“5 minutes before the performance I was still sure of victory. I didn’t win. Thank you and I’m sorry ❤️” @paidatonriehuja (Käärijä) on Instagram
The thing that makes me sad about the Eurovision results is that Loreen’s victory lacks everything that makes a Eurovision victory great:
A lesser known artist catapulted into stardom? She’s been internationally known for years.
Their country getting a chance to host after never/rarely doing so before? Sweden’s had it 6 times already.
An underdog taking the crown by being an audience pleaser? She was the bookies’ favourite from the start.
Eurovision being one of the biggest, most exciting things they’ve ever done? She’s done it all before.
None of these things are personally Loreen’s fault, and I actually feel bad for her that this win will be remembered as one that the public clearly wanted to give to someone else. But it does all feel extra slimy and calculated on Sweden’s part, especially given the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Waterloo just happening to be next year. It all feels very hollow.




