It wasn't a surprise – the Kalush Orchestra had been predicted to win for weeks. Not only out of solidarity, but also because the song was convincing.
“This victory is for every Ukrainian!” shouted Kalush singer Oleh Psiuk to the cameras as the winners were presented with the trophy. The votes of the juries from 40 participating countries were in the case of Great Britain – but the TV audience finally put the crown on the Ukrainians. The audience gave the Kalush Orchestra 12 points from almost every country.
This decided the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy: The trophy goes to a country that has been plagued by a cruel war for almost three months. The ESC victory will not change the situation, but the mission of the musicians of the Kalush Orchestra as ambassadors and voices of their country has been fulfilled.
Not only they, but also other artists from the 25 countries who fought for victory that evening, called for “Peace for Ukraine”. Those responsible at the European Broadcasting Union EBU, who otherwise react very sensitively to political statements, let it go this time. “We believe that the comments made by the Kalush Orchestra and other artists expressing their support for the Ukrainian people are more humanitarian than political,” it said in a statement to the German press agency dpa.
The venue of the ESC 2023 has not yet been decided
The winning song “Stefania” was written before the war – singer Oleh Psiuk dedicated it to his mother. But now some lines from the song have a completely different meaning: “I will always find my way home, even if all the roads are destroyed.”
After the victory of Ruslana in 2004 and Jamala in 2016, Ukraine wins the ESC for the third time. Now the question arises as to which country will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year – this will hardly be possible in Ukraine. Some countries have already volunteered: such as Spain, which wants to bring the event to Barcelona.
Greetings of peace to Moscow
Before 7,000 spectators went to the Stadio Olimpico this Saturday evening, Italy's super band “Rocking 1000” played John Lennon's “Give Peace A Chance” on a piazza in the center of Turin. The final of the ESC began with this greeting to the warmongers of this world, alongside Italy's superstar Laura Pausini, presenter Alessandro Cattelan and pop star Mika led through the evening.
Lots of ballads and falsetto singing
This year's ESC finale was marked by many ballads. The ESC community loves glitter, pomp, eroticism and partying – but against the background of the Ukraine war, there was apparently a consensus this year that this is not the right time for a boisterous party atmosphere.
Sam Ryder from Great Britain was another hot favorite
The men employed high falsetto singing in their many dramatic ballads, a trend that has increased in recent years. Singing in the local language is also becoming increasingly popular.
Wind machines were not used, but the impressive stage had a sun in the middle and was framed by waterfalls. What else characterizes the ESC is the use of trick clothes. You looked in vain this year – but at least there was a trick shirt from the Romanian artist WRS, whose summer hit number “Llámame” landed on the lower ranks. Glitter outfits were popular this year for both women and men.
The only number with a large portion of eroticism was delivered by Spain with Chanel: she was awarded third place for her explosive dance number “SloMo”. The British TikTok star Sam Ryder came second with “Space Man”.
Germany has booked the Zero Points
The German participant Malik Harris delivered a likeable and solid performance and received applause in the hall for his intensive rap part in the middle of his song “Rockstars”. .
Malik Harris couldn't stop laughing after finishing last
Yes This evening, too, the curse of zero points lay over the German contribution: no points from the juries, six points from the audience – as so often in recent years, that is the last place.
The song is in the German top ten; at the Eurovision Song Contest it could not keep up with the strong field of participants. So in Germany it's time again: lick your wounds and think about how you can do things better in the coming year.
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The Germans and the ESC