Latest news with #IchKomme
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.
Irish Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eurovision 2025 winner unveiled as Austria beat controversial Israel in final
Eurovision fans were over the moon as contestants belted out an array of pop-opera, rock anthems and soul-stirring ballads. When it came down to the wire, the winning act hailed from Austria with JJ clinching the top spot. The evening was filled with anticipation as Israel and Austria neck-and-neck for the crown. With a standout performance of "Wasted Love," Austria's JJ emerged victorious while the contentious Israeli contestant took second place. Under the stagename Johannes Pietsch, JJ opted for a monochromatic set in Basel that evoked the feeling of a nautical voyage as he crooned about someone precious being inundated. "I want to thank my entire family, my entire team, thank you so much for making my dreams come true. And especially to you Europe, thank you for making my dreams come true," an elated JJ expressed. Fans didn't hold back on social media, with one comment reading: "Thank f**k for that ! ! Well done Austria." Yet another relieved comment read: "Phew, well done Austria." The competition saw two standout acts perform consecutively; 21 year old Claude Kiambe from the Netherlands wowed the audience with his emotional piece C'est La Vie, drawing on his mother's sagacity, with his rendition stirring him to tears. In a departure from the poignant, Erika Vikman of Finland took the risqué route clad in black leather, as she electrified the crowd with Ich Komme, a German-Finnish mashup that culminated in her dramatic exit atop a colossal microphone amidst a dazzling display of sparks, reports the Mirror. Among several unforgettable performances, Maltese songstress Miriana Conte debuted Serving, aptly renamed from Kant for its unfortunate phonetic link to profanity, while Switzerland's Zoe Me delivered an emotive journey with her number Voyage. Earlier, Nemo, the 2024 Swiss winner, made a return to the Eurovision stage to perform The Code, donned in a full-length white dress. This followed an opening sketch that depicted a Mission Impossible-style quest to locate the trophy, before it was presented to the hosts.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers? ask Eurovision viewers after VERY racy performance
EUROVISION viewers were left gobsmacked this evening as Finland's entry took to the stage for a very raunchy performance. Erika Vikman wowed wearing a plunging leather leotard as she belted out the tongue-in-cheek Ich Komme, which when translated has a rather x-rated meaning. Advertisement 3 Finland's Erika Vikman wowed on stage this evening Credit: EPA 3 She wore an incredible leather outfit Credit: Reuters In keeping with the raunchy nature of the track, Erika pulled off some very sexy moves before finishing her song by taking off on a giant microphone with sparks flying. Those watching the A second questioned: 'Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers?' While another person remarked: 'Finland with the dominatrix outfit.' Advertisement Read More of Eurovision And someone else said: 'Sorry Finland, it's a no. The outfit just doesn't work for me, off-putting.' The UK's entry Remember Monday have already performed - sparking mixed reactions with viewers. The trio, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, are singing their song What The Hell Just Happened?, dressed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits. Earlier, 2024 Swiss winner Nemo returned to the Eurovision stage to do a rendition of The Code in a full-length white dress, following an opening sketch which saw a Mission Impossible-style segment to find the trophy, before it was delivered to the hosts. Advertisement Most read in TV Exclusive Exclusive The winner will be determined by viewer votes in the participating 26 countries, which have already begun, and juries made up of the music industry. The rest of the world also had a poll, which will count the same as a country, and the verdict of TV viewers will be added to the combination of points from national juries. The UK's national jury votes are set to be announced by singer 3 Her performance ended with her on a flying microphone Credit: Reuters Advertisement Eurovision fans ask 'what the hell just happened' as they compare UK's Remember Monday to pound shop Disney princesses Everything you need to know about Eurovision Here's your complete guide to all things Eurovision: Who was How to host a How many times has How much is Graham Norton paid and what's his When has Eurovision
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers? ask Eurovision viewers after VERY racy performance
EUROVISION viewers were left gobsmacked this evening as Finland's entry took to the stage for a very raunchy performance. Erika Vikman wowed wearing a plunging leather leotard as she belted out the tongue-in-cheek Ich Komme, which when translated has a rather x-rated meaning. 3 Finland's Erika Vikman wowed on stage this evening Credit: EPA 3 She wore an incredible leather outfit Credit: Reuters In keeping with the raunchy nature of the track, Erika pulled off some very sexy moves before finishing her song by taking off on a giant microphone with sparks flying. Those watching the Eurovision Song Contest at home rushed to comment, with one person remarking: 'The straight men will like Finland - didn't know the adult channels were on at 9pm.' A second questioned: 'Is Finland sponsored by Ann Summers?' While another person remarked: 'Finland with the dominatrix outfit.' And someone else said: 'Sorry Finland, it's a no. The outfit just doesn't work for me, off-putting.' The UK's entry Remember Monday have already performed - sparking mixed reactions with viewers. The trio, made up of Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele, are singing their song What The Hell Just Happened?, dressed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits. Earlier, 2024 Swiss winner Nemo returned to the Eurovision stage to do a rendition of The Code in a full-length white dress, following an opening sketch which saw a Mission Impossible-style segment to find the trophy, before it was delivered to the hosts. The winner will be determined by viewer votes in the participating 26 countries, which have already begun, and juries made up of the music industry. The rest of the world also had a poll, which will count the same as a country, and the verdict of TV viewers will be added to the combination of points from national juries. The UK's national jury votes are set to be announced by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor after Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa pulled out of being the British Eurovision spokesperson due to "unforeseen circumstances". 3 Her performance ended with her on a flying microphone Credit: Reuters
Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Finland's president snubs Eurovision entry for being too racy
One is a disco track sung by a woman who wears black latex and expounds on the virtues of bottom-grabbing and female sexual empowerment. The other is a folksy accordion ditty about the apparently innocent pleasures of going to the sauna. For Finland and Sweden, however, nations whose rivalry is usually limited to sporting arenas, the question of whom to support in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday is an increasingly vexed issue. The battle has been given an extra dimension after Finland's president said he would snub his country's effort, Ich komme ('I'm Coming'), sung by Erika Vikman, in favour of Sweden's effort, Bara bada bastu ('Just Sauna'), performed by KAJ, a comedy music trio who are actually Finnish. Asked who he wanted to
