Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
IN PICTURES

EUROVISION

Eurovision artists walk red carpet in Stockholm

It was all glitter and glam when Sweden officially kicked off Eurovision week in Stockholm as the contestants gathered for the big red carpet opening ceremony right next to the Royal Palace.

Published: 9 May 2016 08:24 CEST
Updated: 9 May 2016 09:51 CEST
Eurovision artists walk red carpet in Stockholm
Sweden's Eurovision contestant Frans Jeppsson-Wall. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Stockholm showed itself from its very best side at Sunday's opening ceremony, bringing out the big hits in the form of those long Swedish summer evenings as well as temperatures topping 20C earlier in the day.


Frans Jeppsson-Wall with his fans. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Cheered on by the crowds, the contestants walked the almost 100-metre red carpet lining the street next to Stockholm's Royal Palace, where a temporary Euroclub party zone for fans has been set up.


UK artists Joe and Jake at the red carpet ceremony. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

“It feels like the Oscars gala,” commented artist Måns Zelmerlöw, who is co-hosting the event live on television this year after taking home the crown for Sweden with his mega hit 'Heroes' last year.

Sweden's contestant Frans Jeppsson-Wall followed closely behind Zelmerlöw and his co-host Petra Mede. He smilingly told the TT newswire: “I am here to enjoy it. You could call it an ego boost.”


Frans Jeppsson-Wall, Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Earlier in the day, he had nailed most, if not all, of his performance of 'If I Were Sorry' at the second day of rehearsals for Sweden and the so-called 'Big Five': Germany, Italy, France, UK and Spain.

Jeppsson-Wall's family was at the Globe Arena for the rehearsals to support the 17-year-old star.

“They help bring me down to earth,” Jeppsson-Wall, or Frans as he is simply known in Sweden, told reporters at a press conference attended by The Local and large groups of international media.


If Frans tells you to dance, you dance. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

The curtains go up for the first of the semi-final on Tuesday in Stockholm, with the big final taking place on Saturday. Sweden is already qualified for the final, as the title holder and host nation.

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. 

SHOW COMMENTS