The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — are re-assembling to celebrate the 2010s. In this decade, we’ve seen some of the most iconic performances of all time, with long powerful notes, newly invented genres and new staging techniques never even conceived before. One of these is Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw with his 2015 winning entry “Heroes”.
In a year where we had our Melfest introductions to Mariette, Dolly Style and Jon Henrik Fjällgren (not to mention Eric Saade’s big return, either), it was going to take something special to win, especially for someone who’d been out of the competition for six years. In comes Måns Zelmerlöw with a magic performance using projections that painted a story as Måns moved along with them.
The intricate (and surely more heavily rehearsed than usual) sequence captivated the imagination of Sweden, and later on, Europe. Måns got the third highest score ever on the old system and took Eurovision back to Sweden only three years after it had last been there — where he did a spectacular job of hosting with Petra Mede. After four years, does the stage show still stun us, or have we grown tired of the tricks? Read on to find out!
Måns Zelmerlöw – “Heroes”
“Heroes” reviews
Pablo: Many would deride “Heroes” as a plastic and soulless entry, but to be honest, this is the last entry from Sweden I felt the heart and the desire exude all across the performance. Måns is one of the most charismatic singers in this edition of the contest, with a live pretty much exactly like the studio version, all wrapped up in one of the most iconic stagings of the 2010s. This was a deserved winner, no question.
Score: 9/10
Sebastian: Has “Heroes” aged considerably since winning in 2015? Absolutely. It’s the Scandipop sound that has dominated the Eurovision soundwaves and national finals since the mid 2010s, slowly devaluing the mix of pop-banger beats with somewhat basic, questionable lyrics. That said, “Heroes” was great for its time, and is the purest example of good vocal + hot singer + clever staging = win. It’s Eurovision by numbers, but it all adds up.
Score: 8/10
Luis: “Heroes” is that glorious piece of perfectly crafted pop that ages so well it could have won Eurovision either in 2015 or 2019. You can still hear it on the radio and while it didn’t initially sound like a clear winner, Måns’ song will go down in history as one of the best pure pop songs to have won Eurovision. An ode to Swedishness and the Scandi savoir faire, few question why this won in the decade of Sweden.
Score: 9/10
Lukas: It was a clear win from the start for Måns and it didn’t surprise anyone that he took first place. Now after few years, this song got a bit generic but I still do really enjoy it and the performance is still so interesting to look at. It wasn’t my personal winner of the night but I think it is a deserved victory for Sweden yet again. To this day I still listen to this song and when I feel down I watch the live performance which always cheers me up.
Score: 8/10
Natalie: Look, I wanna hate this song. I really want to detest the fact it took away an Italian victory, that it only won because of the neutering of the televote, and that it’s such a lame generic dance song that doesn’t even have that much energy. Sadly, though, I can’t. I can see it for the great song that it is, it’s contemporary, well-composed and the kind of thing we like to see at Eurovision. And that performance was impeccable and amazing. There is very little to fault. And as much as a Swedish victory off the back of the juries leaves a sour taste in our mouths, it meant we got Stockholm 2016. And that’s something to be happy about.
Score: 9/10
Tom: The first time I saw “Heroes” I knew it was going to win. Period. It had everything, a timeless pop sound, a catchy chorus, a good looking guy, brilliant stage effects and a little dude with a balloon. However, take the visuals away and ask yourself honestly — was it the best song on the night? No. Sweden have such a good record because they take the “vision” part of Eurovision just as seriously as picking the right song. When you compare the songs of the top three in 2015 without the visuals, “Heroes” would finish third. However, in this jury, we are looking for the whole package and “Heroes” has that.
