Loreen (singer)
| Loreen | |
|---|---|
 Loreen winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui |
| Born | 16 October 1983 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Dance, trance |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Warner Music Sweden |
| Website | loreen.se |
Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui[needs IPA] (born 16 October 1983), better known by her stage name Loreen (pronounced [lɔ'reːn]), is a Swedish pop singer and music producer.[1][2] Loreen represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with her entry "Euphoria" and won the contest with 372 points. In Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in the Swedish city Malmö, Loreen sang both in the semi final and the grand final.
Interested in becoming a musician, she took part in the Idol 2004 television competition, coming fourth overall. The following year she released her first single, "The Snake", with the band Rob'n'Raz and became a television presenter on TV400. Working as a segment producer and director for several Swedish reality TV shows, in 2011 she released the single "My Heart Is Refusing Me" to commercial success in Sweden.
Contents |
Early life [edit]
Loreen was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 to Moroccan immigrant parents. Early in her life Loreen moved to Västerås, where she grew up, calling Västerås her hometown.[3][4] She spent most of her teenage years in Gryta, a residential area in Västerås.
Music career [edit]
2004–10: Idol and hiatus [edit]
Loreen became known to Swedish audiences after taking part in the Swedish Idol 2004 competing as Lorén Talhaoui. During the qualification round, she placed third by the public vote, being therefore eliminated, but she received a wildcard from the judges, allowing her to compete in the program.[5] She finished 4th overall, being eliminated during the eighth week.[6]
| Episode | Theme | Song | Original artist | Performance order | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Free choice | "Love Is On the Way" | Billy Porter | N/A | Judges' Wildcard |
| Week 1 | My idol | "If I Ain't Got You" | Alicia Keys | 7 | Safe |
| Week 2 | Chart toppers | "Just Like a Pill" | Pink | 10 | Bottom three |
| Week 3 | Soul | "I Wish" | Stevie Wonder | 3 | Safe |
| Week 4 | Swedish hits | "Vill ha dig" | Freestyle | 4 | Safe |
| Week 5 | Max Martin | "Stronger" | Britney Spears | 5 | Safe |
| Week 6 | Cocktail | "Where Do I Begin?" | Andy Williams / Shirley Bassey | 6 | Safe |
| Week 7 | Soundtracks | "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" | Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes | 2 | Bottom two |
| Week 8 | Song from year born – 1983 | "Thriller" | Michael Jackson | 2 | Eliminated |
| "Every Breath You Take" | The Police | 2 |
After Idol, in 2005, she released a promotional single, "The Snake", with the group Rob'n'Raz. In 2005 she also presented the TV show Lyssna, broadcast by the Swedish station TV400.[7] After a year, she took a hiatus from the limelight, during which she worked as a segment producer and director for reality TV shows such as TV3's Värsta pojkvänsakademin, TV4's Matakuten and SVT's Frufritt.[8]
2011–12: Melodifestivalen, Eurovision Song Contest and Heal [edit]
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Loreen returned to the public eye when she took part in Melodifestivalen 2011 with the song "My Heart Is Refusing Me", which she co-wrote with Moh Denebi and Björn Djupström.[9] After placing fourth in the second semifinal in Gothenburg on 12 February 2012, she competed in the Second Chance round,[10] but failed to qualify to the final after a sing-off with Sara Varga.[11][12] The song was released on 11 March 2011 and became a hit on the Swedish Singles Chart, debuting and peaking at number 9.[13] Following Loreen's success a year later, the song re-entered the chart, peaking at number 22 in May 2012.[13]
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In the first semifinal of Melodifestivalen 2012 on 4 February, Loreen advanced directly to the final round with her entry "Euphoria", written by Thomas G:son and Peter Boström. She won the national final on 10 March with a combined total of 268 points and represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The song won the competition with a total of 372 points from 40 voting countries out of 42 (Italy was the exception, and Sweden could not vote for itself). According to online betting companies she was the favourite to win the contest.[14][15]
On 3 June 2012, Loreen's Eurovision winning entry "Euphoria" charted at No. 3 on the UK Official Singles Chart, the highest chart position for a non-UK Eurovision entry since Johnny Logan's "Hold Me Now" in 1987. The single sold 62,148 copies in its first week in the United Kingdom.[16] She is also noted for having an ongoing chart presence in the United Kingdom, remaining in the top twenty for weeks after the competition, rare for a Eurovision song.
