The lights fell and so did the faux snow. Shortly after it was all cleared Sweden’s Loreen had emerged as the winner of Eurovision 2012. Her song “Euphoria” was a clubby meditation on a simple idea: that love can take us to a higher place. Standing on an elevated platform and singing into a wind machine, she captivated the 23,000-seat Baku Crystal Hall with minimalist choreography and a crazed look in her eyes. Her distant stares and occasional writhing conveyed the madness that accompanies her pursuit of “the one.” When the snow fell we saw the passing of seasons: time moved on, and the love Loreen shared with her back-up dancer remained in tact.


WATCH:

Press conference

Before journalists pounced, the emcee have Loreen the chance to deliver a personal message to the audience. “I have so many things I want to say to all of you, all of you out there, to all of you who believed in me. This isn’t only about me. It’s about us. And I’m thankful to you guys. Thanks for your support, really. From my heart.”

Loreen walks on the stage to collect her trophy

A Swedish broadcaster asked Loreen how she has managed to focus despite all the pressure and expectations. “Oh wow. I slept a lot. I ate a lot. I tried not to think about this performance as something we create together. That made it a lot easier to stand in front of so many people because I’m the shy type to be honest.”

What did Loreen want to say to Swedes? “I would like to say thank you for giving this way of performance a chance because it’s different. And thank you.”

A Polish journalist asked about the problems Loreen during the jury final on May 25. “The trouble I had yesterday was that I swallowed my snow. I had snowflakes on the back of my throat. Stuff like that happens and when it’s live…It didn’t make me nervous at all. Shit happens.”

Rather bizarrely, a Swedish journalist asked Loreen how she would describe Sweden to foreigners. “The most beautiful word in Swedish that represents Sweden to me is organic,'” she said. “When I think of Sweden I think of nature. Pure air and water. We have a lot of beautiful things in Sweden.”

A member of the Azerbaijani opposition movement asked Loreen how she would support Azerbaijan as it progresses toward democracy. “I support Azerbaijani people from my heart because I love the people of Azerbaijan. They are very friendly, and smart.” The journalist wanted to know how. “How? Any way you want.”

How would you describe Azerbaijan to people in your country? “I would say they have great food. And most of all I would say the people of Azerbaijan are really nice.”

Loreen performs “Euphoria” in Baku’s Crystal Hall

Besides victory what will Loreen take from Azerbaijan? “I’ll probably take a bit of me. I’m a people’s person. All the connections I’ve had. They mean a lot to me. That’s what I’m going to take home also.”

A French journalist wanted to know what Loreen thought of Anggun, the French contestant. “She’s a great person and a great vocalist. I liked her very much.”

A Russian journalist wanted to know how Loreen felt about the Buranovskiye Babushki. “I love the babushkas very much. I gave them a hug, and they gave me their necklace.” And how will she party? “Party. Yeah. I will party in my own way meaning dance, meeting with people, nice food, and some sleep.”

What did her crazy choreography represent? “To be honest the dance represents freedom. Not to have any rules. Just do whatever you feel like. Move however you feel like. That’s basically the meaning of it. Don’t have any rules. Don’t think so much. Just be whatever you want to be. It will work. It will work. And it did.”

Why didn’t the Ukrainian artist do so well? What’s wrong with her? “There’s nothing wrong with her at all. All of the contestants are great. It’s just a question of taste and this year it happened to be me. All of us are really godo artists and are winners.”

