Latest news with #Melodifestivalen
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovision final 2025: Catch up with the top five favourites
The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final on Saturday night in Basel, with 26 countries fighting for the coveted glass microphone trophy. The competition feels less predictable than recent years, when acts like Loreen (Sweden, 2023) and Kalush Orchestra (Ukraine, 2022) were ordained to win before they'd even sung a note. Currently, bookmakers have installed Sweden at the top of the table, with their delightfully bonkers sauna sonnet, Bara Bada Bastu. But here's the thing: A novelty number has never won. Voters typically prefer songs about triumph over adversity, and stonking great pop anthems. Ideally, they want a stonking great pop anthem about triumph over adversity, and there are plenty of those sprinkled through tonight's running order. We spoke to the five contestants with the best odds, to find out what makes their Eurovision entries stand out. Chance of winning: 39% Language: Swedish Genre: Epadunk Spotify streams: 43.9m KAJ are the first Finnish act to represent Sweden at the Eurovision, hailing from the coastal town of Vörå, where Swedish is still the main language. A comedy troupe who met at school, they've been performing together for more than 15 years – and were the surprise winners of Sweden's Melodifestivalen, where the public selects the country's Eurovision entry, earlier this year. Their song, Bara Bada Bastu, is an accordian-led tribute to sauna culture (Finland has more than three million saunas, one for every two people). "It felt like a natural thing to sing about," says Kevin Holmström. "We really like the sauna. It's universal." The first Swedish-language entry since 2012, the song extols the practice's stress-busting virtues. Is that why Finland is consistently ranked as the world's happiest nation, I wonder? "It's a chicken and an egg situation," laughs Jakob Norrgård. "I don't know which came first, the happiness or the sauna, but the sauna definitely brings your pulse down." The trio have brought a mock sauna to the Eurovision stage this year, complete with birch branches, hot coals and dancers in skimpy towels. In the lyrics, they ask, "how long can you last?". "Oh, we can make it last all evening," confirms Jackob. "A sauna party that lasts for hours." "I like to do it with a lot of intervals," says Axel Åhman. "Two to three hours, going in and out, having something to drink, maybe even snack on a sausage outside, and then go back in – just to make it a calm and long session." And how does Finland feel about the fact the trio are representing their neighbour and Eurovision rival? "Finns love a bargain, so this is great," laughs Jackob. "Sweden gets to pay for everything, but it's a Finnish win as well." Chance of winning: 22% Language: English Genre: Pop-opera Spotify streams: 6m Austria has the best opening couplet of the year: "I'm an ocean of love / And you're scared of water." "It's about my personal experience with unreciprocated love," says singer Johannes Pietsch, who performs under the name JJ. "It felt like I was walking a one-way street." The 24-year-old is moonlighting at Eurovision from his day job at the Vienna State Opera, where he's had roles in The Magic Flute and Von der Liebe Tod. "A sold-out show at the opera holds 1,600 people, so that's nothing compared to the Eurovision audience," he says (last year's TV broadcast was seen by 163 million people). Pietsch's song, Wasted Love, is a turbulent ballad that makes spectacular use of his counter-tenor, with an EDM twist. On stage, he performs in a ramshackle sailing boat, clinging to the mast as the ocean threatens to consume him. It's one of the night's most arresting performances, and it requires a lot of preparation. "That's the opera singer in me, I practice every day." he says. "I have to do vocal warm-ups to keep the voice active and before I go on stage, I always do ten push-ups and one-minute planks." Reaching the Eurovision final has been a dream since he watched Conchita Wurst win for Austria in 2014. Could he replicate that success in Switzerland? "That would be great for Austria. I would love to do that. I would call Conchita my mother, so I'd love to make her proud." What time is the Eurovision 2025 final and who is in it? Meet the 'invisible crew' who have 35 seconds to prevent a Eurovision blunder Witchcraft, innuendo and moody goth boys: Your guide to all 37 Eurovision songs Eurovision act Remember Monday: 'The closer we get, the hungrier we become' 'I've practised being booed', Israel's Eurovision entry who survived Hamas attack tells BBC Chance of winning: 8% Language: French Genre: Torch song Spotify streams: 6.9m "I'm surrounded by a sand storm, a sand tornado, and I'll be wearing a custom Rabanne dress." French singer Louane is describing the simple, but stunning, staging for her ballad, Maman. The sand is real (how she avoids inhaling it, I'll never know) but it serves a purpose: The song, which was inspired by her mother's death from cancer, is all about the passage of time. "It's a song that says that, even through sadness and deep pain, you can finally feel fine," she says. Maman is technically a sequel to a 2015 song of the same name, written in the depths of Louane's despair. "I've lost my taste for fun / I can't