Springtime is Eurovision time. Fans, music enthusiasts, and, of course, gays from all over Europe, even all over the world are coming together, celebrating a peaceful party with dramatic moments, until the last time “and the 12 points go to…” has been said. Fans are loving it, we are loving it. And after Måns Zelmerlöw won the ESC 2015 in Vienna, it was again time for Sweden after Malmö 2013 to host the biggest multicultural music festival in Europe. Karl was in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, on the scent of the 10 Gay Surprises Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016 visitors to Stockholm should not miss and fans should absolutely know about it!
“Come Together”: Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Doesn’t matter to whom I was talking to: Stockholm cannot wait to welcome people from all over the world to celebrate together this special annual event. The inhabitants are incredibly proud to be the best hosts ever. Thousands of volunteers, flags, and banners all around the city and music wherever I went. Truly, music was in the warm spring air while I was wandering around whistling Eurovision Songs. Have a look at my Top 10 Gay Surprises Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016 I discovered in Stockholm and have a lot of fun celebrating during this magical event.
#1 Blow a scented Blowball
Go closer, closer, a bit more… yes… and take a deep breath! Do you smell the subtle scent streaming out of the 8,5 meters high countdown clock shaped like a dandelion? Combined with real Eurovision Song Contest Music playing around the sphere of a flower by the Swedish Company Spotify and the right lighting, the symbol for this year’s Eurovision motto “Come together” made me impatiently looking forward to the grand finale on May 14th, 2016. Music unites us all over the world, so come together again and afterward fly wherever you have to go, my little blow ball seeds!
#2 red Traffic light: Don’t Stop Dancing
Dance the waiting time away at a Stockholm Traffic Light! During Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, you will hear much more than the normal, boring “click” for (not only) blind pedestrians. While waiting for the green sign, Loreen’s “Euphoria” will keep you moving and dancing around each other. When you are finally allowed to go, Måns Zelmerlöw’s “Heroes” will guide your way to the other side, dancing, of course! Watch Karl’s small video clip:
#3 MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY + flirty Waiters
First was the song, then the Musical, then came the Movie and now the party begins. While enjoying a Mediterranean buffet, the singers and dancers, daredevil stunts, Greek Gods, and flirty waiters are performing in between the spectators and creating a special atmosphere of an ABBA minded Greek taverna. No more words needed for this newest Entertainment attraction at Gröna Lund, the world famous theme park of Stockholm. From July 27th till August 21st there will be an English Version! More Information about the English Version of MAMMA MIA! The Party >
#4 Ride the Biggest Pole of Stockholm
And get the best view over the Eurovision Village, right in the heart of Stockholm. The 81 meters high tower gives 60 people at a time a spectacular panorama view and some main information about the city. Get off the Metro at Kungsträdgården and enjoy the view as it is one of Stockholm’s highest points. The City Skyliner is open until May 29th, 2016 and accessible to wheelchair users as well. Tickets available for 100 SEK. As one of the first, Karl could go up and enjoy this cool ride.
#5 Sing Along with a choir of Strangers
Keep your eyes and ears open! During Eurovision Song Contest and afterward throughout the whole year, 5 special singing urban pedestrian tunnels will make you never leave a pedestrian tunnel again! Why? The tunnels will recognize the tone you sing while crossing them. They will return the sound with a similar tone but a different voice. If you keep on singing a few notes, an additional voice will join, singing back notes that have been sung before. Tadaa, you are singing in an interactive choir! And the tunnels keep on learning, the more people will sing inside them. You can find the singing tunnels in Stockholm at: Gullmarsplan Norra, Bredäng Centrum, Londonviadukten, Kirunaplan – Vällingby C, Brunkebergstunneln:
#6 Drag it up at Drag-tastic Thursday
It was spontaneous, burlesque, “boylesque” and full of Drag Queen glamor. Thanks to the tip of Justin Morin, one of the performers that night, I had dinner at MELT Bar & Restaurang (yes, with a “g”) and it was amazing. I felt like entering a different world back in the 1920s. Admira Thunderpussy, a girlfriend of our well-known Dutch Drag Queen Lady Galore, invites the guests every other week to join the Drag-Tastic Thursdays with a fabulous and entertaining mix of drag and pizzaz downstairs on a tiny but very cozy stage. The glorious debut show of Seymore Bottoms alias Justin Morin made my night unforgettable, seriously.
#7 Wanna be on top?
The Finale of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14th, 2016 will take place in, with an inner height of 85 meters (279 feet), the biggest hemispherical building in the world called Ericsson Global Arena. If you don’t have a ticket to join the ESC 2016 Show, you can still ride on top of the Ericsson Globe for a spectacular view over the Global City Arenas and the City of Stockholm! You get there by taking the Green Line to Globen T-bana. More Information about the Skyview at Global Arenas >
#8 Take a ride on Måns Zelmerlöw
He is sexy, he can sing, and he is the winner of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna: Måns Zelmerlöw. Featuring Stockholm’s subway T-Bana, he will announce the names of the stations. You wanna know in which line Måns Zelmerlöw will guide you to the next step? It is the Green Line with a special Eurovision Train to Globe Arena, where the Finale of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 will take place. Enjoy the ride with Måns Zelmerlöw!
#9 Dance, sing and dress like ABBA
Getting dressed like ABBA, singing on stage with ABBA, or becoming the 5th ABBA member – It sounds too good to be true, right? Let me tell you a secret: it is possible, at ABBA – the museum at Pop House. It feels like time traveling for me. Time travel back to the year 1974 when ABBA won for the first time ever for Sweden the Eurovision Song Contest with their number one hit “Waterloo”. At ABBA – the museum Agneta, Frida, Björn, and Benny still feel alive with human-sized ABBA dolls, the famous Helicopter from the Studio Album Arrival, and several interactive ABBA gadgets, saved on your personal ticket to download after the visit. Additional to that, discover the Swedish Hall of Fame. And get all information about Swedish world-famous Musicians.
#10 Watch ESC 2016 Live in the U.S. TV
Finally: friends, readers, people from the US: good news for the fans and friends outside of Europe! Saturday, May 14th, 2016 is definitely the RED LETTER DAY! You will be able to see at 1500 EST the Finale of the Eurovision Song Contest live on Logo (US’ lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) cable network) and it will be streamed exclusively in the U.S. on LogoTV.com and the LogoTV mobile app. Next to the U.S. the ESC 2016 will be live on TV in Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, China, Kosovo, Portugal and all the 42 participating countries. Gay Surprises Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016: Come together and enjoy the music!
Gay Surprises Eurovision Song Contest Stockholm 2016
And of course, the so-called capital of Scandinavia, Stockholm, has even more to offer. Music is part of the Genom of the Swedish people. And they are really proud of that. Max Martin, Robyn, Lykke Li, Ace of Base, The Knife & Fever Ray, Roxette, Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, The Cardigans, ABBA, Miike Snow, Mando Diao – just to name a few while thinking about well-known Swedish Music bands. Anything to add to this list? Please let us know! We are looking forward to hearing about your discoveries!
A big thank you to Visit Sweden, the Clarion Hotel, and SAS Scandinavian Airlines for making this wonderful trip possible!
Karl & Daan.