The 2015 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is still remembered by fans for its collection of strong performances and personalities. Two of its most enduring stars have now given wishful fans the chance to hear their voices combined. Eurovision 2015 winner Måns Zelmerlöw and runner-up Polina Gagarina have released their first ever duet single together. The song, entitled “Circles and Squares”, will serve as the official anthem for the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships (set to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, from March 22-28).
The official version of the song dropped on Spotify, iTunes, and other digital platforms on Friday, February 19th. In what might seem as a surprise to some, the song feels rooted in country pop – not a genre that either artist has extensively explored in their previous work.
Måns Zelmerlöw and Polina Gagarina duet on World Figure Skating anthem
The song opens with some lyrical piano notes, which almost gives the duet a feel that it was inspired by British band Coldplay. Måns opens the first verse singing of a relationship built around two people who are complete opposites. This relationship has it’s ups and downs, but as Polina joins him, they sing of accepting each other for both the good and bad (“poetry and scars”), and being there to pick each other up when the other one falls.
As the song builds towards the chorus, the country pop sound grows, with the piano and guitar blending together. The lyrics in the chorus see the Eurovision 2015 alumni thinking that they’ve both reached a place where they don’t need each other; however, their connection leads them back to one another: “Every time that I think we’re getting somewhere / Out of nowhere / Hit rewind”.
Måns Zelmerlöw and Polina Gagarina – “Circles and Squares” (Audio)
The theme of love and acceptance despite differences, and being able to pick right back up where they’ve left off, continues through the song as it builds to the end. This crescendo is aided by the addition of an orchestra that gives the song even more added lift.
Both singers have emotional moments that let their voices shine, right up until the song ends. Singing in tandem, the final couple of lines, “Circles and squares / That’s you and I”, brings the message of the song home. Loving one another and being able to forgive one another, despite all our faults, is the only way we can move forward in life.
Måns co-wrote the song with a team that reads like a who’s who of Eurovision and national final song writers. Included in the song-writing team are Swedish composer Stefan Örn (Azerbaijan ESC 2010-12 and 2014, Montenegro ESC 2017), Melodifestvialen veteran David Lindgren Zacharias (Melfest 2021 entries “The Silence” for Frida Green and “Behöver inte dig idag” for Clara Klingenström), Sandra Bjurman (Azerbaijan ESC 2011), and John Eyden.
In an ISU press release, Örn explains that the song-writing team took inspiration for the single from the sport of figure skating itself:
“We wanted to write a song with a slightly serious tone and at the same time bring out the beauty that exists between two Figure Skaters, the passion, the art, and of course mutual respect. This is mirrored in the arrangement of the song that has an intro full of expectation before we bring in the full orchestra that takes the song to the heights we wanted to hit”
Zelmerlöw expressed appreciation for being involved in a project for an event in his home country, as well as for getting the chance to work with Gagarina:
“It feels great that Polina and I have been entrusted by the Swedish Figure Skating Association to do the official song. I was extremely impressed by her as a singer back in 2015 in Vienna”.
Polina added:
“I think Circles and Squares is a very direct and romantic song, which is just how I see Figure Skating! I hope that Figure Skating fans and music lovers alike will enjoy the song.”
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Eurovision and figure skating fans alike will have even more to look forward to in the coming days. The official music video for “Circles and Squares” will be released on YouTube next Sunday, February 28th. In a preview posted to both stars’ Instagram profiles, it looks like we’ll get to see the two stars skating together.
Even more exciting, Måns and Polina are scheduled to perform the song together live at the 2021 World Figure Skating Championships exhibition gala, which will take place on March 28th. In an interesting Eurovision connection, the event will take place at the Ericsson Globe. This was the host arena of Eurovision 2016 following Zelmerlöw’s victory in 2015.
Lyrics: “Circles and Squares” – Måns Zelmerlöw and Polina Gagarina
Circles and squares
That’s you and I
Hurts, then repairs
I don’t know why
But I like what we are
Poetry and scars
Let me fall apart
Then fall into your arms
Doesn’t matter if I get you out of my head
Call me up, say you can’t keep me off your mind
Doesn’t matter if I think we’re getting somewhere
Out of nowhere
Doesn’t matter if I get you out of my head
Call me up, say you can’t keep me off your mind
Every time that I think we’re getting somewhere
Out of nowhere
Hit rewind
Always in drive
That’s you and I
Headlight to headlight
Till we collide
But I like what we are
Poetry and scars
Let you fall apart
Then right back to the start
Doesn’t matter if I get you out of my head
Call me up say you can’t keep me off your mind
Doesn’t matter if I think we’re getting somewhere
Out of nowhere
Doesn’t matter if I get you out of my head
Call me up, say you can’t keep me off your mind
Every time that I think we’re getting somewhere
Out of nowhere
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Circles and squares
Hit rewind
That’s you and I
Hit rewind
Circles and squares
Hit rewind
That’s you and I
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Hit rewind
Circles and squares
That’s you and I
What do you think about “Circles and Squares”? Does it live up to all you were hoping for in a Mäns and Polina duet? Are you looking forward to the music video and live performance? Let us know in the comments below!
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Nice try but those songs have nothing in common :’) ridiculous.
I like this song. I know it’s somewhat derivative and some people won’t appreciate that, but I like the country vibe with the duo and it fits with the event nicely. Now all we need are same-sex couples in the Ice Dancing, cough.
That’s a good assessment — I just support Polina generally in everything she does musically, and it’s nice to see her finally team up with Mans on a song. It definitely should look and sound great (as a skating fan I am eager to see how the song and performance is worked into the exhibition!). On that last point, it would be nice if the PTB’s were open to that (I won’t hold my breath for it any time soon, though).
The Debs wrote Heroes, and now they’ve taken the million voices of the song that finished second to it and given them to Tusse. Weird. Polina should ask for them back.
Eurovision and figure skating – a perfect combination :))
I completely agree, katka! I’ve been trying for a long time to get skaters I know to be more open to skating to Eurovision music (it’s been a slow process, but I hope more skaters will learn to embrace it over time!)
Russia 2008 was not perfect, though…