Rovaniemi, Finland
In a stunning upset, a Finnish heavy-metal band won this year’s Eurovision song contest. Usually some cheesy Europop act wins the most call-in votes in the highly popular competition, which is televised live throughout Europe. But this year, the over-the-top theatrics of Lordi, a mock-Satanist group whose members wear monster costumes, won the day with “Hard Rock Hallelujah.” It’s the first win for frequent last-place finisher Finland, and the band’s hometown, Rovaniemi, says it will name a square after them. The upset was so unexpected that Ireland mistakenly posted a press release congratulating its entrant, Brian Kennedy, on his “marvelous win.” Ireland has won Eurovision seven times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
August 10 editorial cartoonsCartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a global plastics problem, GOP enthusiasm over tariffs, and more
-
5 thin-skinned cartoons about shooting the messengerCartoons Artists take on unfavorable weather, a look in the mirror, and more
-
Is Trump's new peacemaking model working in DR Congo?Talking Point Truce brokered by the US president in June is holding, but foundations of a long-term peace have let to be laid
