Eurovision 2019: ‘Sent the wrong song’ Norway’s KEiiNO takes swipe at UK ahead of final

EUROVISION 2019 Grand Final will air tonight with 26 countries, including the UK, competing to be this year’s winner. Ahead of the final in Tel Avi, Norway’s KEiiNO have revealed why they think the UK’s Michael Rice could come last.

By CHARLOTTE MCINTYRE PUBLISHED: 14:57, Sat, May 18, 2019 | UPDATED: 17:29, Sat, May 18, 2019

Eurovision Song Contest fans are getting ready for the Grand Final this evening which is taking place in Tel Aviv, Israel after Netta Barzilai won the competition last year with the song TOY. 

Three-piece band KEiiNO, comprised of singers Alexandra Rotan, Tom Hugo, and rapper Fred Buljo, are representing Norway tonight with their song Spirit In The Sky. 

In an interview with Express.co.uk, Tom revealed why he thinks the UK may miss out on the top spot once again. 

“If people think of Brexit when they listen to UK’s entry, you’ve definitely sent the wrong song to the Eurovision Song Contest,” he explained. 

ut Tom did praise Michael, adding: “But I think Michael Rice is a super talented singer and an awesome guy, so he might do well on Saturday.” 

Tom went on to open up about what it’s like to take part in the Song Contest and who he thinks will win. 

Speaking after performing in the second semi-final, which included many of the bookies favourites, he remarked: “When there’s so many great performers competing, I think it does something with your own performance. 

“We were like ‘Ok we need to up our game to qualify,’ and I think we did and to qualify out of that group of artists was really good.” 

When asked who he thought were the artists to watch, he revealed: “I personally love the Italian entry, Mahmood. 

“To be honest I don’t like staging that much, I love listening to the song more but Luca Hanni’s She Got Me looks amazing on stage that I think it will do very well. 

Eurovision

Eurovision 2019: KEiiNO believe UK may miss out on winning again (Image: BBC)

Eurovision

Eurovision 2019: KEiiNO performed in the second semi-final (Image: BBC)

Speaking after performing in the second semi-final, which included many of the bookies favourites, he remarked: “When there’s so many great performers competing, I think it does something with your own performance. 

“We were like ‘Ok we need to up our game to qualify,’ and I think we did and to qualify out of that group of artists was really good.” 

When asked who he thought were the artists to watch, he revealed: “I personally love the Italian entry, Mahmood. 

“Of course Duncan Lawrence is amazing and Michael Rice has got an amazing voice, there’s a lot of people that are going to do really well. 

KEiiNO earned their spot during the second semi-final with their Sami inspired song which features a unique style of rapping. 

Opening up about the meaning behind the song, Tom revealed: “Joik is the oldest living vocal tradition in Europe and is very important in Sami culture. 

“My husband and I wanted to write a sound about being different and about who you are and it was important for us to work together with a Sami song writer and artist.”