If airplay and chart rankings are the real measures of success, then Sweden’s Frans could be considered the winner of Eurovision 2016.

As summer winds down, it’s clear that his folk-poptronica number “If I Were Sorry” is the most commercially successful song of this year’s edition — and one that appears to have staying power.

The singer’s 20-date Tour de Frans wrapped on August 27, so it’s the perfect time to reflect on the hitmaker’s momentous turn at Eurovision.

He’s not sorry

The song emerged as the hot favourite to win Melodifestivalen 2016 the moment it was revealed during the fourth heat. Within weeks Frans had stormed several international Spotify Viral charts, charting in the top 10 in various European countries, but also in Uruguay and Taiwan. “If I Were Sorry” even made the top 30 in the Spotify Global Viral Chart.

Frans narrowly lost the international jury vote at Melfest to Oscar Zia. But it was clear where the public’s will lay, as he earned 14.4% of all votes in the 12-song final, making Frans the winner of Melodifestivalen 2016.

Let’s be clear: From an international perspective he was not the most popular winner.

Plenty of fans accused his songwriters of plagiarism, citing Matt Simons’ hit “Catch & Release”.

The song also got a mixed review from our Eurovision 2016 Wiwi Jury. It backers praised it for being “chit-chatty, charming and quietly powerful,” while critics wrote it off as “a lazy pop effort”.

Even with the mixed feedback, Sweden convinced the bookies that Frans was here to stay — and slay — and for months he remained neck-and-neck with the bookies’ ultimate favourite Sergey Lazarev.

Following his fifth-place finish at Eurovision, Frans continued to clock up the accolades.

It was one of the most downloaded Eurovision songs on iTunes this year, together with pre-contest favourite Sergey Lazarev and his track “You Are The Only One” and jury winner Dami Im with “Sound Of Silence”.

wiwibloggers William and Deban predict a Top 5 finish for Frans at Eurovision:

Frans also experienced more chart success than any other Eurovision contestant after the contest.

“If I Were Sorry” charted in twenty different countries, including Sweden (where it topped the charts for five weeks and went 4x platinum), Germany (where it was the most-played song on all radio stations the last week of July) and Austria (where it remained in the Top 10 for seven weeks).

But this was not just a Western affair. The song also had a huge impact in countries including Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, where the song entered the charts in mid-June and, as of the the end of August, remained one of the most-played songs on Polish radio. 

Are you still listening to “If I Were Sorry”? Let us know in the comments below!

Read more Sweden music news

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Elin
7 years ago

Deli!!
Well, when other artist in Eurovision 2016 made interwievs before Eurovision, Frans was back home whith his family concentrating on school. The succés in Europé is despite Frans did so little PR. If he had done that, maby he would win Eurovision.

Avstriya
Avstriya
7 years ago

@Alex, seguro de que España sería el país más ruidosa del mundo…. 🙂

Álex, from Spain
Álex, from Spain
7 years ago

If the article is about Sweden’s (Frans’) success and suddenly there is a comment about the most unfriendly countries including Sweden, then it is obvious that somebody is jealous.

Laburnum
Laburnum
7 years ago

@Loo, people have no reason to hate on Sweden, and I don’t. My step dad is actually from Sweden so… People are really just jealous of their success, mostly because they have the best national selection, and when they sent a song like this…it was sad. Btw, sorry for the mistake for neighbour voting. Don’t know why i thought that!

ESC84
ESC84
7 years ago

Eurovision still has a lot to catch up
if u look back, in 60s or 70s, the winner song will be worldwide hit
e.g. Italy 1964 – Non ho l’età

Charts
Chart (1964) Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 1
France (SNEP)[6] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[7] 3
Italy (Musica e dischi)[8] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[10] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[11] 17

Avstriya
Avstriya
7 years ago

btw. Loo, if you think that Swedes were soooo lovely, and would deserve nothing but love instead of jealousy, set an example and post nicely 🙂

Avstriya
Avstriya
7 years ago

@Loo, don’t you think that reputation and friendliness are different things? I certainly do think so, and I guess “Lynda Woodruff” as well in one of her Eurovision skits about the people of Stockholm. Here is the complete list, indulge yourself:) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/unfriendliest-countries-for-expats-revealed-expatriates-emigration-sweden-denmark-kuwait-a7216316.html Sweden is listed the sixth most unfriendly country in the world, which makes it 4th in Europe (sorry for confusing it with Norway in my prior post xD) Mexico on the other hand, a country with a lower “reputation” is seen as one of the friendliest countries in the world. I think so too, the Mexicans are soooo… Read more »

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Avstriya

Sorry, but you just made yourself look like a fool.

Sweden is officially named the “goodest” country in the world with the best reputation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3661999/Sweden-named-country-best-reputation-UK-fails-crack-10.html

All this hate against Sweden is just due to jealousy and NOTHING else. Since 2011 the swedish song has been the commercial winner five times (!!!) which is very impressive.

