Is Loreen the new Lady Gaga? According to Aftonbladet, the MTV executive Bruce Gillmer hails Loreen. ‘She has an incredible potential,’ he says to Nöjesbladet.
The only thing that is longer than his title is his list of merits. Bruce Gilmer is the VP for Music, Talent Programming and Events at MTV. One of the most senior staff at the channel. He has participated in creating the success for super stars such as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.
Enormous Potential
At the moment, Bruce Gillmer is visiting Gothenburg to participate in the event MTV World Stage. He hails Swedish Loreen, who was part of the line-up of yesterday’s free concert.
“We saw her winning the Eurovision. Her name is really hot in Europe, so we we’re immediately attracted to her. We believe that she has an incredible potential to grow,” he says.
He and the rest of the MTV team was planning for the MTV World Stage line-up.
“We were looking for super hot, relevant Swedish artists. Loreen sort of happened at the time we were discussing. Quite suddenly, we just needed to have her there. When nine thousand people show up to see one artist in that way, when she returned from the Eurovision, you know that’s for real,” he says to Nöjesbladet. I reported on the Arlanda airport crowd and the following tribute at Hötorget.
Possible collaboration
Bruce Gillmer believes that the singer has great potential in international success. He’s not excluding a possible collaboration with MTV.
“I never want to say that I’m sure as I don’t really know. But if things develop the way that they are now, there’s a great potential in a long and frutitious partnership,” Bruce Gillmer says.
Pushed Lady Gaga
With more than 25 years in the business, Bruce Gillmer knows what he’s talking about. He was responsible for letting Lady Gaga appear on the event “Isle of MTV” at Malta.
“That was when her first album had just been released. Many people were unsure if she would be a successful act in the long run, she sounded like Madonna and some thought she wouldn’t last two weeks. But we invested in her early on,” Gillmer says. Five years later and the rest is history.
Further read the reporting on Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ success. Her hit was just dethroned from the Swedish download chart by none other than Justin Bieber whose back with ‘All Around the World.’ ‘Euphoria’ currently sits at No.4 on the official Swedish singles chart.
It has still not been decided what arena will host the ESC (Eurovision Song Contest) 2013, according to Aftonbladet. It will take place May 14-18 next year and the other day Gothenburg dropped out. Stockholm/Solna’s attempt in getting the final was also backed up by an opinion piece in SvD.
According to DN, Loreen remains in the UK top 20 and ‘Euphoria’ takes reverse its decline on the official streaming chart.
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RaChEl_R86 || Filed Under:
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Jun 28 || Comments Off
Loreen will be driving in a Mercedes cab around Sweden this summer. Here’s the clip that shows the Eurovision-winner choosing between the rides at her sponsor.
- She drives an SL now, but will use a summer car in the coming months, says Urban Qvarnström, director of Mercedes car sales in Stockholm.
The Västerås-based company Streamline/Prolounge has made the clip where Västerås’ own superstar Loreen gets to choose a car at Mercedes in Danderyd. The film was recorded after the victory in Melodifestivalen, but before the win in Eurovision.
Mercedes has a cooperative contract with Loreen’s record company Radar Music.
- It’s a great feeling. We felt that she’s hitting the right target group. She’s a good role model, an open and warm person. It’s a win-win situation. She gets to drive a nice car and for us it’s fun that she will be seen with a Mercedes, says Urban Qvarnström.
- It’s also important to her to own a car, since it’s hard for her to use the public transport due to all the commotion around her.
The car that she chooses in the clip, was that the car she really went for?
- Well, no, she changed her mind. She drives an SL now, but will drive a summer car sometime soon. She’s flexible.
Translated by: Christine
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RaChEl_R86 || Filed Under:
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Jun 25 || Comments Off
Translated by: Lisa // English Revision by: Roseanna
Translation available by clicking on cc under the video. If that doesn’t work, try updating your adobe flash :)
Loreen has gone out with that she will engage in the local situation, while in Azerbaijan. On Friday, she took the first step on a women’s center in Baku. See Loreen’s reaction during the emotionally charged visit in the clip above.
On Friday, the Swedish Eurovision artist got into the circle of women on a back street in the Azerbaijani capital. The young women belonging to Azerbaijan Feminist Group and Loreen met to talk about their situation and receive support.
