Latest news with #ErikaVikman
Evening Standard
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Eurovision 2025 review: 'bizarre awfulness on a budget makes for gripping TV'
Expressions of euro gloom were punctured by Erika Vikman from Finland, with her 'controversial' ode to orgasms, 'Icah Komme'. She was Barbarella stuck in a Queen song which then culminated with her riding a golden microphone as it rocketed across the stage. It would have been fun were it not for this writer realising his children were singing along happily to the chorus. Thanks Eurovision, can't wait for them to start singing it in public on holiday this year.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Eurovision needs an 18+ rating now!' Disgruntled fans say contest is no longer 'family-friendly' after raunchy performances from the likes of Finland and Malta (and they were the toned-down versions!)
The Eurovision Song Contest, known for its flamboyance and pushing performance boundaries, may have gone too far for some viewers this year. As a host of contestants turned up the heat in a number of flesh-flashing ensembles and raunchy dances during this years song contest in Basel, Switzerland. Social media lit up with complaints after Finland, Malta and Spain after they delivered performances that many described as too sexy. Finland led the way, with Erika Vikman in a revealing black latex outfit and a provocative stage backdrop but it was her risque song title that got everyone talking. Meanwhile Malta's performance by Miriana Conte left viewers stunned with racy displays during the widely-discussed show. As the performance started, BBC commentator Rylan Clark warned viewers at home that she would be 'pushing the boundaries'. Elsewhere Spain's Melody left nothing to the imagination in a sizzling leotard and provocative dance moves. Here are this years Eurovision Song Contests most raunchy performances... Finland Erika Vikman, 32, won Finland's national selection in February with her song Ich Komme (I'm Coming), a pop track featuring cheeky lyrics, provocative choreography, and a bold, skin-baring outfit. The song was performed primarily in Finnish, but the chorus was in German, with the repeated phrase Ich komme - which translates to I'm coming in English - raising eyebrows over its suggestive double meaning. The singer wowed in a racy plunging leather leotard and thigh high leather boots as she delivered some provocative choreography on stage. Fans rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their disappointment with the racy acts. One person wrote: 'Sorry Finland, it's a no. The outfit just doesn't work for me, off-putting. xTx' Another said: 'Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers?' While someone else simply wrote: 'Finland with the dominatrix outfit.' However it wasn't just the fans who were turned off the performance, Finland's own president said he would snub his country's Eurovision effort in favour of Sweden's performed by KAJ, a comedy music trio who are actually Finnish. Alexander Stubb was asked who he wanted to win during a school visit and he said: 'If KAJ wins Eurovision, in the end it is Finland and Vora that win.' Stubb was referring to the hometown of the Finnish band who are performing for Sweden. After Vikman got wind of the president's comments she revealed she was disappointed. She said: 'It would definitely be nice to see one day that the greats of the nation stand behind women like me.' Meanwhile Vikman later revealed the bizarre request that organisers made after they deemed her performance too raunchy for the competition. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reportedly demanded changes to her act, requesting that she make her spicy performance less explicit. Speaking to Finnish media, Vikman confirmed that organisers had asked her to tone down her routine, particularly calling for her to 'cover her backside' and adjust her movements on stage. 'It's not just one thing, it's everything. My clothes, what the song is about, how I move on stage. The EBU has said it's a bit too sexual. They want to cover my butt,' she told Swedish newspaper, Expressen. Her original hot-blooded performance featured a fetish-inspired black corset, revealing chaps, and a pole-dance-style routine using her microphone stand, all set to pulsating electronic beats and provocative lyrics. The singer explained: 'I'm wild, I have more to give. I'm sexual on stage – and after two years of tango, I wanted to be a pop diva'. She went on to state that people in Finland are conservative and tend to steer away from expressing themselves, leaving her feeling 'difficult for them' to handle at first. 