find meaning," she sang. The 2025 version includes several callbacks to the first song. For example, the original opened with the lyric: "Lovers move from bed to bed", but the update finds her singing, "No more lovers, no more beds." Having a child of her own helped Louane lift the veil of grief. In the song, she talks about how holding her daughter's hand brought back memories of the times her mum had done the same - only this time, the pain of remembering was gone. In Maman's closing bars, we briefly hear her daughter's voice. "She won't be here in Basel," says Louane. "She's going to be watching on TV, because she's only five." "But she's super proud. She keeps on telling me, 'Maman, you have to bring the trophy home. "She's just adorable'." Chance of winning: 6% Language: French and English Genre: Chanson Spotify streams: 17.2m The Netherlands originally asked last year's entrant, Joost Klein – who was barred from the final after an alleged altercation with a camera operator — the chance to come back for 2025. Although he'd already written a song for the contest, he declined, saying his disqualification still "stings". Instead, the honour went to 21-year-old Claude Kiambe, who moved to the Netherlands from the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was nine years old. "It wasn't always safe in Congo," he says. "I couldn't afford to go to school… and I love school." His mum eventually managed to smuggle the family out of the country, and it's to her that his Eurovision song is dedicated. Titled C'est La Vie, it's a joyous blend of Afropop and French chanson that repeats the advice she used to give Claude and his siblings in the asylum centre in Alkmaar. "She used to tell me, 'C'est la vie. Life is beautiful, even if it is hard sometimes.' "So when I heard about Eurovision, I was like, 'Wait, if I go there, I want to bring that message to the world'. "I have a lot of respect for her. She fought through life, and we're still here." Claude comes into the contest with a little advantage, as he's known throughout Europe for his massive 2022 hit Ladada. But he's had to pick up a new skill for Eurovision: Choreography. "I'd only ever done one dance move before, but when I was writing the song, I was like, 'It's time for me to step out of my comfort zone and dance around'." Learning the choreography took three days, he reckons. "We started at 11 and ended at nine. I wanted to know it so well that I could do it in my dreams." Chance of winning: 4% Language: Finnish, German Genre: Eurodance Spotify streams: 11.8m Ask Erika Vikman to describe her song, and she doesn't pull any punches. "It's about orgasm." Full of pummelling techno beats and what appears to be a Welsh male voice choir, it's one of those tracks that's guaranteed to become part of Eurovision folklore, no matter where it comes in the final. Vikman was once hailed as the queen of Finland's tango scene but gave it up for pop, "because I can't be very wild with that type of music." Citing artists like Madonna, Cher and Lady Gaga as inspiration, she's one of the few artists to take to the stage without dancers. "Why? Because I'm selfish!" she laughs. "I want attention." "No, it's because when I go the stage, I feel like a rock star, and when I feel like a rock star, I really don't need dancers, because it's owning my power and myself." She certainly owns the stage – ending her song atop a giant gold microphone that spurts fire as she's hoisted into the sky. Eagle-eyed viewers might notice, however, that her costume is a little less revealing than the one she wore for Finland's selection show, Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. "They said that it won't pass if we don't tone down something," she says, "and one of the suggestions was my outfit." "So I was like, 'Okay, if that, that's price to pay, we cover my butt'." That doesn't mean she's happy about it. "The song is about owning your sexuality, and then someone comes and controls me, saying, 'you will ruin every child who is watching this show'. It's a double standard." Censorship or not, Vikman's odds of winning shortened dramatically after a barnstorming performance in the semi-finals. "I have a feeling about it," she smiles. "I can be the dark horse." Chance of winning: 1% Language: English Genre: Musical theatre Spotify streams: 3.1m After Thursday's semi-final, UK act Remember Monday shot up the odds... well, kind of. Formerly predicted to come 17th, they're now gunning for 11th place. But the trio - who are the first girlband to represent the UK since the 1999 - are determined to have fun, no matter what the outcome. "This is all so surreal, beyond anything we could have imagined," says singer Lauren Byrne. "It sounds so cheesy, but it is genuinely everything we've ever wanted," says her bandmate Charlotte Steele. "Who gets to stand up and perform their music, with their two best friends, to millions of people? It's mental." "And listen," adds Lauren. "If we do really badly, we're just gonna keep coming back until we win." In their favour, Remember Monday's performance is chirpy and fun, drawing on their background in musical theatre. There's a dress-ripping nod to former UK winners Bucks Fizz, and their live harmonies are exquisite. "They have an insane amount of experience," says Ace Bowerman, a creative director for Dua Lipa and Blackpink, who designed their staging. "Their performance is constantly moving, and bringing the audience in. Ultimately, the energy we want to create is that people will want to be a part of this band." Maybe fans have underestimated Remember Monday's chances because West End show tunes are an untested quantity at Eurovision - but the UK's track record doesn't bode well. We'll have to wait and see what the hell (just) happens.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet Sweden's Eurovision 2025 entry KAJ and get to know their song Bara Bada Bastu
