Loreen, the Swedish singer whose full name is Lauryn Talhaoui, secured first place at Eurovision 2023. The annual music event took place in Liverpool, England, from May 9 to May 13, bringing together artists from across Europe and beyond.
The winning song Tattoo by Loreen centers on themes of love and the dynamics of relationships. In the final results, the jury awarded 340 points while the audience contributed 243 points, giving Loreen a combined total of 583 points. By earning the top score, Sweden earned the right to host Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and automatically advanced to the final round of the next edition.
Loreen made history by becoming the first female artist to win the contest twice. Her first triumph came in 2012 with the song Euphoria. Across the history of Eurovision, Sweden has claimed seven victories in 1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015, and 2023, tying Ireland for the second most wins with seven titles, the last of which was in the 1990s.
Second and third places
Finland dazzled with a neon bolero titled Cha Cha Cha, performed by rapper Käärijä. He earned 526 points in the final and has been making music since 2014, signing with a major local label in 2017. His debut album, Fantastista, arrived in 2020.
Israel’s Noa Kirel claimed the third place with Unicorn, collecting 362 points. Kirel has earned multiple MTV Europe Music Awards as Best Israeli Artist and served in the Israeli army from 2020 to 2022, during which time she produced tracks for fellow soldiers.
Germany’s metal band Lord of the Lost finished in 26th place with Blood & Glitter, receiving 18 points. The penultimate spot went to British singer May Muller with 24 points.
In 2023 the lineup of finalists included artists from England, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, Moldova, Austria, Armenia, Belgium, and Norway. The competition also featured entries from Albania, Italy, Sweden, Cyprus, and Australia in the final.
The show opened with a performance by Kalush Orchestra, the Eurovision 2022 winners from Ukraine, performing Stefania. Former Ukrainian Eurovision competitors also appeared on stage, including Andrey Danilko in his Jamala portrayal and Verka Serduchka, the 2006 entrant who remains a memorable figure for many fans.
After the main program, British artist Sam Ryder returned to the stage and finished second in Eurovision 2022. He was joined by Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor, who performed as a special guest before the audience.
Ukraine had been slated to host this year’s event because the group won the previous year, but ongoing hostilities led the European Broadcasting Union to relocate the show to England. Russia was excluded from the competition amid the military actions, and residents within the country were unable to vote on the contest.
Details about the winner
Loreen, a performer with Moroccan and Berber roots, was born in Stockholm in 1983. Her family moved to Västerås during her school years, a city located west of the capital, where her early passion for music began to take shape. In 2004 she joined the Swedish Idol show and finished in fourth place, but she stepped away from television for several years while working as a producer. She returned to the spotlight in 2011, competing in various music contests and earning the opportunity to represent Sweden at Eurovision in 2012. In Baku, she won with the hit Euphoria.
When Loreen decided to compete again in 2023, bookmakers immediately placed favorable odds on her victory. In interviews before her performance, she expressed surprise at the unexpected path her life had taken and described herself as happier than ever during the competition. She also stated that she never imagined returning to the Eurovision stage would be part of her journey, yet she embraced the moment with gratitude and pride.
As she reflected on her triumph, Loreen conveyed a sense of wonder about the chapter she had entered and the possibilities ahead, emphasizing the joy of performing for fans around the world.