In the middle of them, Loreen sat down and talked about the importance of fighting for a change, for a better situation.
‘Not like other pop stars’
Pervana Mammadova is a founding member of Yuva Humanitarian Centre, as a feminist belongs to the group.
- Loreen is not like other pop stars. Seeing a woman on stage who cares about this is important to us. In Azerbaijan successful women don’t admit that they are feminists, said Mammadova during the visit.
The center is supported by the Swedish organization Woman to woman, and teaches, among other things, feminism, and communication.
- For women who come to us this is a safe place where they can talk about things they can never talk about otherwise, told Mammadova.
Family determined routing
One of the women who visited the center on that day was the 24-year-old Sabina Nazarova. Her dream of becoming an architect has been stopped by the family, which forced her to instead study economics. Loreen asked her what would happen if she didn’t choosed what they want.
- ‘My family would take away everything’, it was the answer.
Light Spirit of situation
But this situation is changing for better. Those present could tell that nowadays it’s possible to get a degree in Gender Studies at Baku University. Ayten Mammadova works as a reporter and told me that she often writes on gender issues.
- The problem is not the law, for that men and women are equal. The problem lies in people’s way of thinking and that comes from families, she said.
In the upcoming days, several more visits to vulnerable groups in Azerbaijan are waiting for Loreen.
Congratulations Loreen, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012! How does winning the contest for Sweden with your song, Euphoria, make you feel?
It made me happy, mostly because I – together with my crew – created something that is not so typically Eurovision. It was different and I was happy because so many countries gave us points, even if it was 3 points, 1 point it didn’t really matter, because each country that gave a point understood what I tried to say. It was simple but it worked.
It certainly did! What do you think made your performance so different?
What I did basically was not wear any make-up, the clothes were nothing special. I was barefoot. I didn’t want to use any effects, light-wise. I just created this little podium, this little platform in the middle of a huge stage where I moved however I wanted…So that was basically my message to tell; “Look at me, I am standing here being true to myself but I don’t need all these effects. I am just simple and me.”
And that’s why all of Europe thought you were amazing! Have you always wanted to perform?
I always wanted to sing. Whenever I wanted to get away, I sang. My first public thing was eight years ago – Idols [A Swedish talent competition]. That taught me a lot of things, then after that I worked on my own way of singing. It took me eight years. I didn’t want to come out of anything until I’d finished. So I am new, but at the same time I am not new. Last year was my first single.
Euphoria is a really powerful and unique song. How did you find your individual sound?
It doesn’t matter if you are an artist or not, we are all different in whatever we do. I like to create a fusion between club music, electronic sounds and organic sounds like acoustic stuff, like in Euphoria.
What would be your five top tips for all the budding singers, performers and musicians out there? 1. To sing or to create music is almost like a play-art. If you really want to become good, you have to play. You have to let yourself goof. Fool around – do wrong things, good things, play around with it. 2. Be true to yourself. Forget about the fame part. If that is your focus then it probably won’t go well. 3. You have to love what you do and have fun with it! 4.Freaky is good. You know, being different. All those singers that might say – I don’t sound like Whitney. That’s good because Whitney is Whitney, you have to find your own sound. 5. It’s ok to be nervous! Everyone has their own way of thinking and their own opinion. There will always be people who like my stuff and people that don’t like my stuff. I can’t really hang on to that, I have to do my own thing. That’s a good way of thinking. There is only one of you – no-one is going to be able to do it the way you do it. I have my own way. So do it your way. Nobody else can do it your way.
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Jun 10 || Comments Off
Loreen finished 113 points ahead of her nearest rival in Eurovision 2012 and Sweden’s winner says it was all about hard work and dedication.
DID YOU THINK YOU MIGHT WIN EUROVISION BEFORE THE COMPETITION STARTED?
No, I didn’t, but we all worked so hard beforehand. Even the days before we were working our butts off and other singers were relaxing by the pool. We were rehearsing so much. I did feel we deserved it. I don’t think people realise how much work goes into a Eurovision entry. It’s six months of your life.
AN ESTIMATED 200 MILLION PEOPLE WATCH EUROVISION. WERE YOU NERVOUS?
