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Loreen: “We need to recreate the staging in Liverpool, it’s really important for my audience!” | Exclusive Interview

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Eurovision 2012 winner, and this year’s Swedish representative at the Eurovision contest Loreen spoke exclusively at Eurovisionfun and Andreas Papagiannakis, all the way Liverpool, UK in the heart of this year’s contest!

Loreen sings “Until we meet again, cause this is not the end” and after all, it wasn’t the last time we’d talk to Loreen on March 11th, when she won the ticket to Liverpool, beating superstar duo Marcus & Martinus at Melodifestivalen 2023.

When asked if she is ready for her potential second win, second double (Johnny Logan, “What’s Another Year” – 1980 and “Hold Me Now” – 1987) and first double ever for a woman she told us:

“I’m not ready! I’m too focused! The only thing I’m ready for, that I’ve worked for, is to perform for all of you! And that’s exactly what I’m looking forward to and that’s what I’m focused on!”

Did she get stressed out by all the uncertainty caused by the staging restrictions of EBU, that didn’t allow her to have the exact same double LED screen (smörgåsgrillen, as I’ve called it) hanging from the Friends Arena ceiling at the Melodifestivalen final?

“We tried too hard to bring the same feeling on stage in Liverpool, if not what you call a sandwich toaster *laughs* at least a smaller version of it. I didn’t leave it up to my team, I always like to have a say and be 100% involved in solving problems that may come up!”

Eleven years after “Euphoria“, she believes that this year’s entry “Tattoo” will have the same impact in the audience;

“I don’t know at all, you are asking me this question but this is something I cannot control. What I do know is that I am trying my best to make something really beautiful for you!”

We challenged her to speak Greek to us and the only word she could think of was “souvlaki“, and then she added:

“A few days ago I was watching a video of a Greek dance, what’s it called? No, it’s not syrtaki! Tsifteteli I think, yes tsifteteli! I will learn to dance the tsifteteli! So when I meet you again we’ll dance together tsifteteli!”

She asked us and of course we taught her how to say “I love you, you are everything to me“! She can’t wait to see us, her audience, while she’s on stage:

“I am looking forward to seeing you all! I see literally all of you! I saw you in front of the Melodifestivalen stage in the finals too, that’s why I did that signal that I saw you before I started performing! That’s really my favorite moment before I start singing, to connect with all of you!”

Loreen remains the favorite to win, although she has seen her odds grow since the end of the rehearsals and Finland closing in dangerously close to her.

Sweden competes in the 11th place in the 1st Semi-Final on Tuesday 9 May.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

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Sweden: Loreen comments on her Eurovision 2023 rehearsals!

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Big favorite to win Eurovision 2023, Loreen, commented on her rehearsals and renewed stage appearance.

In an interview with SVT after her second rehearsal, Loreen said that she wanted to keep the same stage concept in Liverpool, bringing to the M & S Bank Arena the same vision she had in Melodifestivalen.

Due to the smaller platform, Loreen explained that she had to change some elements of her choreography, but also to get used to the new size of the structure herself.

The big problem, as was seen both in Melodifestivalen and in Liverpool, is the amount of smoke, since there is a risk of being covered by it.

It is the law of nature, everything is alive. And I like the way that you don’t really know, you can’t direct smoke anyway. Just as it is not possible to direct nature in any way, you cannot say Tree, grow! and expect it to happen.

Loreen remains the favorite to win, although she has seen her odds grow since the end of the rehearsals and Finland closing in dangerously close to her.

Sweden competes in the 11th place in the 1st Semi-Final on Tuesday 9 May.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

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Eurovision 2023: Second Rehearsal of Sweden!

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Today is the fourth day of rehearsals, the day when the countries participating in the First Semi Final will take over the stage for their second rehearsal at M&S Bank Arena, in Liverpool!

Next up on stage for their second rehearsal is Sweden and Loreen with the song “Tattoo“.