Sweden's 2025 Eurovision entry KAJ are one of the favourites to win this year's contest, thanks to their quirky and infectious song 'Bara Bada Bastu'. KAJ are the first ever Finnish act to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, while 'Bara Bada Bastu' is the first Swedish-language song the country has submitted since 1998. The Vörå-formed trio comprises comedians and musicians Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman and Jakob Norrgård, who have released seven albums and also written and performed two musicals at the Wasa Theatre in their native Finland. Should they win, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest contest would return to the country just two years after it was held in Malmö, following Loreen's triumph. KAJ first need to get through the first semi-final, which is being held on Tuesday 13 May and will be broadcast on BBC One, iPlayer, Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm. They are competing against fellow favourites including Estonia's Tommy Cash and The Netherland's Claude. Italy's Lucio Corsi, Spain's Melody and Switzerland's Zoë Më are also performing – they automatically qualify for the Grand Final on Saturday 17 May. We are KAJ, a comedy trio from Vörå, Ostrobothnia. We have been a band for 15 years and friends even longer. First we got into comedy and quickly afterwards music. The combination of the two turned out to be the perfect fit for us. We have a passion for writing witty and catchy songs. We got an email from Melodifestivalen. Somehow they had found us and wanted us to try and write a song for the competition. That is an offer we couldn't refuse and to our great joy we were selected to participate in the competition! Since we are a part of a Swedish-speaking minority and have always followed Melodifestivalen closely, it was a great honour and opportunity for us. 'Bara Bada Bastu' is inspired by the Finnish sauna culture. We saw it as a funny way to play with stereotypes and bring the sauna to Sweden. Our first thought with the song and the staging was that we really wanted to do more of an Eurovision-vibe entry directly in Melodifestivalen, to do our own thing and not try to copy what they usually do. And as it turns out, that was a great idea. Everything has been so fun but also overwhelming. We didn't expect this to happen, and to be one of the favourites for the whole competition? Surreal, but so much fun. It is a great year for Eurovision, many strong entries and lots of fantastic people. We would celebrate with the people of Sweden – and Finland. It would truly be a beautiful way to honour the bond our countries share. And of course, when our duties are done for the day. The sauna calls upon us. The Eurovision semi-finals take place on Tuesday 13 May and Thursday 15 May; the Grand Final is on Saturday 17 May.
Local Sweden
23-04-2025
- Business
- Local Sweden
KEY POINTS: What changes in Sweden in May?
A change of direction for the Social Democrats, a tax deadline, public holidays, and, maybe, another Eurovision win for Sweden. What's on the agenda for Sweden in May? Advertisement Centre Party will officially vote for new leader The Centre Party will formally appoint its new leader at an EGM on May 3rd. The election committee has nominated Anna-Karin Hatt, who enjoys wide support within the party, so it looks likely that she will win. Hatt is currently the CEO of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF), a major organisation for people and businesses in the agriculture and forestry industry. Another one of her top-level positions since leaving politics is being the former CEO of employers' organisation Almega, a significant player in the Swedish business world. POLITICS IN SWEDEN: Why a new Centre leader might mean the end for free school reform She was among the most popular candidates to take over after Muharrem Demirok stepped down in February, but left professional politics more than ten years ago and had only a week prior to her nomination dismissed the idea that she would be returning any time soon. She took on her first role for the Centre Party in 1991 as a local politician in Hylte, a municipality in south-western Sweden with a population of just over 10,000. She was IT minister in Fredrik Reinfeldt's centre-right coalition government from 2010 to 2014. Advertisement Social Democrats to hold party congress Sweden's Social Democrats will hold their party congress at the end of May. In mid-April, ahead of the congress, the party proposed four new political goals covering topics like the economy, schools, law and order and immigration. The result of a long bottom-up process of policy renewal, the proposals, as expected, cement the party's shift to the right on immigration and law and order. Don't miss: Sweden's tax deadline Tax returns were sent out weeks