I was, but I always am. If I sang here now for one person, or for hundreds, or thousands or millions, I’m just the same. The nerves come because I want to create something good and I want the audience to feel something special. If I wasn’t nervous I think it’d be a bad omen. Something freaky always happens if I don’t feel nervous.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST HEAR THE SONG EUPHORIA?
I heard it last year. I already participated in Eurovision in Stockholm in 2011, but my song wasn’t selected. I told myself I didn’t want to do it again, it takes 100% devotion and time, and I wanted to concentrate on my own album, but then I heard the song for the first time and changed my mind. The songwriters wrote a song based around my material, so it actually sounds like a song of mine. I just knew I had to sing it and create something special.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? HAVE YOU FINISHED YOUR ALBUM?
I finish it this summer, and it will be released in September or October. I think people will be surprised, because Euphoria is very clubby, but there are acoustic ballads on my album, and other styles.
WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I live in Stockholm, but I’m a hippie. I live wherever I stand.
YOU SPOKE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN AZERBAIJAN AND GOT INTO TROUBLE WITH THE PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV.
My parents are both Moroccan, so I have roots there, and I know what happens when governments overlook poverty and corruption. As angry as I get at Morocco, there’s never been anything I could do about it, but it’s a responsibility of people who are followed by press and media to raise these issues, so I thought this was my chance in Azerbaijan. It puts pressure on regimes.
YOU COMPETED ON IDOL 2004, LIKE AN X FACTOR SHOW IN SWEDEN, AND CAME FOURTH. SOON AFTER YOU DISAPPEARED FROM THE SPOTLIGHT. WHY?
I had enough of being told what to do by people on the show; how to dress, how to sound and so on. I decided I wanted to learn how to write my own songs, produce my own music and do everything myself so I wouldn’t be bossed around any more. That’s what I did, and it worked!
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Jun 09 || 1 Notification
During Loreen’s winner’s press conference in Baku, a journalist asked the Swedish-Moroccon singer whether she would compete for Sweden in 2013. She responded by asking Christer Björkman what he thought, and he in turn said that they needed to talk things over. We at WiwiBloggs.Com would be seriously disappointed if officials at Sweden’s state broadcaster automatically give Loreen the right to represent Sweden again (Germany, you’ll remember, let Lena represent the country again in 2011 after she won Eurovision in 2010). If they do so they’ll have to scrap Melodifestivalen—Europe’s most highly-anticipated national selection contest.
More feasible is that Loreen would compete in Melodifestivalen, potentially with an automatic berth in the Final. Would Loreen be wise to compete? Team Wiwi thinks that would be a mistake. Here are five reasons why.
1) Loreen has nothing to gain. Girl has already proven that she can win, and she has already benefited from all the PR that comes with winning Europe’s largest and most widely televised music event.
2) Loreen has a lot to lose. People don’t have good memories. It’s a huge deal that Loreen has won Eurovision for Sweden after 13 years of ‘failure.’ But if Loreen crashes out in Melodifestivalen with a crappy song then she will risk losing her invincible status. Charlotte Perrelli has already gone down this route, failing to even make it to Globen this year despite her iconic status as a Eurovision winner. Loreen, don’t follow in her tranny footsteps!
3) Loreen’s career is much deeper than that of the traditional Eurovision artist. Loreen is a serious artist, and one of the problems with Eurovision is that it forces contestants to focus on the performance of one gimmicky 3-minute act. Loreen’s musical style is diverse, and she would risk pigeon-holing herself too much by selecting a new number.
4) Loreen has better things to do. With her new-found fame and musical aspirations, Loreen can easily kick off a European tour, and produce new albums. This will take a lot of energy and commitment for a star who openly states that she loves to sleep. So stay away from Eurovision and focus on what will drive your career forward!
5) Sweden has a better chance of winning back-to-back with a new artist. Even though Loreen has built a massive fan base throughout Europe through her performances this year, people don’t like to give the same person too much too fast. Sweden should vary things a bit and send someone new to the competition. This year’s Melodifestivalen is bound to be amazing — we would not be surprised to see a whole host of national stars competing for the right to perform at the Final in their homeland. So pick another celebrity and let him/her have a chance.
To the rest of the world, Sweden seems to represent all that is enviably European. Scandinavia’s largest country has a reputation for being stylish, progressive and glacially cool — in short, everything the Eurovision Song Contest is not.
