Image credits: Corinne Cumming / EBU It seemed an almost certain result and it was confirmed: Sweden won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2023 with Loreen and the song Tattoo. Thus, Sweden equaled Ireland with the record of seven wins.
Results
(Click on the song titles to watch the performances; detailed results in the end of the article)
1st. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 583 points
2nd. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 526 points
3rd. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 362 points
4th. Ittaly/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 350 points
5th. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 268 points
6th. Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 243 points
7th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 182 points
8th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 168 points
9th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 151 points
10th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 129 points
11th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 127 points
12th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 126 points
13th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 123 points
14th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 122 points
15th. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 120 points
16th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 104 points
17th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 100 points
18th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 96 points
19th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 93 points
20th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 92 points
21st. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 78 points
22nd. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 76 points
23rd. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 59 points
24th. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 30 points
25th. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 24 points
26th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 18 points
The summary of the show
The opening of the grand final featured last year’s winners, Kalush Orchestra, with a new version of the song Stefania. Other artists were featured in the VT, such as the renowned Andrew Lloyd Webber. From the video, the performance moved to the arena, with several dancers joining. Kalush Orchestra then sang a new song: Changes.
In the end, the band sang Stefania once again, followed by the flag parade with the 26 finalists… which included performances by Go_A, Jamala, Tina Karol and Verka Serduchka with the songs that they took to ESC representing Ukraine.
After the flag parade, the four hosts entered the stage, with the usual introductions. At that moment, there was a small reminder: the number of wins by country, before the start of the contest itself.
- 1. Austria: Teya & Salena – Who the Hell is Edgar?
- The final started with rhytm and irreverence. Teya & Salena, from Austria, sang Who the Hell is Edgar?. With the singers, there were four dancers (in addition, multiple virtual dancers in the background LED screen graphics). And Edgar Allen Poe was obviously present in the graphics, in which the red dominated.
- Postcard: Lviv Town Hall (Ukraine), Sheffield Town Hall (United Kingdom) and Vienna Town Hall (Austria)
- 2. Portugal: Mimicat – Ai Coração
- The Portuguese public also didn’t have to wait long to watch the performance of its representative, Mimicat. On a stage dominated by shades of red, the singer was accompanied by four dancers, singing Ai Coração, which brought a cabaret atmosphere.
- Postcard: Saint Sophia Cathedral (Kyiv, Ukraine), Ely Cathedral (Cambridge, United Kingdom) and Panteão Nacional (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 3. Switzerland: Remo Forrer – Watergun
- After two uptempo songs, the ballad Watergun arrived. Remo Forrer sings on behalf of Switzerland. The dark dominated much of the performance, but in the end the lighting and the pyro brought color to the stage. With Remo Forrer were four dancers.
- Postcard: Buchak Lake (Ukraine), Loch Ness (Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom) and Lake Zurich (Switzerland)
- 4. Poland: Blanka – Solo
- Summer vibes marked the Polish performance by Blanka, with the song Solo. The stage was dominated by the color of the graphics and lighting, there was «fire» and pyro, with four dancers alongside the singer.
- Postcard: National University (Chernivtsi, Ucrânia), Cambridge University (United Kingdom) and Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw (Poland)
- 5. Serbia: Luke Black – Samo mi se spava
- The video game environment hit the ESC 2023 stage with Serbia. Luke Black was accompanied by four dancers singing Samo si me spava. Video game graphics and electropop sounds.
- Postcard: 3020 Contemporary Sculpture Park (Lviv, Ukraine), Tate Art Gallery (Liverpool, United Kingdom) and Museum of Contemporary Art (Sérvia)
- 6. France: La Zarra – Évidement
- France brought La Zarra and Évidement to the ESC 2023. The singer was on an elevated platform throughout the performance, with a shiny black dress. Chanson and modern sounds were mixed in three minutes that left no one indifferent.
- Postcard: Potocki Palace (Lviv, Ukraine), Hopetoun House (West Lothian, United Kingdom) e Château de Fontainbleu (France)
After France’s performance, it was broadcasted a summary of the ESC 2023 week before the grand final.