That’s all folks. A tame press conference following a fantastic night. Now Wiwi & Co. need to rush to the airport to catch a flight back to London! It’s already 5am here in Baku. Love, Team Wiwi

Complete Results

1. Sweden: Loreen with “Euphoria”

2. Russia: Buranovskiye Babushki with “Party for Everybody”

3. Serbia: Zeljko Joksimovic with “Nije ljubav stvar”

4. Azerbaijan: Sabina Babayeva with “When the Music Dies”

5. Albania: Rona Nishliu with “Suus” (Personal)

6. Estonia: Ott Lepland with “Kuula”

7. Turkey: Can Bonomo with “Love Me Back”

8. Germany: Roman Lob with “Standing Still”

9. Italy: Nina Zilli with “L’Amore è Femmina” (Out of Love)

10. Spain: Pastora Soler with “Quédate conmigo”

11. Moldova: Pasha Parfeny with “Lautar”

12. Romania: Mandinga with “Zaleilah”

13. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Kaliopi with “Crno i belo”

14. Lithuania: Donny Montell with “Love Is Blind”

15. Ukraine: Gaitana with “Be My Guest”

16. Cyprus: Ivi with “La La Love”

17. Greece: Eleftheria Eleftheriou with “Aphrodisiac”

18. Bosnia: Maya Sar with “Kora ti znam”

19. Ireland: Jedward with “Waterline”

20. Iceland: Greta Salóme & Jónsi with “Remember Me”

21. Malta: Kurt Calleja with “This Is the Night”

22. France: Anggun with “Echo (You and I)”

23. Denmark: Soluna Samay with “Should’ve Known Better”

24. Hungary: Compact Disco with “Sound of Our Hearts”

25. United Kingdom: Engelbert Humperdink with “Love Will Set You Free”

26. Norway: Tooji with “Stay”

20 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Andrew Fletcher
Andrew Fletcher
11 years ago

…and the next 12 points go tooo…. We already know where to. Neighbour’s voting every year, can not watch it anymore. Or even more, if I’m ukrainian and live, let’s say, in Russia, I vote definitely for Ukraine. This is not right. We have to leave our national principles behind us and vote for the song we really like. But it will never happen anyway. And I’m sure that some countries don’t show the exact people messaging results, but that one, that suit for them for political reasons. The voting system should be completely changed. Voting between countries produce those… Read more »

David Thielen
11 years ago

@James – when you complain that you have to sing in English to win, did you not notice that the #2 and #3 songs were not in English? As to Loreen’s song, it could as easily have been is Swedish, or even Swahili and it would still have won.

Years ago English was a giant advantage. Now, I don’t think it matters that much. English songs are more likely to win because more songs are sung in English. But I think we’ll see songs in native languages continue to do well, and win at times.

James
11 years ago

Only a apointement…when i say the same songs win its because for me they dont bring really nothing too much diferent…nothing really diferent,in last years all in english… only noroway last winner bring some diferent( unfortunly not in his language too) music…its my taste and my opinion of course….for me once again i say this year germany or hungary are the better choices to win…or even françe…but ok i respect the europeans opinion…but its very inportant to make this festival better the cuntryd song in them language that it will be really nice and that its culture. More….its time to… Read more »

James
11 years ago

Ionly want to say that eurofestival its more the same, the same songs win nothing diferent,all in english…all so similar…i must give the congratulations to sweeden, but its not the better song….how can europe fargot songs as hungary with a wonderfull mesage? or germany a really nice music, or even france or Swayziterland with a diferent songs? But its a shame cuntrys as portugal and otheres that sing in his languages have no chances….and is not for the bad musics, because nobody can say the the portuguese song ” senhora do mar” in 2009 its one of the more wonderfull… Read more »

Gavin
11 years ago

Hey Roger, Sure Englebert is a good and respected singer, but his performance was not memorable, or the song. He deserved more than second to last i thought, but i can see why… I mean most people in the UK had never even heard his song before last night… The BBC are very poor in song choices and format. I thought Albania delivered such a highly emotional song, so can see why it scored highly and the costume was 100% memorable, again not my taste, but what a performance (untill she screamed the wrong note) . Im so torn between… Read more »

