LOREEN’s doing all she can to be the first woman to win Eurovision twice.
The mask-wearing Swede, who triumphed in 2012 performing Euphoria, is the bookies’ No1 with heartfelt anthem Tattoo.
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She is going to extreme lengths — with an intense schedule to help clinch it at the final in Liverpool on Saturday.
Loreen said In an exclusive chat with Bizarre: “The more my heart is strong, the easier it is for me to sing.
“I have this mask to strengthen my heart and it makes me look like Darth Vader.
“I have 20 kilos of heavy gear and then the mask on, which regulates the air.
“It’s almost like you’re choking because you get very little air.
“But the heart is working really hard. I am drinking protein drinks all the time and I’m eating so much food it’s crazy.
“I am training like an athlete. You have to be physically fit and you don’t want the song to be affected whatsoever.
“It is so important for me that this is good for you. I’m not taking that lightly.”
She threw herself into months of preparation after being chosen as Sweden’s entry, but she initially refused to enter Eurovision again when she was asked.
Loreen explained: “I recorded the song and it was a vibe.
“Then they popped the question and I was like, ‘No, no, guys, come on. That’s not my path’.
“But whenever I said no, I could feel this energy in me.
“When I said, ‘OK maybe I will’, then you could feel this authentic energy, like, ‘This is so exciting’.
“You learn that you have to be open because I am having the time of my life right now.”
Despite the months of preparation, she reckons it is her mindset on stage that will help her win.
She admitted: “I’m never anxious. The moment I put my feet on the stage something happens.
“It’s a switch, and all of a sudden I’m just present. It’s like a trance.”
But after all of the work, she will not be having a big blow-out once it is over.
Loreen added: “I am the most boring person when it comes to after-parties.
“Last time I said, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you, thank you for everything, now I’m going to sleep’.
“I’m going to spend a couple of hours experiencing Liverpool but then I want to feel the countryside.
“If you see a woman sitting in the fields somewhere there, you’ll know it’s me.”
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SOME FINN VERY WEIRD
FINLAND will provide one of the kookiest performances of the night with Kaarija.
He is second-favourite to win with Cha Cha Cha and is hard to forget, given he performs with a bare torso and giant green sleeves.
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Asked if his gear has upped his body confidence, he said: “I think so. I have more power and energy.”
The last time Finland won was in 2006 with heavy metal act Lordi’s song Hard Rock Hallelujah, and Kaarija said: “I’ve never met Lordi but I saw them on TV and they said they saw me performing my song.
“They said, ‘You have to do what you want to do. And if you have a plan, do it’.”
MAE THE FORCE BE WITH MULLER
THE UK’s entry Mae Muller has pressure on her shoulders following Sam Ryder’s second place last year.
But she is struggling to win over the bookmakers ahead of Saturday’s grand final, which the UK automatically qualifies for.
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Despite at first being a strong contender, Ladbrokes has given her odds of 50/1 to win with her track I Wrote A Song.
It has also given Mae odds of 10/1 to finish last, but I really don’t see that happening.
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She may not be able to keep the contest in the UK for another year but with great staging and a catchy tune, I am confident that we will avoid the dreaded nul points.
ISRAEL is being represented by their biggest pop star Noa Kirel – but she will be black and blue by the time she takes to the stage at tonight’s semi-final.
She has an energetic and dramatic dance break in her performance, which has left her exhausted.
In an exclusive chat, Noa said: “My knees are purple right now, it’s crazy.
“I’m putting ice and everything on them but I’m still working out every day and then doing rehearsals so it’s very intense but I like it.
“I’m so passionate about it. With adrenaline, you cannot feel the pain.
“You feel it after but during the performance you have to go for it.
“When I’m on stage I always feel so confident. It’s very hard to explain but you feel sexy, powerful and confident.
“It’s the most amazing feeling ever.”
Noa, who said two years of military service in Israel have helped give her the determination to fight for the Eurovision crown, has been compared to Dua Lipa.
But reflecting on that, she said: “I think it’s hard to compare because obviously I love her, she’s amazing, but it’s really important to bring my uniqueness and my culture to the world.
“It’s all about what makes me special and unique.”
FRANKIE RETURN
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD have reunited for the first time in 36 years, sparking hopes of a 2024 tour to mark the 40th anniversary of their debut album.
The group, fronted by Holly Johnson, got back together to play at the National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome concert outside Liverpool’s St George’s Hall on Sunday night.
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I first told last month they were in talks to reunite for the celebrations in their home city.
But they confused crowds at the show by snubbing their No1 hits Relax, Two Tribes and The Power Of Love by instead playing only one song, the title track to their debut album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome.
Speaking to the 25,000-strong crowd, Holly, right, said: “Bless you. Lovely to see you all.”
Other acts on the line-up for the concert, which you can watch back on iPlayer, included Atomic Kitten, The Lightning Seeds and Zara Larsson.
LA ZARRA CHECKS OUT
FRENCH hopeful La Zarra looked striking in this check dress at the red carpet launch on Sunday.
But she will look even more spectacular on stage as she performs her track Evidemment from the top a five-metre pillar.
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There is just one problem though . . .
La Zarra told the Official Eurovision Podcast: “I am very afraid of heights.
“The older you get, the more afraid of stuff you get from simple things.
“It’s not that high but I get really dizzy when I’m up there singing.
“But I’ll do it for the show.”
Bizbit
FRANCE, along with a handful of other countries, has already qualified for the final because they are among the biggest financial contributors for the show.
But other countries will battle it out in the semi-finals on BBC1 at 8pm tonight and on Thursday.
As well as 15 of the hopefuls this evening, Rita Ora will be the interval act, performing her new single Praising You.
TOO MUCH TO BARE
ANYTHING could happen with Croatia’s act Let 3, as of all the Eurovision entries they are probably the craziest.
The group, made up of five middle-aged blokes, including the one below, will arrive on stage in dresses and then strip down to their pants in front of fake missiles.
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But getting their clothes off on stage isn’t new for them.
The rock band, who have been together since 1987, were charged by police in 2006 for performing an open-air concert naked and were each fined the equivalent of around £40.
I will be keeping my fingers crossed that they don’t attempt a stunt like that this weekend, for everyone’s sake.
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