- 7. Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart
- Performances resumed with a ballad: Break a Broken Heart, by Andrew Lambrou, for Cyprus. The singer was alone on a stage dominated by dark blue and smoke. At a given moment, the LED screens in the background «turned» into a waterfall, but in the end it was the fire that took over the staging.
- Postcard: Kyiv Sea Beach (Ukraine), Brighton Beach (United Kingdom) and Akti Olympion Beach(Cyprus)
- 8. Spain: Blanca Paloma – Eaea
- Spain bet on Iberian and flamenco sounds with the song Eaea, by Blanca Paloma. The singer started inside red ribbons, accompanied by five dancers. They then left the wrapping of ribbons, with (a lot of) smoke entering the stage. Blanca Paloma ended up on a platform on satellite stage flanked by the dancers.
- Postcard: Ampitheatre of Uzhhorod (Ukraine), Minack Theatre (United Kingdom) and Teatro Romano de Sagunto (Spain)
Between the performances from Spain and Sweden the first commercial break happened. The official feed continued and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) was in the spotlight, as well as last year’s winner, Enzo, in a video.
- 9. Sweden: Loreen – Tattoo
- The big favorite to win, Loreen, was the ninth to take the stage, representing Sweden with the song Tattoo. Surrounded by a lot of smoke, the singer was alone on stage in a structure whose «ceiling» was gradually lifted as the song progressed.
- Postcard: Anti-Circe Island (Uman, Ukraine), St. Catherine Island (Tenby, United Kingdom) and Enholmen Island (Sweden)
- 10. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje
- The family group Albina & Familja Kelmendi represented Albania with the song Duje. The proposal was Balkan sounds, in a performance with pyro at the end, as well as an abundant use of LED screens and lighting in the scenography.
- Postcard: Arboretum Sofiyivka (Uman, Ukraine), Sefton Park (Liverpool, United Kingom) e Grand Park of Tirana (Albania)
- 11. Italy: Marco Mengoni – Due vite
- Returning to the ESC ten years later, Marco Mengoni was Italy’s choice to keep going with the sequence of good results. It was one of the pop ballads of the grand final, Due vite, in a performance in which the singer was dressed in black and with white lighting also highlighting the smoke on stage floor. Later, two dancers joined on a platform in the background. The LED screen was used to display the image of the Moon.
- Postcard: Kyiv Velodrome (Ukraine), Pump Track Wales (Rhayader, United Kingdom) e Circus Maximus (Rome, Italy)
- 12. Estonia: Alika – Bridges
- Another ballad in the final, Bridges by Alika representing Estonia. After starting sitting near a piano, the singer got up and moved around the two stages, with the lighting evolving from dark tones to yellowish and warm tones in the final part.
- Postcard: Water Tower (Vinnytsia, Ukraine), Blackpool Tower (Blackpool, United Kingdom) and TV Tower (Tallin, Estonia)
- 13. Finlândia: Käärija – Cha Cha Cha
- Another big candidate to win, Finland was the 13th to perform. The charismatic Käärijä sang Cha Cha Cha accompanied by four dancers, in a song with techno/electronic sound. The scenograophy was irreverent, from the colors of the graphics and the outfit to the props that included wooden pallets. There were some visible changes in some camera shots compared to the semi-final.
- Postcard: Podil Ferris Wheel (Kyiv, Ukraine), Wheel of Liverpool (United Kingdom) and Skywheel (Helsinki, Finland)
- 14. Czechia: Vesna – My Sister’s Crown
- My Sister’s Crown was Czechia’s song, by Vesna. Dressed in pink, the group had its scenography complemented by LED screens showing graphics and parts of the song’s lyrics. The sound is pop, with folk vibes, and the performance was dynamic, with a lot of movement around the stages and interaction between Vesna.
- Postcard: Green Maze (Zhytomyr, Ukraine), Peace Maze (Castlewellan, United Kingdom) and Yew Maze (Loučeň Castle, Czechia)
- 15. Australia: The Voyager – Promise
- With a staging that includes a sports car, Australia reached the ESC final again with The Voyager and the song Promise. From more closed shots of a singer inside the car, the staging moved to wider shots as the rhythm increased, with the remaining elements of the band appearing.
