From Eurovision to TikTok, Duncan Laurence Stays Winning

There's no losing games in this arcade. Duncan Laurence, the reigning champion of the Eurovision Song Contest (since last year's live competition was canceled), has had a hell of a few years following his win on the biggest singing competition in the world. 

Laurence rose to fame through a competition that many Americans have never even heard of. "Let me explain a little bit about Eurovision," Laurence tells PRIDE. The competition is viewed by over 200 million people. "Twice a Superbowl," he puts it in context. 

His song "Arcade" won him the competition in 2019, but the track is only recently making waves in the states with a viral resurgence on TikTok. And now it's the most-streamed song in Eurovision history.

Laurence's adventure began humbly. "I was just a songwriter writing songs mainly for others," he recalls when he was initially asked to participate and represent the Netherlands. Eurovision is known for "a lot of pyros and a lot of show and a lot of dancing. And I don't know if I would fit there and if 'Arcade' is the song obviously to send out."

But the Netherlands committee had chosen, unknowing of what the song would become. Laurence had no clue either, but "I really believed in the story of it, in the song itself. And I was just like, 'You know what? I'm gonna do this. I want to do this. This might be my chance to become the performer and the artist that I want to become.'"

During the competition, the then 24-year-old came out as bisexual during a press conference. When speaking about what participating in the competition meant to him, Laurence shared that "this chance means to me that I can show myself as an artist, but also as a human being." 

"I am more than just an artist, I am a person, I am a living being, I’m bisexual, I’m a musician, I stand for things. And I’m proud that I get the chance to show what I am, who I am."

The Eurovision crowd, which is notoriously queer already, was beyond accepting. "Feeling their warmth, feeling their openness, and just being able to be who I am, showing them my song 'Arcade,' just focusing on the music, and them accepting that and even loving that in this whole showy pyro, dancers, whatever kind of show was so heartwarming."

He knows how lucky he is to have the support of his friends, family, and now fiancé, naming Jordan Garfield as his biggest support. "They were so struck by the fact that it was just so normal for me to say 'my boyfriend' you know? That's how I want to live my life. That's how I always lived my life. I think, especially in gay culture and in the LGBT+ community, we need to start doing that. We need to start holding each other's hands. We need to start walking down the street with arms around each other, kissing each other. Of course, it's scary. Of course in some countries, please don't, but in the countries where we can do that, please do. Don't be scared. Just do it. We need to do it as much as possible to show that it's normal."

"Because in the end, it's just love."

As of last October, Laurence and Garfield are engaged. "He asked me. It was so special. It's still a bit crazy to talk about actually that I'm actually gonna get married! It's so exciting."

The world is still in flux pandemic-wise, so their wedding is a bit far off in the distance, and with his fiancé is American, the visa situation and travel restrictions make it all even harder to plan. But in the meantime, Laurence is getting ready for Eurovision 2021 this May in Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Yes, the competition is still on, and it's safe to say fans can expect something new with his performance.

"I can't tell what I'm gonna perform yet, because Eurovision is all about secrets and reveals."