Sweden under fire: Swedish representatives, the band KAJ, are at the center of a musical storm shaking Europe. Will the song leading the betting odds be disqualified just before Eurovision 2025?
A dramatic storm is shaking the Eurovision world just before the start of rehearsal week: the song leading the betting odds for the upcoming contest in Basel, the Swedish band – KAJ – is at the heart of a musical controversy that could change the face of the competition. Serious allegations have been raised against the Swedish group, accusing them of musical plagiarism, and this controversy could end Sweden’s journey before the competition even begins. All the dramatic details are in the rest of the article!
Allegations of Plagiarism: Surprising Similarity Between Sweden and India
The accusations raised in recent days focus on the opening melody of the Swedish song, which, according to listeners and musicians across Europe, is suspiciously similar to the chorus of the song “Enough is Enough” by Indian musician Devinder Sunny, released last year. Many on social media emphasize that the similarity is not merely “inspiration”, but amounts to outright copying.
The segment at the center of the controversy – an accordion melody with an Eastern character – is, according to examinations, almost identical to the melody that begins at 00:54 in the Indian song: the same scale, the same rhythm, and the same musical essence. Comparisons between the two pieces are spreading widely on social networks and generating significant public debate.
Sweden Admits: “The Similarity Is Very Great”
Even within Sweden, surprising voices are acknowledging the resemblance. A professor of music interviewed by local media stated that “the similarity is very great”, noting that these are similarities that are hard to ignore. However, he tried to calm the situation and explained:
“It is not necessarily intentional copying; it may simply be another case of using recurring motifs that exist in global popular music”.
The simple and honest response from the members of KAJ reflects the humor and humility that characterize the band. In previous interviews, the members of KAJ emphasized that they did not expect such great success, and that representing Sweden at Eurovision 2025 is a dream they never dared to dream. The story was widely shared on social media, and warm responses from fans across Europe soon followed.
Outrage in Finland: “It Is Unacceptable for the Song to Compete”
The harshest reactions come from neighboring Finland – a country where the Swedish song has actually gained great popularity, at the expense of Finnish representative Erika Vikman. In Finnish Eurovision fan forums, strong voices are calling for Sweden to be removed from the competition.
“It is unacceptable for a song that starts with a stolen melody to continue competing as if nothing happened”.
Wrote one user angrily. According to reports, several fans have even contacted the Finnish national broadcaster and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) directly, demanding an official and swift investigation.
The Songwriter’s Response: “It’s a Completely Legal Loop”
In light of the serious allegations, the song’s writer Kristofer Strandberg published a response attempting to calm the situation. Strandberg explained that the musical segment in question likely originates from a legal loop library.
“The similarity probably results from using a musical loop from a legal sample library”.
Said Strandberg. According to him,
“The accordion segment in question appears in a free loop pack from the Splice platform – one of the largest sound libraries in the world – and it is available for free use by any creator. It is very likely that the Indian composer used exactly the same loop”.
What’s Next? Concerns for Sweden’s Future in the Competition
Now, the eyes of the Eurovision world are on the European Broadcasting Union and the supervisory bodies, hoping for clarifications. Although no official information has been published regarding the opening of an investigation or practical steps against Sweden, public pressure, especially from Finland, is mounting. The big question – whether the explanation that it is a legal loop will be enough to keep Sweden in the competition – remains completely open at this stage.
Listen to both songs and decide for yourselves:
Sweden at Eurovision 2025:
“Bara bada bastu” (in English: “Just take a sauna”) is the title of the song that will be performed by band KAJ, who will represent Sweden in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025, taking place on May 13th in Basel, Switzerland. The song was written by the band members – Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård – along with Anderz Wrethov, Kristoffer Strandberg, and Robert Skowronski.
Wrethov is no stranger to the Eurovision world, having written numerous Eurovision songs, including “We Will Rave” by Kaleen, who represented Austria in Eurovision 2024, “Fuego” by Eleni Foureira, who represented Cyprus in Eurovision 2018 and finished in second place, and “Voices” by Tusse, Sweden’s representative in Eurovision 2021. The song is performed in Finnish and Swedish.
Nowadays, Sweden leads the betting odds with 36% chance to win Eurovision 2025.
KAJ – Who Are You?
KAJ is a Swedish-Finnish music and comedy group from Vörå, Ostrobothnia, Finland, consisting of Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård. The group’s name is derived from the initials of its members’ first names. They are known for their humorous performances and songs primarily in Swedish, particularly in the Vörå dialect.
The group has released several albums, including “Professionella Pjasalappar” (2012), “Lokalproducerat Pjas” (2014), “Kom ti byin” (2016), “Gambämark” (2018), “Botnia Paradise” (2021), and “Karar i arbeit” (2024).
Eurovision 2025: This will be Sweden’s 63rd participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Sweden joined the competition in 1958 and has won it seven times over the years. Sweden’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2023 with the song “Tattoo,” performed by the singer Loreen.
