Last Saturday, Sweden hosted one of the biggest and most anticipated national finals in the Eurovision season—the grand final of the 65th Melodifestivalen! The show lasted in total of 6 weeks, each week featuring a Heat where two songs qualified to the grand final. The final took place at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, with 12 acts competing for the much-desired Basel ticket.
Let’s dive into the biggest highlights of the night!
Kaj were crowned winners!
For the second year in a row, a non-Swedish act won the Melodifestivalen! Following in the footsteps of Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus, this year’s winners are Kaj, a Finnish band that brought their unique blend of music and humor to the competition. Their song, “Bara bada bastu”, an electropop anthem dedicated to Finnish sauna culture, won the public vote by a landslide and secured Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 entry.
The trio finished second with the international jury, but the overwhelming support from Swedish televoters pushed them to the top, making them the first entirely Swedish-language Eurovision entry for Sweden since Jill Johnson’s “Kärleken är” in 1998.
Who are Kaj?
Kaj hails from Vörå, Finland, and is a music and comedy group known for their clever, satirical lyrics, performed in the Vörå dialect of Swedish. The group’s name is derived from the first initials of its members: Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård.
With their playful and quirky approach, Kaj embraces humor and storytelling in their music, and they’ve cited Käärijä and Windows95man as inspirations for their Melodifestivalen entry. Their winning song, “Bara bada bastu” (which translates to “Let’s go to the sauna”), celebrates Finland’s deep-rooted sauna culture with a fun, energetic, and undeniably catchy beat that captured the hearts of Swedish viewers.
Måns Zelmerlöw Falls Just Short!
If there’s one person who knows how to dominate Melodifestivalen, it’s Måns Zelmerlöw. The Eurovision 2015 champion returned to the competition with his anthemic “Revolution”, and he was the favorite to win according to the bookmakers.
While he won the international jury vote, he ultimately finished second overall, just 7 points behind Kaj. A heartbreaking near-miss, but Måns still proved why he’s a Eurovision legend!
Special Guests: Nemo & Petra Mede!
A grand event like Melodifestivalen deserves an epic opening, and who better to kick things off than the reigning Eurovision champion, Nemo? The Swiss artist wowed the crowd with a stunning piano rendition of their winning song “The Code”, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.
And of course, no Swedish Eurovision event is complete without the iconic Petra Mede! The beloved host and comedian delivered an unforgettable interval act, reminding everyone why she’s one of the best in the business.
Final Results: Who Got the Votes?
After an intense night of performances and voting, here’s how the final ranking shaped up:
- Kaj – “Bara bada bastu” – 164 points 🏆
- Måns Zelmerlöw – “Revolution” – 157 points
- Greczula – “Believe Me” – 106 points
- Klara Hammarström – “On and On and On” – 77 points
- Dolly Style – “YIHAA” – 75 points
- John Lundvik – “Voice of the Silent” – 74 points
- SCARLET – “Sweet n’ Psycho” – 64 points
- Annika Wickihalder – “Life Again” – 54 points
- Erik Segerstedt – “Show Me What Love Is” – 51 points
- Meira Omar – “Hush Hush” – 50 points
- Maja Ivarsson – “Kamikaze Life” – 32 points
- Saga Ludvigsson – “Hate You So Much” – 27 points
What’s Next?
With Kaj now officially representing Sweden at Eurovision 2025, all eyes are on Basel! Will their quirky electropop anthem bring Sweden its eighth Eurovision victory? Or will they pull off a Käärijä-style fan-favorite moment?
What do you think of Kaj’s win? Did your favorite act get the result you hoped for? Let us know in the comments! 🚀🔥
