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Sweden wins Eurovision Song Contest 2023

Loreen takes Eurovision glory a second time, winning in Liverpool with her song Tattoo.

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Sweden’s Loreen has won the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool with her song Tattoo.

Sweden scored 593 points, becoming only the second act to win Eurovision twice, following Euphoria in 2012.

Finland’s Cha Cha Cha was second with 526 points and Israel third at 362 points.

“Everything feels surreal. I am seriously overwhelmed. This is so beautiful. One feeling I have in my body that’s taken over is just gratitude,” said Loreen.

“In 2012 everything was new for me. This time it’s like coming back to a family. We know each other by now. This experience was more motherly and effortless.”

Australia’s Voyager drew 151 points finishing ninth. With 12 points from the Portugese and Icelandic juries, Australia finished 6th in jury voting, an excellent result, but just 21 points in televoting.

Australia was also voted as winner of Semi Final 2.

Voyager said: “We’re so humbled by all the love and support we’ve received from Australia and the rest of the world throughout this entire experience. Performing at the Eurovision Song Contest has been a dream of ours for such a long time, and to finally have it realised is surreal and life-changing. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to represent not only Australia, but our beautiful home of Western Australia. We’re not going to forget 2023 anytime soon, and we can’t wait to continue this journey with the release of our new album and upcoming tour. Looking forward to seeing all your faces at a show soon.”

Liverpool (and Ukraine) turned on an electric show, with stunning staging, co-hosting in part by Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton, with Aussie commentary again by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst who made an appearance thanks to Alesha Dixon. The event included performances by Sam Ryder (with Roger Taylor), Verka Serduchka, Kalush Orchestra, Jamala, Netta, Sonia, Duncan Laurence and appearances from Catherine Tate, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and even Princess Kate on piano.

Sydney singer Andrew Lambrou representing Cyprus drew 126 points.

For the first time televoting also included ‘Rest of World’ votes.

The Australian jury gave 12 points to Belgium and the televote to Finland.

This post updates.

29 Responses

  1. Even though the juries have been not perfect, they are necessary as the run order of the program will disadvantage some acts who are in the “dead zones” during the nights performance.

    1. They also help to balance how politically some countries vote in the popular vote.

      Do you really think Ukraine had the best song last year???

  2. David,

    I wonder how you think the policy of revealing the jury and public vote separately is going? There was clear dissent in the room (and undoubtedly elsewhere) when the public vote for some entries was revealed. The vibe I’ve had since the final is that Finland, as the overwhelming public vote winner, was robbed. This can’t be good for the credibility of the competition.

    I’ve no doubt these discrepancies have always existed. The policy of revealing each vote separately is a relatively new one but it’s never been clear what “problem” this change was trying to “fix”. Seems to have introduced a whole set of other issues instead.

    1. A difference in popular vote vs. jury should not be a problem. The acts know going into it that it is a competition that is judged on both its quality and its people pleasing value. Both are well understood to have different criteria.

      Its a similar situation where the academy awards and peoples choice awards rarely line up, doesn’t make either less viable.

      Sweden came a healthy second in the popular vote anyway, so this years result is nothing egregious anyway.

    2. The policy is to keep the suspense until the end. In other years with a blow-out winner, reading the votes for the last 10 or countries is ceremonial. Even this year, with Sweden rampant with the jury vote, there was still faint hope that Finland my snatch it following their huge public vote score.

      The vibe was a genuine issue you noticed. The audience were sick of Sweden get 12 points after 12 points while Finland got three, and that was quite late. It was looking a coronation. Whereas the public vote, Finland got 18 x 12 points while Sweden got zero x 12. Why do we give so much attention to individual jury scores? Perhaps we dump the public vote section, and the spokespeople read 12 points for both jury and public. If it’s a blow-out result, so be it. In this case, at least Finland get public some adoration that they deserved.

  3. The Swedish song was forgettable dirge. Totally rigged. The boos from the crowd said it all. The public overwhelmingly wanted Finland to win and felt cheated

    1. Actually, it’s a completely on point Eurovision song and performance. Just not the best according to public opinion. I do agree that Finland should have won.

    2. Totally agree. Also thought Voyager did wonderfully and can’t understand why so low in televote.
      Australia will never be “allowed” to win EV anyway (too many complications in that) and apparently our contract ends this year anyway.

      2. Every year Australia gets a low public vote compared to jury, and it’s huge. The only exception is 2019 when Kate M-H was only 20 points behind. The Dami Im year was 320 vs 191.

        In terms of Australia “allowed” to win Eurovision, the jury are certainly doing plenty of favours!

    3. I didn’t hear boos except coming from myself when this happened! A Eurovision winning song – no matter how ridiculous sometimes- should at least be something you can remember. I defy anybody to be able to sing any part of Swedens’s song. There was no chorus, no riff, no discernible melody!

  4. I remember it was some years ago that I said that it was the best Eurovision in years, which was because I thought this year’s was one of the best in years.

    Finland nearly came through in the end. They were obviously a fan favourite. And the interval show was very powerful and moving. Atomic Kitten’s ‘Whole Again’ into Mel C’s ‘I Turn To You’. Incredible. A show filled with epic music.

  5. Liverpool turned on a show….the crowd were loving every minute. Not often you see a seasoned performer like Graham struggle with the noise of a crowd.

    Glad Voyager made the top 10….did Perth and Australia proud. Just a shame the televote was low as they performed so well. Then again I was also shocked how low the UK was.

    Congrats to everyone and especially Loreen for the win. Feel like I need to go back in the archives and watch the 2012 competition now.

  6. Congrats Loreen!!! Sweden has lots of great music as isn’t that where Ace of Base, Aqua and ABBA are from? Disappointing Australia’s Voyager didn’t win though I think our best shot at Eurovision is Tones And I.

  7. Here we go again….
    Maybe first take a minute and goggle it to find out why Australia is in it….
    Why people are so offended by that fact? IT’s entertainment….

  9. I thought Belgium and France were outstanding and my picks to win. Didn’t think Sweden was a strong song and don’t like that ‘whispering’ singing style she has

  10. I sometimes watch this for a minute or two just to have a good laugh at the contestants and song choices, it’s got to be the most embarrassing singing competition in the world. Why is Australia even in it again?!

    2. Australia were invited for the 60th anniversary 2015 as a “one off” reward for 30 years of broadcast. They asked for a return the year after and the EBU reference group obliged. So again in 2017 and 2018, then got a 5-year guaranteed invitation so they do a national final

      I think these are perennial questions because it all looks ad hoc, with reasons changing every year. Not to ignore Australia is only an associate member of the EBU (technically makes you ineligible) and is no where near the European Broadcast Area (the qualifying border that extends to north Africa and so captures the likes of Israel), it also makes it look odd. If rules were updated, the EBU were transparent, and Australia were at ESC under the same conditions as everyone else, perhaps the questions would go away, or at least reduce!

  12. Loreen deserved the win, not sure Australia should even be involved in Eurovision despite Voyager doing a great job with their performances.

  14. Hi David, where is your intel about Australia wining semi-final 2 from? I can’t see that reported anywhere else or that the EBU have even released the semi-final full results yet?

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