He won over the Swedish public with his stirring drum ‘n bass number “Hold On”, winning the televote and finishing second overall.
And while Nano narrowly missed out on the chance to sing at Eurovision 2017, he was feeling upbeat and positive when he spoke with wiwiblogger Tobias just moments after the show on Saturday evening.
“It feels amazing to actually get a chance to sing a song about life and about fighting and believing in yourself,” he said. “It’s my story and to actually be #1 from Sweden — it feels amazing. I can keep doing what I’m doing and I don’t have to think.”
And what does it mean for him to know Swedes ranked him first? “It’s everything,” he says. “They accept me.”
Eurovision fans inside and outside of Sweden have suggested that the international juries have too much power and they’re angry that the public’s pick won’t actually represent them in Kyiv.
Nano is more upbeat about it all.
“SVT have decided to have that system and they had it for a couple of years,” he says. “It is what it is. I see that everything happens for a reason. I’ve done my best, I feel really happy and blessed to stand here and my performance tonight was one of my best ever.”
Will he return to Melfest?
“I don’t know. My plan is to keep on touring around and spread my message around Europe, maybe go to the States. I’m going there to work more and do videos and stuff. We’ll see. If I’m totally busy next year then I might not have the chance to do this.”
In previous interviews with wiwibloggs, Nano has credited his children with helping him turn his life around. And he made it clear to us again that they remain the centre of his life — even on a night like this.
“I’m just waiting to meet my kids. That’s all I wanted to do since I heard the result. I’m going to meet them, hug them, tell them that I love them, maybe cry with them. Then I’m going to go with my wife to the afterparty. We’re going to hang there….I’m going to perform there. I really want to do this again.”
@Salsa: I’ll tell you why the international jury stays in MF: Because it provides a window into which we can get a view of how the rest of Europe will vote on whichever song wins here. The top 5 on the jury scorecard quite probably would have earned good points from the ESC juries; while the bottom 7 (including Wiktoria) would have been massacred. Word to Nano: Next year, come back with something reminiscent of Hozier. I’m sure the songwriters can work up something that is quite reminiscent of a Hozier song, as was the opening and 2nd verses of… Read more »
What I know is that artists said the jury must not exist because Sweden must make the decision, but Christer Bjorkman insists that jury is good, he will never give up on jury. Why is he so stubborn, maybe because of ambition, he really wants to know how Europe thinks, because he only wants victory, and I’m sure that all Sweden wants victory, but this blind ambition, is it the right way ?
Once more, if MF scrapped the international jury, other countries would probably be encouraged to do the same. Kerli would have had no chance at all at Eesti Laul without the jury. And let’s not forget Manel in Spain, where the real scandal was, where they sided with the JURY (of course, unforgivable) to break the tie.
@Austrian Ari,Betty: There’s a story at ESCXtra.com about the public displeasure with the international jury. Quite frankly, at the moment I’d keep the jury if I were them, because more or less, they’ve made the right call. You could say the real dispute this decade happened in 2013, when they chose Robin Stjernberg and buried Yohio.
He’ll be back. His presence out there reminded me of Linus Svenning’s participation in MF, after losing a brother. With the right material, he could very well remain a very strong contender the next time he sings at MF.
@ Betty:
I’m curious, what did Ace and Anton say?
@milla: most esc fan’s memory span a few years. just don’t submit anything resembling the past few years’ entries and your entry will be called original i think.
His life story is rather touching, and the song he participated with is quite good as well, but let’s be real people, Nano is still not a very good singer. If he intends to pursue further his musical career, I suggest he either takes some lessons or just do rap or something like that. I really believe “Hold On” should have won Melodifestivalen, but not with that vocal performance.
*clears throat* …..
AWWWWWWWWW 😀
He seems like such a nice guy!
Happy fo him.
Repeal that jury from everywhere
Original original original.. What the hell is original these days?? All this talk about originality hurts my ears! Italy is not original for example. Sounds like Coldplay or something! And what’s up wih the obsession with originality this year? It’s worse than ever. Esc-fans are hard to please. More than the average voter lol.
What about an article about the scandal that is now in Sweden because international jury?
Ace and Anton were not shy to speak their mind.
It had to be down between Nano and Robin to go to Eurovision. Wiktoria is just not ready yet, she was making several key changes in her vocals during her performance and it ended up affecting her performance that’s why the juries didn’t give her higher points.
@fikri: He was HELD ON some charges!!
does anyone know what he was convicted for?
@Purple Mask
Next week? 🙁 Shoot, I was anticipating and waiting for the revamp so much today. 🙁 I don’t know… but the “Wiwi calendar”, as I like to call it, said it was going to be revealed today, so I’m not sure if the date is incorrect or not.
He truly was fabulous at Songvakeppnin yesterday 😀 . I also felt moved by his performances, one of the main reasons I follow him on every social media platform XD.
@Unofficial: I thought Albania was next weekend, with Armenia?
By the way, if you’re really a Mans Zemerlow fan – he was AMAZING at the Icelandic National Final! He sung a ballad and genuinely moved me!!
Off topic : I thought Albania’s revamp was going to be shown today… why hasn’t it been revealed yet? 🙁 Or do I have to wait for another day for it to be revealed? 🙁 On topic : I really hope he shares his story or background with several people in the U.S. 😀 , because I really think it’s very inspiring, and maybe it might help people with bad backgrounds to look up to him as a role model, and try to follow in his steps. I hope he participates in Melodifestivalen next year again, with another song containing… Read more »
Nano would have been a better entry at Eurovision.
I didn’t like his song but he seems so down to Earth and humble. I’d love to see him return with a more unique song within the next few years, I genuinely think he could conquer Eurovision if he returns with the complete package.
He is humble… He will come back to MF soon
A #melfest to be forgotten. Just this…..
Beautiful,happy for him