“....the winner takes it all!” Eurovision 2023 talking points

And just like that, it’s all over!  The anticipation had reached fever-pitch proportions in the build-up to last Saturday’s singing extravaganza as music fans across Europe waited with bated breath to find out who would be crowned Europe’s singing king/queen.

Luckily, Eurovision well and truly delivered with an electric atmosphere in Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, more hilariously cheesy numbers than you can shake a stick at and a gripping, yet tense tussle for the grand prize which saw Sweden fight off a challenge from Finland and Israel to bring home the bacon.

So, whilst this event is still fresh in the memory, we thought what better time than the present to take a look back at everything Eurovision 2023 had to offer.

Table of Contents:

1. Mamma Mia! Sweden’s won again

2. Cha Cha Cha…Cha Cha Cha

3. Croatia turns the silliness up to 11!

4. It’s back to business as usual for the UK

5. Dead last for the Germans!

Mamma Mia! Sweden’s won again

They say that history repeats itself and if Saturday night is anything to go by, there’s a grain of truth in that expression as, just like in 2012, Loreen sampled the sweet taste of Eurovision victory once again.

The weight of expectation was very heavy for the Swede heading into this competition, with both the experts and bookmakers billing her song “Tattoo” as the firm favourite to win. Victory was looking like a done deal when the juries’ votes came in as Sweden was getting 12 points left, right and centre.

That being said, the tension started to mount when the viewer votes came in as the likes of Finland and Israel picked up serious points and knocked Loreen off her perch at the top of the leader board.

However, luckily for Loreen she secured enough votes from the televote to overtake Finland, take home the grand prize and ensure that Eurovision will head to Sweden for the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s famous win back in 1974.

Cha Cha Cha…Cha Cha Cha

Whilst Finland didn’t manage to win Eurovision on this occasion, one thing which they did win was our hearts. Käärijä was among the favourites ahead of this competition and he certainly didn’t disappoint with a stirring, deliciously ludicrous performance that got the audience singing along and encapsulating everything that makes Eurovision great.

Can you honestly say that you haven’t whacked out a mini-rendition of “Cha Cha Cha” over the last few days? We can’t as this song looks set to live rent-free in our head for quite some time!

Croatia turns the silliness up to 11!

Speaking of gloriously “Eurovision” entries, another solid contender for “best of the rest” would be Croatia’s entries as seasoned shock rock veterans Let 3 wowed both the arena and tele-voters alike. 

With a catchy tune, ludicrously over-the-top costumes and stage theatrics that even the likes of Spinal Tap would be envious of, this was one performance that will definitely go down in Eurovision history as a cult classic.

It’s back to business as usual for the UK

2022 saw the UK bounce back in style as Sam Ryder banished memories of 2021’s miserable “null points” result by finishing in 2nd place with a barnstorming rendition of “Space Man”, which meant the UK would host this year’s edition of the contest as winners Ukraine were unable to do so, due to the ongoing military conflict there.

However, anyone hoping for a repeat of Ryder’s success last year was ultimately left disappointed as Mae Muller’s “I Wrote a Song” ended up finishing in 25th with just 24 points, just 5 of which came from the televote.

Dead last for the Germans!

Last but no means least (no pun intended), one act who’ll most certainly be bitterly disappointed with their share of the vote at this year’s Eurovision will be Germany’s Lord of the Lost as they finished bottom of the pile with just 18 points.

To be honest, we’re still scratching our heads as to how the fiendishly “Blood & Glitter” didn’t pick up more points as it had everything you want from a Eurovision banger: glitzy costumes, eccentric stage antics and a catchy chorus. 

Perhaps it was the heavy riffage that proved to be their undoing on this occasion?