• Sweden edition
Society

Loreen takes home Melodifestivalen win

Published: 10 Mar 12 21:56 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39602/20120310/

Sweden’s contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest this year has been decided. The winner of 2012 year’s Swedish music fest Melodifestivalen is Loreen, with the song “Euphoria”.

The circus started six weeks ago, with the first of several semi–finals, but on Saturday night the very last leg in the competition was held in the Ericsson Globe (Globen) theatre in Stockholm.

As is the case every year, the weekly competitions have been watched by millions of Swedes every Saturday.

The acts have been the talk of many a lunch room and school yard, and many exciting scandals have taken place throughout February, from bad-boy actor Torsten Flinck groping presenter Gina Dirawi, to a number of newspaper headlines about author Björn Ranelid’s song about the miracle of love, as well as about his unusually orange skin-tone.

On Saturday night, the many hopeful acts had at last been whittled down to a final ten, performing in a Globe theatre filled to the brim.

The three presenters; comedian Gina Dirawi, actress Helena Bergström, and singer Sarah Dawn Finer, greeted the millions watching from home, and the live crowd, dressed in matching glittery skin-tone ball gowns.

In unison, they shouted “Globen, are you ready?”

And the crowd went wild.

Loreen’s song “Euphoria” was ranked as a major favourite by betting companies before the show.

Other performances during Saturday's show included the rock band Dead by April, power ballads by singers Lisa Miskovsky and Molly Sandén, rockabilly act Top Cats, and Sweden's favourite, the just turned 18-year-old Ulrik Munther.

The best stage show may have been tonight’s runner-up, Danny Saucedo, performing “Amazing” with glowing stage clothes, lit up by some reported 500 batteries.

However, it will be Loreen who represents Sweden in Europe in the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held the last weekend in May in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Clara Guibourg (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

22:23 March 10, 2012 by truthworthy
Congratulations Loreen. You rocked. Another good reason why Sweden needs immigrants to proudly present this multicultural country in the world stage.
22:50 March 10, 2012 by Iraniboy
It was awesome :)
23:28 March 10, 2012 by calebian22
Welcome to last place in the Eurovision. Well done again, Sweden.
23:52 March 10, 2012 by Iraniboy
@calebian22

You have a crystal ball at home?! Non-Swedish European audiences also voted for her. So it apparently it is only you who think she gets the last place! There is absolutely nothing wrong that you have a very different music interest but it is delusional to think that majority share your interests too! Just look at the votes!
23:54 March 10, 2012 by Valdemaratterdag
Loreen was too good compared to the other competitors, and she'll be too good for Eurovison. She's an international star, Sweden's Beyonce.
04:08 March 11, 2012 by minzi
I like the song, Euphoria. It gives me the feeling about Zen and Buddhism.
08:02 March 11, 2012 by calebian22
I am glad that my music taste is different than the majority that voted. The song is okay but that kung fu owl dance is a real downer. Her stage presence and her presence during interviews is like a crazy bag lady. Sweden will be disappointed once again in the Eurovision.
08:14 March 11, 2012 by Shawntooth
yes it was too good for a schlager song competition:) the whole lyrics and choreography were about spirituality, debatably about reaching euphoria through meditation and the big love......interesting to see that people loved it whatsoever:) having said that, i can see the song being remixed and becoming a hit on the dancefloors as well, honestly i really won't be surprised if she won eurovision:) love loreen!
08:48 March 11, 2012 by Ballcocks
Circus is the right word..
09:47 March 11, 2012 by philster61
Look forward to yet another hilarious broadcast on BBC
10:35 March 11, 2012 by saar
Who does well at Eurovision? Cute people singing simple catchy songs. Loreen has no chance.
13:55 March 11, 2012 by Abe L
No shocker, she had to compete with an ambiguous homosexual, a justin bieber lookalike and some folks who's acts would have been great a few decades ago.
15:33 March 11, 2012 by Achilles7
The first comment makes me cringe. There were a couple of good performances by attractive, blonde, Swedish women singing up-beat, catchy songs, and they would have represented Sweden perfectly on the European stage.

