SPA I N
SWITZERLAND
GRAND FINAL
GRAND FINAL
Song: Watergun Performer: Remo Forrer Songwriters: Argyle Singh, Ashley Hicklin, Mikolaj Trybulec SWITZERLAND Semi-Final 1 Televote total: 97 points 7th place Grand Final Total: 92 points Juries: 61 Televote: 31 20th place • The televoters much preferred this act in its semi-final rather than the Grand Final. But Switzerland has now reached the Grand Final four in a row - which it’s never achieved since the semi-finals began.
Song: Eaea Performer: Blanca Paloma Songwriters: Alvaro Tato, Blanca Paloma, Jose Pablo Polo
SPAIN Grand Final Total: 100 points Juries: 95 Televote: 5 17th place
Blanca Paloma performed Eaea with a powerful precision and stunning staging to match. Pulsing red ambience and blinding flashes of white light perfectly suited this unique fusion of traditional, haunting flamenco and modern electronica. This was a story-telling performance of the utmost standard, but it was purely designed for television – though unlike Loreen’s smoke-puthering, oversized panini grill, this was absolutely mesmerising. Granted, this style of vocal may be an acquired taste, but anybody who failed to be drawn into this moving work of art, needs to check for a pulse. You can’t deny the quality of Blanca’s magnetic, hypnotic performance here – yet receiving only five points from the public is undeniably one of the biggest crimes of this year’s contest. Alex Storer
The Swiss have done well in recent years with slightly weird songs and this year saw a continuation of this track record. Remo Forrer was a popular artist throughout the week, always smiling, happy to engage, and clearly enjoying his time in the Eurovision bubble. Finishing seventh in his semi, he eventually placed 20th in the Grand Final unsurprisingly scoring better with the juries than public. The song was well-staged and presented on TV, with four supporting dancers and a dark backdrop. Unusually, the Swiss made use of falling fireworks that reinforced the war associations of the song and certainly added to the stage narrative. Remo’s vocals were powerful throughout and he made good use of the whole stage, ending the song alone on the island section. Looking slightly vulnerable but satisfied with a job well done. Simon Bennett
• The juries seem to have seen something in this act than the public couldn’t appreciate. Spain failed to capitalise of its success last year, but nevertheless coming 17th is a decent result for the country compared to more recent years.
SWEDEN
GRAND FINAL
Song: Tattoo Performer: Loreen Songwriters: Jimmy Jansson, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Loreen, Moa ‘Cazzi Opeia’ Carlebecker, SWEDEN Semi-Final 1 Televote total: 135 points 2nd place Grand Final Total: 583 points Juries: 340 Televote: 243 1st place • Loreen went one better in the Grand Final and gave Sweden its seventh victory. Peter Boström, Thomas G:son
There was a lot of pressure on Loreen, and she certainly lived up to her billing as a pre-show favourite. Having only managed second place in her semi-final, quite some distance behind arch-rival Finland, the positions were reversed on the night of the Grand Final as she delivered Sweden’s much sought-after, record-equalling seventh win, and took her place along with Johnny Logan as a Eurovision double-winner. Just as with Euphoria in 2012, the Swedes insisted on the song being presented on screen almost like a music video. Quite apart from the song’s overwhelming catchiness, the use of the infamous ‘sandwich press’, the long talon-like nails and strong vocals made Tattoo instantly memorable, despite a costume that would not have looked out of place on the set of an Egyptian mummy movie. Unlike most other acts, Loreen made almost no use of the available stage, remaining in her illuminated sandwich, and on TV, there were no shots of the arena or the audience until the very final moments of the song. All-in-all, this was a masterclass on how to present a song and win. Simon Bennett
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AUTUMN 2022 ● VISION
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