Latest news with #BaraBadaBastu
Local Sweden
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Local Sweden
What does Sweden's bizarre Eurovision hit have in common with India?
Finland-Swedish comedy trio Kaj in the end finished fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest, but not before their sauna-themed song Bara Bada Bastu had become a viral hit all over Europe. Did you know it has an unusual Indian connection? Advertisement In the end, Austrian JJ's opera-techno fusion took the top spot, despite Bara Bada Bastu the clear bookmakers' favourite to win the contest on Sunday. Indian readers who watched Eurovision this year may have noticed that the accordion loop at the start of the entry sounded remarkably like the chorus to Indian DJ Devinder Sunny's Enough is Enough. "Both songs are in roughly the same tempo and tone, and they're very similar," Jan-Olof Gullö, professor in music and media production at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, told TV4 news. The similar sound isn't due to plagiarism. Rather Kristofer Strandberg, one of the songwriters behind Kaj's sauna hit, said they had legally downloaded the loop ‒ originally a saxophone loop ‒ from audio library Splice, a subscription service which allows users to download millions of sound files royalty-free. According to Splice, the package which included the loop used in Bara Bada Bastu is one of the website's most downloaded packages. The band then got an accordion player to record the loop, which Eurovision officials confirmed was perfectly allowed. The loop was originally created by Niles Hollowell-Dhar, or KSHMR, a US-born DJ whose father emigrated from India. His name is a reference to Jammu and Kashmir, the area his father's family comes from. Advertisement SVT contacted KSHMR to ask him about the loop. "I just make a little piece of magic, and I let the world do what it wants with it," he said. "When people are critical, 'oh, you're just using loops' ‒ but it's really what you do with it. You see there are a couple other songs who have used the same sound and they didn't get nearly as big as this one." He told SVT that the song was "very Swedish", laughing when they told him what it was about. "OK, it's about going to the sauna? That's what I was thinking when I made the melody," he joked. There are at least two more songs using the same loop as KAJ and Devinder Sunny ‒ Zapłakane Matki by Polish rapper Yung Adisz and Straume by Latvian pop duo MUSIQQ.
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Eurovision 2025 updates: Austria wins the song contest as UK receives humiliating zero public votes
FINAL OUTCOME Eurovision 2025 updates: Austria wins the song contest as UK receives humiliating zero public votes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AUSTRIA has won Eurovision 2025 - beating this year's favourites to win, Sweden. Singer JJ, 24, was crowned the winner after receiving a combined 436 points for his track Wasted Love. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up Meanwhile, fan-favourites KAJ from Sweden with their eccentric song Bara Bada Bastu came in fourth place. Israel's Yuval Raphael - who sung New Day Will Rise - emerged as the runner-up with 357 points. The UK's three-piece girlband Remember Monday suffered a crushing defeat when they received zero public votes from the rest of the world. The song contest saw 26 countries battle it out on the stage in Basel, Switzerland. The competition was broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
Gulf Today
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Celina Dion skips Eurovision contest
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest was held at Basel's St. Jakobshalle, packed with 6,500 excited ticket-holders dressed to the nines while 36,000 others watched a live transmission in a nearby stadium. An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand. Twenty-six countries were in contention, with 11 having been eliminated in the semi-finals during the week. Basel had been abuzz all week with rumours that Celine Dion might make an emotion-laden appearance as she battles Stiff Person Syndrome. The Canadian superstar, now 57, launched her international career by winning Eurovision 1988, while competing for Switzerland. But in the end, she did not appear. "We have been in contact with her through various channels and regret that ultimately it was not possible to include her in the show," Eurovision organisers told AFP. "We send her all our best wishes and, above all, good health." Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win in Basel with the comedy trio KAJ's sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu". But they finished fourth ahead of Italy, Greece and France as JJ scooped up the microphone-shaped trophy. Albania, Ukraine and Switzerland rounded out the top 10. Agence France-Presse