ago, so you may already have declared your taxes. But if you haven't, May 2nd is the final deadline. If you're unable to file your tax return on time, then you need to apply for an extension by the May 2nd deadline. If the Tax Agency approves your extension, you'll have until June 2nd to submit it. You can apply for this extension online using your digital ID, or call the agency. Before you click submit, make sure you've not missed out on these essential deductions. Will Sweden win Eurovision… again? Another highlight of the Swedish calendar, Eurovision will take place in May in Basel. We're aware that Basel is not in Sweden (despite Sweden and Switzerland often getting mixed up), but many Swedes will be watching the contest, especially considering Sweden's entry is hotly tipped to win this year. Finnish sauna-themed comedy act Kaj were selected to represent Sweden in Eurovision at the final of Melodifestivalen this spring. Their song, Bara Bada Bastu, is the first song in Swedish the country has sent to Eurovision since 1998. Song contest experts think the song could win due to the catchy melody (anyone with children in Sweden has no doubt had it stuck in their head for weeks) and the fact that it represents a break from the kind of slick, polished pop songs Sweden usually sends. Advertisement Holidays and other dates May 1st, a day for celebrating workers' movements, has been a public holiday in Sweden since 1939. Expect to see rallies organised by left or centre-left parties and organisations, but otherwise not much happens on May 1st in Sweden – and even less this year as it falls on a Sunday, so there's no extra day off. The right-wing parties will still be busy, however, joining everyone else in celebrating Valborg and the King's birthday the day before on April 30th. The weather for both days currently looks OK, with forecasters predicting it to be overcast, with temperatures of around 15C in the south of the country and around 5-10C in the north. Ascension Day, which this year falls on May 29th, is also a public holiday in Sweden. This means Friday May 30th is a great klämdag opportunity, meaning you can book it off to give yourself a four-day weekend and only use one day of annual leave (although your Swedish colleagues probably got there ahead of you and booked it off months ago). Known as Kristi himmelfärdsdag in Swedish (or colloquially Kristi flygare – "flying Christ"), it marks the day when Christians believe Jesus ascended into heaven. But as Sweden is a relatively secular country you're unlikely to notice anything remarkable unless you're a keen churchgoer – other than getting a day off. Mother's Day in Sweden falls on the last Sunday of May, this year May 25th. It is not a public holiday.
IOL News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Sweden turns up Eurovision heat with wacky sauna song
The Finnish band KAJ is Sweden's entry for the Eurovision competition with a song that makes fun of sauna culture Sweden is getting up a head of steam for what could be a record number of Eurovision wins this year with a humorous sauna act. KAJ, a comedy group more accustomed to playing birthday parties than large arena shows, is already the bookies' favourite to triumph at the extravaganza in Basel, Switzerland on May 17. With their song "Bara Bada Bastu" (Just Have a Sauna), the Finnish trio pay homage to sauna culture, clad in brown suits and accompanied by an accordion in a wink to Finland's other big cultural phenomenon, the tango. Dancers in lumberjack shirts grill sausages over a bonfire before appearing in a sauna with towels around their waists, slapping their backs with birch branches. "We're gonna have a sauna, sauna, steam up and let go of the stress of the day," they sing repeatedly in Swedish, in a catchy chorus that sticks to the brain like chewing gum to the sole of a shoe. "The melody works internationally. Even I am able to hum the chorus, and I absolutely do not speak the language," laughed Fabien Randanne, a French Eurovision expert and journalist. The Swedish public chose the song at its annual Melodifestivalen contest - a national institution broadcast five Saturday evenings in a row that attracts millions of viewers. KAJ's victory stunned the nation that brought us Abba and two-times winner Loreen, beating out 2015 Eurovision victor and pop heartthrob Mans Zelmerlow, who was broadly seen as the favourite. "Sweden has usually competed with very slick numbers. Now I have the feeling that the public is a little more open to originality, to something unique," Randanne said. Melodifestivalen producer Karin Gunnarsson approached KAJ and asked them to send in a demo for the Swedish contest, Swedish songwriter Anderz Wrethov, a Eurovision veteran who co-wrote and co-produced KAJ's song, said. Founded in 2009, KAJ is made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, its name formed by their first initials. Until now they had a niche but steady following in Finland, primarily in the small Swedish-speaking community to which they belong. Their song was one of 30 selected by Swedish broadcaster SVT - out of almost 2 800 entries - to compete in Melodifestivalen, ultimately winning the contest with 4.3 million votes. "We've seen all these very polished artists but underneath it all, the kind of music KAJ makes is very typical of Swedish 'schlager' (popular hits)", said