So it may come as a surprise to some to learn that the Swedes take the annual song competition — occasionally viewed by some of their neighbors as a bit of a joke — very seriously indeed.
Unlike in many other western European countries, the privilege of representing Sweden at the annual contest is hotly contested, through a grueling series of televised heats which have grown to become more popular than Eurovision itself.
Melodifestivalen, a six-week, “American Idol”-style TV series in which established acts compete against unknowns for the honor of representing Sweden, has broken every local ratings record. Nearly half of the country’s 9.4 million people tuned in to this year’s final.
“Melodifestivalens is the Swedish equivalent to the Superbowl,” said Per Blankens who produced the TV show in 2006 and 2007.
“No other TV show gets the Swedes so rallied up. People put on dinner parties just so they can watch it together. They even get dressed up for the occasion.”
The show has proven an invigorating force for the Swedish music industry, reviving old pop careers, launching new ones and selling thousands of records and concert tickets in the process.
But why do the Swedes, often viewed as cool, collected tastemakers, get so worked up about a contest widely seen as having little musical credibility?
Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ has turned out to be the pan-European favorite as the ESC final in Baku draws to a close. The singer will, however, need to qualify for the final this Thursday. Few question that. In an interview with Aftonbladet’s Torbjörn Ek, the surging interest for the singer is quite taking its toll. “I just felt to be on my own today, I did not wanted anyone around me,” the singer told Aftonbladet. Being a favorite obviously mounts pressure on the singer. Loreen did get 670,551 tele-votes upon winning the Swedish final.´
Remember Carola’s Invincible in 2006?
Long-time Swedish ESC general Christer Björkman hasn’t experienced such interest in the Swedish winner since Carola’s performance in Athens. In 2009, Norwegian singer Alexander Rybak was close to collapse and actually canceled all interviews ahead of the final. He finally won the whole competition with ‘Fairytale.’
Christer Björkman, to Aftonbladet:
“I do not feel that Loreen is in the same condition as Rybak. But we will support her a lot as we see how much attention she gets compared to the other artists. We will need to be vigilant. A bit like what we did with Carola in Athens. To support her with air so fans won’t get too close.”
Baku Eurovision Song Contest Party Flops
According to a recent Aftonbladet article, a party in honor of the ESC participants turned out to be a flop. The artists were kept waiting for three hours in buses, food wasn’t complimentary and the highlight was fireworks that only lasted for one minute. The Swedish delegation with Loreen at the front left after 20 minutes.
Today, Sweden’s news daily DN publishes an article with Loreen where the singer reveals that she sets her sight on Svalbard. Alone. There’s not much serenity in the midst of ESC euphoria, she’d like to go there alone and see the glaciers before they melt. She finally share a piece of wisdom on what she absolutely do not want with her life.
“Live a lie. I do not like illusions, to be a piece in a someone else’s puzzle. I’d like to be the boss in my own life. To be my own manager.”
No Compromises
Loreen will compete in Thursday’s heat. Always driven by the mantra to make it on her own. In an interview with Svenska Dagbladet’s Harry Amster, Loreen says that “it’s a deliberate choice not to release an album. I am not somebody else’s product. I follow my own flow and have turned a lot of offers down. It’s about have the courage to be yourself in your own energy. You shouldn’t compromise. It has taken me seven years to realize that.”
A debut album is waiting in the wings, where Loreen has worked with the Swedish producer Kleerup. A superb choice, back in 2007 Kleerup managed to place Robyn a top of the UK singles chart with ‘With Every Heartbeat.’ In 2008, he released the No.7 hit ‘Longing for Lullabies’ with Neneh Cherry’s half-sister Titiyo.
Momentum is gathering and expectations for Loreen’s second rehearsal are massive here in Baku. Swedish press are buzzing and you can really feel the euphoria – quite literally. Loreen set the bar high with her first rehearsal on Wednesday. Will the PR juggernaut that is Euphoria push the level of quality even higher?
The press area was jam packed with both eager fans and the curious members of press there to cover this year’s Swedish phenomenon. What had begun as a day on schedule was heavily delayed by the challenging stage number. The wait was worth is however, as Euphoria is visually stunning.
