Eurovision Top 30: Number 7

Artist:	Loreen
Song title:	Euphoria
Year:	2012
Country:	Sweden
Place:	1st

On the night this entry won the Eurovision Song Contest I was not impressed. It was the first time I had heard the song, which is unusual for me as I usually listen to every entry before the contest. On the night the performance of this track didn't amaze me. There were other entries that I thought should have won. This entry has grown on me though and in time I have come to like it. It's made number 7 on this list because it is one of my favourite entries. I have included a video with the song rather than the performance because as I said I was not impressed. The year this entry won, was the year Azerbaijan hosted the contest mired in controversy and enveloped in protests for many reasons, most notably accusations of ethnic cleansing, human rights violations, homophobia and oppression of LGBT individuals and the choice of venue. Add to that the Eurocentric opposition due to Azerbaijan being outside Europe. Loreen as a participant took part in a number of these protests and was quite politically active which raised awareness not just of what she protested but of herself and her act. I believe that played a part in her success as it goes beyond the audience of traditional promotion and extended into the general public domain.

It is probably a good time to also mention LGBT rights are an issue that are raised many times in regards to Eurovision due to the contest's large LGBT following. There have been a number of acts over the years by LGBT performers and many more with political messages that show support, such as Finland in 2013 with their Gay kiss and to the song "Marry Me" which was done in support of equal marriage which went on to be passed in Finland in 2014 - a song I might add finished 24th that year just 2 above Ireland's entry from Ryan Dolan.