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Austria's JJ soars to Eurovision victory with operatic pop
'Love is the strongest force in the world. Let's spread more love. 'This is beyond my wildest dreams. It's crazy.' Wasted Love saw him hit the high notes while mixing opera and techno. In his Eurovision song, about unrequited love, he blends lyricism and balladry, before ending with a techno flourish. His performance was filmed in black and white, in the 4:3 ratio of the monochrome television era. Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win the 69th edition of the contest in Basel, Switzerland, with the comedy trio KAJ's Bara Bada Bastu on the delights of sweating it out in a sauna. But they faded away as the votes came in, finishing fourth ahead of Italy, Greece, and France. Separate jury and viewer votes from each of this year's 37 participating countries – with equal weight – plus an extra vote from the rest of the world combined, decided who won the coveted microphone-shaped trophy. 'Ich Komme' An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam, and spectacular staging go hand in hand. The 26 finalists took to the stage carrying their national flags at the start of the show, to the thundering sound of a traditional drum corps. The songs in contention were a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes. They included a Portuguese guitar ballad, a Maltese diva, Lithuanian alternative rock, an Italian singalong, a Greek power ballad, ethereal Latvian choral folk, and German booming beats. Finland's Erika Vikman – who gained momentum during Eurovision week with the orgasmic Ich Komme – finished by being hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone, triggering a big response in the arena. Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, 52, set a new record between Eurovision appearances, returning 30 years after her first appearance in the competition. The Netherlands' competitor Claude broke into tears after performing his song C'est La Vie. French singer Louane, who lost both her parents as a teenager, performed her song Maman, with falling pieces of cork representing the sands of time. The song's final word was spoken by her own daughter. And Malta's Miriana Conte finished her diva big number Serving by bouncing up and down on an exercise ball. Pro-Palestinian protests Israel's participation prompted protests in Basel over the war in Gaza. Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds. During the performance of her song New Day Will Rise, loud whistles could be heard in the arena and two people tried to get on stage. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint,' a Eurovision spokesman told AFP. 'The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.' Elsewhere in Basel, pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed briefly with riot police. Blows were exchanged and police used tear gas. Life dreams Some 6500 excited ticket holders packed out the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, dressed up to the nines and ready to party. 'This is my first live show at Eurovision. I have goosebumps, I'm so excited!' said Luena Beeler, 20, wearing a red sequin-covered Tirol-style dress, and a big Austrian flag on her shoulders. 'This is one of my life dreams!' Some 36,000 partygoers were watching a live transmission of the show at the football stadium opposite the arena, and held a mass singalong of Swedish four-piece ABBA's smash hit Waterloo, which won Eurovision 1974.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rate the performances of Eurovision 2025's favourites – from Sweden's KAJ to Austria's JJ
Eurovision fever has taken over Europe once again as some of the most memorable and quirky acts prepare to light up the stage in Basel, Switzerland. From the Big Five – including the UK's own Remember Monday – to the hopefuls battling through the semi-finals, excitement is building for the grand final. Among the many contestants, one clear favourite has emerged: Sweden's trio KAJ, with their catchy, sauna-themed anthem Bara Bada Bastu. Their witty and distinctly Scandinavian performance has captured the hearts of bookmakers and fans alike, making them the frontrunners to lift the Eurovision trophy this year. Austria, the Netherlands, France, Israel, and Finland are also in the mix, each hoping to shake up the odds and claim their spot on the winner's podium. Meanwhile, the UK's Remember Monday, armed with soaring harmonies and fierce determination, are ready to prove the bookies wrong and steal the spotlight. Now it's your turn to join the fun! We want you to rate the performances of this year's bookies' favourites on a scale from 0 to 10. How do they measure up? Are Sweden's sauna vibes your top score? Or do the underdogs have your vote? Cast your ratings below and let us know who your Eurovision 2025 winner is in the comments.