But no, we live in a post-modern world of deconstructionalism and change, where for some crazy reason people vote for the alternative, weird looking goth, with the bizarre ritual dance and the very mediocre song, for no other reason than that she's 'different' and people seem to respect that these days. What a shame.
16:20 March 11, 2012 by Beavis
absolutly awful (even by eurovision standards)wont get past the semi final thingy.. celine dion meets 90s techno's been done to death- just like boy bands and drag queens(Swedens last few entr) For once I think the UK will walk it with Engelbert Hunperdink on his electric zimmerframe- after all that is in the true spirt of eurovison..
18:24 March 11, 2012 by philster61
Will Engelbert be wearing his manly 70s sideburns?
18:25 March 11, 2012 by gpafledthis
SAAR you are of questionable reasoning powers !! go ABBA
23:04 March 11, 2012 by Spuds MacKenzie
Loreen is an ugly dog who looks like she wears curtains & bedsheets as clothes ....and her song sucks.

Why can't Swedish audiences actually vote for a SWEDE to represent them at EuroVision?! There were plenty of good looking blondes with catchy tunes that should've won.

Sweden is the most politically correct country in the world now. :(
01:03 March 12, 2012 by jamesblish
We've pretty much always had one of the top five songs. Problem isn't song quality, problem is there's a ton of competitors who have zero taste in music and are 20 or so years behind in their musical development because of the Wall. Sweden, Britain, France and a few other nations have always and will always be far superior in terms of song writing and general production than any other country in Europe, especially eastern ones.
06:54 March 12, 2012 by prince T
It is obvious that TL is full of blind racists. Have we not learnt enough lessons. The other time the lady rejeced by sweden ended up winning it for Greece in the finals. Anna did not mke it to euro finals and we all know that her skin colour won her the race over al sadre. Why must we always judge people by the colour of their skin and not the intergrity of their character. Sweden is missing out and we dont see it. Most brains trained in sweden are making it big elsewhere. It is a shame that we are yet to learn.
07:58 March 12, 2012 by OUIJA
Hanna FAL, reporter for Dagens Nyheter wrote on Sunday: "Loreen den mäst värdiga vinnaren någonsin" (Loreen, the most worthy winner of all times)? Her statement only proves how little she knows about music.

This so called expert, as many others now in Sweden, have forgotten that the best and most worthy Swedish music group of all times has been ABBA. They won the Melody Festival in Sweden back in 1974 with "Waterloo", and they won the European Song Contest the same year and they were listened already almost all over the world before that year.

Their music (Benny Andersson), lyrics (Björn Ulvaeus and Benny) and the beautiful combination of their voices together with Agnetha and Anni-Frid), made the group; a group which perdured over decades.

ABBA was, is and will always be the best that happened to Sweden in popular music. ABBA's songs will be heard all over the world for decades to come.

Who of the others have or have had the status of ABBA? Carola, Kikki Danielson, Saade, Lena Philippson? Who? LOREEN?

Which song has had the status of "Dancing Queen", "Take a Chance on Me", "Chiquitita", "Thank you for the Music", "Mamma Mia", "Honey, Honey", "Money, Money, Money" and ten or fifteen others, included "Knowing me, Knowing you", "The Winner takes it All", "Fernando" and "Lay All Your Love On me" from 1981"?

Do you really think that "Euphoria" will survive throughout the years to come?

Do you think that Loreen is and ever will be "the most worthy winner of all times"?

Do you think, as one of the posters wrote here, that she is the Beyonce of Sweden? Yes, and better than Shakira, Madonna, Whitney Houston (who, unfortunately, died recently).

What we saw on Saturday was nothing more and nothing else but a show pertaining to the Barnum & Bailey circus, with monkeys jumping here and there and with wanabee singers in a "Melody Festival" that has lost the taste of what a good "schlager" is.

Performers should go to Benny and Björn and beg them to write a catchy melody with unforgettable lyrics for them. Otherwise, Sweden will remain, as it has happened, in the last places and only the relatives of Loreen will vote for her.

We shall see, what we shall see in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
08:43 March 12, 2012 by Iraniboy
@OUIJA

You misunderstood that statement '' Loreen den mäst värdiga vinnaren någonsin" (Loreen, the most worthy winner of all times)?

They said the same thing when program was on air too. They are referring to Melodifestivalen competition not Sweden a whole. Loreen has apparently got the highest number of votes in any Melodifestivalen in Sweden so far.

@Achilles7

Welcome to Sweden. How does it feel?!

