A later than usual overview of the Nordic countries’ entries in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with the first semifinal scheduled to take place on Tuesday 12th May and the second on the 14th, followed by the Grand Final on the 16th.
As I’m short on time tonight I’ll give my view on the four entries over two nights (Iceland is not taking part this year for political reasons), starting with Denmark and Finland.
The Nordics haven’t done too badly over the last few years with high placings achieved by Sweden (for which Loreen won it for the second time in 2023), Finland and Norway. I thought the Finnish entry last year, Erika Vikman’s ‘Ich komme’, which placed 11th, was the most dynamic performance I’ve ever witnessed on this show and I’ve been very vocal about it. It deserved at least to be Top 3.
So what will transpire this year?
Denmark – Søren Torpegaard Lund with Før Vi Går Hjem
The Danish entry is Søren Torpegaard Lund with the song ‘Før Vi Går Hjem’ (‘Before we go home’).
He’s a trained musical theatre performer with credits including West Side Story and Kinky Boots.
AI and Wiki between them tell me Søren is openly gay and uses his personal experiences as a queer person and growing up in a small community to influence his artistic work. As of April 2026, he had been in a relationship with his boyfriend for nearly nine years and has been engaged for three years.
Following his Danish Melodi Grand Prix win in 2026, Lund has spoken out against homophobic comments he received on social media.
He has mentioned 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst as a major influence on his own comfort with his identity.
A couple of comments. Firstly, surely the whole sexuality thing is passé by now. Even if for many queer fans Eurovision isn’t just a contest, it’s a lifeline, a space where ‘difference’ is not just tolerated but celebrated, no-one else cares one way or the other, or the other, or…any longer.
There are five openly LGBTIQA+ artists this year, including even Boy George who has tagged along to support the San Marino entry. You couldn’t make that up.
The shock value, the whole ‘hey, look at me I’m so different’ thing is more likely to count against you nowadays as I see it, at least where ‘straight’ society is concerned.
Secondly, I hoped Sørenwasn’t going to try to emulate Conchita Wurst, who was a one-off.
To be fair he stops short of that and the song, a reasonably melodic power ballad, is quite good.
But it looks like he’s trying to sell it more on the visuals. It’s very touchy-feely and there are too many folk now that found themselves uncomfortable with some similar performances over the past couple of years. I recall one by the UK’s Olly Alexander in 2024 that featured a gritty gay club theme set in a dystopian, shower-filled bathroom that looked more like a public toilet.
That set a very low bar and unfortunately Søren doesn’t rise sufficiently above it here visually although the song itself should get into the top half of the finishing table of the 35 entries.
NMC placing: #15.
Finland – Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin
If you believe the Bookies (never trust them) Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen’s ‘Liekinheitin’ (‘Flamethrower’) is odds-on favourite to win, by a country mile, and has been for months.
And the social media chatterati are all over it.
Rarely is anything the favourite for that long and actually goes on to win, in any sphere. It’s almost as if running out of steam in sight of the finishing tape is a scientific principle. Or something comes along at the last minute to tip the balance in favour of someone else. The Latvian singer’s car gets stolen along with her pet anaconda just before the semi final. Or someone invades Albania.
But in any case I don’t think ‘Liekinheitin’ will triumph. Not because it isn’t a good song. It is very well put together.
The two artists are chalk and cheese. She is a world renowned classical violinist who has been performing with orchestras since she was eight years old. She is also the subject of an award-winning documentary series and her autobiography, My Untamed Life.
He rose to fame via the working class route through Finland’s TV series Idols, where he placed third in 2008. (Isn’t it strange how the runners-up often seem to fare better than the winner in those shows)?
He has released a number of solo albums, gone on headline tours and, in 2014, won Dancing with the Stars Finland with his professional dance partner Katri Mäkinen. Oh, and apparently he’s ‘bi’ if that’s of any interest to you.
The song blends rock vocals with virtuosic violin playing.
It should work but for me, sadly it doesn’t quite do that. Partly because after last year and the Austrian winner’s openly braggadocio performance which to me said no more than “listen to my range, marvel at how technically adept I am”, I suspect instrumental virtuosity won’t be so high on most people’s wish list this year.
There are times in the performance, especially the last few bars, when Linda seems to be trying to saw her violin in half.
At the same time Pete is far too shouty for me. Especially when you learn that – in their own words – the story behind this song is actually quite deep and sad. “It’s about when you get involved with someone and let them fall in love with you, but when they get too close, you turn ice cold,” according to Linda.
That’s the stuff of a ballad with a melancholic outro, not something like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Oh and sorry, but it’s pretty tuneless.
And of course the other thing to bear in mind is that if you promote yourself as virtuosos any slip up on the night will stand out like a sore thumb. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
I’m not convinced wearing a split skirt that shows your knickers is the right thing to do either. Even Madge wouldn’t do that nowadays. Let’s have some decorum, please.
I can never quite figure Finland out where Eurovision is concerned. Some of their entries over the last few years, in fact all the way back to Lordi, have been terrible; self indulgent, melodramatic and self deprecatory all at once.
Then you get Vikman, who was like a breath of fresh air. And now this, a technically impressive piece of symphonic rock but playing at the wrong venue in the wrong competition.
NMC placing – Top 3, but not the winner.
Tomorrow! (Tuesday) – Norway and Sweden. Stay tuned,