Andreas Onnerfors, professor of intellectual history at Linnaeus University in Sweden. Randanne said that while it was hard to explain KAJ's success, Swedes' "voted with their hearts". "In the current context, we all need to de-stress... but the vote also just shows what people find entertaining," Onnerfors added. He said it was also important to understand the song's popularity in the broader context of Eurovision, a contest created to unite Europeans across borders. "Eurovision is like a bonfire around which we gather... It doesn't have to be very serious, it can also be eccentric," he said. Onnerfors said countries reveal their true selves through their cultural stereotypes - in the case of KAJ, poking fun at the way Swedes view Finns and their sauna culture. But does KAJ have what it takes to claim Sweden's eighth Eurovision victory in Basel? Onnerfors doesn't dare make any predictions. Randanne said he expects them to place well thanks to the tune's catchy melody. "Eurovision is usually a little more open-minded than Sweden," agreed Wrethov. In this year's Eurovision, around 20 of the 37 contestants will sing in a language other than English, which is "unprecedented", Randanne said. Wrethov said KAJ's number could even shake things up in pop-loving Sweden. "Maybe more artists who don't do mainstream pop will say, 'Wow, there's a new place for me!'" he said. | AFP
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sweden turns up Eurovision heat with wacky sauna song
Sweden is getting up a head of steam for what could be a record number of Eurovision wins this year with a humorous sauna act. KAJ, a comedy group more accustomed to playing birthday parties than large arena shows, is already the bookies' favourite to triumph at the extravaganza in Basel, Switzerland on May 17. With their song "Bara Bada Bastu" (Just Have a Sauna), the Finnish trio pay homage to sauna culture, clad in brown suits and accompanied by an accordion in a wink to Finland's other big cultural phenomenon, the tango. Dancers in lumberjack shirts grill sausages over a bonfire before appearing in a sauna with towels around their waists, slapping their backs with birch branches. "We're gonna have a sauna, sauna, steam up and let go of the stress of the day," they sing repeatedly in Swedish, in a catchy chorus that sticks to the brain like chewing gum to the sole of a shoe. "The melody works internationally. Even I am able to hum the chorus, and I absolutely do not speak the language," laughed Fabien Randanne, a French Eurovision expert and journalist. - Shock selection - The Swedish public chose the song at its annual Melodifestivalen contest -- a national institution broadcast five Saturday evenings in a row that attracts millions of viewers. KAJ's victory stunned the nation that brought us Abba and two-times winner Loreen, beating out 2015 Eurovision victor and pop heartthrob Mans Zelmerlow, who was broadly seen as the favourite. "Sweden has usually competed with very slick numbers. Now I have the feeling that the public is a little more open to originality, to something unique," Randanne said. Melodifestivalen producer Karin Gunnarsson approached KAJ and asked them to send in a demo for the Swedish contest, Swedish songwriter Anderz Wrethov, a Eurovision veteran who co-wrote and co-produced KAJ's song, told AFP. Founded in 2009, KAJ is made up of Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard, its name formed by their first initials. Until now they had a niche but steady following in Finland, primarily in the small Swedish-speaking community to which they belong. Their song was one of 30 selected by Swedish broadcaster SVT -- out of almost 2,800 entries -- to compete in Melodifestivalen, ultimately winning the contest with 4.3 million votes. "We've seen all these very polished artists but underneath it all, the kind of music KAJ makes is very typical of Swedish 'schlager' (popular hits)", said Andreas Onnerfors, professor of intellectual history at Linnaeus University in Sweden. - Eurovision 'doesn't have to be serious' - Randanne said that while it was hard to explain KAJ's success, Swedes' "voted with their hearts". "In the current context, we all need to de-stress... but the vote also just shows what people find entertaining," Onnerfors added. He said it was also important to understand the song's popularity in the broader context of Eurovision, a contest created to unite Europeans across borders. "Eurovision is like a bonfire around which we gather... It doesn't have to be very serious, it can also be eccentric," he said. Onnerfors said countries reveal their true selves through their cultural stereotypes -- in the case of KAJ, poking fun at the way Swedes view Finns and their sauna culture. But does KAJ have what it takes to claim Sweden's eighth Eurovision victory in Basel? Onnerfors doesn't dare make any predictions. Randanne said he expects them to place well thanks to the tune's catchy melody. "Eurovision is usually a little more open-minded than Sweden," agreed Wrethov. In this year's Eurovision, around 20 of the 37 contestants will sing in a language other than English, which is "unprecedented", Randanne said. Wrethov said KAJ's number could even shake things up in pop-loving Sweden. "Maybe more artists who don't do mainstream pop will say, 'Wow, there's a new place for me!'" he said. cbw/ef/po/fg