'It's still like that, although some are starting to get used to it. Half of Finland hates me, half loves me,' Vikman said. Despite the controversy, Vikman played down the dispute, stating that her performance was already definitively being fine-tuned before the EBU's intervention. In a statement, Vikman said: 'The show is still evolving, and I had already chosen a different costume before hearing any feedback from the EBU.' However, since her comments the Finnish broadcaster YLE's Eurovision Song Contest Executive Producer Anssi Autio, said the EBU did not direct Vikman to change the performance. YLE went on to say: 'Anssi Autio says he cannot comment on Vikman's remarks. However, he confirms that discussions have taken place with the EBU, but no direct demands have been made.' Malta Malta's singer Miriana Conte delivered another showstopping raunchy performance during the competition. As the performance started, BBC commentator Rylan Clark warned viewers at home that she would be 'pushing the boundaries'. She proceeded to rip off her ruffled yellow dress, revealing a racy red leopard print jumpsuit underneath, complete with a black mesh top and feathered sleeves. However it wasn't her outfit that had caused the controversy, the singer was forced to make a drastic change to her song during Thursday's semi-final. The 24-year-old took to the stage to take part in the second semi-final and the crowd went wild as she sung her tune Serving in a black and red leopard print jumpsuit. Miriana pulled out all the stops to try and get into the next round by walking on stage out of some huge lips, and went on to show off her racy dance moves. Her song was originally called Kant, but it sounded too much like the swearword c**t, so the European Broadcasting Union ruled out her singing it during the annual competition back in March. In Maltese, the word kant means singing or song. Miriana spoke to BBC Newsnight about her 'surprise' over the decision back in March. The singer said: 'Honestly, it was a bit surprising and also a little disappointing. 'I had incredible feedback when it comes to my song, it went viral on the first lyric video that was released. 'The original version of the song, as it is as we speak, it is a Maltese word that holds a lot of meaning to us. We never intended to offend anyone. 'Obviously the word K-A-N-T means singing in our language. 'So you can imagine what power it holds. It's unfortunate that the broadcaster would raise such concerns, especially considering Eurovision is a spirit of celebrating culture, diversity and languages. 'That said, we've made the adjustments to ensure the focus remains on the music and the message. I believe and my team believes that Eurovision is about unity. 'We want to make sure that nothing distracts from that basically.' She added: 'There's a lot of funny words that mean different things in different languages since its the Eurovision Song Contest and the main factor of being in this contest is to sing. 'And in our language it means singing. 'So it has a much more deep message then maybe people speaking different languages.' Explaining the meaning of the song, she said: 'To me it means I'm serving singing. 'So if you want to understand it as a double meaning, you can, it means different things to different people. I've had different reactions.' While her lyricism has been slightly stifled by the annual contest rules, she certainly made up for it with some racy staging. Her backdrop appeared to be a mouth and and wide open legs at either side. Meanwhile her backing dancers added even more sex appeal as they danced around the stage in fishnet tights while opening their legs at one point and having the singer straddle them. Taking to X, one person wrote: 'I'm sorry, but how can they ban the word KANT and approve that staging of the lips between the legs.' Another predicted: 'Ofcom complaints incoming.' Spain Spain's Eurovision entry sparked a storm of conversation after singer Melody delivered a sizzling, high-voltage performance of her track Esa Diva during the Grand Final. Starting the performance in a stunning black gown, the singer ripped off the ensemble to reveal a sizzling leotard midway through the performance. She wowed in a silver ensemble which feature fringe detailing and completed her sultry look with knee high boots. The singers provocative choreography and poses left some viewers scratching their heads. However it wasn't Spain's only controversy as broadcasters reportedly defied warnings from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and could now face a huge fine. They displayed a statement ahead of the final, showing a black screen with white text in both Spanish and an English translation. The message read: 'When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and Justice for Palestine.' The broadcast on RTVE, was also posted on X and the message quickly gained traction by social media users too.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eurovision's BSL interpreter steals the show with 'iconic' and 'brilliant' performance as fans beg for her to represent UK next year: 'I didn't realise sign language could be so graphic...'
