Finnish Comedy Band KAJ Triumphs in Sweden’s Eurovision Selection Contest
Finnish comedy band KAJ emerged victorious in Sweden’s Eurovision selection contest, Melodifestivalen, on Saturday night with their catchy tune ”Bara bada bastu,” which translates to ”Let’s just sauna.” The band, hailing from Vörå, Ostrobothnia, comprises Jakob Norrgård, Axel Åhman, and Kevin Holmström.
Reflecting on their unexpected win, Norrgård expressed disbelief, describing the moment as surreal. ”This isn’t real,” he shared with Yle, recounting the out-of-body experience he felt in the midst of their triumph. The band, riding high on their success, planned to extend their celebrations at the Melodifestivalen afterparty, promising to bring the same electrifying energy to the Eurovision stage.
Defying the odds, KAJ clinched the top spot, surpassing the favored Swedish singer Måns Zelmerlöw, who had previously claimed victory in Eurovision 2015 with his hit ”Heroes.” This year, Zelmerlöw presented ”Revolution” and landed in second place behind KAJ. While the international jury awarded Zelmerlöw 76 points and KAJ 74, the public vote tipped the scales in favor of KAJ, with 90 points to Zelmerlöw’s 81. The final score, a balanced combination of jury and public votes, sealed KAJ’s triumph.
Following their semifinal performance, KAJ experienced a surge in popularity, swiftly ascending to the top of Sweden’s Spotify charts and singles list. Their momentum propelled them to the coveted spot of representing Sweden at the upcoming Eurovision final in Basel, Switzerland, slated for May 17th.
Notably, KAJ’s victory marks Sweden’s first Swedish-language Eurovision entry in over two decades, since 1998. In the 21st century, Finland made a similar linguistic statement in 2012 with Pernilla’s ”När jag blundar.” Erika Vikman will proudly represent Finland this year with her song ”Ich komme.”
The significance of KAJ’s win reverberated beyond music circles, garnering recognition from Finnish government officials. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) took to social media to extend her congratulations to the band, emphasizing the unifying power of music and sauna culture in fostering Nordic solidarity during these critical times. Joining in the chorus of praise were Finance Minister Riikka Purra (Finns), Agriculture and Forestry Minister Sari Essayah (CD), Science and Culture Minister Sari Multala (NCP), and Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (SPP), all commending the Ostrobothnian band for their remarkable achievement.
As the anticipation builds for KAJ’s performance on the Eurovision stage, fans eagerly await to see how the Finnish comedy band will captivate audiences with their unique blend of humor and musical prowess. Stay tuned for more updates as KAJ prepares to take the sauna to Switzerland, promising a performance that is sure to make waves in the Eurovision arena.
