She was the big-name interval act at the grand final of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2017. But don’t expect to see Zara Larsson at Eurovision anytime soon.
While completing the Wired auto-complete interview, the “Lush Life” and “Symphony” hitmaker answered with a definitive “no” when the topic of Eurovision came up.
Zara Larsson won’t do Eurovision
The auto-complete format sees celebrities answer the most popular questions people ask about them on Google. And Eurovision was one of the top queries for Zara.
“No” is her immediate response. But she elaborates: “Maybe you’ll catch me there in 20 years when I am really bored”.
However, like most Swedes, she’s an avid spectator from home: “I love, love, love to watch it though”.
For now, at least, it looks like her Melfest performance from three years ago will be the closest fans get to seeing Ms. Larsson grace the song contest stage. Then she sang her hits “Only You”, “I Would Like” and “Ain’t My Fault”.
Zara Larsson on the Eurovision movie
Eurovision itself may be off the agenda, but Zara is a huge fan of the movie version. “One of the best movies this year was Will Ferrell’s Fire Saga. The bullets I take for that movie! I think it’s perfection, honestly. I cry, so much. I laughed so much. He really embodied the spirit of Eurovision. I thought it was just incredible”.
A sequel is rumoured to be in the works, so maybe Zara would be open to a cameo. Who knows?
Watch the complete Wired interview below. Zara talks Eurovision from the 3:15 mark.
Are you disappointed that Zara has ruled out Eurovision? Do you share her love for the movie? Let us know in the comments.
Eurovision has pretty much never been a place for already established superstars. Cliff Richard is the only one I can think of who has participated. And ABBA and Céline Dion are the only artists I can think of becoming huge stars after winning the show. Eurovision has always been kind of it’s own isolated bubble in the world of music.
Patricia Kaas, Bonnie Tyler, Alla Pugacheva…
Well, Zara is totally right. There is no reason for her to participate in Melfest or Eurovision. She is already a world class singer and her participation would be unfair for the other artists. Imagine,for example, Ed Sheeran or Adele representing United Kingdom or Sia representing Australia. There would be no competition for the singers from the other countries by the time these ones already have a massive fanbase in almost every European country.
Imagine eurofans reacting to the news she was heading for ESC
I don’t think having a stuck-up attitude like that is helpful.
This article might need to be dug out in 5 years time…
It’s not likely she will participate any time soon. Some Swedish acts don’t compete in melfest because they consider their music too artistic while others like ms Larsson has much bigger stages then that. Swedish audience listens to her latest single anyway, so she has no real gain in joining at the moment
if she competes, i hope she loses terribly
stop downvoting me im just sending the same energy her way that she sent to eurovision
No, you’re just being a jerk. She was just being brutally honest.
Zara Larsson is a queen, I loved her medley at Mello and her “Invisible” for the Netflix movie “Klaus” 😀 So I’m always in for it.
With the way your career is going sis, you’ll be there in 5 years if you’re lucky enough to win Melodifestivalen.
Not surprising at all but I don’t know how to feel about Zara Larsson just teasing to pull an Engelbert Humperdinck lol.
Usually in Sweden the more famous stars don’t want to participate in Melodifestivalen because then they’d be known for just being a “Melfest singers”, although I don’t really see a problem with that, since participating in Melodifestivalen would bring more chances for getting yourself some publicity. If you participate in Mello you’re likely to go on other tv shows too.
Hoping to see Miss Li someday in Melodifestivalen! Merry christmas everyone!
It really depends on what kind of platform you need. Some Swedish musicians have their aims high. They move to the US and want a world audience. Eurovision is a platform for sure, but it’s not for every Swedish musician. Zara rarely performs in Sweden. Last time was this summer where she did a concert with Carola as guest artist. They both performed Carolas 80s cover and it became a domestic hit once again. When Zara moves, Sweden listens. Even domestic acts such as Danny Saucedo see little point in performing on the melfest stage. This time he does it… Read more »
I’m in the U.S, can someone explain why this a big deal? Who is zara? The store?
I’m also in the US and her songs have been playing everywhere for years, lol… Check Lush Life or Symphony (with Clean Bandit), you can’t possibly have avoided it.
That would be more fit to be said from an actual big star, but still a kinda rude statement under the surface.
Take a chill pill people, how often do singers participate at Eurovision when they’re still big stars? What more could Zara gain when she’s already established throughout Europe? Why would she take time out of a busy schedule to participate at Melfest (and potentially go to Eurovision due to her star)? You have to start accepting that not everyone is interested in the contest.
She could politely decline it, saying “I will join it if I am really bored” is very unprofessional imo.
She didn’t need to throw shade at Eurovision. She could have responded differently. It makes her seem very insecure.
These comments… I will never understand how such a lighthearted TV show has created such an angry, aggressive, hateful fanbase. Always getting triggered over nothing, insulting each other, insulting artists, insulting other countries with the occasional xeno phobic slurs, etc.
One singer says she’s not interested in participating in a TV show, which is anyone’s right and a very inoffensive thing to say, and suddenly a bunch of trolls attack her over her music, her career, her looks, call her mediocre (the same who would probably wet their pants if she was participating). Unbelievable.
That’s the way it often goes here. One slightly negative comment towards something or someone they like, and they’ll respond with the most bitter, shady comments that are far worse than anything the original person said (and they’ll forget these opinions after a few days).