Who is Loreen?

Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, known as Loreen, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and this year’s winner of Melodifestivalen. Interested in becoming a musician, Loreen took part in the Idol 2004 television competition, finishing fourth. The following year she released her first single, “The Snake“, with the band Rob’n’Raz and became a television presenter on TV400. While working as a segment producer and director for several Swedish reality TV shows, she entered Melodifestivalen 2011 with the song “My Heart Is Refusing Me“, which became a top 10 hit in Sweden. She also had top 20 hits in Sweden with the singles “Crying Out Your Name” (2012) and her Melodifestivalen 2017 entry “Statements“.

Representing Sweden, she won the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with her entry “Euphoria“, which topped the charts in numerous European countries. She will represent Sweden in Eurovision for a second time in 2023 with “Tattoo“ which broke into the charts globally in many countries.

The Rehearsal

Loreen and her light box are back on stage – we were really interested to see the big screen version of this, as so much of it is filmed in close-up.

Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU

The stage and the LED screen is a sea of swirling smoke, and the whole effect is incredibly intense. It’s WAY more intense and dramatic than it looks in the arena – Loreen is NOT here to play.

Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU

It’s Loreen, so obviously this performance is tighter than that catsuit and more polished than those terrifyingly long nails. Sounds incredible, looks incredible – the perfect finish to a brilliant first day of rehearsals.

Source: eurovision.tv
Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU, Corinne Cumming / EBU

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Sweden: Smoking effect issues in Liverpool!

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The smoke chaos that befell Loreen in the Melodifestivalen continues in Liverpool. After an initial rehearsal, the Swedish delegation has demanded that the BBC solve the problems. The head of the Swedish delegation Lotta Furebäck and Loreen herself spoke about these problems in Aftonbladet.

The head of the Swedish delegation Lotta Furebäck said:

They say that they “totally understand” and will work on it. So it still feels good

This is a first run, we have done this before. I think we’re on the right track, but it’s this smoke thing that I think we need to work on the most, which we’re not really getting to.

The Swedish representative, Loreen, commented:

I would say that we are getting quite a lot of smoke. It’s still a smoking party. We need to work on that. There are lots of details.

After finishing rehearsals in the arena, she spoke to the BBC to emphasize how important it is to solve the problem of the smoke.

Just now here before, I had a conversation with the competition producer about the smoke in particular. They say they “totally understand” and will work on it. So it still feels nice. I feel that the BBC and the EBU really understand, they are listening and working on it.

Ahead of Sweden’s arrival, the BBC has carried out technical rehearsals, with stand-in artists on stage for the competing delegations to give feedback on.

We thought there was a lot to work on. They have really taken that to heart, so you can see that things are happening and that they are working forward.

It is our job to keep pushing the process forward. We want to keep the organic feeling, the cinematic and powerful that we had at Melodifestivalen. That is what is most important to us. I think we are well on our way to achieving that.

In the viewing room after the completed rehearsal, Loreen had a lot of comments about things that the production needs to resolve.

We are a whole team behind this. Robin (Hofvander, Melodifestivalen’s picture producer, editor’s note) on picture and so on. We are very keen that the vision is intact. What the Swedish people have sent here, it must be intact. So yes, absolutely. There is a lot that we talk to them about.

As far as the fact that the Platform and the LED screen is smaller than those in Melodifestivalen is concerned, the Swedish representative does not believe that it affects the feeling.

 I think it clarifies the narrative a bit. There are some inspirations. Nature, I’m from the Atlas Mountains. This is the tweak made to enhance some stuff. The podium is a little higher now than it was before.

Below you can watch a small TikTok video from the fist rehearsal of Sweden.

@eurovision Loreen ✅ Lightbox ✅ Liverpool ✅ #Eurovision2023 #Eurovision @Loreen ♬ original sound – Eurovision

The second technical rehearsal of the Scandinavian country is scheduled for today at 16:40 CEST.