Score: 9/10
In the Wiwi Jury we have 24 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:
| William: 6/10
Antranig: 1.5/10 Robyn: 10/10 Angus: 8/10 Lucy: 7/10 Jonathan: 9.5/10 Bernardo: 6.5/10 Deban: 6.5/10 Calvin: 8/10 |
Oliver: 4.5/10
Kristin: 8/10 Edd: 6.5/10 Barnabas: 6/10 Florian: 9/10 Steinunn: 8.5/10 Julian: 7/10 Katie: 8.5/10 Charlotte: 8.5/10 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 1.5 and a high of 10.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 7.73/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
It was good all round, but it has suffered in hindsight. The “derivative” opinions are part of that, and the other was that it didn’t win the audience vote. So it’s a technical favourite rather than a popular one.
Just one personal take on this one:
The lyrics can be read as evoking something quite profound, especially when you consider that hummingbirds can’t actually be heard singing by us. Sometimes songs about what cannot be sung are the most powerful. I just thought I would share that.
david guetta SNAPPED
Eurovision 2015 jury killed Italy, Estonia and Albania. That was exactly my top3 that year…
Sorry, for me Albania in this year was absolutely horrible and I prefered Mans to win instead of Il Volo.
My favourite 2015 was the outstanding song from Latvia.
There were so many great entries in 2015. This was definitely a three way horse-race between Italy, Russia and Sweden. But can we also talk about Latvia, Australia and Israel that year?!!!
Latvia 2015 is one of my favourites of all time!
I absolutely agree with wou !
Latvia, Belgium, Estonia and Montenegro for me.
For me, it is not a deserving winner. It is too derivative of David Guetta’s Lovers On The Sun, and I think that in a song contest, that can’t be overlooked. The staging was impressive, but the juries were voting with their heads and not their hearts – Il Volo were way ahead in the televote, as everybody knows. I’m fine with juries overturning the televote winner, but in this case I think they were voting for the act and not the song. Staging is important but only in selling the song, it shouldn’t score points on its own merits.… Read more »
Unremarkable and overrated.
I like it better now that I know it was a one of a kind winner and Eurovision hasn’t become a pure “safe pop song with great staging” competition. It’s far from outstanding, but a good example of effective pop music in the 2010’s. Its message it’s not deep, but at least the song conveys some emotions. The heavily-rehearsed staging was creative and Mans was so charismatic, that he made it look natural and even organic (nobody achieved that again with similar staging). For 1st time viewers, I guess it was irresistible, which explains its success.
Since it’s a wrap on 2015, I wanna add how much I loved this year. Norway, Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia were my winners. But Israel and Australia were a lot of fun too and even if I disagree with the top 3, I appreciate each one of it in a different way. Plus Austria did a great job as a host.
A great job minus the hosts, I would say. 🙂 My favorite songs were Norway, Montenegro and France, my favorites performances Italy, France and Belgium and my favorite package Italy. I thought Albania had tremendous potential but that was not realized at all staging-wise and vocally, unfortunately. And to think that a flawless performer like Lisa Angell got 4 points, I’ll never get that. The song wasn’t that bad and the staging actually pretty good.
I don’t remember much about the hosts to be honest. Which usually means that they hadn’t graced me by their presence but at least hadn’t bothered me either. Not every contest can have a Petra Mede, sadly.
I think any one of those four hosts would have made a bigger impression if only they were on their own. Four was too much, they cancelled each other out.
I agree. Two hosts are more than enough. Usually there’s not enough script for 3 anyway. And using only 2, you can focus on the chemistry between them.
A song like France 2015 is not served well by arena-sized crowds, especially if they’re standing. I was so annoyed at those morons yahooing and screaming during Lisa’s performance.
A very good entry,, but Italy and Russia were better tbh.
That’s so funny seeing all the ESC fans raging that an average, Swedish, radio friendly and well staged pop song won 2015. But also raging that an average, Swedish, radio friendly and well staged pop song didn’t win 2018. You guys, just admit it, you hate that Sweden is doing well. If you don’t mind going crazy over Fuego, why did you hate “Heroes” so much? This is a very very similar product.
Also lets not forget the rage that an old fashioned, shallow pop song from Russia didn’t win 2016. So I guess “you’re the only one” is a song with a deep story and amazing musical quality? Or you just all lost your sense of hearing when you saw some cool video mapping and a handsome guy climbing a wall?