Okay, let me just say this: not every European artist needs to have eurovision in their portfolio! You can ask the same question to Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Era Istrefi, Alan Walker, Dana Paola, Stromae, or Adele and they’ll probably respond in the same way Larsson did.
Eurofans really needs to take a chill pill and stop being so salty about artist not wanting to do Eurovision because there will be other artists who will be able to do Eurovision someday, established or newbie.
Dana Paola is Mexican, though
Countries can technically pick artist from outside Europe, either if it meets their pre requisite nor not. San Marino is notorious for this and I read that Spain sent a Peruvian singer and a Uruguayan band before.
I can see her taking part in Melodifestivalen and finishing 7th in her semi-final because 2040’s teenagers won’t know who she is and won’t care.
Pretty realistic
Why are some ESC fans so salty? You’ve already known for a long time that she will not participate and start talking about that she is not that good of an artist or whatever… I would say the opposite, Zara is really underrated and one of the greatest vocalists and performer out there in the mainstream pop genre, saying she is not is just a lie. Sure she doesn’t want to be in ESC for now but ask the same question to Adele, Dua Lipa, Astrid S…they would probably say something similar (maybe not as honest but still). The reason… Read more »
she isn’t really much of a big deal, so I doubt it will take 20 yrs LOL
but at least it’s her honest opinion…
Eurofans are getting triggered over nothing, which is really sad. Anyway, while I am sad she won’t consider Eurovision, I am still an avid fan of Zara Larsson and still supporting her future endeavors.
her recent music is not above the (mediocre) level of the average melodifestivalen entry, and her star power has been fading as she’s barely able to scan gold in sweden with her latest songs, so she might as well consider eurovision sooner than in 20 years from now
Dont know why comments are so salty. As if ESC should be every artists dream. It really is not. She does not need it nor does she have time for it. She already has a worldwide career, collaborations with stars and a BRIT Award. What could ESC possibly offer her? Plus it really takes a lot of your schedule to take part in it and she doesnt have time for it.
It could offer her a happy and fulfilling life experience, something that she will remember and that will be remembered by others a lot longer than a BRIT Award.
She already has exposure, she doesnt need it. Dont know why fans wants every artist to jump on ESC as if that is the only thing that matters for them..
Yeah…I know she doesn’t need it. Needing it is not the only reason to do it. I have absolutely no problem with her not wanting to do it, that’s her decision to make – the only thing that annoys me is the idea that she’s too good for it, it’s beneath her. Which isn’t even coming from her, necessarily, but from you.
Go to a random person you meet on the street and ask them to name 10 acts from ESC. Probably they cannot do it. ESC is big. But the acts are easily forgotten outside the fan base. Many people can certainly name some acts, but they might actually listen to other kind of popular music. And from 200 million watching the esc finals, don’t expect that many of them to follow the performers in their forthcoming carrier. ESC is an opportunity to become a famous star. But it’s definitely not the same as becoming a star. Yes, Zara’s music is… Read more »
Funny to see everyone being so defensive and hostile about her saying this stuff even though I read it way more playfully. She seems to be a good sport but it’s just not for her to compete in because she has so much else going on she would rather do.
Maybe the idea of actually singing live scared her off? 😉
Or maybe she literally has better things to do and has a lot on her timetable.
Zara who?
“when I’m really bored” is not the right reason to want to be in Eurovision
She’s famous all over the world, has successful career and collaborates with global artists. Why should she really consider participation in Eurovision. She just doesn’t need it.
What’s with the eurofans begging for famous artists to participate in Eurovision… I don’t get it. Why would they care after having worldwide careers.
Please don’t ever get bored because we could well live without your boring a** spineless music at Eurovision lol.
Yeah… ok. She is just the typical average singer that makes fun of the contest and takes it as a joke. She “loves to watch it from home” and loved the movie. Say no more girl.
I’m not into her songs so it’s not a great lost for me.
“I love it but I would only do it if I was bored.”
What a strange statement. I mean, replace “Eurovision” with something else and it makes zero sense. “I love eating steak, but I would only eat it if I had exhausted all other possibilities.”
O… kay.
I guess she means that she’s too busy to go now but she would do it when she gets older and has a bit more free time, similar to how Inna declined ESC back in 2013 due to prior schedules.
true we don’t realize how much time eurovision actually takes – it basically means at least half a year of focusing on it and when u have a world-wide career it’s really hard to do it.
She doesnt need ESC, so its a sensible answer. She is already a powerhouse..
a powerhouse whose latest single peaked at #27 in sweden and didn’t chart anywhere else!
So? She is still a huge star. With a schedule. Why everybody thinks ESC is a must for every artist is beyond me
Have a listen to her collaboration with Eurovision performer Carola on “Säg mig var du står”. #2 on official Swedish charts and the cover was released this summer. Was #1 on the domestic spotify charts during most of second half of this year, mainly replaced by Christmas music currently, but still on the charts
well.. not really sad about it, sweden is going to deliver good songs with or without her.
Wow
It’s alright Zara, there has been better vocalists than you in Melfest (and ESC in general) over the years.
Try not to get too bored.
Zara has a strong voice and a stronger career. There is nothing ESC can offer her.
now that’s a very useful article.
Be careful hun. Don’t want to crash and burn like bonnie taylor did. Altough i actually liked that song. Bummer her live vocals were so off.