Sweden compete from the 11th spot of the first semi-final on Tuesday 9 May.

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Source: Aftonbladet

Sweden: Loreen filmed her postcard for Eurovision 2023!

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Loreen, the representative of Sweden, finished filming her postcard for Eurovision 2023 that will be displayed before her performance in the 1st Semifinal on May 9.

https://twitter.com/bbceurovision/status/1653347378345259008

Filming took place in the small island of Enholmen near Gotland in the middle of Baltic sea, Loreen’s favorite place to be as she stated. From what we see in the video, the postcard will have a spiritual character.

The following acts have confirmed the filming of their postcards:

  • Albania – Albina & Familija Kelmendi
  • Austria – Teya & Salena
  • Croatia – Let 3
  • Cyprus – Andrew Lambrou
  • France – La Zarra
  • Germany – Lord of the Lost
  • Ireland – Wild Youth
  • Latvia – Sudden Lights
  • Lithuania – Monika Linkytė
  • Malta – The Busker
  • Moldova – Pasha Parfeni
  • The Netherlands – Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper
  • Poland – Blanka
  • Slovenia – Joker Out
  • Romania – Theodor Andrei
  • Belgium – Gustaph
  • Estonia – Alika
  • Greece – Victor Vernicos
  • Azerbaijan  – TuralTuranx
  • Switzerland – Remo Forre
  • San Marino – Piqued Jacks
  • Israel – Noa Kirel
  • Armenia – Brunette
  • Georgia – Iru
  • Finland – Käärijä
  • Sweden – Loreen

Loreen with her song Tattoo is participating in the 1st Semifinal on May 9, performing 11th.

You can also watch the reaction video of EurovisionFun on Tattoo below:

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Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun.com for all the updates regarding Eurovision 2023!

Eurovision 2023: First Rehearsal of Sweden!

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Today is the first day of rehearsals, the day when the countries participating in the First Semi Final will take over the stage for their first rehearsal at M&S Bank Arena, in Liverpool!

Next up on stage for their first rehearsal is Sweden and Loreen with the song “Tattoo“.

Who is Loreen?

Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, known as Loreen, is a Swedish singer, songwriter, and this year’s winner of Melodifestivalen. Interested in becoming a musician, Loreen took part in the Idol 2004 television competition, finishing fourth. The following year she released her first single, “The Snake“, with the band Rob’n’Raz and became a television presenter on TV400. While working as a segment producer and director for several Swedish reality TV shows, she entered Melodifestivalen 2011 with the song “My Heart Is Refusing Me“, which became a top 10 hit in Sweden. She also had top 20 hits in Sweden with the singles “Crying Out Your Name” (2012) and her Melodifestivalen 2017 entry “Statements“.

Representing Sweden, she won the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with her entry “Euphoria“, which topped the charts in numerous European countries. She will represent Sweden in Eurovision for a second time in 2023 with “Tattoo“ which broke into the charts globally in many countries.

The Rehearsal

So the light box is back, but it’s a smaller version than the one we saw at Melodifestivalen. It’s also raised off the ground, so the bottom section can be wheeled onto the stage. The stage and the LED screen is a sea of swirling smoke, and the whole effect is incredibly intense.

Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

It’s Loreen, so obviously this performance is tighter than that catsuit and more polished than those terrifyingly long nails. Sounds incredible, looks incredible – the perfect finish to a brilliant first day of rehearsals.

Corinne Cumming / EBU

Below you can watch a small clip from the Swedish first rehearsal, once it’s published on TikTok:

@eurovision Loreen ✅ Lightbox ✅ Liverpool ✅ #Eurovision2023 #Eurovision @Loreen ♬ original sound – Eurovision

Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

The second Swedish rehearsal will be held on the 3rd of May, when we will know how the performance will look on screen for the Swedish entry.

