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Sweden's Eurovision star Måns through to final

The Local Sweden
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Sweden's Eurovision star Måns through to final
Sweden's Måns Zelmerlöw is through to the Eurovision 2015 final. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Sweden's Eurovision hope, Måns Zelmerlöw, sailed through with his track 'Heroes' in a semi-final that was mostly lined with rock goth-inspired ballads. But will he nail his gnome fist bump in time for Saturday's final?

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As one of the favourites in the competition, the Swede's chances to make it through to the next round were perhaps never really in danger, and he was easily voted through to the final along with Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Montenegro, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Latvia and Israel.

“I'm so insanely happy and proud. And relieved. It felt great, super energy and I sang well. I was slightly too quick in the second verse, maybe, but nothing that will be noticed too much,” said the 28-year-old singer after his performance on Thursday evening.

Zelmerlöw's advanced digital effects act, in which he parades and interacts with what can best be described as a small army of stick-figure gnomes, had been hyped ahead of the competition. And despite being somewhat out of sync at the start of the song, he – and the gnomes – nailed it towards the end.

READ MORE: Five top facts about Sweden's Eurovision entry

Some of his main competitors in Saturday's final are likely to be Italian tenor group Il Volo and Guy Sebastian of Australia, which will be entering as part of a special 60th anniversary edition of the contest.

The 28-year-old singer himself, from Lund in southern Sweden, has stirred up quite the media buzz in Vienna, not least thanks to a saucy press kit featuring an image of him wearing only underwear released last week.

If Zelmerlöw wins on Saturday, he will follow in the footsteps of several other of his countrymen. Sweden is one of the most successful Eurovision competitors, with previous winners including Abba in 1974, the Herreys brothers in 1984, Swedish icon Carola in 1991 and Charlotte Nilsson with 'Take Me to Your Heaven' in 1999. More recently, Sweden saw young star Loreen take home the heavily sought out award for her song 'Euphoria' in 2012.

What do you think of Sweden's act? Let us know in the comments section below

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