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EUROVISION

What do Swedes really think about Eurovision?

On the eve of the Eurovision final, we talked to ten Stockholmers and challenged them to name Sweden's entrant. We also asked what they thought about the competition. Their answers may surprise you.

Published: 9 May 2014 16:05 CEST
What do Swedes really think about Eurovision?
Moa will be watching, but doesn't like Sweden's chances. Photo: The Local

We asked ten Stockholmers whether they could tell us who was representing Sweden on Saturday night. If you don't know – you're not alone, don't worry.

But perhaps surprisingly, many didn't know and didn't care.

One even said he'd prefer to spend Saturday "doing something useful" like having a beer. His friends might be busy proving the "Nordic Bias" that Italians researchers have now proven permeates voting behaviour during voting.

"For Sweden, the bias is even more marked, with Denmark, Norway, Finland and Estonia all giving it special treatment in voting," The Local Norway reported on Friday. 

IN PICTURES: Stockholmers talk Eurovision

Sweden's entrant, 29-year-old Sanna Nielsen, is a hot-tipped favourite to win the competition if she can beat the likes of Conchita Wurst, the bearded lady from Austria. 

Both songs are below for your viewing pleasure.

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EUROVISION

Sweden among favourites after leaping through to Eurovision final

Cornelia Jakobs, Sweden's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, burst into tears and jumped onto presenter Mario Acampas, after shooting through to the final on Thursday night.

Published: 13 May 2022 08:09 CEST
Sweden among favourites after leaping through to Eurovision final

Jakobs was emotional at the press conference after her victory, telling the story of her progress from an “largely unknown” indie artist to the Eurovision stage. 

“There are a lot of feelings right now in this little body, an extremely large amount of feelings that can’t really fit in, so they’re exploding,” she said, before beginning to cry. “But I’m so happy and overwhelmed by all the support I’ve got from all these fantastic countries.” 

When the time came to pick lots for which half of the final she would appear in, she leapt onto Mario Acampas, the presenter asking questions at the press conference, wrapping her legs around his waist and clasping herself tightly to his torso. 

He then walked her over to the bowl where the lots were lying. 

“I want you to choose the second half,” she said to him. “Imagine that I have a pistol here and on the count of three I’m going to shoot you if you don’t choose.”

He refused to pick for her so she took one herself and got the second half. 

Jakobs, with her song, “Hold me closer”, was the clear favourite to go into the final, and will go through alongside Finland’s The Rasmus, and his song Jezebel, Serbia’s Konstrakta with “In corpore sano”, as well as entries from Belgium, Czechia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Estonia, Australia, and Romania. 

You can see her performance on Thursday in the video below. 

In the final, she will meet the other favourites, which include Ukraine, Italy, and the United Kingdom. 

The final will be shown on Sweden’s state broadcaster SVT at 9pm on Saturday. 

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