Swedish singer Loreen emerged victorious at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with her powerful ballad “Tattoo,” in a colorful and eclectic music competition overshadowed for the second consecutive year by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Hailing from Stockholm, the diva surpassed acts from 25 other countries to claim the continent’s pop crown at the competition’s final held in Liverpool. Finnish singer Käärijä secured second place in a closely contested battle among Nordic neighbors.
Loreen, 39, previously won Eurovision in 2012 and now becomes only the second performer to win the coveted prize twice, following in the footsteps of Ireland’s Johnny Logan in the 1980s. This victory marks Sweden’s seventh Eurovision win, matching Ireland’s record.
Overwhelmed by her triumph, Loreen expressed her joy, stating, “I am seriously overwhelmed. This is so beautiful.” She also reflected on her return to the contest that propelled her to stardom, describing it as a reunion with a family. She acknowledged the 11-year-long relationship she has had with Eurovision, emphasizing the familiarity among participants.
The United Kingdom hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, which emerged as the winner last year but could not host the competition due to the ongoing war. As the contest unfolded, air raid sirens were heard across Ukraine, and there were reports of a strike in Ternopil, the hometown of Ukraine’s Eurovision entry, Tvorchi.
The theme “united by music” ran through the Eurovision final, blending the soul of the English port city, the birthplace of The Beatles, with the spirit of war-torn Ukraine. The show incorporated elements of Ukrainian culture, beginning with an opening film featuring the 2022 Eurovision winners, Kalush Orchestra, performing in the Kyiv subway. The tune was then carried by musicians in the U.K., including Kate, Princess of Wales, who was shown playing the piano.
The folk-rap band, Kalush Orchestra, then appeared on stage at the Liverpool Arena, symbolized by a pair of giant outstretched hands, accompanied by a group of drummers. Contestants from the 26 finalist nations paraded into the arena, reminiscent of an Olympic flag ceremony, with live performances by Ukrainian acts such as Go A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka – all former Eurovision competitors.
Eurovision, now in its 67th year, claims to be the world’s biggest music contest, fusing party-friendly pop with captivating performances. Each competitor has three minutes to captivate millions of viewers with catchy tunes and spectacular presentations.
Loreen’s anthem of intense love had been the favorite among bookmakers and garnered the highest number of votes from professional juries within Eurovision’s intricate voting system. She faced a strong challenge from Käärijä, a highly energetic performer whose rap-pop party anthem “Cha Cha Cha” won the public vote.
Israel’s Noa Kirel secured third place with the power-pop anthem “Unicorn,” while Italy’s Marco Mengoni ranked fourth with his ballad “Due Vite” (Two Lives).
The contest showcased a diverse range of musical styles, including Portugal’s Mimicat with cabaret-style singing, Poland’s Blanka with Britney-esque power pop, La Zarra from France with echoes of Edith Piaf, and Cyprus’ entry, Andrew Lambrou, with smoldering balladry. Even Australia, despite its distant location, participated in Eurovision, represented by guitar band Voyager, evoking ’80s stadium rock. Croatia’s Let 3 presented a surreal anti-war rock opera, and Austrian duo