Believe whatever you want!

From Sweden with love 🙂

Avstriya
Avstriya
7 years ago

According to the latest expat report the most unfriendly people of Europe live in:

1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Sweden
4. Norway
5. Finland

I think this is explains why “we” do not wish them as well as other countries, aren’t we?

Álex, from Spain
Álex, from Spain
7 years ago

Best song and artist of the year!

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@Loo

It’s very simple, darling. The juries didn’t want Russia and Sweden to win because they didn’t deserve it. Everything else is excuses made by Russians and Swedes who are still butthurt and can’t accept reality.

It’s very funny how people say “It’s all about politics” when their country or their favorite doesn’t win. It looks like they have nothing better to say 😀

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Steve

Well written!

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@(J) ESC Fanatic

HAHA LOL of course I know that Australia won the jury and they obviously wanted Australia to win, but almost half of them gave null points to Sweden and Russia and THAT is politics. You all know it. It’s not a secret. You seem VERY naive.

Oh dear, people will never change and the hate on the internet will continuing growing. Luckily enough me, Bella and Denis knows how to behave 🙂

I surrender. Bye.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Yes, IIWS is friendly-to-ears and is more unchained than professionally licked (but better sung) Heroes but you also can’t take out of head that the country is very influental in music market. Expected as many said earlier.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@Loo

“However, Russia, Australia or Sweden would have been the right winner if it wasn’t for this all corrupted jury.”

LOL, Australia won the jury vote! And Sweden was not even in the top 5 of the televote!

It looks like you need to do some research on this before starting saying whatever comes to your mind in order to prove that Ukraine shouldn’t have won…

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

Still hear it on the radio in Macedonia ….. And it’s August.

It is very much a radio friendly song even tho It’s not my favorite from this year I see the why it is doing so well.

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

Give the poor guy some rest of your critics. He is a young good guy enjoying his song. I like the song. Sweden even didn’t make any big efforts and what a result! Bookies, push Seeden forward as a hot favourite for the coming year’s contest! No other country can compete with Sweden, except for the UK (if they send a popular band or singer). Frans, well done! Greetings from Armenia

Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
7 years ago

This song is the worst.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Polegend Godgarina Whatever you want to believe in, politics won and not the right song. Ukraine won fair and square according to the rules, so I’d say that they deserved it in that sense. However, Russia, Australia or Sweden would have been the right winner if it wasn’t for this all corrupted jury. That is a fact and not an opinion. “If I were sorry” is the song most people embraced and liked, whether you or the majority of the fans liked it or not @lily I’m as humble as one can be, thank you! People on wiwibloggs NEVER respect… Read more »

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

I’m sorry but I totally agree with @Polegend Godgarina. And by the way, I also agree that Polina is a legend and God! Love her! <3<3<3<3<3

lily
lily
7 years ago

@Loo and @bella I’m Swedish and the way you two talk makes me hide, spin & turn in embarresement. Have you ever heard about being humble?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

But I’m glad QUALITY and TALENT won the contest over a mediocre, generic, effortless Scandinavian pop song. Of course it succeeded commercially, he hopped on the trendy Shawn Mendes-esque sound of the moment, talked (because his is definitely not singing) a few nonsensical lines over it, and the general public ate it up.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

I’m glad my country completely paid this song dust. Never heard it anywhere here in Italy!

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@Loo

Okay, just don’t say “Eurovision fans do this and that, etc.”, say “SOME Eurovision fans…” because not all people are the same. 🙂

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

We are the second most influental music country in Europe after UK.

mad-professor
mad-professor
7 years ago

@Loo
Er, the last released data in 2014 had Sweden 12th in the world, coming behind Germany, the UK, France, Italy and the Netherlands for Europe.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@(J)ESC Fanatic

HAHA LOL.
Did I even mentioned you? No? I was talking about the fans in general and yes they hate on Sweden because of Sweden and jealousy. It has been the same case two years in a row now.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@Loo I’m sorry but you have taken it too far. You think that I don’t like this song just because it’s from Sweden? Really? If you want to know, there are many Swedish Eurovision entries I love and Sweden is one of my favorite Eurovision countries overall. I love “Euphoria”, “You” and “Undo” and I like many others too. It’s just this song that I don’t like. I don’t dislike it, I just find it mediocre. It’s just my opinion and it’s sad seeing comments like “Eurovision fans have crappy musical taste”. It looks like people don’t respect different opinions… Read more »

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@bella

Thank you! Yes, Sweden will invite you all to Gothenburg really soon ???? It’s just a matter of time.

Sweden is after all the second biggest music country in Europe and we have a pop culture that is very unique.