Anna Bergendahl was far more beautiful and catchy than the girls we saw this time. Although I personally liked her music too, she got very bad result in Eurovision. So your criteria is neither accepted in Sweden nor in Europe I'm afraid.
08:54 March 12, 2012 by SnowBunny
I like Euphoria but don't feel Loreen's song was THAT much better than some of the others. Does anyone else feel all the press saying she WON even before the final sort of rigged that competition? She does have artistic merit and I liked her humbleness when she won. I thought in terms of voice- Molly Sandens voice was beautiful while Danny was off tune. The song Amazing was a standup feel good song marred by his off key singing. Both Molly and Ulrik showed their true talent- not backed up by background vocals or a big staged orchestra or dancers. IMHO.

PS And to who ever is the costume designer...terrible. Curtains should be left hanging in the drawing room, not cut for the hosts or performers!
09:06 March 12, 2012 by OUIJA
08:43 March 12, 2012 by Iraniboy

@OUIJA

"You misunderstood that statement '' Loreen den mäst värdiga vinnaren någonsin" (Loreen, the most worthy winner of all times)?

"They said the same thing when program was on air too. They are referring to Melodifestivalen competition not Sweden a whole. Loreen has apparently got the highest number of votes in any Melodifestivalen in Sweden so far."

IRANIBOY: It is not a matter of "misunderstanding" anything. Why don't you read before jumping into conclussions. The "expert" from DN wrote: "Loreen den mäst värdiga vinnaren någonsin". If you do not read DN, that is your problem, not mine.

Your "They are referring to Melodifestivalen competition not Sweden a whole." means that you do not understand neither Swedish nor English. What is your language, Iraniboy?
11:03 March 12, 2012 by Achilles7
@Iraniboy,

I couldn't agree with you more; my 'criteria' are certainly not the norm any longer. But my question is how did this complete cultural collapse take place?
12:20 March 12, 2012 by Leonardo A. Romero
Hey, Loreen

We love you, too!

Nicaragua and Sweden,

Greetings!
12:25 March 12, 2012 by sarah02
@Achilles7

Please do not mention the post-modernism crap that people usually use because they're lost or closed minded. post-modernism is so 80s.
12:32 March 12, 2012 by Iraniboy
@Achilles7

We humans are easily bored of almost ANYTHING. Especially if we have an ordinary repetitive life with no serious challenge, we get easily bored and we are attracted to new things that can trigger Endorphins in our brain IMHO.

@OUIJA

Have you ever heard of contextual definition? I'm talking about the context of which this statement is referring to. Obviously when they talk about 'vinnare' or winner they meant the competition that is Meldoifestivalen in this case and not Sweden!
13:23 March 12, 2012 by OUIJA
@iraniboy #27

Please! Stop being plain stubborn. I clearly wrote the following:

"Hanna FAL, reporter for Dagens Nyheter wrote on Sunday: "Loreen den mäst värdiga vinnaren någonsin" (Loreen, the most worthy winner of all times)? Her statement only proves how little she knows about music."

The title of her "report" is very clear: "LOREEN, THE MOST WORTHY WINNER OF ALL TIMES". Either you dig this or you prove one more time that ther is something wrong in your reasonig.

The "MÄST VÄRDIGA VINNARE NÅGONSIN" refers only to LOREEN. There is no way that you can think that it referred to the competition.

If you read: "An American soldier killed 12 children in Afghanistan", it means only that "an American soldier killed 12 children in Afghanistan" and has nothing to do with the US Army nor the country.

So please, once more. Either you analyse what is written without pondering what they meant to say, or stop participating in these threads.

Loreen is NOT the most worthy winner of all times, whether you like it or not.
19:37 March 12, 2012 by klubbnika
@OUIJA

Hey Ouija, 28 years in Sweden and still can't spell "mest".
21:30 March 12, 2012 by OUIJA
@klubbnika

Hey klubbnika. I do not know how may years have you been in Sweden, but I know that you are quite dumb. I made a typo, but I did not know that this thread was about grammar. It takes one like you to know the rest of the herd.
07:24 March 13, 2012 by klubbnika
@OUIJA

A typo several times in a row? Not possible.

And I am the dumb? :D
07:36 March 13, 2012 by OUIJA
@klubbnika

Yes you are the dumb. But not only the dumb, the dumbest of all the dumbest posters in The Local. And it is certainly not the first time you are qualified as dumb by others, and not only by me.

You are a real NINCOMPOOP. Your mother failed while giving you birth.