Source: eurovision.tv
Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU, Corinne Cumming / EBU

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss out on any moment of what will happen in Liverpool:

On Facebook

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Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments regarding the Swedish entry in Eurovision 2023!

Euro Jury 2023: Sweden is the big winner!

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For the 10th consecutive year, Euro Jury voting is here and includes former Eurostars ranking Eurovision 2023 entries.

The juries’ voting constitutes only the 50% of the final results, with the rest determined from an online vote.

After the jury votes from 43 countries, the results were the following:

Jury’s Top 5:

  1. Sweden – 354 points
  2. France – 237 points
  3. Italy – 186 points
  4. United Kingdom – 124 points
  5. Norway – 117 points

The results of the online vote were the following:

Online voting Top 5:

  1. Finland – 214 points
  2. Austria – 206 points
  3. Sweden – 205 points
  4. France – 165 points
  5. Spain – 145 points

Here are the final results after combining the jury and online vote:

Loreen with Tattoo representing Sweden is crowned as the winner, after topping with a great landslide the Jury vote and being 3rd on the online vote, only 9 points behind Käärijä.

This is the rest of the Top 5:

  • France with La Zarra and Evidemment(402 points)
  • Finland with Käärijä and Cha Cha Cha(307 points)
  • Austria with Teya & Salena and Who The Hell is Edgar(288 βαθμοί)
  • and Italy with Marco Mengoni and Due Vite(270 βαθμοί)

Except Euro Jury, Loreen has also won OGAE Poll 2023 for the 2nd time after being crowned as a winner back in 2012. In fact, Sweden has been topping OGAE Poll and Euro Jury for 2 consecutive years, having won both polls last year with Cornelia Jakobs and Hold Me Closer.

https://youtu.be/b3vJfR81xO0

Will Loreen manage to repeat her success in Liverpool and win Eurovision for the 2nd time? We will soon find out!

Source: Eurovoix.com

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OGAE Poll 2023: The results from Azerbaijan, Finland, Czechia and Latvia | Sweden is the big winner!

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For every year since 2007, OGAE International conducts the OGAE Poll, which includes the votes of its members from 42 different countries. After 38 countries having already submitted their votes, the final four countries giving us their results are Azerbaijan, Finland, Czechia and Latvia.

In detail, the 14 members of OGAE Azerbaijan voted as following:

  • 12 points to Sweden
  • 10 points to Norway
  • 8 points to Austria
  • 7 points to Spain
  • 6 points to the United Kingdom
  • 5 points to Finland
  • 4 points to Italy
  • 3 points to Czechia
  • 2 points to Israel
  • 1 point to France

These are the points from the 204 members of OGAE Finland:

  • 12 points to France
  • 10 points to Norway
  • 8 points to Austria
  • 7 points to Sweden
  • 6 points to Italy
  • 5 points to Czechia
  • 4 points to Serbia
  • 3 points to the United Kingdom
  • 2 points to Moldova
  • 1 point to Australia

The 50 members of OGAE Czechia voted as below:

  • 12 points to Sweden
  • 10 points to France
  • 8 points to Norway
  • 7 points to Austria
  • 6 points to Finland
  • 5 points to Italy
  • 4 points to Israel
  • 3 points to the United Kingdom
  • 2 points to Switzerland
  • 1 point to Moldova

Finally, this are the results of the 13 members from OGAE Latvia:

  • 12 points to Sweden
  • 10 points to Norway
  • 8 points to France
  • 7 points to Italy
  • 6 points to Switzerland
  • 5 points to Estonia
  • 4 points to Cyprus
  • 3 points to Finland
  • 2 points to the United Kingdom
  • 1 point to Czechia

The final results of this year’s OGAE Poll are the following:

Sweden won the OGAE Poll for the second consecutive year with 433 points, this time with Loreen and her song Tattoo. It is also the first time in Eurovision history that an artist has won in two editions of the OGAE Poll, bearing in mind that Loreen had also won the OGAE Poll back in 2012 with her song Euphoria.

