Melodifestivalen Tonight!
Yup, it’s that time of year again. The biggest, best, most popular and most exciting national final will take place this Saturday night as Sweden choose their entry in the annual Melodifestivalen. After four semi-finals and a wildcard round, there are now 10 entries in contention for representing Sweden in Finland in May. After their 5th place finish last year, they will be looking for another Top 5 finish. Could they do it? Possibly! Here’s what’s on offer this year…
01. “A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE” – Andreas Johnson
Andreas makes his second consecutive Melodifestivalen Final appearance after finishing 3rd last year with Beatles-y “Sing For Me”. His song this year is not as good as last year, but it sure is a catchy affair. It’s a sort of sing-a-long pop rock song with all ladies guitarists a la Robert Palmer. It’s a nice sweet start to this year and he’s a popular singer but I don’t think this song is strong enough to go two better than he did last year.
02. “FOR ATT DU FINNS” – Sonja Alden
This came through the wildcard round, and it must be remembered that all wildcards should still be taken seriously – just look at Denmark! Anyway, this song is probably not going to do a DQ. It’s a pleasing but rather plain ballad with rather atmospheric sounds to it. It’s become a bit of a favourite, but I can’t really see this doing better than mid-table. Nice song, but that’s about all.
03. “SAMBA SOMBERO” – Anna Book
Now this song has taken some bashing amongst Eurovision fans, mainly because it did stop the absolutely magnificent “Move” going to the final (or even the second chance round!). However, this song is insanely catchy and the larger-than-life Anna Book performs this samba-schlager belter absolutely joyfully! It’s such a great song with such a great performer! It probably won’t win – if it does there’ll be riots – but it should do well hopefully. It’s like a fun version of Norway. What more do you need to know?!
04. “WHEN THE NIGHT COMES FALLING” – Sebastian
This is a sort of rock-meets-schlager kind of song and it breezes along rather nicely with Sebastian, who has a voice not too dissimilar to Andreas Johnson, taking the reigns. It’s a catchy chorus with descending melody, but there’s something about this that irritates me slightly… I’m unsure of what it is though! I can’t see this clambering right to the top of the scoreboard tonight.
05. “TRYING TO RECALL” – Marie Lindberg
Marie is a schoolteacher by day, but at weekends she likes to take part in Eurovision based competitions, hence her place in Melodifestivalen. “Trying To Recall” reminds me of Katie Melua doing Kings Of Convenience. It’s a gentle song with strumming guitar throughout. It’s very beautiful actually, folky, and this could be the surprise winner in Sweden. And if it pulled a good draw at Eurovision, it could do very well indeed. It would certainly deserve to. Very nice.
06. “CARA MIA” – Mans Zelmerlow
Well here’s your expected Swedish schlager-cheese. The very charming Mans sings this Mediterranean inspired “Cara Mia” with a HIGHLY catchy chorus. It’s not perhaps the most musically brilliant piece you’ll ever hear, but it’s got a good dance beat to it, and a good key change into the chorus. There’s just nothing particularly striking about the song – it IS good, but it’s not a Eurovision winner, and I’m unsure if it will win tonight.
07. “JAG TROR PA MANNISKAN” – Tommy Nilsson
Tommy is the singer of one of Sweden’s best ever songs, “En Dag” which finished 4th in 1989. This ballad here though is, I would say, the weakest song in this year’s Melodifestivalen and is the rank outsider. It’s just quite dull really and cannot stand out in a vibrant and exciting final such as Melodifestivalen. I predict last place for this rather drab affair. It’s a shame cos he’s got a great voice, but the song lets him down lots.
08. “VAGER DU, VAGER JA” – Sanna Nielsen
No one does Schlager like Melodifestivalen veteran Sanna Nielsen, and she’s here again with another cheesy, catchy pop song which I have rather a soft spot for! This is a bright, happy, cheery pop song that is clichéd in everyway possible and cheesier than a platter of brie, but it’s so cheesy that it gets away with it! I doubt this is going to be the winner tonight but it should clock up some points hopefully. Great stuff!
09. “I REMEMBER LOVE” – Sarah Dawn Finer
Well this is a rather nice ballad! Not the most exciting but it has a very nice, endearing tune. There’s something about the chorus that makes me think ‘Great British Song Contest’ but that’s not a bad thing! This is a very nice song but perhaps not immediate enough to clock up the big votes. Deserves to do well though and if it does win Melodifestivalen then it will be a nice and pleasant surprise!
10. “THE WORRYING KIND” – The Ark
And finally, the favourite! Remember Alvin Stardust? That sort of 70s rock and roll boogie? Well here it is in fine form! “The Worrying Kind” is a very fun song indeed and, I truly believe, would be in serious competition for the prize in May. The chorus is a very catchy affair indeed and it’ll get your mum and dad rockin’ around the room that’s for sure! Norway and Finland have both sent rocky songs of late – surely it’s Sweden’s turn! This would be a nice choice for Sweden and this really would stand out in this rather average year…
Well that’s the list, and here’s my own top 10 of how I would like to see things finish tonight…
01 “THE WORRYING KIND” – The Ark
02 “SAMBA SAMBERO” – Anna Book
03 “VAGER DU, VAGER JAG” – Sanna Nielsen
04 “TRYING TO RECALL” – Marie Lindberg
05 “CARA MIA” – Mans Zelmerlow
06 “I REMEMBER LOVE” – Sarah Dawn Finer
07 “FOR ATT DU FINS” – Sonja Alden
08 “A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE” – Andreas Johnson
09 “WHEN THE NIGHT COMES FALLING” – Sebastian
10 “JAG TROR PA MANNISKAN” – Tommy Nilsson
In all honesty, I’d be happy if ANY of the my top 6 won! So many quality songs, and this is why the Melodifestivalen is the most popular National Final around Europe. It’s looking very good for The Ark, but there may be a surprise tonight, who knows.
