Last weekend OGAE Finland’s annual Eurovision Cruise set sail from Helsinki, ferrying hundreds of fans from over 30 countries to Tallinn. Just a week before the cruise, one of the acts set to perform — Melodifestivalen veteran Nanne Grönvall — had to pull out due to health issues. Luckily organisers quickly replaced Nanne with an artist that had passengers even more excited: Eurovision 2012 winner Loreen.
Loreen was quickly named the headline act and fans could not wait to watch her perform some of the many songs they’ve downloaded and/or looped on Spotify in support of their beloved star. Anticipation built as UMK favourites Mikael Saari and Eini, Denmark’s Eurovision 2007 star DQ and Lithuania’s Donny Montell all performed multiple tracks. Then it was time for Loreen to take the stage.
She sang her winning song “Euphoria” and then vanished backstage. Fans were in shock.
#Loreen what the hell was that all about? I feel bad for the organizers who did a great job. #eurovisioncruise @LOREEN_TALHAOUI #fail
— Tiina Marju Nuotio (@tmnuotio) September 4, 2016
Tabloids in Finland and Sweden quickly seized on the story.
Jouni Pihkakorpi, the president of OGAE Finland, told Finnish paper Ilta-Sanomat that Loreen was booked to appear for 30-40 minutes. He claims that just an hour before she was supposed to take the stage, her manager announced that fans would only get to hear “Euphoria”.
Loreen on the Eurovision Cruise 2016
Loreen’s manager Helen Wigren told her side of the story to Sweden’s Aftonbladet.
She claims that the contract between Loreen and OGAE Finland explicitly stated that she would perform one song.
“She just did what she was asked to do,” Helen said. “This is very unfortunate because we agreed that she would perform a song. If the organizer [interpreted it as] something else, it’s really sad, both for the fans and for Loreen, who did what she was booked to do.”
@wiwibloggs here is a piece of @LOREEN_TALHAOUI contract. It says 1 song pic.twitter.com/QKh5S5sJSC
— ?Hugo? (@GthbergHugo) September 6, 2016
Indeed, the contract explicitly states ONE song, which organisers would have seen, suggesting they misunderstood or at least expected Loreen to go above her stated duties.
Whether there was a misunderstanding or not, it was clear that fans were shocked and disappointed after Loreen’s extremely short appearance. Loreen might have mitigated the disappointment by meeting with fans afterwards — as all the other artists did.
In years past, Eurovision winners have given much more of their time. For comparison: When Sweden’s Charlotte Perrelli performed on the cruise in 2014, she sang four songs and posed for selfies with fans afterwards…and she even had her baby on board, so would have had a very good excuse to cut it short. But she didn’t.
Wise words, @Jonas. She needs a break sometimes because the every-day program of an artist is not as easy as we think. And, of course, it’s her decision if she wants to meet her fans or not. To my mind, Loreen is a mature person and she can take any decision she wants.
Den, just assumtions,assumtions. This just like in Helsinki ESC 2007, when Ark’s hypnotic spinner platform didn’t work, of course You blamed then on organizers. 🙂
I could tell the true story about that, but I rather not even bother, because it looks like the organizers would act like a victims. 🙂
She is overrated.
That “contract” looks super weird. Song even spelled wrong
It would be awful if she had a attitude of a diva.Her only hit was “euphoria”.She is 32 years old,she has released one only album and as i read her latest hits were flop.For god sake,i don`t call her talentless(no way)but she hasn`t an important carreer to be arrogant…
@Bandido I prefer facts over organisers who try to make themselves look the victim when they get bad reactions from the audience
Dennis, Den or whatever, know about that contract bla bla….
@Bandido The Finnish newspaper rectifies themselves by posting another article, with the information about the contract
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/viihde/art-2000001254860.html
@Bandido Can you read? From the aftonbladet article, part of the contract:
http://gfx.aftonbladet-cdn.se/image/23465921/481/normal/fbd1a34e8486f/Loreen-avtal.jpg
Point 5 says Loreen was only going to sing one song, Euphoria. The organisers can say what they want, contract is contract.
Alex
September 6, 2016 @ 9:00 pm
‘so it was OGAE”s fault’. Can you read???? Such an idiot!
so it was OGAE”s fault as they acted unprofessional by fooling the eurofans who were expecting more.
Loreen did her job as it was stated in the contract.
Anyway, Loreen needs to leave such nonsense events and focus on her career and a new album.
Never knew Loreen enjoys a career anyway
“Looks bad for OGAE Finland. Blame this on the organizers it seems.” Zack September 6, 2016 @ 2:07 pm , read this straight (google) translation of article from the Finnish biggest newspaper ‘Iltasanomat’! “- With her was agreed that he pulled the gig sustainable for 30-40 minutes . About an hour before the show , his manager announced that Loreen shows a vain one track : Euphoria, OGAE Finland ry President Jouni Pihkakorpi says . Loreen up to the podium , presented Euphoria song for their fans celebrated wildly , and since then the singer left the scene. – In… Read more »
She is human too. If I was famous I wouldn’t be happy taking selfie all the time. Typical gay esc fan complaining about things like this. Pathetic.