Loreen took to the stage in her trademark flowing black trouser suit, with a lime green and black overcoat covered in long black tassels that seem to shimmer in the spotlight. Her backing dancer is also entirely in black, as are the 4 backing singers discreetly placed at the side of the stage 3 women and one man also in black suits with the women wearing black bowler hats.
The stage is completely bare, free of gimmicks. A black platform stands centre stage with Loreen atop. The single beam of light that illuminates the enigmatic singer serves to great effect, heralding the burst of almost lightning like light frenzy that is to follow. The lighting gives way to both piercing sapphire spotlights against the black backdrop interspersed with pinks and purples.
Loreen took her time before the first run through to warm up her voice giving us a few sharp bursts of song as well as going through the highly elaborate dance routine. The seemingly endless perparation time merely exacerbated what already is a tight schedule, leading to perhaps a 45 minutes delay.
The first run through was plagued with problems, both technically and vocally. Loreens vocal performance seemed somewhat jaded with her cearly holding back, the lyrics barely audible in parts with the backing vocals more than evident to everyone present. There were also problems with the snow effect that comes into play before the final chorus : at one point they could not get the snow to stop, leading to pleas from the crew “Please, no more snow!” much to the bemusement of both press and fans alike.
The staging of Euphoria is extremely minimal with very little fuss and clutter, and it is herein its beauty lies. From the initial sombre colours, Loreen’s silhouette outlined against the mostly black backdrop provides hauntingly beautiful images. The point where she falls to her knees and the snow begins to fall both from high above and on the background screen is quite simply stunning and to be honest, a stroke of genius. The dancer on stage accompanying Loreen is an integral part of the act, but here and there, his sharp moves serve merely as distraction.
The second run through served well to iron out many of the issues from the first run through, although generally the number was still somewhat lacking compared to her first rehearsal here in Baku. The final run through however seemed spot on both vocal and visually – standing there you could literally feel the force and sheer power of her soaring vocals. The other technical issues seemed to have been eradicated so all in all a solid rehearsal.
Mixed reactions from those present. Colleagues in the press room claim that the number didn’t come across well on screen at all and needed a lot more work. Some left the rehearsal saying that the number had become a car crash of a song, whereas others were confidently stating that we’re off to Sweden next year. It’s hard to be objective when describing the Swedish entry this year. Sweden have not been so close to victory for such a long time and the pressure that poor Loreen must be under has to be indescribable.
In my view:
Today was a mixed bag of rehearsals from Loreen where we have heard better performances from her previously, but her final run through gave me my first goosebump moment here in Baku. Achingly beautiful with a cracking contemporary tune and highly stylised performance I can understand the hype surrounding her song. I certainly wouldn’t mind going to Sweden next year and Loreen would indeed be a worthy winner that could possibly attract the contest many many more fans which is never a bad thing. Many write off Euphoria as a mere fan favourite and according to these nay sayers it will never win simply because of it’s fan status. I hope she proves everyone wrong and the problems witnessed today should be merely a temporary glitch that can be resolved in time for Thursday’s semi. Well done Loreen, for taking us u-u-u-u-u-up!
While the Swedes appreciate Loreen for her artistry, the men in Azerbaijan see another side of the singer. “They think she’s very attractive,” says TV host Nargiz.
Unique, artistic, talented and down to earth – these are some of the words commonly used to describe Loreen back home in Sweden. In Azerbaijan, the attention is of another kind.
- My male friends looked very much forward to seeing her because she is very sexy, says Nargiz Berk-Petersen, one of the competition’s three hosts.
According to her, there is constantly talk about Loreen, described as amazing, attractive and talented.
Compared to Celine Dion
But it’s not just the Azerbaijani men who have become aware of Loreen. On site in Baku, she’s the singer who attracted much attention from both the press, fans and other artists. Many speculate now how far the success story can be enough – and according to the Belarusian team Little Sound, it is far.
- She can beat Celine Dion with her voice. Celine will be very jealous, they say.
Even Jedward Twins are excited about their meetings with Loreen.
- We met her at the hotel and she’s so cool. We usually dance a lot to “Euphoria”.
“Don’t lose myself”
For Loreen has a sharp impact that came suddenly – but even so, she doesn’t let the success go to her head.
