Eurovision 2016: Stockholm traffic lights are singing Eurovision songs at pedestrians

Eurovision is no longer just about the songs. Traffic lights are enjoying a taste of the limelight for the second year running, with Stockholm’s currently playing past Sweden winners for the enjoyment, and probable surprise of pedestrians.

The host city joined up with sound artists Max Bjorverud and Hakan Lidbo to revamp “boring and dull places” with a “musical and interactive” twist, Pink News reports.

The ticker boxes that help visually-impaired people cross the road safely now also blast out “Euphoria” by 2012 victor Loreen when the light is red and the faster “Heroes” by last year’s winner Mans Zelmerlow to signal green.

Stockholm’s traffic light pimping is a bid to out-do 2015 host city Vienna. The Austrian capital installed gay-friendly lights that featured gay and lesbian couples holding hands beneath a heart symbol.

The lights were so popular that they have remained permanent in some areas of the city, despite the far-right Freedom Party criticising them as a “misuse” of public money to push the LGBT agenda.

The first semi-final airs at 8pm on BBC Four tonight, hosted by Scott Mills and Mel Giedroyc. The UK will be represented by duo Joe and Jake, who have an automatic pass to the grand final on Saturday 14 May.