The Swedish Eurovision national selection – Melodifestivalen – is widely regarded as one of the best. Sure, it has its critics, but in Sweden, the show storms TV ratings and many songs hit the charts. It’s reflected in one of the strongest records in recent years at the annual song contest.
This morning, SVT announced the 28 acts taking part in the four semi finals next year.
First semi-final: Gothenburg
- Anna Bergendahl – Ashes to ashes
- Nano – Chasing rivers
- Mohombi – Hello
- Zeana feat. Anis Don Demina – Mina bränder
- Arja Saijonmaa – Mina fyra årstider
- High15 – No drama
- Wiktoria – Not with me
Second semi-final: Malmö
- Andreas Johnson – Army of us
- Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO – Hold you
- Malou Prytz – I do me
- Oscar Enestad – I love it
- Jan Malmsjö – Leva Livet
- Vlad Reiser – Nakna i regnet
- Margaret – Tempo
Third semi-final: Leksand
- Dolly Style – Habibi
- Martin Stenmarck – Låt skiten brinna
- Jon Henrik Fjällgren – Norrsken
- Omar – Om igen
- The Lovers of Valdaro – Somebody wants
- Lina Hedlund – Victorious
- Rebecka Karlsson – Who am I?
Fourth semi-final: Lidköping
- Arvingarna – I do
- Anton Hagman – Känner dig
- Ann-Louise Hanson – Kärleken finns kvar
- Bishara – On my own
- Pagan Fury – Stormbringer
- John Lundvik – Too late for love
- Lisa Ajax – Torn
The songs themselves remain a closely guarded secret. SVT embargo the entries, allowing fans to hear brief extracts a few days before each heat. This hasn’t stopped bookmakers from taking bets on who might win.
How it works
The Melodifestivalen format won’t change from the recent contests. From the seven songs in each heat, two qualify to the grand final, two progress to a sing off – known as ‘second chance’. Four more songs make the final after the head-to-head knockout rounds. On 9 March 2019, the finalists go head-to-head at the Friends Arena in Stockholm to represent Sweden in Tel Aviv.
The contest will be hosted by Marika Carlsson, Eric Saade, Sarah Dawn Finer and Kodjo Akolor.
A minor point (a cut and paste error perhaps) there are seven songs in each semi final not eight as stated in your “how it works paragraph”.
The announcement of the Mello contestants is for me the start of the ESC season. Mello has it’s fans and enemies but it’s one of the national finals we’d secretly all like to have.
*dofs cap*
I have amended this forthwith!
[…] to latch onto a broadcaster who is open and "friendly" believe anything they say. They believe that the Melodifestivalen selection is better than anything offered by other broadcasters. AGAIN! How have they done this? – by not […]