Austria may have taken the crown during Saturday's Eurovision final. However, it seems that many British viewers' favourite performance of the night wasn't even in the running to win the singing competition in Basel, Switzerland. Fans have gone wild for the BBC 's British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter after her enthusiastic and 'iconic' performance during the Finland entry went viral online. Despite Finland's Erika Vikman pulling out all the stops with her very raunchy and energetic rendition of her song ICH KOMME, viewers found their attention stolen by Clare Edwards. Clad in a sparkly purple dress, the interpreter stood in the corner of the screen to transcribe the song into sign language for viewers with hearing difficulties. And she didn't hold back from getting into the song, seamlessly interpreting the lyrics and throwing herself into the movement. Fans soon began sharing clips of her 'brilliant' performance online, calling it the 'best' of the night and begging for Clare to be the winner or the UK's entrant for next year's competition. They praised: 'The @BBCEurovision @Eurovision Song Contest BSL British Sign Language Interpreter, Clare Edwards @Purple_Terp, absolutely vibing and serving KANT like a pro. What a legend. Give that woman her own gig!' 'The BSL lady's gonna win isn't she.'; 'Winners of Eurovision has to @BBCiPlayer Clare Edwards and friends doing the BSL. Its brilliant'. 'Give that woman her own slot!'; 'The BSL lady is having way too much fun!'; 'The BSL during Finland was incredible'; 'Iconic, simply iconic'. 'The best bits of this evening's Eurovision Song Contest was the BSL woman. She's brilliant'; 'Living her best life!'; 'I accidentally tuned in on the BSL option from Malta onwards. Absolutely brilliant.' 'I love how they're in glittery gear too! I wish I'd watched it with the signers on, looks far more entertaining that the actual show!'; 'Can we just give a shout out to the #BSL interpreters on BBC iPlayer for #Eurovision already serving'. 'She's absolutely amazing!! She's kept me captivated and I haven't been listening to the songs. Brilliant for deaf fans to be able to experience'; 'Shout out to the #BSL crew on @BBCiPlayer Brilliant!' 'To watch the Eurovision or any concert when the BSL is activated is the best thing ever! The interpreters do a stellar work conveying the emotions and vibes to our deaf community!' Fans soon began sharing clips of her 'brilliant' performance online, calling it the 'best' of the night and begging for Clare to be the winner or the UK's entrant for next year's competition 'There should be a separate BSL Eurovision'; 'The best thing about watching #Eurovision is watching the @BBC #BSL signers interpreting the songs. Brilliant. Well done ladies'. 'We got to send Clare Edwards (the fab BSL Interpreter) (@Purple_Terp) to represent the #UnitedKingdom in next year's #EurovisionSongContest.'; 'Better than the actual song and performance!' 'Needs a show of her own'; 'BBC Eurovision…the BSL sign language interpreters are amazing…worth the licence fee for their performance alone! Bravo!'; 'She's getting right into it' 'Great signers are fabulous performers in their own right, a combination of dancer and storyteller. She is really giving her all, wonderful. Am content to watch this without sound!' 'I'm in hysterics here. I didn't realise sign language could be quite so... graphic.'; ''It's been brilliant throughout- loving the interpretations'; 'Having the time of her life!' In one of the most politically charged Eurovision song contests ever, Austria stormed to victory, while Israel - whose performance was blighted by protests - took second place. Millions of viewers across Europe tuned in to see who would take home the crown, as Austria's JJ emerged victorious in Saturday night's grand final following two semi-final shows earlier this week. Israel's Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7 massacre in 2023, was the runner-up with New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English. But the singer was left 'shaken and upset' after two pro-Palestine protesters rushed towards her during her performance. The Hamas massacre survivor (seen) is said to have received a 'slightly mixed reception', according to commentator, Graham Norton Meanwhile, organisers confirmed that a crew member backstage was hit with paint but was not injured. Riot police also had to use pepper spray to restrain activists during pro-Palestine protests outside the arena, while Israel and US flags were set alight. While the UK managed to rack up 88 points from the professional jury, it was yet another snub from the European voting public, receiving zero points for the second year in a row. Remember Monday, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, all 30, represented the UK with their song 'What The Hell Just Happened? Although the rest of Europe wasn't convinced by Remember Monday, viewers at home were impressed by their 'unbelievable vocals'. It was down the wire until the very last minute as Israel leapt into pole position with 357 points. Every other country faltered in nabbing the number one spot when it came to the public vote but Austria emerged victorious. The countertenor JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, took to the stage to proudly lift his well-earned trophy while performing his winning song Wasted Love. Earlier in the night, fans were left disappointed as speculation Titanic songstress, Celine Dion, would make an appearance failed to materialised on stage. Sophie Ellis-Bexter, announced Britain's scores from Switzerland, shortly after it was revealed she would be replacing Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa as the United Kingdom's Eurovision spokesperson for 2025. It comes as speculation was rife following Ncuti's withdrawal from Eurovision hosting duties, with the BBC announcement being made just two minutes after Israel qualified for the final. The actor has previously been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photographs of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his Instagram and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes. The reason for Ncuti's last minute withdrawal from his hosting duties was not made clear, aside from the BBC's initial 'unforeseen circumstances' message, but fans speculated Israel's qualification was the cause. It comes amid fury over Israel's participation in the competition as Yuval received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision. On Friday, Pro-Palestine demonstrators marched on Eurovision to demand an end to Israel 's participation in the popular song contest as the country's contestant continued to weather a barrage of hate. During her performance, Yuval appeared to have been 'booed' and 'jeered' during her Eurovision performance, with commentator Graham Norton saying the Hamas massacre survivor received a 'slightly mixed reception'. Speculation also rose among viewers at home that the audio was edited, as they believed broadcasters had tampered with the sound to drown out any booing while the October 7 survivor performed New Day Will Rise at the grand final. 'Definitely edited the boos,' one Eurovision fan wrote on X, while another said of Graham Norton's commentary: 'All we heard at home was overwhelming they have edited out all the booing.' The EBU denied any claims of booing during Israel's performance, saying: 'We heard no booing during Yuval's performance tonight and we have had no reports of booing either. The atmosphere stayed positive and celebratory throughout!' It comes amid fury over Israel's participation in the competition as Yuval received a barrage of criticism, from jeers and boos in her preview to ex-winners signing letters to ban the country from Eurovision (pictured) In a statement to the Independent, the Swiss broadcaster SRG SRR said: 'For the Eurovision Song Contest, the host broadcaster SRG SSR is working with the 'audio sweetening' method, which is common practice for major international productions. 'This process helps to harmonise the sound of the transitions between moderations, video clips and the individual acts and to create a consistent soundscape for the TV audience. 'It is used exclusively for the technical rounding off of the programme,' they continued. This process is used equally and identically for all acts. The competition and its results are not affected in any way.' Ahead of the much anticipated grand final, crowds of Palestinian supporters held signs which read 'boycott Israel apartheid' and 'no stage for genocide', as they waved flags and released flares into the sky.