- Postcard: Glass Bridge (Kyiv, Ukraine), Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol, United Kingdom) and Matagarup Bridge (Perth, Australia)
- 16. Belgium: Gustaph – Because of You
- Belgium brought the song Because of You, by Gustaph. The singer moved from a kind of upper platform to the stage, accompanied by three dancers. The LED screens displayed many graphics as well as some parts of the lyrics.
- Postcard: Independence Monument (Kyiv, Ukraine), Angel of the North (Gateshead, United Kingdom) and Atomium (Brussels, Belgium)
After Belgium, there was a short commercial break, during which the official feed went to commentary booth with Graham Norton, promoting the official CD and DVD of ESC 2023.
- 17. Armenia: Brunette – Future Lover
- A pop rap sound was Armenia’s choice: Future Lover, by Brunette. The singer was alone on stage, begining lying on a prop before getting up as the song gain tempo and, naturally, in the rap-sounding part.
- Postcard: Boticanal Garden (Ukraine), Eden Project (Cornwall, United Kingdom) and Yerevan Botanical Garden (Armenia)
- 18. Moldova: Pasha Parfeni – Soarele și Luna
- Moldova brought ethnic sounds and uptempo music with the song Soarele și Luna by Pasha Parfeni. This time, the artist grabbed a place in the grand final and the performance doesn’t go unnoticed with the colorful lights and graphics on the LED screens, as well as with the traditional costumes of Pasha Parfeni and the dancers.
- Postcard: Skole Beskids Forest (Lviv, Ukraine), Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom) and Orhei National Park (Trebujeni, Moldova)
- 19. Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel
- Duo TVORCHI represented last year’s winner, Ukraine, with the song Heart of Steel. A electropop song, and the artists are on the satelitte stage in front of four cubes. Graphics on the background LED screens and on the cubes, and at a certain point two dancers joined.
- Postcard: Street Art in Kyiv (Ucrânia), Street Art in Belfast (United Kingdom) and Art-zavod Platform (Kyiv, Ukraine)
- 20. Norway: Alessandra – Queen of Kings
- Norway opted for electropop with an empowering message: Queen of Kings, by Alessandra. The singer, dressed in a costume of a warrior queen, began alone, before four dancers have joined her giving dynamics to the performance, as well as the lights contrasting with dark tones.
- Postcard: Kyiv National Library (Ukraine), Liverpool Central Library (United Kingdom) and Deichman Library (Oslo, Norway)
- 21. Germany: Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter
- After the poor results in recent years, Germany reacted radically: it brought metal, with touches of glam pop, in the song Blood & Glitter by Lord of the Lost. There was no lack of pyro, on a stage that had a large structure with two of the members of the band.
- Postcard: Rusnivka Canal (Ukraine), Bridgewater Canal (United Kingdom) and Keerwiederfleet Canal (Hamburg, Germany)
- 22. Lithuania: Monika Linkytė – Stay
- For the second consecutive year, Lithuania got to the final with the Lithuanian language. Monika Linkytė sang Stay, with a staging dominated by red, orange and purple pnes. After starting alone on the main stage, the singer moved to the satellite stage where four backing singers jointed until the end.
- Postcard: Khotyn Fortress (Ukraine), Eilean Donan (Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom) and Trakai Island Castle (Lithuania)
- 23. Israel: Noa Kirel – Unicorn
- Unicorn promised to be one of the candidates for the top spots at ESC 2023. It was the song from Israel, by Noa Kirel who began the performance inside a tunnel-like structure, gradually leaving as the rhythm got faster. Five dancers joined in a very dynamic and colorful performance in which Noa Kirel herself danced a lotu.
- Postcard: Urytski Rocks (Skole Beskids, Ukraine), Stonehenge (Wiltshire, United Kingdom) and Masada Fortress (Israel)
- 24. Slovenia: Joker Out – Carpe Diem
- Back to the finals, the song Carpe Diem by Joker Out was a right bet from Slovenia. It’s a song that reminds us the indie of the 1990s/2000s, in a performance on the satellite stage in which the band was dressed with a very suitable outfits. The lighting and the LED screen in the background are put to good use over the three minutes.
- Postcard: Tetris Hall Rooftop (Kyiv, Ukraine), Goodness Gracious Roof Bar (Liverpool, United Kingdom) and Radio Slovenija Rooftop (Slovenia)
- 25. Croatia: Let3 – Mama ŠČ!
