appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
For fear of politicizing the event, the European Broadcasting Union refused an invitation for Zelenskiy to send a message. That came despite Russia being barred from participating and the overtly political message of some songs, prompting criticism from the British government.
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