18-year-old Maria Sur was noticeably touched when it became clear that her power ballad "Never give up" garnered the most votes during the evening.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she and her mother fled to Sweden, and in connection with the win, Maria sent a greeting to her father, who remains in the country:
- I love you dad, she says.
According to Maria Sur, "Never give up" is about persevering and continuing forward, regardless of setbacks.
- Never giving up has been my motto almost all my life, she says.
Nail biter
After an even final battle, it was clear that Panetoz's dance-friendly "On my way" will accompany Maria Sur to the final.
In third and fourth place came Theoz with "Mer av dig" and Tennessee tears with the country song "Now I know".
Both entries get another chance in the upcoming semi-finals.
- Eurovision has had everything between heaven and earth - but not Panetoz, says Nebeyu Baheru from Panetoz.
Next week, the mello train moves on to Lidköping and stage number three.
The final will be decided in Friends Arena in Stockholm on March 11.
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"He really wanted his children to be in a safe place" - Maria Sur and her mother fled Ukraine nine months ago, her father remains in the country.
Photo: Daniel Wyser/SVT