To my mind, Loreen has done nothing wrong. She fulfilled her contract. She was doing them a favour by appearing at the last minute – how much preparation time do you think she had? As for not meeting and greeting with the fans, well I can’t place any fault there. The fans aren’t owed anything in that regard. I would hardly put Loreen in the same category as Justin Bieber global-fame-wise, but as he said “when you buy an album, that’s what you get. An album.” Loreen is not a zoo animal. Who knows why she didn’t mingle, but if… Read more »
She’s painfully overrated and her discography is beyond soporific. Not even one single picture with the fans she somehow has, smh.
Thanks @Dennis for making them understand that it’s not Loreen’s fault.
I’m not really sure that the word “shocked” is applicable. Terrorist attacks, plane crashes and murders of innocent people are shocking. A singer performing only one song and not five or six? Hardly shocking
@Robyn Ikr! LOL that clip was hilarious!
Thanks Dennis. I’ve always heard that Aftonbladet was iffy as far as credibility, but yep, looks bad for OGAE Finland. Blame this on the organizers it seems.
@Zack you can see a part of the contract in the Aftonbladet article. They posted a picture of it. It clearly says Loreen would do ONE song only. Those who are upset need to blame the organizers, Loreen did exactly what she was told to do. That the organizers mislead the audience by making them think she was performing 30 minutes, is their fault. I think it’s shameful they are making Loreen look bad in the media, when they are themselves to blame.
im just laughing SO HARD with your excuses. i mean, ok you won a eurovision and you cant take selfies with your fans? ppllllllllease….
@Robyn dying with that comment
Well it is not the first time she behave like that. Leaving shows early, calling off interviews and meetings at the last minute. I guess she is that kind of artist ridiculously talented but kinda difficult to work with.
@Robyn your comment made me laugh! XD
Perhaps OGAE Finland could actually release a copy of the contract between them and Loreen? As fans, we typically love to talk about transparency in Eurovision, so why not practice what we preach? Not a lawyer, and not sure if OGAE Finland is even allowed to do so, but it’d help clear the air.
@Maria If you’re a PERFORMER your job is to PERFORM. If you can’t stand smiling with your fans then you have VERY big problems indeed
Have you ever thought about the fact that an artist is a human being as we are? You see only what he/she does on stage, only the bright sparkle, but behind all these there’s a lot of work and dedication. If you want to listen to commercial music which catches the public’s eye instantly, you should listen to American artists’ music. If you want an album per year, go and listen to commercial artists. Loreen needs time to put her heart and soul in her music. She wants to release good quality music for us. Maybe she is passing through… Read more »
I think that she should change manager.Bet it’s also ther reason why she’s producing so little music during these years.
@Nadya It’s the organizers’ problem. If they don’t arrange a meeting with the fans, then the fans can’t meet her. Next time, put pressure on the organizers. She is not a diva if she respects the contract made.
@William Adams you’re right. but I really don’t think it was a misunderstanding. who books a Eurovision winner to sing one song and disappear? maybe there was another explanation but still upsetting.
pretty upsetting for a fan like me. when “Heal” was released, it was not in Turkey at all, and I asked the local entertainment store like EVERY DAY if it came. and then it came. it went straight to #1 of my favourite albums. best album ever. I’m so sad that I overplayed it by now, and that happened to 8-9 songs from Paper Light too. does anyone has info about her new album? did something happen? is there a date?
Maria: “why don’t you write about how amazing her shows are” — what, like this three-minute performance? LOL. Loreen is the best — everyone knows this. unfortunately her and her team’s behaviour in this instance is clearly not living up to that. It’s a shame for her and people on the boat. Hope she (or her handlers) improves for next time.
@Maria Berta Belu — Loreen is amazing…but how is this making it “worse”? This all reveals she is a diva — paid THOUSANDS OF EUROS and she can’t even take a few pics with fans after? Or sing two more songs…like six minutes? six minutes? Don’t be an apologist. It’s people like you who allow these “stars” to become divas. It’s important to call them out.
“Diva alert”? What kind of expression is this? If the contract is for one song, Loreen sings just one song. She is not a diva. You have no idea how much kind she is with her fans. Why don’t you write about how amazing her shows are instead of worsening this problem? It is clear that it was a misunderstanding between the manager and the organizers, but you had better not transform it in something bigger. Anyway, you shouldn’t blame the artist for what is beyond him/her. And if the fans are angry, they should talk to the organizers, not… Read more »
I bought a flight from Spain to Finland and passage on the boat and took a day off work — mostly because I wanted to see Loreen. And then she did this. It really pissed me off. Thankfully the cruise itself was fun and i liked the other acts too. But Loreen has lost a fan in me.
Loreen could spit in my face and start World War 3 and she would still be perfect and the Queen of eurovision and music in general. Love her and her style to the grave