This year’s Eurovision Song Contest reached more than 200 million viewers, a new record. SVT’s updated voting procedure one of the key factors behind the success, experts say.
As the super show made its comeback to Sweden, five million viewers were added to last year’s figure. No less thanks to Måns Zelmerlöw and Petra Mede.
We’re excited to reach younger demographics
“We’re thrilled that the Eurovision continues to grow. We’re excited to reach younger demographics,” says the executive producer Martin Österdahl adding that the team has worked hard on making the format look modern.
The final on May 14th attracted on average 36.3 percent of the viewers across 40 countries. It’s more than double the viewership an ordinary Saturday night (15.7 percent) for the channels.
Justin Timberlake performing
Eurovision was also popular in the younger demographics, on average 42.2 percent of the 15-24 year olds watched the broadcasted final in the 40 countries. That’s four times the average viewership in the key demographic (10.4 percent).
To secure success in Eurovision is one thing, to maintain interest afterwards another. A surefire favorite of mine, ‘Sound of Silence’ seems to have peaked around the world. Streaming is decreasing everywhere, but Australia where Dami Im reaches a new peak!
Dami Im’s ‘Sound of Silence’ climbs 61-52 in native Australia, besting the previous No.60 position. Written and produced by DNA Songs, I definitely hope that we will hear more from Dami Im soon. So, how did she fare across different Spotify territories?
25 years have passed since the premiere of Pretty Woman, which took the then unknown Julia Roberts to level of an international super star. The soundtrack included Roxette’s ‘It Must Have Been Love,’ which rose to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in June 1990.
While many people listened and have grown to love the track, these facts might be new.
1 Pretty Woman was named 3 000 Dollars
Roxette couldn’t have asked for a better timing. Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson had suddenly reached international stardom when ‘The Look’ climed to the top of the US chart during the spring of 1989. Disney/Touchstone Pictures approached the duo and asked them to write a song for the movie 3 000 Dollars, a romantic comedy about a rich business man falling in love with a charming and carefree hooker.
2 ‘It Must Have Been Love’ Was an Old Christmas Hit
As ‘Listen to Your Heart’ rose to No.1 and the whole world was screaming for Roxette in the summer of 1989, there was simply no time for the duo to pen another song. Instead, they offered the studio the three year old yuletide song ‘It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted).’ The song was released in Sweden in December 1987, finally peaking at No.4 in January 1998. While ‘Listen to Your Heart’ was a hit during the fall of 1989, director Garry Marshall realized that Roexette had delivered the key theme to the movie – if only he could get rid of the Christmas references in the lyrics.
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted)
3 The Song and the Movie Changed
Roxette was tempted to be included in a big Hollywood production, re-writing the lyrics and recorded a new version of the track. An updated version was sent to L.A. as the movie changed its name to Pretty Woman. On the 13th June, 1990, Roxette topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a third time. That’s within a year! In addition, both ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Dressed for Success’ peaked at No.2.
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love (Theme from Pretty Woman)
4 ‘It Must Have Been Love’ Passed the 5m Mark in 2014
Last year, Per Gessle received the “Million Air Award,” since ‘It Must Have Been Love’ passed more than 5m radio airplays in the US. This had previously been performed by ‘Listen to Your Heart.’
5 Parlophone/Warner Re-issues a Digital Version of ‘It Must Have Been Love’ Today
A digital version of ‘It Must Have Been Love’ is re-iussed today (23rd March) and a newly pressed 7 inch single (limited edition) will be released on 6th May. During the US tour in 1992, Roxette re-recorded ‘It Must Have Been Love’ in Los Angeeles. It was then mixed with a live recording and included on the ‘Tourism’ album in 1992. This is the first time it will be available in an edited version as a bonus track on the album. And as Roxette continues touring across the world, we sure know that love – is by far not over.
Måns Zelmerlöw’s ‘Heroes’ won the Swedish leg of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. 3.7 million Swedes watched the final, when Måns beat out all competition. He’s sure of one thing, “I will win Eurovision,” according to an interview with Swedish news daily Expressen.
In addition to a great song, the show was also really spectacular. As you can see in the clip, there’s a cartoon guy appearing on stage. According to arena rules, the light projection show might not be allowed at the Austrian arena.
Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes
He might, however, have to leave [the cartoon guy] at home. “I believe and hope that we can bring it,” he says to the TV breakfast show Gomorron Sverige. Despite the voting chaos, Måns was the superior winner. And he is confident that ‘Heroes’ may go all the way in Vienna.
Bullied As a Child
The cartoon guy portrays the singer as a bullied child at home. It’s obvious that the show means a lot to Måns Zelmerlöw as he has been very opened about the meaning of ‘Heroes,’ and the rough child upbringing.
The cartoon guy is called Måns Petter. “It was me, in school when I was bullied buy this guy in my group of friends. From being part of something, I was being left outside. I was ashamed of being alone. And that still lives within me. That’s why I have a need to be seen and scared of being alone. David (Nordström) and Benke (Fredrik Rydman), who are the creative duo behind the show, has done a fantastic job in producing the show and draw the story,” says Måns Zelmerlöw.
This is not the first challenge Måns has faced. He has been accused of borrowing a bit too much of David Guetta’s ‘Lovers on the Sun,’ and even the light show has been accused of plagiarisim.
It has obviously not stopped the song’s popularity. It’s among the favorites at the European betting odds. The songs is currently climbing the Swedish official singles chart.
