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Eurovision in the key of Celebration
Sweden's Loreen walking away victorious.
The Eurovision Song Contest
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2023 was the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, after Ukraine, winner of the 2022 contest with the song "Stefania" by Kalush Orchestra, was unable to meet the demands of hosting the event due to security concerns caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking after the result was announced, Loreen said: "This is overwhelming. I'm so happy and so thankful. This is for you".
Her victory means that Sweden will now host next year's competition, 50 years after ABBA's victory with 'Waterloo'. It was the ninth time that the United Kingdom had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1960, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1982 and 1998.
Eurovision 2023
The eclectic, extravagant event honored war-torn Ukraine's spirit of resiliency as it stuck to the 2023 contest's theme, "united by music," held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. Traditionally, the host country is the winner of the previous year's event. But since last year's winner, Ukraine, is in the middle of a war, 2022 runner-up Britain is hosting this year's event on its behalf. Loreen, sandwiched between illuminated platforms, reeled on stage as she belted the lyrics to her anthem - "You're stuck on me like a tattoo-hoo-hoo." The performance tended toward a more classic pop pick for a contest that has in recent years favored the bombastic and fantastical act.
Sweden and Ireland are also now tied with the most Eurovision wins in the history of the competition, with seven each.
The win makes Loreen only the second-ever contestant to win Eurovision twice following her victory in 2012, and the first woman to do so. The only other person who has won Eurovision on more than one occasion is Ireland's Johnny Logan.
Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, known professionally as Loreen, is a Swedish singer.
Representing her country, she won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and 2023 with the songs "Euphoria" and "Tattoo" respectively.
