Road to Liverpool: Sweden

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Sweden.

Loreen

Loreen won the Swedish Melodifestivalen with a landslide. Her song “Tattoo” is written and composed by Thomas G:son, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Moa Carlebecker, Peter Boström and Loreen herself. 

Loreen’s real name is Lorine Talhaoui. She rose to fame when she took part in Idol 2004. She reached the live shows with her performances. After that she featured in a song of Rob ‘n’ Raz, “The snake” and hosted a tv show. In 2011 we saw her back as a singer, in Melodifestivalen. She sang “My heart is refusing me“. The song did not reach the final of Melodifestivalen. A year later she was the favourite from the first moment on. She won Melodifestivalen and went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest with “Euphoria“. The song became one of the most successful Eurovision winners ever. After this, she released two albums and a lot of singles, some of which became hits in Sweden. “We got the power“, which she sang in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, was also a success abroad.
In 2017, Loreen did a new attempt to represent Sweden in Eurovision, but she failed. “Statements” did not reach the final of Melodifestivalen. It took Loreen six more years to be the Swedish representant again.

“Euphoria”, performed during the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

Melodifestivalen

Melodifestivalen is the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. It is internationally recognized as the biggest and most viewed national final of all. Eurovision fans all over the world follow this final as if it is the one of their own country. Since 2002, Melodifestivalen expanded from a one evening event to an event with four semifinals, a 2nd chance round and a final. In recent years Eric Saade (“Every minute“) and Dotter (“Bulletproof“) were non-winners with a lot of success. Longer ago it was a group called Agnetha, Frida, Björn and Benny (Yes, Abba!), who got an international hit with “Ring ring“.

Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest

Sweden first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 with Alice Babs. She took the 4th place with her “Lilla stjärna”. The first victory is Eurovision history: ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with “Waterloo”. Not only because of conductor Sven-Olof Walldoff who was dressed like Napoleon. Also because no other Eurovision winner rose to fame like ABBA. Not immediately after Eurovision, but two years later.
In 1984 Herreys won the contest with “Diggy-loo diggy-ley”, to be followed in 1991 by mrs. Eurovision, Carola. She sang “Fångad av en stormvind”. In 1999 it was Charlotte Nilsson who sang “Take me to your heaven”. Loreen herself won in 2012 with “Euphoria”, and Måns Zelmerlöw was the last one with “Heroes” in 2015. Will Loreen bring the 7th victory? In that case, Sweden will hold the record of most victories, shared with Ireland.

Bookmakers

The betting odds say Sweden ís going to win. And we all know that, since 2017, the winners all had been no. 1 in the betting odds at least at some point. A Swedish victory is of course not sure, but at least very likely.

The song

And of course this is the song:

 

