Sweden—Denmark emerged victorious Saturday in this year's Eurovision
Song Contest, an annual competition as famous for kitsch outfits,
over-the-top stage shows and geopolitical tension as musical qualities.
Twenty-year-old Emmelie de Forest won with folksy ballad "Only
Teardrops," which handily beat the closest runners up, Azerbaijan and
Ukraine.
"It's fantastic.…It's indescribable to win for your country," Ms. de Forest told Danish broadcaster DR after her victory. "I think this will be fantastic for me and my career." She was a strong favorite with bookmakers and Eurovision fans ahead of the event.
Thanks to Ms. de Forest's performance, which was done in bare feet, Denmark now gets to host the contest next year, an honor that gives the country a showcase but also includes considerable costs. Representatives from Sweden joked about the costs of the show during a musical tribute to the nation that also included gags about IKEA, meatballs and the country's liberal social model.
The tongue-in-cheek musical number was part of Sweden's more modest approach than the lavish event put on by oil-rich Azerbaijan last year. Swedish officials managed to get the budget for the 57-year-old event down to $20 million, less than half what it was last year, and roughly in line with 2007. Still, the event attracts about 120 million viewers, more than the Academy Awards or Super Bowl.
Ms. de Forest—whose father is Swedish and
mother is Danish and who has relatives in New York and North Carolina—is
well aware of the event's sustained global popularity, due in part to
its being Web-streamed world-wide.
Ms. de Forest's victory means the Scandinavian dominance of the Eurovision Song Contest continues.
Since ABBA won in 1974, Sweden has taken Eurovision more seriously than most, and the six Swedish heats to determine the Swedish contestant are the most watched TV show in the country, with nearly half the population watching the national final. Sweden has been called the spiritual home of the Eurovision, and Swedish songwriters export the Swedish sound to newer Eurovision member countries.
The Nordic region as a whole has been dominating the competition in recent years. Finland won in 2006, with heavy metal act Lordi, Norway was victorious in 2009 with Alexander Rybak's 'Fairytale,' and Sweden's Loreen won in Baku, Azerbaijan, last year to bring the contest to Malmo. Even the winning Azerbaijani song in 2011 was written by a Swedish duo. Next year Denmark—a half-hour train ride from Malmo—will host the competition.
"It helps that the inhabitants from the Nordic countries feel close to each other, they therefore tend to vote for each other," said Maria Rørbye Rønn, director general of broadcaster DR.
"I remember clearly when the Olsen brothers won in 2000 because I was only seven years old and Denmark won!," Ms de Forest said, speaking before the final. "They came to Denmark like heroes, there were Danish flags everywhere
"It's fantastic.…It's indescribable to win for your country," Ms. de Forest told Danish broadcaster DR after her victory. "I think this will be fantastic for me and my career." She was a strong favorite with bookmakers and Eurovision fans ahead of the event.
Thanks to Ms. de Forest's performance, which was done in bare feet, Denmark now gets to host the contest next year, an honor that gives the country a showcase but also includes considerable costs. Representatives from Sweden joked about the costs of the show during a musical tribute to the nation that also included gags about IKEA, meatballs and the country's liberal social model.
The tongue-in-cheek musical number was part of Sweden's more modest approach than the lavish event put on by oil-rich Azerbaijan last year. Swedish officials managed to get the budget for the 57-year-old event down to $20 million, less than half what it was last year, and roughly in line with 2007. Still, the event attracts about 120 million viewers, more than the Academy Awards or Super Bowl.
European Pressphoto Agency
Danish singer Emmelie de Forest after winning
Ms. de Forest's victory means the Scandinavian dominance of the Eurovision Song Contest continues.
Since ABBA won in 1974, Sweden has taken Eurovision more seriously than most, and the six Swedish heats to determine the Swedish contestant are the most watched TV show in the country, with nearly half the population watching the national final. Sweden has been called the spiritual home of the Eurovision, and Swedish songwriters export the Swedish sound to newer Eurovision member countries.
The Nordic region as a whole has been dominating the competition in recent years. Finland won in 2006, with heavy metal act Lordi, Norway was victorious in 2009 with Alexander Rybak's 'Fairytale,' and Sweden's Loreen won in Baku, Azerbaijan, last year to bring the contest to Malmo. Even the winning Azerbaijani song in 2011 was written by a Swedish duo. Next year Denmark—a half-hour train ride from Malmo—will host the competition.
"It helps that the inhabitants from the Nordic countries feel close to each other, they therefore tend to vote for each other," said Maria Rørbye Rønn, director general of broadcaster DR.
"I remember clearly when the Olsen brothers won in 2000 because I was only seven years old and Denmark won!," Ms de Forest said, speaking before the final. "They came to Denmark like heroes, there were Danish flags everywhere
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