Loreen from Sweden (ESC Liverpool 2023) Photo: Charli Ljung

Biography of Loreen

Loreen, whose birth name is Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, is a Swedish singer and songwriter born on October 16th, 1983. She achieved international fame by representing Sweden and winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 with her hit song "Euphoria", which topped the charts in various European countries and beyond. In 2023, Loreen will represent Sweden once again in Eurovision with her song "Tattoo".

Loreen was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to Moroccan Berber immigrant parents, and was raised in a liberal Muslim household. She considers Västerås, where she spent most of her teenage years in the residential area of Gryta, her hometown.

Loreen's passion for music led her to participate in the Idol 2004 television competition, where she finished in fourth place. The following year, she collaborated with the band Rob'n'Raz on her first single, "The Snake", and also began working as a television presenter on TV400. While pursuing her career in music and television, Loreen participated in the Melodifestivalen 2011 with her song "My Heart Is Refusing Me", which became a top 10 hit in Sweden. She continued to release successful singles, including "Crying Out Your Name" (2012) and "Statements" (2017), which also charted in Sweden.

During the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Loreen stood out as the only contestant who met with local human rights activists. In response, Loreen criticized the violation of human rights in Azerbaijan and emphasized the importance of speaking out against such issues. While the Azerbaijan government criticized Loreen for politicizing the competition and requested that the EBU prevent such meetings, Swedish diplomats clarified that the EBU, SVT, and Loreen had not violated any competition rules.

In July 2012, Loreen performed at Slavianski Bazaar in Belarus where she met with the wife of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, Viasna representatives, and independent journalists. During a two-hour meeting, she expressed her support for political prisoners and signed a petition to ban the death penalty in the country. Despite the risks of speaking out, including the possibility of being stopped or arrested at the airport when returning home, Loreen remained committed to advocating for human rights.

Loreen continued her humanitarian efforts as an ambassador of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan in August 2013. She visited Kabul, Afghanistan, and the village Yaskin Bala in Warsaj Valley with Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. In October 2014, Loreen won the World's Children's Prize's Crystal Globe for the second time and met with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and Queen Silvia of Sweden.

Loreen participated in a live fundraising gala called "Sverige samlas och hjälper" in March 2022. The event was organized to provide support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion that occurred earlier that year. During the gala, Loreen performed to help raise funds for the cause.

The Song

Song: Tattoo
Writer(s): Jimmy Jansson,  Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Loreen, Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker, Peter Boström & Thomas G:son
Composer(s): Jimmy Jansson,  Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Loreen, Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker, Peter Boström & Thomas G:son
Broadcaster: SVT

In 2023, Loreen's winning Melodifestivalen entry "Tattoo" reached the top of the Swedish charts, solidifying her position as one of Sweden's most successful musicians.

Excitingly, the news that Loreen would be competing in the Melodifestivalen immediately sparked high expectations, given her past victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, her latest song proves to be a true gem, with an infectious and catchy sound. What's more, her performance on stage is simply stunning, with an illuminated floor hanging from above that adds to the already captivating spectacle. The song itself was crafted by a team of renowned composers, including Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Loreen, Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker, Peter Boström and Thomas G:son - who also composed Loreen's 2012 winning entry "Euphoria". While "Tattoo" may not quite match the power of "Euphoria", it still has a strong chance to win, especially considering the semi strong competition this year. If Loreen manages to take home the trophy, it would mark Sweden's 7th Eurovision victory and tie them with Ireland for the most wins.

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