I mean, I agree to a degree, and I’m willing to defend Sweden when I feel they deserved a strong result (like 2015) as opposed to hyperbolic bashing. But I also don’t know if it’s jealousy. Eurovision fans are hard to please sometimes. Sweden has a big presence in the contest (this year alone, Swedes were on the writing/production teams for Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Estonia, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) beyond their own entry. On one hand, that’s a testament to how reliable Sweden is for good pop music, but also feels overwhelming sometimes. I don’t… Read more »
The cyprus 2018 entry was a well staged pop song with one of the best perfomers that have ever participated in the contest. The charisma of Mans and Ingrosso are still nowhere to be found.
Really? That Beyonce from AliExpress was one of the best in ESC history? That is a WEIRD statement. She doesn’t even have much vocal ability. So it’s a go go dancing, hair extensions swinging contest? I guess Slavko is also a legend then LOL
30 million views and being invited as a eurovision legend by israel is the answer to your statement. Bye XX
p.s these 21 points still hurt right?
I’m sure you tried to be smart but I don’t know what 21 points you are talking about. Eleni was used as a comical relief in an interval act, WHOA, legendary. Mans participated in the same act but somehow not considered a legend (judging by the comments here). So I guess participation in the “switch song” doesn’t make you a legend huh? 30m views? That’s cute, Francesco Gabbani has 147m and Toy 120m. Even Bassa Sababa has 30m views and it wasn’t even such a huge hit. When Eleni make it to 100m you will maybe have sort of a… Read more »
ohh mans before he was adopted by bbc, so cute….
I think Sweden deserved the win. It was a fantastic song with a great performer and a better-than-average stage performance that served the song rather than distracted from it. It felt exciting and not dramatic. Amazing production and staging, great vocals and songwriting. Sweden had the full package. 10/10.
I’m also tired of people talking smack about Sweden just cuz they do well and the juries like them. Sweden got their two wins this decade fair and square. Maybe it’s because Sweden have such a presence at the contest in more than just their own entry to an almost overwhelming degree, but I feel bad for any Swedes who might be reading the comments here. We love you guys! Your country is tops! Maybe Dance You Off placing second in the jury vote was some bullsh*t but other than that don’t let it get you down.
And downvote me if I’m being a jerk, not if I’m being positive about something.
Saying positive things about Sweden is considered being a jerk in here. Duh
I can only speak for myself here: I never talk smack about the great country of Sweden. Surprise: I even have Swedish friends who do not watch MF. Yes, such people do exist. Criticizing the Swedish Eurovision entries or the (actual or imagined) Swedish standing at Eurovision is something entirely different that some people cannot seem to separate. Do you want people to pretend to like everything even if they don’t? That’s the opposite of discussing and completely pointless. Discussing politics would probably end in a blood bath with people who are personally offended by the harmless discussion of Eurovision… Read more »
I would never ask people to pretend to like things if they don’t. I just don’t like people getting vitriolic about things like Sweden beating Italy. Definitely am not calling either you or Tibor out here, and I apologize if I sounded uppity.
It’s all good. 🙂
I love Heroes, but honestly, Belgium or Italy should have won that year.
Since watching Eurovision for the first time in 2015, I have to say that “Heroes” is the least interesting Eurovision winner ever!!
Nothing literally stood out from this entry. Just your typical catchy pop song with a good production. That’s all.
This is one of the most underwhelming and overrated winners of this decade. Other winning songs have included a story (Like Portugal 2017 and Netherlands 2019). This is just a song with a decent staging. The song on its own is good, but did it deserve to win in 2015?
Sorry, but that’s just my personal opinion.
It was furnished only because it is Sweden. Give this song to any other country and no one will care about it. Someone gives a lot of money to jury to vote for Sweden even when the song is nothing special.