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Eurovision 2026

Israel vs other countries: facts and rumours

The Eurovision Song Contest is facing unprecedented controversy over Israel’s participation in the 2026 edition. In recent days, several countries have announced boycott plans or issued threats tied to whether Israel is allowed to compete. Meanwhile, other countries reportedly vowed to withdraw if Israel is banned. Here we fact-check what’s confirmed and what’s rumor, providing official statements and sources for clarity. Background: Why Israel’s Participation Is Under Scrutiny Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza since October 2023 has led to public outcry and calls to suspend Israel from Eurovision. Critics argue that allowing Israel to compete “normalizes” its actions during the conflict. They compare it to Eurovision’s ban on Russia after invading Ukraine. Over the past two years, protests have targeted Israel’s Eurovision entries. Dozens of former contestants (including recent winners) have urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel. In response, the EBU began consulting its members on how to manage geopolitical tensions. A decision on Israel’s 2026 participation expected at its General Assembly in early December 2025 sources: aljazeera.com   jta.org. Ireland and Netherlands: Official Boycott Announcements Ireland – On September 11, 2025, Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ released a public statement declaring that “Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead.” RTÉ said it would be -“unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza,”. The broadcaster cites deep concern about “the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza” and denial of media access. RTÉ added that a final decision on Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU makes its ruling on Israel. source: RTÉ The Netherlands – The next day, on September 12, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced it will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel is included. In its official statement, AVROTROS said it “can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.” Just as Ireland, the Dutch broadcaster also raised press freedom concerns and even alleged “proven evidence of interference by the Israeli government” in the 2025 contest. Several broadcasters had questioned Israel’s win in the 2025 audience vote, though Israel ultimately finished second. AVROTROS emphasized that Eurovision’s core values of peace and unity are at odds with the situation on the ground. Both Ireland and the Netherlands have made it clear: if Israel participates, they will withdraw. source: AVROTROS Slovenia’s Position: No Eurovision with Israel Slovenia became the first country to explicitly tie its 2026 participation to Israel’s status. In early July 2025, at the EBU General Assembly in London, Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTVSLO warned that if Israel was in Eurovision, “RTVSLO would not participate due to the genocide in Gaza.” This stance was officially confirmed on September 8, when RTV Slovenija announced it will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. Slovenia’s communications department stated they are waiting to see if the EBU bars Israel or addresses other member concerns (like voting transparency) before finalizing their decision. Conclusion: Slovenia has officially declared it will not compete if Israel is allowed to participate. source: hr Spain and Iceland: Will They Withdraw? Spain – No official withdrawal confirmation has come from Spain’s broadcaster RTVE yet. However, Spain’s government has taken a firm stand. On September 8, Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said on TVE’s La Hora de La 1 that radical steps may be necessary if Israel remains in Eurovision. He noted Spain has formally requested Israel’s exclusion. Utrasun warned that if Israel is not expelled, the government would consider “measures”. He stressed that one “cannot normalize Israel’s participation … as if nothing is happening,”. Even Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly urged the EBU to ban Israel. He compared it to how no one objected when Russia was banned after invading Ukraine. Fact-check: It’s true Spain’s leaders are threatening a boycott, but as of now RTVE has not officially pulled out. The push is political. Any final withdrawal would likely need RTVE’s agreement. Source: El Mundo Iceland – Similarly, Iceland has signaled it “could” withdraw, but hasn’t officially done so. The president of Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV, Stefán Jón Hafstein, wrote an op-ed on July 1, 2025 calling for Israel’s expulsion from Eurovision. He argued Eurovision must apply the same moral standard to Gaza as it did to Ukraine. Hafstein even suggested Israeli artists could compete under a neutral flag rather than represent the state. Later, RÚV’s Director General signaled that if the EBU doesn’t heed the growing calls (from “Spain and Slovenia and others”), it “will call for reactions from these broadcasters.” In other words, if Israel isn’t excluded, Iceland (among others) may boycott as a reaction. In summary: Iceland’s broadcaster has strongly advocated for banning Israel and indicated they might pull out if Israel stays. No final withdrawal decision has been published yet. source: RÙV Rumor vs Reality: Germany, Italy & Others Backing Israel On the other side, rumors emerged that several major countries would boycott Eurovision if Israel is banned. Notably, Germany and Italy, two of Eurovision’s biggest financial contributors, were said to have privately warned the EBU in July that if Israel’s broadcaster KAN is expelled without “clear legal grounds,” they would withdraw in protest. According to a report on Israeli Channel 12 (via former Israeli delegation member Amir Alon), Germany and Italy support Israel’s continued participation and allegedly “threatened to leave the contest as well” if KAN were kicked out. The same report suggested Switzerland and Austria also side with Israel’s inclusion. If it came to an EBU vote, Greece, Azerbaijan, and Cyprus would likely “defend Israel’s right to take part.” Fact-check: These claims have not been officially confirmed by the broadcasters in question. They originated from Israeli media and anonymous sources. Germany’s broadcaster (ARD/SWR) responded to the story by publicly affirming Israel’s rightful place in Eurovision. The broadcasters are noting KAN meets EBU’s rules and has been a member since 1957. The German statement emphasized Eurovision’s values of diversity and that it’s a contest between broadcasters, not governments.

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Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Israel vs other countries: facts and rumours

