Sweden had been topped total winners on the 2023 Eurovision Tune Contest, with a win of 583 factors.
- READ MORE: Eurovision 2023: Sweden’s Loreen on her return: “I’m far more current now”
Sweden had been the bookies favorite to win forward of the ultimate in Liverpool, with Loreen’s track ‘Tattoo’ having odds of 4/9 on bet365 to win on the day of the grand last.
The win made Eurovision historical past, with Loreen changing into the primary lady to win the competitors twice, following her victory in 2012 with the monitor ‘Euphoria’.
After the jury votes, Sweden stood in first place at 340 factors. After the general public vote, this elevated at 583. Finland and Israel got here in second and third place respectively.
Responding to her win afterwards, Loreen stated: “This feels superb. I’m began to soften! It was surreal at first I’m like ‘what simply occurred?!’ …It’s sinking in, it’s so stunning and I’m so grateful.”
Requested concerning the variations between she final received and now, she stated: “It’s a lot greater now and I’m so joyful about it…I like this neighborhood…and it’s going to develop, even greater!”
You possibly can watch Loreen’s efficiency right here:
Chatting with NME about her historical past at Eurovision forward of the competition, Loreen stated: “It began with the track [‘Euphoria’]… It was simply an embryo on the time, however I may sense that there was one thing with this track and me that was going to occur,” she stated.
“My preliminary response [to re-entering the competition] was ‘No’ as a result of I’m objective pushed. I’ve to grasp why I do issues: ‘Why stand on that stage?’, ‘Do I’ve something to say?’ However every time I stated, ‘Perhaps I’ll do it’, there was this sense of positivity in me. The method felt very simple and easy.”
Explaining the that means behind ‘Tattoo’, she advised NME that the monitor is one in all acceptance, and studying that we’ve got to endure the hardships of actuality to totally respect the world round us.
“It’s a love track and I let everyone interpret no matter they need,” she defined, “however what I’m making an attempt to say is that there isn’t any day with out night time, and there’s no love with out the other both. It’s all needed.
“We are likely to suppose that the grass is greener on the opposite aspect however if you wish to expertise this deep, genuine love, it’s a must to bear in mind that the wrestle must be there too. We are able to’t run off the second we really feel slightly little bit of ache.”
This yr’s instalment of the competition came about in Liverpool. Whereas Ukraine received final yr and would usually host beneath the foundations of the competitors, the continuing political battle meant it was held within the UK, who had been runners up final yr with Sam Ryder.
Nevertheless, the opening phase of the finale was devoted to Ukraine, with their 2022 entry Kalush Orchestra opening the competition with an emotive rendition of their successful track, ‘Stefania’.
The opening additionally noticed the band joined by musicians and well-known figures from afar. Throughout one phase of the track, it reduce to a clip of Ryder taking part in guitar on the track from on high of Liverpool’s Liver Constructing.
Different contributions by way of video included ones from Joss Stone, Miss Banks, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Princess of Wales, who performed piano on the track.
Elsewhere within the night, Ryder was joined on stage by Queen drummer Roger Taylor for a efficiency of his new track ‘Mountain’. Ryder final joined Queen on stage for a rendition of ‘Any individual To Love’ on the Foo Fighter’s Taylor Hawkins tribute live performance.
The present additionally featured a phase the place earlier Eurovision contestants paid tribute to Liverpool’s music historical past throughout a track medley in addition to a particular video message from ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus who paid tribute to Eurovision and its significance in ABBA’s profession.
The UK’s entry, Mae Martin, closed the finalist’s performances together with her entry, ‘I Wrote A Tune‘. The UK completed second from final with 24 factors.
Preserve checking again on nme.com for extra Eurovision updates