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
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who is Erika Vikman? Meet Finland's 2025 Eurovision star as she addresses controversy surrounding her song ‘ICH KOMME'
Erika Vikman is representing Finland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, and her song 'ICH KOMME' has proven to be one of the show's most controversial. The singer has plenty of experience in the entertainment world, having performed at summer theatres and on TV before shooting to fame in her native Finland when she won the popular Tangomarkkinat festival. In 2020, she then achieved a hit song with 'Cicciolina', which finished in second place in Finland's national selection process for Eurovision. The following year, she released her self-titled debut album, which topped the Finnish album song 'ICH KOMME', the title of which is German for 'I'm Coming', has raised eyebrows for its explicit lyrics about female sexuality, including lyrics that translate to: 'Moon rises, Earth arches, my gates are open,' and 'Hit me once again, grab my ass, and when you want more love, just shout 'Encore'.' It's proved a hit with Eurovision voters, however, as Vikman made it through the second semi-final and will now compete against the other 25 finalists tonight in Basel, Switzerland. In our Q&A with Vikman, she addresses the controversy surrounding her song and explains how she plans on celebrating should she win the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and how you first got into music? Absolutely! Music has always been a part of my life and there was always music playing in my childhood home. Even though I was a shy child, I somehow always knew that I'd one day be performing for big audiences. That spark never left me, and now here I am, turning my childhood dreams into wild, crazy reality. In 2016, I was crowned the Tango Queen in Finland, which was a significant milestone in my early career. Over time, my musical style evolved, blending pop, disco, and schlager elements. In 2020, I released 'Cicciolina' which celebrated female empowerment and self-expression. Although it didn't end up qualifying to the Eurovision, it marked the beginning of my new era as an artist. And now five years later, here I am! How did you end up representing Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest? After my 2020 attempt with 'Cicciolina,' which finished second in Finland's national selection, I felt there was unfinished business. This year, I returned to Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) with 'ICH KOMME,' a song born from a collaboration with producers Chisu and Jori Roosberg. The track resonated deeply with me, and I knew it was the right moment to take the Eurovision stage. The Finnish public seemed to agree, awarding me a landslide victory in the UMK 2025 final. I love Eurovision and its community. They are my people and it's where I belong. I'm home here. What's the meaning and inspiration behind your brilliant song 'ICH KOMME'? 'ICH KOMME,' which translates to 'I'm coming' in German, is a celebration of female pleasure, empowerment, and liberation. The song blends Finnish disco vibes with bold, provocative lyrics, aiming to challenge societal taboos surrounding female sexuality. Interestingly, my choice to incorporate German stems from my school days when I opted to study German over English, influenced by a teacher who introduced us to artists like Rammstein and Nina Hagen. This early exposure left a lasting impression, and I wanted to pay homage to that in this song. There's something really fascinating about the German language and its culture. Maybe I was German in my previous life! How are you feeling about this year's competition? I'm incredibly excited and honored to represent Finland on such a grand stage. While there have been discussions with the EBU regarding aspects of my performance, including attire and staging, I remain committed to delivering a show that's authentically and unapologetically me. I believe in pushing boundaries and sparking conversations, and I hope to connect with audiences across Europe through this performance. This year's competition is tough with so many incredibly talented artists with great songs, but I'm ready to show Europe what I've got! How will you celebrate if you win? With a fabulous party of course! But first I'd Facetime my dog Peppi, who's my baby. And, of course, I will sing and dance Celine Dion on the dance floor til dawn!