Go back to the thread and stop arguing about grammar, you DUMB, dense, dim, dull, obtuse, AND slow
19:43 March 13, 2012 by klubbnika
@OUIJA

28 years in Sweden... It must be a diagnosis.

:D
20:50 March 13, 2012 by OUIJA
@klubbnika. Thought you were dead. Now, I do not know what to do with the black flowers. Can you tell me where your mother is buried?

The diagnosis of your brain proved to be that there is nothing inside. I still have not figured out how could you have survived until now. :D :D :D
12:34 March 15, 2012 by Jes
I would vote for that Oranged man with a hair cut that is like 50 years late .
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Eurovision in Malmö
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö

Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö

Emmelie De Forest of Denmark takes over from Sweden's Loreen as the Eurovision Song Contest champion, capping a spectacle that kept Malmö and the rest of Europe cheering on Saturday night. READ () »

Eurovision in Malmö
Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final

Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final

The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest Final is live in Malmö, southern Sweden. The Local brings you all the latest news, reactions, and details surrounding Europe's biggest pop music spectacle. READ () »

Sweden beats Finland in hunt for hockey gold

Sweden will be playing for gold in the ice hockey World Championships after dispatching longstanding rivals and co-hosts Finland with a 3-0 win on Saturday. READ () »

Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street

Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street

Three people were wounded during an armed robbery on a jewellery store in Ängelholm, southern Sweden on Saturday, with the robbers escaping on a yellow moped. READ () »

County council admits to buying out 'bomb man'

County council admits to buying out 'bomb man'

The Sörmland County Council in central Sweden 'accidentally' hired a convicted criminal who had served a long prison sentence for threatening to blow up oil storage tanks and had to pay 1million kronor in severance pay to get rid of him. READ () »

Man wounded in schoolyard shooting

Panic broke out at a Gothenburg school on Friday evening as one man was wounded in a shooting which could be linked to a violent robbery that took place in the area on the same day. READ () »

Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming'

Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming'

A 15-year-old girl has admitted to setting up the Instagram account that caused hundreds of teenagers to riot in Gothenburg last year, but her 16-year-old friend has denied involvement. READ () »

Scandal ousts Stockholm economics school head

Scandal ousts Stockholm economics school head

The president of the Stockholm School of Economics, one of Sweden's most prestigious universities, has been forced out in response to a scandal over his hiring of a high-ranking official who'd been convicted of insider trading. READ () »

More Society

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Scenes from the Arctic Council meeting, Eurovision demonstrations, and Stockholm nightlife
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision - Centre State: 'It won't be easy to win again': Robin Stjernberg
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
AP
SCIENCE & TECH »
Swedish friction experts unravel curling mystery
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Juanma Perez Rabasco
SOCIETY »
Swedish kids start daycare earlier: report
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Check out some snaps from Stockholm's bustling nightlife, and scenes from the Squvalp water carnival
Screenshot: Robinson's
SOCIETY »
Iron Maiden beer stopped over skull label concerns
David Shankbone/WikiCommons
NATIONAL »
US comedy star Amy Poehler to make Swedish TV series with her brother
WikiCommons
LIFESTYLE »
The Local Quiz: It's elementary: Water, water, all around
Facebook
SOCIETY »
'Sex scandal' minister bathes in viral toilet puppy love
Photo: Private
OPINION »
Swede of the Week Catta Neuding: 'Politics has no place on my theatre stage'
Flikr
SOCIETY »
Love columnist Emilia Millicent wonders if cyber stalking has become socially acceptable, because it's just too easy to do
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Illegal apartment rentals thrive in Stockholm flat crunch
Ben Grey/Flickr
SCIENCE & TECH »
Sweden 'second best' place to become a mum
YouTube
LIFESTYLE »
Video: Watch The Local's Oliver Gee get the Swedes to sing Abba music
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Abba museum opening ceremonies
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're heading to Stockholm's Lidingö to see inside a four-bedroom home
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?
Dixie Thomas Hughes
SPONSORED ARTICLE
US expat David V. Hughes on determination and discovery by design

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Stripes News

13 May 22:40

Week 20 matches »

"Div5 v IF Olympia Farsta: 2-2 Having come back from 1-0 down then 2-1 down, 10-men Stripes earned a worthy point from todays fixture. Lascelles took charge in goal after the keeper was red-carded and made some vital saves and interceptions. Robbie G scored from a low over head kick and then a penalty goal by..." READ »

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com