The Eurovision Song Contest is facing unprecedented controversy over Israel’s participation in the 2026 edition. In recent days, several countries have announced boycott plans or issued threats tied to whether Israel is allowed to compete. Meanwhile, other countries reportedly vowed to withdraw if Israel is banned. Here we fact-check what’s confirmed and what’s rumor, providing official statements and sources for clarity. Background: Why Israel’s Participation Is Under Scrutiny Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza since October 2023 has led to public outcry and calls to suspend Israel from Eurovision. Critics argue that allowing Israel to compete “normalizes” its actions during the conflict. They compare it to Eurovision’s ban on Russia after invading Ukraine. Over the past two years, protests have targeted Israel’s Eurovision entries. Dozens of former contestants (including recent winners) have urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel. In response, the EBU began consulting its members on how to manage geopolitical tensions. A decision on Israel’s 2026 participation expected at its General Assembly in early December 2025 sources: aljazeera.com   jta.org. Ireland and Netherlands: Official Boycott Announcements Ireland – On September 11, 2025, Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ released a public statement declaring that “Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead.” RTÉ said it would be -“unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza,”. The broadcaster cites deep concern about “the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza” and denial of media access. RTÉ added that a final decision on Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU makes its ruling on Israel. source: RTÉ The Netherlands – The next day, on September 12, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced it will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel is included. In its official statement, AVROTROS said it “can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.” Just as Ireland, the Dutch broadcaster also raised press freedom concerns and even alleged “proven evidence of interference by the Israeli government” in the 2025 contest. Several broadcasters had questioned Israel’s win in the 2025 audience vote, though Israel ultimately finished second. AVROTROS emphasized that Eurovision’s core values of peace and unity are at odds with the situation on the ground. Both Ireland and the Netherlands have made it clear: if Israel participates, they will withdraw. source: AVROTROS Slovenia’s Position: No Eurovision with Israel Slovenia became the first country to explicitly tie its 2026 participation to Israel’s status. In early July 2025, at the EBU General Assembly in London, Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTVSLO warned that if Israel was in Eurovision, “RTVSLO would not participate due to the genocide in Gaza.” This stance was officially confirmed on September 8, when RTV Slovenija announced it will boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. Slovenia’s communications department stated they are waiting to see if the EBU bars Israel or addresses other member concerns (like voting transparency) before finalizing their decision. Conclusion: Slovenia has officially declared it will not compete if Israel is allowed to participate. source: hr Spain and Iceland: Will They Withdraw? Spain – No official withdrawal confirmation has come from Spain’s broadcaster RTVE yet. However, Spain’s government has taken a firm stand. On September 8, Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said on TVE’s La Hora de La 1 that radical steps may be necessary if Israel remains in Eurovision. He noted Spain has formally requested Israel’s exclusion. Utrasun warned that if Israel is not expelled, the government would consider “measures”. He stressed that one “cannot normalize Israel’s participation … as if nothing is happening,”. Even Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly urged the EBU to ban Israel. He compared it to how no one objected when Russia was banned after invading Ukraine. Fact-check: It’s true Spain’s leaders are threatening a boycott, but as of now RTVE has not officially pulled out. The push is political. Any final withdrawal would likely need RTVE’s agreement. Source: El Mundo Iceland – Similarly, Iceland has signaled it “could” withdraw, but hasn’t officially done so. The president of Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV, Stefán Jón Hafstein, wrote an op-ed on July 1, 2025 calling for Israel’s expulsion from Eurovision. He argued Eurovision must apply the same moral standard to Gaza as it did to Ukraine. Hafstein even suggested Israeli artists could compete under a neutral flag rather than represent the state. Later, RÚV’s Director General signaled that if the EBU doesn’t heed the growing calls (from “Spain and Slovenia and others”), it “will call for reactions from these broadcasters.” In other words, if Israel isn’t excluded, Iceland (among others) may boycott as a reaction. In summary: Iceland’s broadcaster has strongly advocated for banning Israel and indicated they might pull out if Israel stays. No final withdrawal decision has been published yet. source: RÙV Rumor vs Reality: Germany, Italy & Others Backing Israel On the other side, rumors emerged that several major countries would boycott Eurovision if Israel is banned. Notably, Germany and Italy, two of Eurovision’s biggest financial contributors, were said to have privately warned the EBU in July that if Israel’s broadcaster KAN is expelled without “clear legal grounds,” they would withdraw in protest. According to a report on Israeli Channel 12 (via former Israeli delegation member Amir Alon), Germany and Italy support Israel’s continued participation and allegedly “threatened to leave the contest as well” if KAN were kicked out. The same report suggested Switzerland and Austria also side with Israel’s inclusion. If it came to an EBU vote, Greece, Azerbaijan, and Cyprus would likely “defend Israel’s right to take part.” Fact-check: These claims have not been officially confirmed by the broadcasters in question. They originated from Israeli media and anonymous sources. Germany’s broadcaster (ARD/SWR) responded to the story by publicly affirming Israel’s rightful place in Eurovision. The broadcasters are noting KAN meets EBU’s rules and has been a member since 1957. The German statement emphasized Eurovision’s values of diversity and that it’s a contest between broadcasters, not governments.

Read More »
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