Sweden wins Eurovision Song Contest in Baku
AFP
BAKU- Favourite Loreen of Sweden on Saturday won a crushing victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, her country's fifth victory in the annual music extravaganza.
Loreen's club anthem "Euphoria" easily outscored entries from her nearest rivals from Russia, Serbia and hosts Azerbaijan to be declared winner of the contest in Baku, the local host broadcaster announced.
Her victory also earns Sweden the right to host the competition next year.
Second were Buranovskiye Babushki or Russia, a choir of elderly women from a remote village who warmed the hearts of audiences with their disco song in traditional dress and won 259 points.
Serbia, represented by the hugely popular Eurovision veteran Zeljko Joksimovic came third with 214 points.
Sweden are veterans of Eurovision and this is the fifth victory from a Swedish entry in the history of the contest. Their participation in the song contest goes back to 1958.
Sweden first won the contest in Brighton in England in 1974 with the instantly memorable hit "Waterloo" by the iconic group ABBA, for many the band and the song that defined the competition for ever.
However its last victory goes back to "Take Me to Your Heaven" by Charlotte Nilsson in 1999 in Jerusalem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------