Eurovision is known for its novelty repertoire, European pop hits and poignant ballads – and this year’s contest did not disappoint with 26 songs that battled to be the 67th winner of the competition. the coveted glass microphone.

Sweden won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with singer Loreen making history as the first woman to win more than once after first regaining the crown in 2012. .

The 39-year-old’s victory with the dance-pop song Tattoo also means that Sweden has held Ireland to become the country with the most Eurovision wins – seven people each.

Finland came in second with the hyper-pop-rap tune Cha Cha Cha by quirky singer Kaarija.

Finn, 29, was already a celebrity act in preparation for the final, arriving in his own custom sauna car and creating a storm on the red carpet in a puffer jacket only his signature neon green hands and high bun. .

The Israeli entry, sung by Noa Kirel and featuring the most vibrant dance of the night, came in third.

UK actress, Mae Muller, who sang I Wrote A Song, came in a disappointing second in the competition.

This will be a blow to the 25-year-old from north London, who is tipped to break into the top 10 with her catchy pop hit, especially after the UK’s success in the competition. last year.

While Ukrainian duo Tvorchi sang the Heart Of Steel contest, Their university hometown Ternopil was shot by a Russian missile.

Their entry ranked sixth on the leaderboard.

The night also has a surprise up its sleeve, with The Princess of Wales performs pre-recorded piano at the beginning of the program.

Other guests to appear on the show include last year’s Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder performing Mountain with Queen legend Roger Taylor playing the drums with him, Liverpool singer Sonia and Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus offering advice to those on the show. win contests in the future.

And of course, Eurovision is not just about winning, it’s about something much bigger. This year, more than ever, the contest is proof of the unifying power of music.

Read more
Zelenskyy will just want to thank the UK, says Kalush Orchestra
Ukraine’s Tvorchi on Eurovision, war and their message to Russia

The first time the two countries have hosted Eurovision, Liverpool hosted the event on behalf of Ukraine because the war-torn nation was unable to do so.

Eleven Ukrainian artists performed during the ceremony itself, with Ukrainian motifs and Ukrainian identity playing a central role throughout the night.

However, there was controversy before the competition, after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy banned from speaking at the final.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called his decision to ban his appearance “disappointed“.

The EBU, a group of national public broadcasters that produce Eurovision, said it feared his message would “politicize” the contest.

Despite the ban, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was certainly mentioned by other performers during the night.

Nods to the ongoing battle include action Ukraine Tvorchi Heart Of Steel song was inspired by siege of Mariupol, Let 3 of Croatia, who performed the anti-war song Mama SC! in front of giant nuclear warheads and Czechia’s Vesna sings part of the song My Sister’s Crown in Ukrainian.

The Kalush Orchestra’s strong opening performance performed Voices Of A New Generation, followed by their winning hit Stefania – a song that has been Ukraine’s unofficial national anthem since its inception. war – also draws a strong focus on the course of the night.

With a lighter fare, Eurovision’s love of novelty acts shined through with some real corkscrews on offer this year.

One of the most talked-about acts of the night – Austria’s We Need To Talk About Edgar Allen Poe – opened the competition, with singers Teya and Salena inspiring the great writer’s ghost to attack. public music players.

And while not all of the quirky performances see their ingenuity rewarded on the charts, the specials that rocked the audience included pop-metal repertoire. Germany’s Lord Of The Lost sings Blood And Glitter; The Australian traveler performed Promise while swinging over the bonnet of a vintage Toyota MR2, and Croatia’s Let 3 took off their pants and jacket midway through Mama SC!

Click to subscribe to Backstage wherever you get your podcasts

While it may all be over in another year, fans of the world’s most watched non-sports event will be excited for next year’s performance in Sweden.

Advantages in the field of organizing the Eurovision final – this will be the third time the country has hosted the task in the past 12 years.

But many will no doubt wonder if the shadow of the war in Ukraine will still cast over the film this time next year.