In the second place and with 394 points, there is Finland and Käärijä followed by France and La Zarra. In the fourth place we meet Norway with Alessandra and 263 points and in the fifth place there is Austria with Teya and Salena and 228 points.

Cyprus finished in 16th place having received 14 points in tie with Portugal. Greece finished in tie with Croatia in the 28th place, after receiving only 1 point from OGAE Cyprus.

Could this be a sign that Loreen will manage to achieve the same thing in 2 weeks from now, winning Eurovision for the 2nd time and being the first woman who has done so? We will find out soon!

https://youtu.be/b3vJfR81xO0

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for more news regarding Eurovision 2023!

Source:OGAE International

Loreen: “There are things I had wanted to do in Stockholm that I think we are able to do in Liverpool!”

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Over the last couple of months, uncertainty had emerged regarding the staging of the Swedish participation at the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite the fact that the Swedish national broadcaster SVT had known the EBU staging restrictions for months, there was not a clear answer by the Swedish delegation on whether they will make any changes on the staging of “Tattoo“, in order to comply with the EBU rules.

A few weeks ago, Loreen took part at an AMA event on Reddit, where she revealed that all the staging issues have been resolved, removing any uncertainty about her appearance at M&S Bank Arena. But up to now Loreen had never spoken openly about the Swedish delegation thoughts on the staging.

Loreen has opened up in an interview she had with Expressen today revealing that they had several crisis meetings with SVT regarding the technical specifications of the stage of M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool:

A new stage always comes with other technical prerequisites. I have, together with SVT as a united team, had meetings discussing what is possible and what is not. What can we improve and where do we back off?

As usual, she kept a mystery around her final staging, firing up uncertainty and speculations shadowing her “Tattoo” Liverpool performance once more:

I won’t tell if there is a ceiling or not, you will see that on Sunday. There are things you can do now because of the larger stage. The equipment is different.

Finally, she revealed that there have been many ideas that she backed off for her performance in Stockholm that can be implemented on stage in Liverpool:

There are things I had wanted to do in Stockholm that I think we are able to do in Liverpool that can turn out really powerful.”

Like the number, Loreen is secretive about exactly how her outfit will look on stage in Liverpool, but gave a hint of what to expect:

It is quite an extensive number and there are so many details. Always when you have to create something, you have to “kill your darlings”. Now that we’ve had some time, me and Fadi al Khoury, my designer, have the stuff we didn’t have time to test. It’s a cinematic number so there’s a lot you can do.

This is actually what she has mentioned in one of her TikTok videos, that was published a couple of weeks ago:

@loreenofficial Let’s talk about “The Outfit” A massive thanks to the one and only Fadi el Khoury, who made this happen ❤️🙏🏽 🫶🏽 #FashionTok #loreentattoo #designer #eurovision2023 ♬ Tattoo – Loreen

Even though the resolution is still not public, an answer will be given at Loreen’s stand-in rehearsal, while her first technical rehearsal is scheduled for this Sunday 4/30.

You can watch the EurovisionFun team’s reaction to Sweden’s entry below:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for more news about Sweden’s participation in Eurovision 2023!

Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
Source: Expressen

Finland: Käärija reacts to Eurovision 2023 songs!

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Käärijä has reacted to some of the songs competing in Eurovision 2023.

In the video uploaded by the official UMK Youtube account, the Finnish representative reacts to the songs from Austria, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Croatia, France, Spain and Greece.

Although Käärijä’s comments about his fellow competitors were positive in general he has some favorite songs from this group which he would give 12 points.  According to Käärijä, the songs from Austria, Sweden, Germany and Greece are his personal favoruites from this group.

You can watch Käärijä’s reaction in this video:

And you can also watch our reaction by the Eurovisionfun team to Käärijä’s Eurovision song Cha Cha Cha

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for more news about Finland in Eurovision 2023!