- You try to manage it properly and don’t forget what are you doing here. I don’t want to lose myself in all that. But I’m very glad I have people who listen to me and appreciate what I do.
Sweden is being tipped as favourite to win the Eurovision Song Contest, which gets under way in Baku, Azerbaijan, next week.
Singer Loreen, 28, will sing club track Euphoria in the semi-finals early next week – in which 37 countries will compete for the final 20 spots.
But veteran star Englebert Humperdinck, representing the UK, believes he could win with Love Will Set You Free.
“I think it has a very strong chance,” he said of the ballad.
The crooner, best known for his number one hits Release Me and The Last Waltz, said he believed the track has “a great melody, a great storyline and… longevity”.
“It’s a Viennese waltz and waltzes have a romantic feel and people usually dance slow to it. I think this has a great, great chance.”
UK bookmakers have Sweden down as the strongest contender for the Eurovision crown, with odds of 7/1 to win; William Hill is reporting betting odds of 10/1 for Humperdinck to take the title.
Humperdinck, who set off for Baku from his Leicester home on Friday, does not have to compete in the semi-final stage. The UK has an automatic pass to the finals as one of the contest’s five biggest financial donors – alongside France, Spain, Germany and Italy.
The 78-year-old singer told reporters that he is proud to be performing at Eurovision, which he said had provided “an uplift in my career” despite some comments in the press about his age.
“I don’t think age has got anything to do with the singing, with the contest.
“It’s not a talent competition, it’s a song contest and because of my experience of travelling around the world and being an ambassador for my country, I think it stands a good chance.”
Deban: This rehearsal raises the bar for all other entries. Loreen brings Scandinavian minimalism to life on stage in shadow and strobe effect. Her costume exudes the austere tailoring of Japanese design. The choreography is an art-form in itself, incorporating butoh, urban and contemporary elements. This is contemporary dance at its finest, against a backdrop of shimmer and shadow, and the flicker of light. “Euphoria” is simple, yet sophisticated. Powerful, yet understated.
The act largely retains the staging from Melodifestivalen. But the difference here is that she has three back-up singers. Not needed in my view. They sounded slightly off-key at times. However, it’s only the first rehearsal, and things are still being tweaked. What I love the most about this production is that all components are at a premium. Take the song, for example. The lyrics are well structured, the sound is fresh, the arrangement has several peaks within a melody that’s undeniably catchy. This premium delivery extends to the lighting, wardrobe, staging and choreography. Individually, they work. Collectively, they’re euphoric!
Loreen needn’t worry. She’s a serious contender to win this, and if she doesn’t, she’ll be in the Top 3.
Wiwi: I gave this song a perfect 10 when evaluating it for the Wiwi Jury, so I had high expectations when Loreen took the stage this morning. Unfortunately, she kind of let me down. In the opening bars Loreen’s mumble is almost unintelligible. It’s as if she isn’t opening her mouth or has chicken lodged in her throat. Also, during the first “up, up, up, up, up” sequence she and her back-up vocalists do not blend well at all. Rather than singing they bark in unison. There were also pitch problems throughout. I realize this was only the first rehearsal, and I have no doubt that Loreen will improve as the week progresses. But is it possible the front-runner is collapsing under the weight of expectation?
The staging, however, is on a level of its own. I love how her team has replaced the faux snow from Melodifestivalen with digital LED snow. It’s much more dramatic, and far easier to clean up. I also think that the somersault Loreen’s male love interest does in the song is fantastic. We see all sides of him now, and not merely his front torso. My one major concern with the staging involves the back-up vocalists, whom Loreen was forced to include. At Melodifestivalen she was able to pre-record her backing. But that’s not allowed at Eurovision. The head of the Swedish delegation has previously said he wants to “hide” them so that Loreen is in “her own little world.” Let’s hope that performing on an elevated box (which she is) will help the cameramen obscure the extra bodies.
When Alexander Rybak competed for Norway in 2009, he had a heavy favoritism resting on his shoulders. In fact, it was so heavy that few thought that he would win. But he did.
“Fairytale” won convincingly with 387 points, which is the highest score a country have ever achieved in the Eurovision Song Contest. Previous record holder, the Finnish group Lordi, won three years earlier with 292 points – nearly 100 points less than the popular Norwegian. In addition, Rybak also won in overall points of all voting countries, something that definitely is unusual in this contest.
