Eurovision 2022 Grand Final: Ukraine claims its third victory, followed by the UK’s Sam Ryder and Spanish diva Chanel
After several months in which fans from all around the world were constantly guessing who would win the 66thEurovision Song Contest, it is official now: the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra holds the trophy of this year’s edition of the festival.
On May 14th, the long-awaited Eurovision Song Contest 2022 grand final took place in Turin, Italy, after Måneskin’s unprecedented success in Rotterdam last year. During the so-called ‘Eurovision Week’, Italy proved to be a good host despite the technical difficulties the organisation was facing a couple of weeks before the beginning of the festival. Not only was it held in an earthly architectonical paradise but also, the venue and the stage itself were favourably adapted to the technological and media parameters this internationally-acclaimed festival required. Furthermore, the three hosts demonstrated their professionality and also added bits of Italian humour and sarcasm to their contributions, which made the show more engaging and certainly amusing.
The long-awaited voting moment was characterised by ceaseless tension and uncertainty, since it consisted in a fierce battle among Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, which could have been considered the winner of this year’s edition if the votes from the jury would have been the only points to be taken into consideration. However, when the points from the audience (or televoting) were announced, Ukraine became the undeniable winner of the 66thEurovision Song Contest, as it received more than four hundred points from the televoting. The top five of the 2022 edition of the festival was formed by some of the songs fans considered to be their favourites to win. Although countries like Greece or Norway achieved a great position (eighth and tenth respectively), fans believed they would get a higher score, considering the hype around both songs. Another surprise was Czech Republic finishing in the bottom five, concretely in the 21st position, as fans were crazy with this entry since it was released. In general terms, this year’s Eurovision can be classified as one of the most competitive and challenging editions of the history of this competition.
Kalush Orchestra, the Ukrainian Band who won this year’s festival, came up with a song called Stefania, which is perceived as a Ukrainian War anthem. Mixing folk sounds and rap flows, Stefania is about the hardships of being a mother and the lack of social support when raising a child. The abrupt speed changes and the multiple symbols used, such as the lullaby, provide a realistic depiction of the story behind the lyrics of the song. Women are depicted as both sensitive and strong beings, who have the power to strengthen society and make it evolve. Ukraine’s victory is now understood as a message of sympathy and support from Europe, which transcends the threshold of politics and economic power and makes use of music as a channel to preach unity, freedom and most importantly, peace.
It is still surprising for British fans that the UK came second in the Eurovision Song Contest after many years trying to get a proper result in the competition. However, with Sam Ryder’s Spaceman, it can be said that the United Kingdom has found the formula that guarantees its entries success, engagement and recognition. In his song, the Essex singer talks about finding the light in darkness after difficult times. Demonstrating his vocal range on multiple occasions, Sam achieved a second position for its country, not only by means of a strong and unique pop song but also through a performance packed with lights, which spread hope and positivism and showed Ryder’s stage presence.
Spanish diva Chanel closed the top 3 with her song SloMo. Despite the harsh criticism she went through, the Spanish-Cuban artist, who spend her entire life devoted to the world of arts, proved to be one of the most talented, hardworking and praised acts of the history of the festival. SloMo preaches female empowerment and liberty, inviting every woman to dance and to feel proud and comfortable with their bodies. Chanel also deifies female diverse beauty, highlighting its uniqueness and attributing it a special power of seduction. In addition, she supports her message by means of a breath-taking performance, which combined modern dance moves, high-quality vocals and Spanish-inspired outfits and motifs, such as the use of the fan at the end of the performance.
Although the previous three were the most remarkable performances of the night, there were other acts which ought to be highlighted, such as the Serbian entry. Konstrakta’s In Corpore Sano is a social criticism to Serbian public healthcare system. In this Balkan country, artists are deprived of the right to access public healthcare and have to be careful not to suffer from any disease, otherwise their monthly income could be notoriously reduced. Despite the ruthless reality the song describes, fans showed tremendous admiration for its message, catchy rhythm and also its eccentric performance. Another outstanding entry was brought by the Norwegian band Subwoolfer. Their song Give That Wolf a Banana provided the festival with the necessary humour so as to make both audience and contestants disconnect from the incertitude and tension the festival may generate. Moreover, it kept the audience guessing who was hiding behind the wolf masks.
Many fans also missed the presence of some entries in the grand final. One of the favourites, Cyprus’ Andromache and her ethnic pop song Ela, could not make it through the finals despite the huge support she received from the audience. The Irish representative, Brooke, found herself in the same situation. Although she did not guarantee her country a place in the Eurovision final, she confesses she is happy with her performance and that it was not probably the right time, showing herself positive, full of hope and willing to improve.
Nonetheless, the country where the contest will be held next year is still unknown. Normally, the winner is in charge to organise the festival but considering that this year’s winner is Ukraine, which is still under military threats, it is not likely that the competition will be held in the country. Although the Ukrainian president showed his willingness to organise the festival in Mariupol, the widely spread tension around the country does not provide any glimmer of hope at the moment. For this reason, the Spanish and the Greek delegations already mentioned that they would be willing to celebrate the festival in their countries in case Ukraine wins. However, many fans also speculate that the UK may be next year’s host. It still remains unknown but it will be announced soon enough so as for the whole continent to start looking for their next year’s star.
