The Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year and the winner is Sweden’s Loreen, with the song “Tattoo”. Loreen became the second performer to win the contest twice; it was also the seventh win for Sweden, tying Ireland’s record for the most victories in the contest. Finland, Israel, Italy and Norway rounded out the top five.
This year’s edition took place in Liverpool, the joyous music competition clouded, for a second year running, by the war in Ukraine.
Britain is hosting on behalf of Ukraine, which won last year but can’t take up its right to hold the contest because of the war — air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine as the contest was underway. Under the slogan “united by music,” the grand final fused the soul of the English port city that gave birth to the Beatles with the spirit of war-battered Ukraine.
The sights and sounds of Ukraine ran through the show, starting with an opening film that showed 2022 Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra singing and dancing in the Kyiv subway, with the tune picked up by musicians in the U.K. — including Kate, Princess of Wales, shown playing the piano.
The folk-rap band itself then emerged onstage in the Liverpool Arena on a giant pair of outstretched hands, accompanied by massed drummers.
Contestants from the 26 finalist nations entered the arena in an Olympics-style flag parade, accompanied by live performances from Ukrainian acts including Go A, Jamala, Tina Karol and Verka Serduchka — all past Eurovision competitors.
Now in its 67th year, Eurovision bills itself as the world’s biggest music contest — an Olympiad of party-friendly pop. Competitors each have three minutes to meld catchy tunes and eye-popping spectacle into performances capable of winning the hearts of millions of viewers.
The three live shows were presented by British singer Alesha Dixon, British actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, with Irish television presenter Graham Norton joining for the final.
Italy’s Marco Mengoni also had a strong following for “Due Vite” (Two Lives), a seductive ballad with enigmatic lyrics.
Austrian duo Teya & Salena was first to perform with “Who the Hell is Edgar?” — a daffy satirical ode to Edgar Allen Poe that also slams the meagre royalties musicians earn from streaming services.
After that, the varied tastes of the continent were on display: the cabaret-style singing of Portugal’s Mimicat; the Britney-esque power pop of Poland’s Blanka; echoes of Edith Piaf from La Zarra for France; smoldering balladry from Cyprus’ entry, Andrew Lambrou.
In 2021 the Italian group, Maneskin, created a global sensation when they won in a tightly fought contest.
Having trailed behind the likes of Malta, France and Switzerland in the run-up to the final, they emerged as the odds favorite when it mattered most and then soared past their competition in the tele vote to clinch victory with their song Zitti E Buoni. However, the rock act’s victory was marred in some controversy as viewers at home said they saw lead singer Damiano David snorting drugs off the table in front of him. This year all the drama revolved around the war in Ukraine.