On 21 June 2012, Loreen made an appearance at the MTV World Stage in Gothenburg, Sweden. The title of her debut album, Heal, was confirmed in late August 2012.[17] Released on 24 October 2012, Heal debuted atop the Sverigetopplistan Albums Top 60,[18] and it was certified platinum in Sweden during its second week, denoting domestic shipments exceeding 40,000 units.[19] A remix version of "My Heart Is Refusing Me" was released on 8 October 2012 as the second European single from the album. On the same day, "Crying Out Your Name" was released as the fourth single in her native Sweden.
To promote the album, Loreen appeared as a musical guest in several European TV shows, including Polish talent show Must Be the Music on 21 October 2012,[20][21][22] the second season of the Romanian version of X Factor on 18 November 2012[23] and the final of the third series of Dutch talent show The Voice of Holland.[24]
2013–present: Second studio album [edit]
Loreen's also expected to premiere the first single of her second album in the opening of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest. The song is called "We Got the Power", and was produced by Patrik Berger and was written by Ester Dean, who have previously worked with Icona Pop, Rihanna and Robyn.
Political activism [edit]
During the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Loreen was the only entrant to meet local human rights activists. She later told reporters that "human rights are violated in Azerbaijan every day. One should not be silent about such things."[25] An Azerbaijan government spokesman criticized her in response, saying that the contest should not "be politicised"[25] and requested the EBU to prevent such meetings.[26] Swedish diplomats replied that the EBU, Swedish TV and Loreen had not acted against the competition's rules.[27]
In July 2012, Loreen performed at Slavianski Bazaar in Belarus, where Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko was in attendance. During her visit to the country, she met with the wife of political prisoner Ales Bialiatski, Viasna representatives and independent journalists, and in a two-hour meeting expressed her words of support to political prisoners and signed the petition to ban the death penalty in the country.[28] Loreen later stated she was fully aware of the risks that "speaking out" came with, including the possibility she could have been stopped or arrested at the airport when trying to return home.[29]
Discography [edit]
- Heal (2012)
Awards and nominations [edit]
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Gaygalan | The best Swedish song of the year[30] | "My Heart Is Refusing Me" | Won |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Swedish Act[31] | Herself | Won | |
| Best European Act[31] | Nominated | |||
| World Music Awards | Best Female Artist[32] | Pending | ||
| Best Entertainer of the Year[33] | Pending | |||
| Best Song[34] | "Euphoria" | Pending | ||
| Premios 40 Principales | Mejor Canción Internacional en Lengua No Española[35] | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Grammis | Song of the Year[36] | Nominated | |
| Artist of the Year[36] | Herself | Nominated | ||
| Internationally Most Successful Swedish Artist of the Year[36] | Nominated | |||
| Gaygalan | The best Swedish song of the year[37] | "Euphoria" | Won | |
| Artist of the Year[38] | Herself | Nominated | ||
| Radio Regenbogen Award | Listeners Award[39] | "Euphoria" | Won |
References [edit]
- ^ "Loreen's Biography". Loreen.se. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ "Sweden tipped for Eurovision success". BBC News. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Auer, Josefin. KP: Loreen KP11 2011. kpwebben.nu. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ Westerbergh, Nora Nergiz (10 March 2012). "Musikläraren tror på seger". Vestmanlands Läns Tidning. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- ^ Linus Fremin (28 October 2012). "Det tar x antal nitar och till slut är botten nådd" (in Swedish). Resume.se. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ Quetzala Blanco (21 June 2012). "Loreen – från Idolförlorare till superstjärna" (in Swedish). Msn. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ Lina Modin (18 December 2004). "Idol-Lorén får eget tv-program". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Loreen gjorde 'Värsta pojkvänsakademin'", Resumé, 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Nora Nergiz Ackblad (19 October 2010). "Västeråsartist klar för Melodifestivalen". Vestmanlands Läns Tidning (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Sanna Nielsen och Brolle till Globen" (in Swedish). 12 February 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012. Text " work Göteborgs-Posten " ignored (help)
- ^ Håkan Engström (23 March 2011). "Saade och Playtones klara för Globen". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Sara Varga och The Moniker till final". Expressen (in Swedish). 5 March 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Swedish Charts - Loreen - My Heart Is Refusing Me (song)". SwedishCharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ Eurovision Betting Odds. Oddschecker.com.
