Sweden Wins a Eurovision Song Contest That Showed Solidarity With Ukraine

The Eurovision Song Contest grand ultimate, held in Liverpool, England, on Saturday, was meant to be Ukraine’s occasion.

After Ukraine gained final yr’s version of the beloved, campy singing competitors, the nation gained the precise to host this yr’s spectacle. But with Russia’s invasion exhibiting no signal of ending, the occasion was relocated to Liverpool.

In the midst of a battle, and with thousands and thousands watching dwell, Ukraine’s entrant, Tvorchi, was among the many favorites to win this yr’s version of the glamorous and, typically, oddball occasion — an indication of the European public’s ongoing solidarity with Ukraine towards Russia’s invasion.

Instead, Sweden crashed the celebration. Around midnight within the M&S Bank Arena, Eurovision’s hosts introduced that the pop singer Loreen had gained with “Tattoo,” a dance observe that grows in depth with every verse.

Loreen was the bookmakers’ favourite for the competitors, because of each her catchy observe and Eurovision pedigree, having gained as soon as earlier than, in 2012. Her victory signifies that Sweden, a Eurovision-obsessed nation, will host subsequent yr’s contest.

Ukraine’s entry, the pop duo Tvorchi, completed in sixth place.

Eurovision, which began in 1956 and is now onto its 67th version, is the world’s most-watched cultural occasion. Each yr, entrants representing international locations throughout Europe and past face off, performing unique songs within the hope of securing votes from watching viewers and juries.

Britain’s public broadcaster, the BBC, which organized this yr’s contest, promised it might host a celebration for Ukraine, and in Liverpool on Saturday, the war-torn nation’s presence was inescapable. Eurovision followers walked the town carrying Ukrainian flags, and dozens of Ukrainian artwork installations could possibly be seen in distinguished places across the metropolis.

In Kyiv on Saturday, the occasion supplied a diversion from the battlefield. At the Squat 17b bar within the metropolis, Eurovision followers gathered to observe the present, dedicating their first spherical of applause to the Ukrainian Army.

Kyiv’s each day curfew begins at midnight, and the bar shut at 8:30 p.m. so that folks may get dwelling; followers couldn’t watch the entire occasion there. Still, at one desk, a bunch of pals sang alongside whereas they may.

“It’s a piece of happiness,” stated Olha Tarasenko, 24. Tarasenko stated she remembered Ukraine’s victory finally yr’s occasion. When Kalush Orchestra, a rap-folk group, triumphed, “I was crying, and felt like everything is possible,” she stated.

European solidarity with Ukraine was clear all through Saturday’s spectacle in Liverpool. It opened with a video of Kalush Orchestra acting on a subway practice in Kyiv, earlier than the band appeared onstage to virtually deafening cheers.

Later within the broadcast, Julia Sanina, one of many night’s TV hosts, went into the viewers and spoke with displaced Ukrainians residing in Britain who had been given heavily-discounted tickets to the ultimate. And, in a particular visitor efficiency, Duncan Laurence, a Dutch pop star, gave a rousing rendition of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” accompanied by a choir in Kyiv by way of video. “Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,” the choir sang, “And you’ll never walk alone.”

The present’s hosts and rivals had been cautious to not really point out or criticize Russia, which final yr was banned from collaborating within the contest due to its invasion of Ukraine. Eurovision is supposed to be a nonpolitical occasion, and overt political statements are banned.

On Friday, that rule stirred controversy in Britain after President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine requested to talk through the ultimate, however was rebuffed. The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees Eurovision, stated in a news launch that “regrettably” an deal with by President Zelensky would have breached its guidelines.

Shortly after the union’s choice, a spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain instructed reporters that Eurovision’s apolitical nature wasn’t a adequate excuse. “The values and freedoms that President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they’re fundamental,” the spokesman stated, in keeping with a report on the BBC.

Still, the nonpolitical rule was stretched to breaking level on Saturday evening, with a number of members performing songs that hinted at Russia’s invasion. During Tvorchi’s efficiency of “Heart of Steel,” the band sang lyrics together with: “Despite the pain, I continue my fight.”

On Saturday evening, even with Tvorchi’s sixth place end, Ukrainian tradition was on show proper till the tip of the spectacle.

After Loreen accepted the Eurovision trophy, Julia Sanina, the Ukrainian TV host, appeared onstage to thank Liverpool for being “an amazing host on behalf of Ukraine.” She then quoted the slogan of this yr’s contest: “We will always be united by music.”