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<\/p>\nTwo Eurovision Song Contest legends and a metal queen combine two worlds of music honouring classic Eurovision winner songs \u201cHold Me Now\u201d and \u201cHard Rock Hallelujah\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Irish singer and three-time Eurovision winner, Johnny Logan, the Finnish hard rock artist Lordi, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, and the Finnish award-winning singer \u201cMotherbeast\u201d Noora Louhimo are surprising their fans around the world by making history with this amazing collaboration.<\/p>\n
Logan is releasing his own pop-rock version of Lordi\u2019s metal rock anthem \u201cHard Rock Hallelujah\u201d. Meanwhile, Lordi joins forces with singer Noora Louhimo and will release their metal version of Johnny Logan\u2019s legendary classic power ballad \u201cHold Me Now\u201d.<\/p>\n
The idea emerged during a spontaneous phone call. \u201cThe meeting was scheduled for 15 minutes and then lasted over an hour. We immediately hit it off,\u201d says Logan. The original idea of a duet for the 20th anniversary of Lordi\u2019s ESC victory was quickly discarded in favour of a song swap. \u201cWhen I heard Lordi\u2019s demo of their winning song tailored to me, I knew right away that I wanted to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted to do something special to celebrate Lordi\u2019s 20th anniversary of Eurovision victory as well as the 70th anniversary of the whole Eurovision itself. So the outcome are the two Eurovision winning songs as new arrangements, and jumping bravely into other genres while doing so. I rearranged, and also recomposed, \u2018Hard Rock Hallelujah\u2019 in the style of what I thought would fit Johnny Logan,\u201d says Lordi.<\/p>\n
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Lordi invited Noora Louhimo to join \u201cHold Me Now\u201d: \u201cI knew we needed some extra kick to the song. Well, that extra kick is \u2018The Motherbeast\u2019 with her mindblowing voice that lifts this version to a completely new height.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so excited about our collaboration and this new friendship we have created with Lordi in the past few months. In this project I get to fulfill many of my dreams \u2013 working with Lordi, working with the legend Johnny Logan, singing a Eurovision winner song, and singing in heavy metal style. I love ESC, I love our version and I\u2019m so happy this will be my first release continuing my career as a full-time solo artist,\u201d says Noora Louhimo.<\/p>\n
This year, due to the ESC boycott supported by Ireland, Johnny Logan cannot appear at the Eurovision Song Contest. \u201cI would have loved to present the project live as well, but under the current circumstances that\u2019s not possible,\u201d Logan explains. Lordi, on the other hand, will be on stage at this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy for Lordi that they are taking part in this special year concerning their anniversary,\u201d Logan says, delighted for the Finnish hard rockers.<\/p>\n
Logan, who made music history with \u201cWhat\u2019s Another Year\u201d (1980), \u201cHold Me Now\u201d (1987), and \u201cWhy Me\u201d (1992), recorded his vocals in Copenhagen. \u201c\u2018Hard Rock Hallelujah\u2019 had incredible energy from the very first moment,\u201d says the singer. He was also impressed by the reinterpretation of his own classic: \u201cLordi and Noora Louhimo have completely made \u2018Hold Me Now\u2019 their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Noora Louhimo is a Finnish award-winning singer best known for her big raspy powerful voice and striking stage outfits as the former lead vocalist of the metal band Battle Beast, and for the character \u201cMotherbeast\u201d she created during her 13 years with the band. She departed the band in December 2025 to pursue her career as a solo artist. Since then her career has taken off with arena shows, touring around Finland, and performing on primetime TV shows.<\/p>\n
Louhimo is a powerful, unapologetic artist making her music in different styles, using fashion as her armour and her voice to empower and entertain people. She is currently working on her second solo album, set for release in 2027, with a tour to follow celebrating both the album and her 20th anniversary as an artist.<\/p>\n
Lordi, whose ESC victory in 2006 brought Finland its first win in the competition and took \u201cHard Rock Hallelujah\u201d into charts across Europe, took over the creative direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driving force behind the project is clearly Lordi \u2013 his idea, his production, his vision,\u201d Logan emphasises. The collaboration developed into a personal connection. \u201cWe share the same dark humour and the same passion for music. This project was simply a unique pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lordi adds: \u201cI know I am speaking on behalf of our whole band when I say that we\u2019re both humbled and proud of having both of these iconic voices of their respective genres collaborate with us. Having Logan and Louhimo joining Lordi on this little anniversary celebration is truly an honour for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Check out Lordi & Noora Louhimo\u2019s \u201cHold Me Now\u201d here<\/a>. Johnny Logan\u2019s version of \u201cHard Rock Hallelujah\u201d is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n BraveWords Records releases PRIOR CONVICTIONS the new album by Alcatrazz.<\/p>\n Our friends at Roppongi Rock\u2026 \u201cPrior Convictions\u201d bridges Alcatrazz\u2019s past and future. Of the eleven tracks on the album, two are brand new songs. \u201cTransylvanian Requiem\u201d is an instrumental piece showing off Joe Stump\u2019s guitar wizardry, while \u201cStand and Wait Your Turn\u201d is an excellent rocker of a song.<\/p>\n These two new songs raise my expectations for the next studio album of new material.<\/p>\n