While Kalush Orchestra may have taken home top honours, they aren’t the only artists who gained a nod this week. With so much talent on the stage in Turin, it’s important to ensure that the hard work doesn’t go unacknowledged. Presented by the former head of the Swedish delegation Christer Björkman, the Marcel Bezençon Awards have this year gone to Konstrakta, Sam Ryder and Cornelia Jakobs.
Marcel Bezençon Awards 2022: United Kingdom, Serbia and Sweden are honoured
The press award is voted on by accredited media and press during the event to award the best act. This year, the award was given to Sam Ryder of the United Kingdom. This was the first time the “Big 5” nation and five-time winner has ever won a Marcel Bezençon Award.
The artistic award is voted on by the commentators during the event to award the best performance. For the second time, after 2007, the award went to Serbia and the avant-garde artist Konstrakta. The hand-washing singer left flowers on the podium whilst accepting her award.
The composer award is voted on by the participating composers to award the best composition. For the third time (after 2012 and 2013), this award went to Sweden. Their song “Hold Me Closer” was composed by the singer Cornelia Jakobs alongside David Zandén and Isa Molin.
The Marcel Bezençon Awards were first conceived in 2002 by Christer Björkman (Swedish representative in 1992) and Richard Herrey (Swedish representative and winner in 1984). They are named after the creator of the Eurovision Song Contest, Swiss media executive Marcel Bezençon.
Do you agree with these awards? Did your favourite get a trophy? Let us know below!
I have to share this video, it shows how big a thing Konstrakta is in the region right now. The member of the Croatian parliament ends her address with the line “I šta cemo sad” (“And what now?”), and the chairman jokingly comments “Zastupnica mora biti zdrava” (“MP has to be healthy”).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCRSelhzLUU
Composition award to a copy of Shallow, by Lady Gaga. Sorry Sweden, you know it is true.
Great choices in all three categories!
I thought we had seen the last of Björkman in Eurovision, but I was wrong. Of course he cant stay away….. He still has his fingers wrapped around the inner circle of Eurovision (and EBU), unfortunately.
I’m so happy that the jury winners from both 2021 and 2022, Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears and UK – Sam Ryder, received Bezencon Awards!
Award or no award, I am absolutely amazed at Europe’s reaction to our song this year. I remember very well my WTF moment when I saw it for the first time, after it won our national selection (and by a very narrow margin!) – so close to a joke entry, but actually deadly serious. I’m so glad that many people apparently took the trouble to look into the lyrics and that the message got through. Thank you all for making us so happy this year!
Konstrakta is a legend and I voted for you as well, both semi and final, but I think the televote result was mostly thanks to the meme factor and not because people actually cared so much about the message, honestly…
I agree, that’s quite likely. I was not referring to the voting result as much as to all the positive feedback. But thanks for the votes 😉
I am not sure. It was both. The message behind the gimmick was well explained by commentators in many countries. Don’t underestimate the viewers.
the song is unique as it is more performance art than a regular song. The activistic message added to its particularity. Differentiation, or being different, has its risks but can be a rewarding strategy.
Yeah, sorry, but they’re kinda underestimating themselves when you look at the likes of Norway and Moldova making up about 400 points, but sure, guess I should give them the benefit of the doubt on Serbia, if it was so well explained and had those subtitles too…
For me, the chorus is a TikTok readymade…
PS: This song was in my top 3 this year 🙂 So, my comment wasn’t an intention to dish Konstrakta…
konstrakta won the national selection by a narrow margin? she got more votes than sara amd zorja combined. nevertheless, she is the best representative serbia has ever had and is my favorite esc entry ever
Exact televote figures don’t really matter since the televote runner-up still gets 10 as opposed to Konstrakta’s 12. And there was a mixed reaction in the jury (one juror even ignoring her completely) so anything could have happened.
Diaspora votes so hard finally, Serbia is alaways overatted but congrats, expecting –
Enough with the diaspora comments. That is such a false notion. Serbia got votes from practically every country when it comes to televote. In most of these, there is no Serb diaspora, which shows that song is well received everywhere, nothing to do with diaspora
Sam Ryder departs Capital FM with girlfriend Lois – and reveals he’s in talks to collaborate with Ukraine winners Kalush Orchestra after landing second place in Eurovision
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10820485/Sam-Ryder-dons-cream-swirl-print-sweater-BBC-Radio-2-second-place-win-Eurovision.html
Sam’s looks to be about to claim the UK num 1 singles spot tomorrow, he’s Num 1 on all the streaming services
Not even Katrina and the Waves ‘Love Shine a Ligh’t winning song managed that postion, getting a Num 3 hit in the singles chats only
I was at the final I’m Itlaian and I can tell you putting aside Ukraine Sam’s UK perfomance was the best, myself and a handfull of friends had the feeling of witnessing the birth of a future International star, he was mesmerising to watch and his voice is so intence and powerful
UK and Serbia, each earning their respective award: 1000% deserved!
Sweden Does not deserve a Prize for such a boring cliche. One of the worst of all 40 songs
Same Ukraine/Serbia and Spain boring
No that was Serbia
Whether or not you like the song, there’s no denying that “Hold Me Closer” was the best composition of the year. Everything from the instrumental to the lyrics is just phenomenally and professionally produced and objectively the best out of any of the entries this year!
Swedeophobe. Go eat a banana.
I keep waiting for them to finally implement these awards into the main competition. They could announce them after the voting.
I’ve thought this too. Although if it were up to me, I’d have them announce them just after the lines close, but before they begin the voting sequence.
Although I imagine it could potentially be a bit awkward if one of the awards goes to an entry that didn’t make the final.
That’s what I was trying to say. I was at work and didn’t have enough time to articulate my thoughts. English is not my first language so things got lost in translation
I think only songs in the final are eligible for the Bezencon Awards.
LOL, it looks like a consolation prize.
It was done before the final
serbia nailed it
amazing!
Congrats to the UK for their first ever award. It’s amazing they’ve never had one but that tells you about the lack of quality they usually send compared to other acts and just what a fantastic job they did this year.
I guess the biggest question mark would be Sweden for the composer award. Thought that Portugal or Italy would’ve won that one.
Agreed! Or even Greece!
It was the other songwriters in the competition that voted. I remember Mørland (Norway) won the composer award in 2015 with «A monster like me».