- Being bold paid off for Croatia, which got to the final with the irreverent shock rock by Let3: the song Mama ŠČ!, which is a critique of the war and the regime of Vladimir Putin. Lots of extravagance in the outfits, graphics and props for three attention-grabbing minutes.
- Postcard: River Port (Kyiv, Ukraine), Whitby Harbour (United Kingdom) and Rijeka Harbour (Croatia).
- 26. United Kingdom: Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song
- The host country, United Kingdom, was the last to take the stage. The choice was a dance-pop song, I Wrote a Song by Mae Muller. The singer started alone in front of an LED screen in the background that shows her face, before four dancers appeared. The graphics on the screen were various, giving some color to the performance.
- Postcard: River Dnipro (Ukraine), River Mersey (Liverpool, United Kingdom) and River Tames (London, United Kingdom)
As the competing performances ended, the hosts opened the voting lines to the public as usual. This was followed by the first recap of the performances.
Sam Ryder was the first interval act. Last year’s Eurovision Song Contest runner-up saw his career take off in the last 12 months and here he presented a new song: Mountain. Pop-rock sound, in line with what Sam Ryder has accustomed the public to. Queen’s Roger Taylor was on the drums.
While for some broadcasters there was a commercial break, the show on the arena continued. There was then an interview by Graham Norton with Jan Leeming (host of ESC 1982), as well as a short visit by Julia Sanina to Ukrainian refugees in the United Kingdom who received tickets to watch ESC live. There followed a VT about the emotions of the final voting sequence over the years, before a further recap of the performances.
The second interval act brought together six artists from ESC’s past: Cornelia Jacobs (Sweden 2022), Daði Freyr (Iceland 2021), Duncan Laurence (Netherlands 2019), Mahmood (Italy 2019), Netta (Israel 2018) e Sonia (United Kingdom 1993). They sang a medley of songs «born» in Liverpool: Liverpool Songbook. The segment ended with the guests and the hosts together on stage, while Ruslana participated with a group of Ukrainian children, in a pre-recorded video in Kyiv.
After a last recap of the participating songs, the public voting lines were closed with the traditional countdown. A VT featuring Björn Ulvaeus, from ABBA, was then broadcast, under the motto of the success achieved by artists after participating in the ESC over the decades.
It was the last segment before the announcement of national jury votes began. Ukraine was the first to present the results and the last country was the host, the United Kingdom. The juries elected Loreen and the song Tattoo, from Sweden, with a total of 340 points.
The most tense moment of the night then arrived: the announcement of the public’s votes, starting with the last-placed country for the jury, ending with the most voted. With 376 points, Finland was the most voted country by the viewers, thanks to the song Cha Cha Cha by Käärija.
In the sum of the jury and public voting, Sweden was the ESC 2023 champion with Loreen and the song Tattoo scoring 583 points Following the tradition, the final ended with the trophy handover and with Loreen performing as the winner.
Jury results
1st. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 340 points
2nd. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 177 points
3rd. Italy/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 176 points
4th. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 150 points5th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 146 points
5th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 130 points
7th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 127 points
8th. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 104 points
9th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 95 points
10th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 94 points
11th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 81 points
12th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 69 points
13th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 68 points
14th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 61 points
15th. Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 54 points
16th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 54 points
17th. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 52 points
18th. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 43 points
19th. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 33 points
20th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 20 points
21st. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 17 points
22nd. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 15 points
23rd. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 14 points
24th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 12 points
25th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 11 points
26th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 3 points
Public results
1st. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 346 points
2nd. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 243 points
3rd. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 216 points
4th. Ukraine/TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 189 points
5th. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 185 points
6th. Italy/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 174 points
7th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 112 points
8th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 81 points
9th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 76 points
10th. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 59 points
11th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 58 points
12th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 55 points
13th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 53 points
14th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 50 points
15th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 46 points
16th. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 45 points
17th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 35 points
18th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 31 points
19th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 22 points
20th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 21 points
21st. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 16 points
22nd. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 16 points
23rd. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 16 points
24th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 15 points
25th. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 9 points
26th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 5 points
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