As the song contest gets under way, Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, home of Ukrainian expat Tvorchy.
Swedish singer Lorraine has won the Eurovision Song Contest with her powerful song “Tattoo” in an eclectic and colorful music competition overshadowed by war in Ukraine for the second year in a row.
The Stockholm singer beat out acts from 25 other countries on Saturday night to win the continent’s pop title at the UK’s Liverpool competition.
Finnish singer Käärijä came second in a close battle with northern neighbours.
Lorraine scored 583 points after the audience and jury votes were combined, narrowly beating Käärijä who scored 526.
Loreen previously won Eurovision in 2012 and is only the second artist to win the award twice, after Ireland’s Johnny Logan in the 1980s. The victory also ties Sweden with Ireland as the country with the most wins, with seven wins each.
The UK hosted Eurovision this year on behalf of Ukraine, which won last year but could not exercise its right to stage the contest due to the Russian invasion and ongoing war.
As Eurovision gets underway, Russian missiles hit the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, which features electro-pop duo Tvorchi, this year’s contestants from Ukraine. Writing on Telegram, local authorities said the attack targeted warehouses owned by commercial establishments and a religious organization, injuring two people.
Tvorchi said this week that they hope to highlight their country’s struggle for freedom by performing their song “Heart of Steel,” which is inspired by Ukrainian forces defending the devastated city of Mariupol against an overwhelming Russian. Onslaught.
The Ukrainian entry placed sixth in the competition.
TVORCHI performed the song “Heart of Steel”, inspired by the Ukrainian defenders of the now destroyed city of Mariupol.https://t.co/uWTvDKTuaB
– KyivIndependent May 13, 2023
The Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra garnered a huge wave of support from across Europe for winning the competition last year.
Under the theme ‘United by Music’, this year’s song contest combined the spirit of Liverpool – the English port city that gave birth to the Beatles – with that of war-torn Ukraine.
The sights and sounds of Ukraine were played out throughout the show, starting with the opening act that showed the winners of the 2022 Kalush Orchestra singing and dancing on the Kiev Underground, with UK musicians choosing the tune – including Kate, Princess of Wales, on display. I play the piano.
Then the popular rap group themselves appeared on stage at the Liverpool Arena on a giant pair of outstretched hands, accompanied by throngs of drums.
Liverpool has embraced Eurovision and Ukraine, with businesses across the city flying Ukrainian flags and a program of cultural events introducing locals to the arts, music and food of the Eastern European country.
But the organizers said they refused a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make a video speech at the song contest, citing the apolitical nature of the programme.
Founded in 1956, Eurovision is a European cultural institution that has produced superstars — ABBA and Celine Dion are both past winners — along with performers whose careers have sunk without a trace.
Contestants from the 26 finalist countries took to the arena on Saturday in an Olympic-style flag display, accompanied by live performances from Ukrainian acts, including Go A, Jamala, Tina Karol and Verka Serduchka, all former Eurovision competitors.
Now in its 77th year, Eurovision bills itself as the world’s biggest music competition, a party-friendly pop music Olympics. Each contestant has three minutes to incorporate catchy tunes and eye-popping scenes into performances capable of winning the hearts of millions of viewers.
Lorraine was the favorite of the bookies and won the most votes from professional juries in the complex Eurovision voting system.
Around 6,000 fans watched the show inside the arena, tens of thousands more in the Liverpool Supporters’ Area and at events on the big screen across the UK.
The estimated global television audience is 160 million.
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