For the first time in UK chart history, four songs from the Eurovision song contest have entered the Top 10 at once.
Representing Sweden, this year’s winner Loreen has reached the No 2 spot with her entry Tattoo, a bombastic pop-meets-EDM ballad which explores themes of love and acceptance. It’s the second time the singer has won Eurovision and the second time she’s entered the UK chart: her last winning entry, Euphoria, peaked at Number 3 in 2012.
Of her achievement, Loreen said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed by all the love and support that I’m receiving right now, especially from my UK friends that’ve been with me since day one. The UK’s become my second home, and to receive a new peak there with Tattoo means the world to me. Thank you for being a part of the journey. Together, we’ve created history.”
Joining Loreen is Finland’s Käärijä at No 6. The neon-bolero-clad vocalist became a fan favourite at the Liverpool-hosted final on Saturday night with his exhilarating performance of Cha Cha Cha, a romp through sleazy industrial sounds and high-camp Eurodance which landed him second place. The achievement also marks the first time a fully Finnish-language song has made the UK charts in its 71-year history.
Despite coming second to last in the final, the UK’s entry Mae Muller has clocked in at No 9 this week with I Wrote a Song, her Dua Lipa-esque mashup of sugary pop and Ibizan tech house. “It’s been a weird couple of days, but this has just been such an amazing end to my Eurovision journey,” she said. “I’m so, so grateful.”
Norway representative Alessandra follows at No 10 with her epic avant-pop anthem Queen of Kings, which reached fifth place on Saturday.
The songs’ popularity follows the BBC announcement that last weekend’s final in Liverpool had more UK viewers than any final since the competition was established in 1956, with an average viewing figure of 9.9m.
The last time multiple Eurovision entries graced the UK Top 10 simultaneously was back in 1982, when Germany’s Nicole topped the chart with A Little Peace and the UK entry Bardo reached No 2 with their song One Step Further.
Despite the success of this year’s Eurovision cohort, Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding held them off to remain at No 1 for a sixth week, out of a total of 10 weeks spent in the Top 3.