Liverpool (United Kingdom) (EFE) festival as the first woman to achieve such a feat.
Until now only one man had achieved it (Johnny Logan in 1980 and 1987) but thanks to the henna-dyed hand and sharp nails of this artist of Berber origins, his country has also managed to match the maximum record of seven wins for Ireland and the right to celebrate the festival in 2024, just as it marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s “Waterloo” coronation.
With 583 points in his possession, the turnaround that some longed for to evade the predictions of the bookmakers did not finally take place and the Finnish Käärijä had to settle for second place and 526 votes, followed by the Israeli Noa Kirel, with 362 The head of the table has been completed by Italy (350), Norway (268), Ukraine (243), Belgium (182), Estonia (168), Australia (151) and the Czech Republic (129).
The Spanish Blanca Paloma and her flamenco lullaby “EaEa” had to settle for 17th place out of 26, which leaves her far from the “top 5” initially predicted despite obtaining the best ninth grade from the professional juries, but with the lower audience.
KATE MIDDLETON, SURPRISE CAMEO AT THE GALA.
The gala started with a surprise in the video starring the Kalush Orchestra, 2022 champions: Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, sitting at the piano to accompany the melody of “Stefania” from Windsor.
The tribute has served to recall not only the general wave of solidarity with which Europe embraced Ukraine last year due to the invasion of Russia, but also that this still ongoing conflict is responsible for Eurovision 2023 not being held there.
This mission has been assumed by the British city of Liverpool, cradle of the Beatles and as such one of the bases of pop music, which has translated into a tribute to songs by musical stars from there, from John Lennon’s “Imagine” to by the Italian Mahmood to “You spin me around” by Dead or Alive by the Israeli Netta, going through “I turn to you” by Mel C by the Swedish Cornelia Jakobs.
With regard to the songs in the contest, yet another year chance wanted the first half to bring together some of the candidates for the main positions, such as the French La Zarra perched on an obelisk to sing “Evidemment” like an Edith Piaf in a disco music version or the always fine and elegant Italian Marco Mengoni, direct from San Remo with the classic ballad “Due Vite”.
In between, Blanca Paloma has come out to reissue the proposal that made her champion in Benidorm, wrapped up by her regiment of dancers and the gigantic fringed shawl of “la yaya Carmen”, a tribute to her legacy that draws from flamenco, the songs of the north from Africa and electronics until composing Spain’s most daring bet in a long time and perhaps for this reason the most risky.
Just one place behind Loreen has appeared lying down, almost crushed between two large horizontal platforms in a journey from defeat in which she ends up standing like Atlas and accepting on her shoulders the weight of the great favorite crown.
We didn’t have to wait long either to enjoy after his direct rival, the Finnish Käärijä with a very crazy and fun “Cha Cha Cha”, a cross between Rammstein and the world of Japanese “anime” which, as expected, later has swept in the televote.
The lack of such powerful proposals in this second part has left the ground level for the Viking frigate of the Norwegian Alessandra with “Queen of Kings”, and the gale Noa Kirel, nicknamed “the Israeli Chanel” for the scenic similarities with the Cuban-Spanish in her “Unicorn”, especially the somewhat forced choreographic display.
Little more to tell, beyond the abundance of electronic folklore and a little more rock thanks to Germany, Australia and the satirical combo of the Croatian Let3 charging against political corruption between missiles and underpants.
FINLAND BARRE EL TELEVOTO.
Roger Taylor, the famous Queen drummer, has been encouraged to accompany his compatriot Sam Ryder in his performance during voting time, the result of which has been known in the traditional order, with Sweden standing out as the favorite of the professional juries with 340 points, almost twice as many as Israel (177) and Italy (176), with Finland in fourth position (150).
Spain, which up to now was ninth with 95 points, has received a severe setback from the televoting, which has only given it 5 more votes, the lowest, while the great winner from the public has been Finland, with 376 points, followed by Sweden (243) and Norway (216).
Loreen’s triumphs in 2023 and 2012 and ABBA’s in 1974 join those of Herreys in 1984 with “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley”, Carola in 1991 with “Fangad av en stormvind”, Charlotte Nilsson in 1999 with “Take me to your heaven” and Mans Zelmerlöw in 2015 with “Heroes”.