In a historic win, Swedish singer Loreen has become the first woman to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Loreen won the coveted title with her spellbinding pop ballad “Tattoo,” beating out 25 other nations at the final held on Saturday night.
This is not the first time Loreen has captured the hearts of the jury and the public. She previously won the competition for Sweden in 2012 and has since become an enduring icon of the Eurovision world.
The event, which was held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England, was a tribute to the resilience of war-torn Ukraine, and its theme for the 2023 contest was “united by music.” It is noteworthy that, due to the ongoing conflict, last year’s winner, Ukraine, was unable to host the event, and hence the UK stepped in to do so.
Loreen’s mesmerizing performance saw her standing between two illuminated platforms as she sang her anthem with passion and conviction. “You’re stuck on me like a tattoo-hoo-hoo,” she belted out, captivating the audience with her soulful voice. Her classic pop pick was a welcome change from the flamboyant and fantastical acts that have been dominant in recent years.
After her momentous victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, the singer expressed her overwhelming emotions in a press conference held right after the show. “The only thing I feel right now is so much love. Not in my wildest dreams did I think this was going to happen,” she shared with the media.
Sweden has now won the Eurovision Song Contest seven times, joining Ireland as the country with the highest number of Eurovision victories. The first Swedish act to win the contest was ABBA in 1974 with their hit song “Waterloo.” Prior to Loreen’s victory in 2023, Sweden last won in 2015 with Måns Zelmerlöw’s “Heroes.” The only other artist to win the competition twice is Ireland’s Johnny Logan, who was victorious in 1980 and 1987.
Runner up
Finland rapper Käärijä, who gained fame this year with his song “Cha Cha Cha” and distinctive spikey black trousers paired with green bolero sleeves, placed second with a total of 526 points.