I added this to my playlist a few weeks ago after not listening to it for years :). This is a song I want to listen to when I’m in the mood for something catchy
Lovers of the sun with few minor changes. copied, hollow song that should NOT have won. (golden boy, on the other hand..) The good side: it’s better to “burn” this win early than late. since Heroes, Sweden has tried many times to win with the same shtick: handsome male singer, catchy, light pop song and staging that stick your eyes to the screen from “Can’t go on” to “Dance you off” to “Too late for love” – same shtick. Sweden, what don’t you understand? mix and switch it up if you want to win again. WE’RE BURNING OOFFFFFFF WE MIGHT… Read more »
I really want Sweden to give us something either as powerful as Loreen’s Statements or something ethnic like En Värld ful av strider
I agree with all the “nots” – “Heroes” was not the best neither the most original song of ESC 2015, Mans was not the best singer that year, the lyrics weren’t the deepest of all the entries, and awesome production and staging doesn’t automatically make an awesome entry, right? However I can’t help but love this act – cause between all of this there are things harder to explain – like the thrilling ambience this song creates, like the flow of the adrenaline during the chorus, like the memories of watching this song in 2015 and the immense surprise this… Read more »
Honestly, I just don’t think it’s that good a song. Måns is a great performer but this was the best that Europe had to offer that year? Not sure about that.
I pretty much agree with all the comments made by the Wiwi jury. This is a classic case of everything coming together on the night. A catchy song with a universal message, a charismatic singer and a stunning visual. Is it a song that has a deep meaning to me, is it a song which I play often, is it a song which I would suggest others listen to? The answer to those questions are negative. But in terms of capturing a moment and delivering a performance, it deserves its place in the pantheon of great Eurovision winners.
Antranig, gurll…
And I worry about our comments section being hyperbolic!
I suppose that eventually the pendulum swings the other way. Not that I personally enjoyed that. The last time my favorite won was in 2007. But it’s good for countries to realize they can send anything they want.
I really wanted Belgium to win in 2015, but I knew Sweden was going to win after seeing their performance.
I knew Italy was going to win on the night after seeing all performances. That was the feeling in that moment. Il Volo gave a much bigger impression than Mans. On the night, I mean public vote, real people.
I also wanted Belgium to win btw. Such a great song
I think what I find the most irritating about this victory is how average (at best!) everything about this entry is. An average, fairly pointless song in a style hundreds of others did better before, a – let’s be honest here – well below average, very thin and uninteresting voice with no personality at all and an average looking dude (come on, this is Sweden, land of the handsome! Frankly, the leather pants were the best asset here.) This really only leaves the staging as the one and only standout. And of course Daddy Christer relentlessly pushing for his puppet.… Read more »
OK, about the televoting. Sweden did in fact place 3rd in the televote with 279p., but there’s a couple of facts, that aren’t mentioned as often. Sweden did get more televote points than, e.x… the Netherlands this year, with quite a difference of 18 points (7,2%). Some could argue, that “Arcade” was 2nd with the televote, but in fact the difference between the scores of Russia and Sweden in 2015 was only 7 points, while the difference between Sweden and Belgium (the 4th place finisher) was… 84 points. And Sweden (just as Rus. and Ita.) got televote points from every… Read more »
Nice try, honey. it’s about the difference between Italy and Sweden.
I’m not denying that, 87 points is a huge difference. I’m just tired of treating Sweden like if it didn’t score any points from the televote at all, and it was only the juries that gave them the victory.
Well, they did. You just mentioned the 87 (!!!) points yourself. The juries gave Sweden 182 points more than Italy, for crying out loud. Now, I am not good at math but it is beyond me how anyone can argue with THOSE differences. lol I mean come oooon.
I disagree – about the song – and most of all, about the voice. The performance on the night was flawless, he completely owned the stage. Placing third in the televoting proves nothing – remember how televoting put Imaani behind Dana International! Even today I can still enjoy hearing Imaani’s song on the local radio (and the winner, thankfully, not).
I don’t listen to the radio but I am glad for you that you can’t hear the 1998 winner on there. I wouldn’t wanna hear that one, either.
Is it just me or is everyone getting the same score in this
Oof, that ranking is way too high.