Zuzanna
Zuzanna
7 years ago

Ju? rzygam t? piosenk?. Ca?y czas leci w naszym radiu. Na Eurowizji by?o wiele ciekawych piosenek, ale jak zwykle musz? puszcza? co? oklepanego. Za?o?? si?, ?e jakby ta piosenka by?a przyk?adowo z Polski to by nawet z pó?fina?u nie wysz?a. Pozdrawiam 🙂

jamaladingdong
jamaladingdong
7 years ago

I also think it is unfair to compare 1944 to the success of IIWS. Both songs have their own quality and let’s just not solely base it on quantity. Just like what I mentioned earlier, there were people who maximized their effort to promote the songs other than the audience impact. Frans’ team were just the effective ones to do it.

bella
bella
7 years ago

I couldnt agree more with Loo.Loo is right.Sweden probably will win again next year.

jamaladingdong
jamaladingdong
7 years ago

The marketing team made it happen. Bjorkman made it happen. Sweden made it happen. As much as I hated the song, it still managed to catch the attention of most European audiences. Now if it can only reach the US airwaves or Worldwide and there we can wait what will happen next.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Denis

I totally agree with you. I’m still laughing too… Frans defenders won the war!

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Laburnum Please stop your ignorant nonsense. First of all we got top votes (from 7 to 12) in the televoting from all our neighbours including Estonia. 12 from Denmark for example. The finnish and estonian jury also gave 12 points to Sweden. We got null points from the norwegian jury and that’s due to jealousy. Sweden and Norway loves each other but in this contest we are frenemies and people who don’t live here don’t understand our relationship. It was all political and not about the music Itself. So yes, they liked our song. If I were sorry has been… Read more »

Stephanie
7 years ago

I still hate the song. The melody is bland, the lyrics boring and Frans’ vocal was so lazy and robotic – people have mentioned that it’s more like talking than singing. Of course it would be a mega-hit in Sweden, Spotify originates there and I don’t know who exactly is listening to this. He did not deserve top 5 in the final

(Sorry, not sorry)

Laburnum
Laburnum
7 years ago

So it’s doing the best commercially, didn’t win on the night, so it’s not the true winner. I may be saying this because I love “1944” and I hate ” If I Were Sorry”, one of the most mediocre songs in the world, but if anyone should have won, it should’ve been Dami Im or Poli Genova.

@Loo, if your own neighbours don’t give you points, it’s probably because they didn’t like the song.

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

I still remember how much flake I and the few Frans defenders on here and got for liking the song. Like how we have bad taste in music, how he wouldn’t even qualify if he had to qualify, how it’s to slow, to modern, to similar and what not. Well, who got the last laugh? I’m still laughing.. I think what made people hate it was that it didn’t follow the typical Swedish MF formula. Even Måns and “Heroes” followed a Swedish formula, and had a classical schlager sound behind all the “modern” sound. That’s why everyone loved it. You… Read more »

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@johanleekens

Exactly. Thank you for talking some sense and respecting my opinion. 🙂

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

TRUE WINNER 😀

This just proves once again that some songs are too good for winning eurovision.
“1944” is forgotten and dead while “If I were sorry” is still on the radio all over Europe hahaha.
So funny to remember when some Esc fans said Frans would flopped luckily Europe has good taste haha.

johanleekens
johanleekens
7 years ago

I have to agree with @(J)ESC Fanatic
I didn’t like it and I still don’t like it.
There are lots of people who like it and that’s the charm of Eurovision, there is a song for everyone.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

I have to admit, this has been the Eurovision 2016 song I’ve been most listening to post-contest. And I was a hater back in March…

Danny
Danny
7 years ago

LOL, I remember the comments when that was selected to represent Sweden. Eurovision fans were hating, Swedish fans were apologizing for the entry. It’s not a secret that Eurovision fans love AWFUL music, but should they hate that much something that is different from their regular over the top freaky pile of crap?

Isaac Muscat
Isaac Muscat
7 years ago

I get this because I heard this at least 3 times in Malta on the radio etc. unlike any other eurovision entry of this year

Vladimir P.
Vladimir P.
7 years ago

How about the winner? How has “1944” been doing on charts?

mad-professor
mad-professor
7 years ago

Such a hit…
http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/if%20i%20were%20sorry/

Meanwhile, I’m still listening to Catch & Release.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

To all you ignorant, hypocrite and cynical hardcore Eurovision fans. IN YOUR FACE! Luckily I have enough knowledge in good music so I can appreciate this young talented man. Like Bella said, he should have won and you all know it! Everyone says that Ukraine’s win was political, but to me, Sweden not winning was also political. Look at the jury votes. Sweden became a victim just like Russia. The commercial outcome says it all. He charted almost as much as Måns did last year. Sweden had the best song once again. Proving that we are leading this game and… Read more »

bella
bella
7 years ago

He should have won eurovision! Im wondering what the haters will say now…He is the true winner his success proved it.Im hoping that he will return to Melodifestivalen in a few years.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

This song IS a lazy pop effort. It’s boring and I’m sorry but Frans can’t really sing. Mediocre at best and overrated. And no, I’m not listening to it, I have listened to it very few times. It’s so boring that I can’t sit through it.