‘Representing Sweden in Malmö at Eurovision has even more pressure when you’re not Swedish’

There’s a whole lot of expectation on Marcus & Martinus’ shoulders for Eurovision 2024.

The dance-pop duo, identical twins who were born in February 2002, have taken on the huge responsibility of representing the host country Sweden for this year’s song contest with their track Unforgettable.

Not only is the competition taking place in the Swedish city of Malmö after Loreen was crowned the champion at last year’s event in Liverpool, but it’s also the 50th anniversary of Abba’s glorious victory for Sweden in 1974.

As Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen explained to Metro.co.uk, they have an additional pressure… considering they’re not actually Swedish themselves.

At 22 years old, the Norwegian siblings have already been in the music business for over a decade, releasing three albums and winning the Swedish version of The Masked Singer in 2022.

In 2023, they competed in Melodifestivalen in the hope of being chosen to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, but they finished in second place behind Loreen.

The Norwegian twins are well-known in Sweden for their music (Picture: Janne Danielsson)

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They previously lost out on representing Sweden at Eurovision in 2023 to Loreen (Picture: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

After taking part for a second time the following year, they now finally have their chance of achieving glory at the spectacular international competition.

So how does it feel, we asked them, to be representing not just any country at Eurovision, but the host country, Sweden?

‘Of course it’s pressure, but at the same time it’s a big honour for us to represent Sweden, which has a huge legacy when it comes to Eurovision,’ Marcus answered.

‘It’s going to be so much fun. We’re also opening the whole Eurovision, so we want to open up with a big party and make people dance, have fun. It’s going to be so much fun.’

Marcus explained that in the lead-up to this year’s Eurovision, he and Martinus haven’t been treated differently by others, despite not being from the country that they’re representing… but there is an added pressure.

The twins are set to put on an energetic performance with their song Unforgettable (Picture: Jessica Gow/TT/Shutterstock)

The pop duo hope to make Sweden proud at the contest (Picture: Jonathan Perlmann)

‘It’s still such an amazing experience and people treat us the same, if we’re Norwegian or Swedish. But of course when it’s Sweden, they have a way bigger legacy as well, so it’s a little more pressure representing Sweden and I think it’s a bit more pressure also that we are Norwegian,’ he said.

‘People probably think, “They really have to show what they are.” But you know, Sweden sent us through to Eurovision, so we’re going to try to make them proud.

‘We’re super happy to get to be in Eurovision this year when it’s 50 years since Abba, Sweden won last year, and then Eurovision is going to be in Sweden, so it’s a very Swedish year this year.’

While Marcus and Martinus haven’t had a chance to meet the legendary members of Abba yet, they did have a chance to speak to Loreen, and have forged a strong ‘chemistry’ with the other acts performing at Eurovision 2024, particularly Finland’s Windows95man.

As for the UK’s Olly Alexander, formerly of the band Years and Years, Martinus praised his ‘catchy’ song Dizzy and the singer’s ‘warm’ personality.

It’s been 50 years since Abba won Eurovision with their iconic song Waterloo (Picture: Olle Lindeborg/AFP via Getty Images)

Marcus & Martinus praised UK act Olly Alexander for his ‘warm’ personality (Picture: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)

Thanks to their huge success, Marcus & Martinus have drawn some comparisons to fellow boyband One Direction.

‘It’s a big honour and one of the biggest boy bands ever,’ Marcus said in response to the comparisons.

‘And of course, we’ll try to be Marcus and Martinus, we don’t want to try to be anyone else. But it’s amazing to get all the support that we get and we’re just going to keep on going.’

One of the reasons why people might draw parallels between the two bands might be down to their huge fanbases, with the Norwegian duo revealing they’ve had ‘a lot of crazy moments’ in the past.

‘I remember one time when we were in Finland. It was our first time arriving in Finland. I think it was one o’clock at night. And then it was like 100, 200 girls waiting on the airport,’ Martinus said.

Marcus & Martinus might be compared to One Direction, but they ‘don’t want to try to be anyone else’ (Picture: Jonathan Perlmann)

He recalled how he and his brother tried to run past the crowd that had gathered, before they managed to get into their car, under the impression that they were ‘safe’.

However, the fans ‘opened the luggage room and jumped inside’, the singer recollected.

‘It was like a zombie apocalypse. But it was a fun zombie apocalypse.’

Marcus added: ‘We love all our fans. They just want to show love to us. So we want to show love back to them.’

After Eurovision, the twins have plenty of exciting plans in store, including new music on an upcoming album, performances at festivals over the summer and then a European tour.

But first and foremost, it’s time for them to fly the flag for Sweden in Malmö!

Marcus & Martinus’ new single Unforgettable is out now. Tickets for their We Are Not The Same Tour at O2 Academy Islington on 5 March 2025 are on sale.

The first Eurovision semi-final will air tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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