Katrina Leskanich, winner of the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest and participant in this year's Swedish Melodifestivalen, opened the live show of Star Academy on Flemish commercial broadcaster VTM last Sunday. In an interview with our colleagues from showbizzsite.be, Katrina commented her participation in this year's Swedish national final and made a clear statement about her future at the contest: 'Never again!'
As Katrina & The Nameless, Katrina Leskanich participated in this year's Melodifestivalen. With the song As if tomorrow will never come she reached the second chance round but missed the final. “I was disappointed,” says Katrina, “because I like to win and I'm used to that. Maybe our song was too much of rock & roll.”
“I love Sweden,” Katrina continues “and I really wanted to accept the offer to participate as one of the wild cards. I think they have made the right choice in the end.” Her entry As if tomorrow will never come was released as a single in Sweden, but internationally Katrina Leskanich is now focusing on her solo album Turn the tide.
Katrina will be following Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest final on television. “Before I participated in 1997 I had never seen the contest. But since, I have been cancelling all activities on the Eurovision Song Contest night, I close the curtains, open a bottle of champagne and watch the show. You can love it or hate it, but it remains a fantastic programme. I'm not joking! Sometimes it is hard to get why you are watching it, but it's compulsive viewing.”
Katrina has made up her mind about her future at the contest and its national selections. “Never again! My Eurovision days are over! It's always nice to say goodbye at a climax. I'm a singer and that's what I want to do till I die.” Katrina added that she will be touring in Flanders this Summer, together with Kool & the Gang and Tony Hadley.