- ^ Leicestershire singer Engelbert Humperdinck, Eurovision song contest 2012. This is Leicestershire (26 March 2012).
- ^ "Official Charts Analysis: Gary Barlow LP sells 40k". Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ Fraktklass A (2012-04-18). "Loreen (Signerad) - Loreen - Musik - CDON.COM". Cdon.se. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- ^ "Veckolista Album - Vecka 44, 2 november 2012" (in Swedish). Hitlistan.se. Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Veckolista Album - Vecka 45, 9 november 2012" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "Oto jest – Loreen wystąpiła w Polsacie!" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ ""Must be the music": Loreen gościem specjalnym niedzielnego półfinału" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "W Polsce nie brakuje zdolnych artystów: Loreen - wywiad" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-10-22.
- ^ "Loreen a adus Euphoria pe scena X Factor!" (in Romanian). Antena 1. 18 November 2012.
- ^ "Loreen treedt op tijdens finale The Voice" (in Dutch). Showbiznewz.nl. 7 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ a b Margarita Antidze (25 May 2012). "Swedish Eurovision star strays into Azeri rights row". Reuters. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Azerbaidzhan syyttää Ruotsin viisuedustajaa politikoinnista" (in Finnish). Yle. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ^ "Loreen mitt i diplomatiskt drama". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 24 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ^ Civil Rights Defenders (13 July 2012). "Loreen meets human rights defenders in Belarus". Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Loreen: "Tänkte att det fick bära eller brista"". Expressen (in Swedish). 15 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ^ "Bildspecial från Gaygalan" (in Swedish). www.qx.se. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Loreen är bäst" (in Swedish). MTV Sweden. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "World Music Awards - World's Best Female Artist". WMA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "World Music Awards - World's Best Entertainer of the Year". WMA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "World Music Awards - World's Best Song". WMA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "Nominados Premios 40 Principales 2012" (in Spanish). Los 40 Principales. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ a b c "Grammis - Nominerade" (in Swedish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Sweden. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "QX gaygalan – här är vinnarna" (in Swedish). www.qx.se. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ "Nominera dina favoriter till QX Gaygala 2013" (in Swedish). www.qx.se. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ^ "Loreen wins the german Listeners Award for Euphoria" (in German). Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
External links [edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Loreen |
- Official website
- Loreen at Allmusic
- Loreen at Discogs
- Loreen at the Internet Movie Database
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Swedish House Mafia |
Winner of MTV EMA for Best Swedish Act 2012 |
Succeeded by [to be determined] |
Preceded by Ell & Nikkiwith "Running Scared" |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 |
Succeeded by Emmelie de Forestwith "Only Teardrops" |
| Preceded by Eric Saade with "Popular" |
Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 |
Succeeded by Robin Stjernberg with "You" |
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- Articles needing IPA cleanup
- 1983 births
- Living people
- Swedish people of Moroccan descent
- Swedish pop singers
- Melodifestivalen contestants
- Melodifestivalen winners
- Idol (Sweden) participants
- Idol (Sweden) 2004
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2012
- Record producers
- Swedish Eurovision Song Contest entrants
- Singers from Stockholm
- People from Västerås
- Pseudonymous musicians
- Eurovision Song Contest winners
- Warner Music Group artists
- English-language singers of Sweden
