The Eurovision Song Contest is the funniest and most spectacular song contest in the world, one of the oldest programs on global television, in which almost forty countries face each year against Sweden to win the crystal trophy, the coveted prize with which the winner goes home. There is exactly one month left today for the grand finale of the LXVII edition of the contest to take place. And again it is impossible at this point not to put all eyes on the Swedish representative, in this case Loreen, the favorite to take the cat into the water.
Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, Loreen (39 years old), born in Stockholm but with Berber roots, is a true music star in the Scandinavian region. She and she is an internationally successful diva, well known at Eurovision, because she already won the festival in 2012 with what she is considered to be one of the best songs in the entire long history of the contest: Euphoria. It is, in fact, that victory, which remains very much alive in the retina and ear of every eurofan, the handicap that Loreen drags this 2023. And it is that the theme with which she returns to the competition, Tattoo, is comparatively worse than the aforementioned hit. And if even so the bets place the Swedish in the lead to succeed again in Liverpool it is not for nothing.
Tattoo is another pop whiplash, another perfect song and more than pleasant and effective for the most transversal ears, which is what Sweden has us used to every year. A country that since ABBA has specialized in that, in making well-rounded pop hymns; They come out like hotcakes, which together with some performers who always stand out for their powerful voices, charisma and scenic mastery, makes Stockholm the Eurovision capital on its own merits.
Seeing as the Swedes have plenty of catchy hits, it sounds easy. And it shouldn’t be. Without going any further, it is one of the keys with which Spain does not finish giving in its different selection processes of the candidate for the Festival. The Benidorm Fest in just two years has proven itself as the ideal platform. But in the January competition, songs with mainstream punch were missed again; only Vicco’s Nochentera has continued to play on the radio and online channels, reaching number one. And that doesn’t help.
Little can be added to Loreen’s hypnotic voice. What remains to be seen is whether he will be able to repeat the same impressive choreography with which he swept the selection of his country, which is based on a structure of almost two tons that contains a base platform of LED screens, who knows if You can settle in Liverpool.
And intentionally leaving aside the representatives of Ukraine, the duo TVORCHI, who this year do not start as favorites but continue to arouse an excess of sympathy for geopolitical reasons that are not musical, Loreen’s neighbors are going, like her, for all. Brutal candidacy is that of Finland. Does anyone think that cha cha cha is a thing of better Cuban times? Well, it will be because she has not heard or seen Käärijä, the Finnish standard bearer. She has everything to sweep the televote. The song mixes electronic, rap, heavy metal and pop. There will be no more explosive proposal this year at Eurovision. And on top of Käärijä one can say more or less what is said that was said that was not said about Lola Flores: “he neither sings nor dances but don’t miss it”.
Another Nordic neighbor is not going to make it easy for anyone, Alessandra, who has been hitting it off, as they say, since she was chosen with her song Queen of Kings. Her proposal is somewhat seen already in Eurovision. But the formula works, no doubt about it.
And now what matters most to us: does Spain have a chance? Many. The bets place Blanca Paloma within a month of Eurovision between fourth and sixth place, depending on the day and time. It had been a long time since a Spanish candidate was not so well placed at this time, although last year there were already beginning to be pretty nerves with Chanel.
This classification in the bets does not guarantee absolutely anything and is nothing but a mere entertainment. But our representative brings to the Festival in this edition the most authentic proposal. The latter has pretentious connotations that take a bit back. But any fan of the contest understands that we are referring to a pack -music, song, interpretation, choreography- in which the artist does not need to cross-dress, defends a theme with which he fully identifies, does not abuse any kind of artifice and, in addition, with a heartbreaking vocal power. Recently, an expert from the BBC, the British public broadcaster, placed our Blanca Paloma in a top 3. Hopefully.
The United Kingdom, the city of the Beatles in particular, will host the Festival barely a week after the coronation of Carlos III. In reality, it is a shared venue with Ukraine, the winning country in 2022 which, for obvious reasons, cannot host the event. But the British-Ukrainian union will be very present in the two Eurovision semifinals and in the grand final. This year 37 countries will compete. And to the aforementioned candidates, there are some others who should not lose sight of, such as the Austrian Teya
There is still a month of trials, trials and errors, nerves… before the big Eurovision night. And the Festival, its greatness is also there, it always holds surprises. Right now the biggest thing would be, yes, not to see an artist as enormous as Loreen devastate on May 13.
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