Javier Herrero
Liverpool (United Kingdom) (EFE) the first woman with two wins in its 67-year history.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way, but yes, I am a woman and winning would be something positive if it inspires other women to understand their power,” she told EFE in an interview just over 48 hours before the final. to be held in Liverpool (United Kingdom).
Winner of the 2012 contest with “Euphoria”
His victory, the seventh for Sweden, would see Sweden tie with Ireland as the top Eurovision powerhouse, but also equal the record that Irishman Johnny Logan achieved some 40 years ago as the only artist with two trophies.
Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui (Stockholm, 1983) already made history when she raised the crystal microphone in 2012 with “Euphoria”, a song that managed to transcend the popular imagination beyond the limits of the festival and that had an iconic staging . Why risk that capital with a new foray?
“In life I am guided by positive energy and a series of things happened in my life that led me to make the decision, such as a great song appearing, although then I did not think at all about the Melodifestivalen or Eurovision. Someone proposed it to me then and my reaction was: ‘How??’ But I realized that I felt a positive energy if I let myself be carried away by the idea, ”he recalls.
He fell in love with “Tattoo”, the theme to which he alludes, “the spirituality of its structure”. “It starts from a very soft place and builds and builds until it explodes in the chorus. That’s my way of singing and feeling the music, like in ‘Euphoria,’” she points out.
Loreen, immovable favorite of Eurovision
Regarding the similarities with “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA or “Flying Free” by Pont Aeri, he discards any preconceived intention.
“When it came out it was just a demo, but it was a living tune and when we went into the studio, we did it without any plan. Only once it was finished did they point out the similarities, but then we think that if things happen it’s for a reason, ”she argues.
Since her election in the Swedish preselection, the famous Melodifestivalen, Loreen has remained immovable as the great favorite of the bookmakers, something that does not take away her sleep or attention, she says.
“I don’t think much about that pressure. I learned my discipline from my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother. I think that each person has a purpose in life and that mine is to give this music to people. I see happiness when I’m on stage and that’s my only focus. I don’t want anything else to distract me ”, affirms this artist with Berber roots with a big smile.
Reduced staging
Al Melodifestivalen presented a spectacular staging with a gigantic double plate -or “sandwich” as it is known-, but the peculiarities of the Liverpool Arena, the venue for the festival, prevented it from being moved as is, so its size was substantially reduced. “In the end, that doesn’t change the narrative, which is the most important thing,” he argues.
Loreen begins her performance lying between the two plates, plunged into a sentimental heartbreak, but ends up erect as a stubborn Atlas capable of lifting all the weight in the world and later reveals herself as a kind of sorceress with very long nails and henna tattoos who becomes the owner of Storm.
“There are many symbols in acting and that is one. For me vulnerability is the key and being able to show it really makes you bulletproof”, agrees.
That same process from fragility to empowerment can also be seen in the performance of the Spanish candidate, Blanca Paloma, and her “ancestral way of singing, so beautiful and powerful.” “Every time she performs, I ask for silence and, if she wanted to, of course I would sing with her,” he says, before announcing that this year there will be “new music” from her part.