Eurovision 2023: Sweden’s Loreen wins for second time

Sweden’s Loreen gained Eurovision 2023 with the music “Tattoo” on Saturday (Might 13), turning into the primary lady to triumph twice within the contest.

Finland’s Käärijä, a green-bolero-sleeved rapper, got here second on the occasion held in Liverpool, northern England. He gained the viewer vote with “Cha Cha Cha”, however it was not sufficient to overhaul Loreen’s lead after the consequence from the juries within the 37 taking part international locations.

“I’m critically overwhelmed,” Loreen informed reporters.

Evaluating her win to 2012, she stated: “It is like coming again to a household.”

Loreen is the one individual after Eire’s Johnny Logan to win the competition twice, and her victory places Sweden degree with Eire as probably the most profitable Eurovision nation, 49 years after Abba’s well-known victory.

The 67th version of the musical competition was held within the “Metropolis of Pop” on behalf of Ukraine, final 12 months’s winner, which was unable to host this 12 months due to Russia’s invasion.

Organisers needed to stroll a tightrope between placing Ukraine centrestage and steering away from any overt political messages, which aren’t allowed within the contest.

Kalush Orchestra, 2022’s winner, combined video recorded in Ukraine with reside efficiency in Liverpool in a gap sequence that included a cameo look from Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, taking part in the piano.

However as the competition was underway, Russian missiles hit the western Ukrainian metropolis of Ternopil, dwelling to electro-pop duo Tvorchi, this 12 months’s entry from the nation.

Native authorities, writing on Telegram, stated the strike had injured two folks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was barred from addressing worldwide viewers – who numbered 160 million final 12 months – by contest organiser the European Broadcasting Union.

It stated that granting his request, which was made with “laudable intentions”, can be towards the non-political nature of the occasion and its guidelines prohibiting making political statements.

Nonetheless, the present, watched by hundreds in individual on the banks of the River Mersey and by hundreds of thousands on TV, was infused with the spirit of Ukraine, notably in a rendition of “You will By no means Stroll Alone”, collectively sung within the enviornment and in Ukraine, and which introduced many within the viewers to tears.

The 26 acts within the last spanned musical types from ballads to heavy rock to rap, and included a handful of weird performances that the competition is famend for.

Germany completed backside of the desk, simply behind Britain, however no nation obtained the dreaded “nul factors.”

Pam Minto, a 37-year-old help employee, stated she hoped her metropolis did Ukraine proud.

“We have simply beloved the entire occasion proper throughout Liverpool from begin to end. It is simply been wonderful,” she stated.