Swedish singer Loreen achieved victory in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with her captivating power ballad “Tattoo.” The competition, renowned for its colorful and eclectic music performances, was once again overshadowed by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Representing Stockholm, Loreen surpassed acts from 25 other countries to claim the coveted pop crown at the final event held in Liverpool.
The competition witnessed a closely fought battle, especially among the Nordic neighbors, and Finnish singer Käärijä secured a strong second place.
With this win, Loreen, aged 39, became only the second performer in Eurovision history to claim the prize twice, following in the footsteps of Ireland’s Johnny Logan in the 1980s. This victory also marked Sweden’s seventh Eurovision triumph, matching the record set by Ireland.
“I am seriously overwhelmed,” Loreen said. “This is so beautiful.”
She said returning to the contest that helped make her a star was “like coming back to a family. We’ve had an 11-year-long relationship. We know each other by now.”
Britain hosted Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, which won last year but couldn’t take up its right to hold the contest because of the war. Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine as the contest was underway, and Ukrainian media reported a strike in Ternopil, home town of Ukraine’s Eurovision entry, Tvorchi.
Under the slogan “united by music,” Eurovision final fused the soul of the English port city that birthed 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.