David Thielen
11 years ago

I thought Albania was awful also – screaming is not singing. But you can’t claim politics for Albania’s votes – they have zero political influence. You can’t claim bloc voting because the Balkan states had a lot of very good numbers this year so why would the bloc all go to Albania? The bottom line is a lot of people in Europe liked the scream-a-thon. The fact that many of us here (including me) thought it was one of the worst does not mean the vote was rigged. It just means most voters have a different opinion of that song.… Read more »

roger
11 years ago

EUROVISION CAME AND GO NOTHING CHANGED SAME OLD STORY FROM NEXT YEAR IT SHOULD BE CALLED ….. THE NEIGHBOURS EUROSONG … FEDUP WITH THIS CRAPP . OK THE BEST SONG WON BUT HOW CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN A SUPER STAR LIKE ENGILBERT WITH A VERY NICE BALLET LIKE THAT COMES SECOND FROM LAST AND THEN THE ALBANIAN SONG COMES 5TH SHE WAS JUST SHOUTHING WITH A HUNGBACK COSTUME NAAAA . AND BY THE WAY IAM NOT BRITISH MAYBE U THINK IAM SAYING THIS BECAUSE IAM BRITISH IAM NOT . SHAME EUROPE ..

Dona
Dona
11 years ago

Goooooooooooooo ALbbanniiiaaa 5th position not bad 🙂 we left behind GREECE, CYPRUS, ITALY TURKEY, UKRAINE, SPAIN, IRLAND ETC

Rebecca
Rebecca
11 years ago

* I thought this is about music…

Rebecca
Rebecca
11 years ago

I agree with the former opinions. Its a pity that songs like the one from Engelbert did not get voted into Top Ten, but Albania did! I cannot understand it.. though this is about music, but she just screamed! I had rated place 26-20 much higher!!
Well, i’m happy with an 8. place for Germany though 🙂

Eurofan
Eurofan
11 years ago

Sweden has one of the best song this year, that’s for sure. Congratulations for being the first! But the jury’s results in the final are a real nightmare. Not only geopolitical interest rules, but elementary common sense has no place in Eurovision contest: Serbia’s stolen song is the 3rd one, unprofesional Rusian Babushki are the second and Engelbert Humberdink, who had an excelent evolution, is on the 25th place. My God, what is happening to you, Europe?

Andrew Fletcher
Andrew Fletcher
11 years ago

The same voting every year, brother for brother, sister for sister. You always know to where the next 12 points go. It’s been annoying now. How come Albania went 5th? It’s not a song, it’s a nightmare. I changed the channel for a few minutes, cause could not listen to her awful screaming. I thouugt Ukraine’s Gaitana was going to compete with Sweden for the win. Great song, fantastic performance, but she’s ended up just 15th. Europe ignore Ukraine because of politic situation. Eurovision has not been a fair play competition anymore. It’s a shame. There is need to change… Read more »

Gerry Dorrian
11 years ago

Personally, as a man of a certain age, Loreen’s techno backing didn’t appeal to me; but I think she deserved the top spot just for being the only contestant (as far as I’m aware) who had the guts to meet human rights activists.

SERENAY
SERENAY
11 years ago

FINALYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY LOREENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN THE WINNER!!!!!!!!!!! THX GOD!!!!!!LOVE FROM MACEDONIA

Ivs
Ivs
11 years ago

Completely agree with you David. I want to introduce myself: I’m a young person of latino descent, I live in sweden, I’m interested in fashion and journalism; I read alot of books, I read newspapers, I’m educated, have friends from various countries and “classes”, and I listen to all kinds of music. My mind is very open and perceptive, something I believe I share with many young people in Europe these days, so somehow I feel like all of this makes me that type of person who easily senses trends. These past few years I’ve always known where the wind… Read more »

Finally
Finally
11 years ago

Finally sweden chocked singer get the winner,,,,,

Li
Li
11 years ago

I KNEW IT!!!! So happy right now! Congratulations Loreen! <3 Sweden in my heart.

Adam from California, USA
Adam from California, USA
11 years ago

Congratulations Loreen. So glad you won!!!

David Thielen
11 years ago

Watching it again, Loreen did an extraordinary job. Very well earned.

What is also so wonderful about this year is there were 5 countries I thought were worthy of winning and 9 more that were a close second. I think the quality this year is possibly the best ever.