Early this Sunday, Sweden emerged victorious in the Eurovision Song Contest, with songstress Loreen outshining 25 other competitors. This global musical extravaganza was hosted by Britain, stepping in on behalf of Ukraine, a nation grappling with the ravages of war.
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The well-regarded Eurovision Song Contest has crowned its queen twice over. Loreen, the Swedish powerhouse and previous 2012 victor, has emerged as the first female, and only the second individual after Ireland’s Johnny Logan in the 1980s, to clinch the much-coveted title twice.
Her triumph rings especially poignant as it elevates Sweden to an impressive record-equalling seventh Eurovision title. This feat ensures that the Scandinavians will host the subsequent year’s contest, aligning serendipitously with the golden anniversary of ABBA’s inaugural win for Sweden with the seminal hit, “Waterloo.”
Born Lorine Talhaoui, Loreen is the embodiment of Swedish multiculturalism, hailing from Moroccan Berber roots. Overwhelmed by her victory with the pulsating dance-pop track “Tattoo,” she described the experience as “surreal,” “beautiful,” and “seriously overwhelming.”
The 39-year-old’s victory was fervently celebrated in her homeland, as she triumphed over rivals from 25 different nations in the final. Her win, which was a tight race against Finland’s Kaarija, came as a result of the combined jury and public votes following an evening brimming with the contest’s signature blend of musical diversity.
Israel rounded out the top three with Noa Kirel’s “Unicorn,” captivating an estimated global audience of over 160 million viewers.
In a twist of geopolitical tension, Liverpool, the birthplace of the iconic Beatles, was selected to host the renowned Europop music festival after the 2022 victors, Ukraine, found it unfeasible amidst Russia’s persistent incursion.
As the Eurovision spectacle unfurled amidst the glitz and glamour in northwest England, unsettling news trickled in as Russia intensified its bombing campaign on Ukraine, including Ternopil, the hometown of Ukraine’s entrants this year.
Ukrainian band Tvorchi, amidst the alarming backdrop of air raid sirens resonating across their city, gave a stirring performance of their electro-pop composition Heart of Steel, a tribute to the resilience demonstrated during the siege of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.
As the echoes of their Eurovision performance reverberated, Ukrainian band Tvorchi took to Instagram with a potent message: “While we sang on the Eurovision stage about our steel hearts, indomitability, and will, Ternopil was bombed by Russia… Europe, unite against evil for the sake of peace!”
In a determined show of solidarity, Britain held Ukraine in the spotlight throughout the contest. Central Liverpool was bathed in the vibrant yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag, and displaced Ukrainians made up part of the enthusiastic 6,000-strong crowd packed into the M&S Arena.
Among them was Vasylyna Kindrat, a refugee from Lviv, who described the atmosphere as reminiscent of home. The 25-year-old articulated sentiments which transcended the competition, expressing hope for victory, not in Eurovision, but against the throes of war.
A similar sentiment was shared by British spectators. Jenny Birchett, a 70-year-old theater worker donned in Ukrainian colors, confessed, “We’re supporting Ukraine, our heart is bleeding for them… We feel it’s theirs, the Eurovision, more than ours.”
After Loreen’s triumphant win, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the event as a “fantastic celebration,” commending Liverpool for doing both the United Kingdom and Ukraine proud.
Heading into the contest, bookmakers had pegged Sweden and Finland as favorites in the competition, renowned for their flamboyant and eccentric performances. Dagens Nyheter, Sweden’s leading broadsheet, lauded Loreen’s victory as an “enormous, unbelievable feat,” applauding her innate ability to move audiences “like few others do.”
Finland’s representative, rapper Kaarija, delivered a memorable performance of Cha Cha Cha in his distinctive green bolero-style jacket, adorned with neck spikes — a fashion phenomenon in his homeland — and secured a close second.
The spectacle resulted in some controversy as well. France’s La Zarra, who finished 16th, was seen making an unambiguous gesture of disappointment to the cameras, which she later defended to the French media. The UK’s Mae Muller, despite stirring the wildest cheers from the home crowd, did not fare well in the voting.
British contestant Sam Ryder, the 2022 runner-up, performed his latest song featuring Queen’s Roger Taylor on the drums during the voting for this year’s spectacle. He was previously narrowly beaten to the coveted glass microphone trophy by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, which made a reappearance to inaugurate the night.
Amid the jubilant riot of color and camp, a number of songs echoed the somber backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict. Switzerland’s Remo Forrer presented a plea for peace with his song Watergun, while Croatia’s flamboyantly moustachioed Let 3 performed Mama SC, perceived as a veiled critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin and broader human folly.
The finale was not without its share of political tension. A discord erupted over a proposed appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The European Broadcasting Union declined an invitation for Zelensky to send a message, citing fears of politicizing the event. This decision, in spite of Russia’s barred participation and the overtly political nature of some songs, drew criticism from the UK government.
With AFP