What was it that made Alexander Rybak became so popular and, of even greater importance in this chronicle, how could so many be so confident of his win before the contest even started?
There is no absolute answer to the first question, but important factors are that the song stood out, that it representing something new, and that it was performed by a charming performer with a peculiar expression.
The second question is easier. The answer is simply that everything pointed to it.
Heavy reliance on statistics is often silly, too much of it can affect the outcome in a given situation. But if all the statistics are pointing in one direction, it’s often a good indication of what will happen – just as it did in the Rybak case. The Norwegian topped the odds and was the great snack ice on the net. And guess what? Exactly the same applies to the Loreen years.
Sweden currently has odds that are four times better than those for runner-up Italy. The OGAE-voting, where fans from all over Europe awards points in an organized vote, she has taken a grand slam and lies, after the 32 out of 35 countries voted, on 375 points. The Italian runner-up is currently with less 163 points.
On the internet, Loreen is always a theme, whose pre-video received millions of views on Youtube. While still on Melodifestivalen, she hitted the iTunes charts in several countries, and it’s played today on radio stations in the Nordic and Eastern European states. Looking at the press call-up in place in Baku, it is undoubtedly that Loreen had the most number of journalists waiting for an interview.
What anchors the many indicators further is the fact that Loreen go home at all. The fact that she works in both east and west, north and south, it is something we have already seen in the above-mentioned lists. But there is one to claim to be able to win the Eurovision Song Contest – you have to go home with the jury.
What brought Eric Saade last year was the support groups from jury were not at all as strong as the support he got from the people – the jury voted instead for runner-up Italy. This year I don’t think it will become a problem. We have already seen that there is strong support from the European music minor, which showed their appreciation by positive reviews and expert opinions. And they are as well willing to cast their votes on Loreen, there isn’t much that can stop us.
It’s perhaps dangerous to come by as this self-assured statements so early in the race – we have, after all, not even reached the finals yet. While it’s difficult not to get carried away when it looks this good. I look forward to the Eurovision in Sweden next year!
When Loreen made her first rehearsal for the Eurovision Song Contest on Wednesday, the interest was bigger than for any of the other contributions so far.
Journalists and others in the press center have attended rehearsals since the start last Sunday. Several of them came up to the Swedish delegation and said that the interest on the Swedish contribution was the largest in Baku.
- I was told that there has never been so many people here at my press conference and received positive feedback from several sources, says Loreen.
“A lot of experiences”
When Loreen met with journalists and the accredited fans at the press conference she was sitting with the Swedish Head of Delegation Christer Bjorkman at a large podium, as usually is with major events such as Eurovision Song Contest.
- This is the first press conference ever where I sit in this way. There are so many experiences now that are new to me and this was very special, but still fun, says Loreen.
Big Top
Media also indicated their interest to do individual interviews with Loreen after the press conference and she sat there for hours. Back at the hotel waiting for telephone interviews with Swedish media.
The advance polls have Loreen and “Euphoria” painted as a big favorite.
» 17/06 - Moraeus Med Mera » 21/06 - MTV World Stage in Göteborg » 27/06 - Karlskoga Festival » 28/06 - Borås » 29/06 - Västerås City Festival » 29/06 - Gatufest, Enköping » 30/06 - Kirunafestivalen, Kiruna » 07/07 - Gatufesten, Sundsvall » 10/07 - Allsång på Skansen » 12/07 - 21st International Festival of Arts, Belarus » 13/07 - Hasslöfestivalen, Hasslö » 14/07 - Grattis Kronprinsessan Victoria » 20/07 - Fallens dagar, Trollhättan » 21/07 - Vattenfestival , Orsa » 22/07 - The Rockoff Festival, Mariehamn » 25/07 - Malta » 26/07 - Helsingborgsfestivalen, Helsingborg » 27/07 - Motala Parken, Motala » 27/07 - Hudikkalaset, Hudiksvall » 11/08 - Efterfest, Ludvika » 16/08 - RIX FM Festival - Norrköping » 19/08 - RIX FM Festival - Göteborg » 24/08 - Eksjö stadsfest, Eksjö » 16/11 - 08/12 - Julgalan 2012
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