What must be said is that tonight is pretty much the end of the National Final season. After tonight, all that will be left is for Hungary and Russia to reveal their songs and for the UK to pick their song next week. So it’ll be a sad one tonight, but at least with MF we go out on a high!
01. “A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE” – Andreas Johnson
Andreas makes his second consecutive Melodifestivalen Final appearance after finishing 3rd last year with Beatles-y “Sing For Me”. His song this year is not as good as last year, but it sure is a catchy affair. It’s a sort of sing-a-long pop rock song with all ladies guitarists a la Robert Palmer. It’s a nice sweet start to this year and he’s a popular singer but I don’t think this song is strong enough to go two better than he did last year.
02. “FOR ATT DU FINNS” – Sonja Alden
This came through the wildcard round, and it must be remembered that all wildcards should still be taken seriously – just look at Denmark! Anyway, this song is probably not going to do a DQ. It’s a pleasing but rather plain ballad with rather atmospheric sounds to it. It’s become a bit of a favourite, but I can’t really see this doing better than mid-table. Nice song, but that’s about all.
03. “SAMBA SOMBERO” – Anna Book
Now this song has taken some bashing amongst Eurovision fans, mainly because it did stop the absolutely magnificent “Move” going to the final (or even the second chance round!). However, this song is insanely catchy and the larger-than-life Anna Book performs this samba-schlager belter absolutely joyfully! It’s such a great song with such a great performer! It probably won’t win – if it does there’ll be riots – but it should do well hopefully. It’s like a fun version of Norway. What more do you need to know?!
04. “WHEN THE NIGHT COMES FALLING” – Sebastian
This is a sort of rock-meets-schlager kind of song and it breezes along rather nicely with Sebastian, who has a voice not too dissimilar to Andreas Johnson, taking the reigns. It’s a catchy chorus with descending melody, but there’s something about this that irritates me slightly… I’m unsure of what it is though! I can’t see this clambering right to the top of the scoreboard tonight.
05. “TRYING TO RECALL” – Marie Lindberg
Marie is a schoolteacher by day, but at weekends she likes to take part in Eurovision based competitions, hence her place in Melodifestivalen. “Trying To Recall” reminds me of Katie Melua doing Kings Of Convenience. It’s a gentle song with strumming guitar throughout. It’s very beautiful actually, folky, and this could be the surprise winner in Sweden. And if it pulled a good draw at Eurovision, it could do very well indeed. It would certainly deserve to. Very nice.
06. “CARA MIA” – Mans Zelmerlow
Well here’s your expected Swedish schlager-cheese. The very charming Mans sings this Mediterranean inspired “Cara Mia” with a HIGHLY catchy chorus. It’s not perhaps the most musically brilliant piece you’ll ever hear, but it’s got a good dance beat to it, and a good key change into the chorus. There’s just nothing particularly striking about the song – it IS good, but it’s not a Eurovision winner, and I’m unsure if it will win tonight.
07. “JAG TROR PA MANNISKAN” – Tommy Nilsson
Tommy is the singer of one of Sweden’s best ever songs, “En Dag” which finished 4th in 1989. This ballad here though is, I would say, the weakest song in this year’s Melodifestivalen and is the rank outsider. It’s just quite dull really and cannot stand out in a vibrant and exciting final such as Melodifestivalen. I predict last place for this rather drab affair. It’s a shame cos he’s got a great voice, but the song lets him down lots.
08. “VAGER DU, VAGER JA” – Sanna Nielsen
No one does Schlager like Melodifestivalen veteran Sanna Nielsen, and she’s here again with another cheesy, catchy pop song which I have rather a soft spot for! This is a bright, happy, cheery pop song that is clichéd in everyway possible and cheesier than a platter of brie, but it’s so cheesy that it gets away with it! I doubt this is going to be the winner tonight but it should clock up some points hopefully. Great stuff!
09. “I REMEMBER LOVE” – Sarah Dawn Finer
Well this is a rather nice ballad! Not the most exciting but it has a very nice, endearing tune. There’s something about the chorus that makes me think ‘Great British Song Contest’ but that’s not a bad thing! This is a very nice song but perhaps not immediate enough to clock up the big votes. Deserves to do well though and if it does win Melodifestivalen then it will be a nice and pleasant surprise!
10. “THE WORRYING KIND” – The Ark
And finally, the favourite! Remember Alvin Stardust? That sort of 70s rock and roll boogie? Well here it is in fine form! “The Worrying Kind” is a very fun song indeed and, I truly believe, would be in serious competition for the prize in May. The chorus is a very catchy affair indeed and it’ll get your mum and dad rockin’ around the room that’s for sure! Norway and Finland have both sent rocky songs of late – surely it’s Sweden’s turn! This would be a nice choice for Sweden and this really would stand out in this rather average year…
Well that’s the list, and here’s my own top 10 of how I would like to see things finish tonight…
01 “THE WORRYING KIND” – The Ark
02 “SAMBA SAMBERO” – Anna Book
03 “VAGER DU, VAGER JAG” – Sanna Nielsen
04 “TRYING TO RECALL” – Marie Lindberg
05 “CARA MIA” – Mans Zelmerlow
06 “I REMEMBER LOVE” – Sarah Dawn Finer
07 “FOR ATT DU FINS” – Sonja Alden
08 “A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE” – Andreas Johnson
09 “WHEN THE NIGHT COMES FALLING” – Sebastian
10 “JAG TROR PA MANNISKAN” – Tommy Nilsson
In all honesty, I’d be happy if ANY of the my top 6 won! So many quality songs, and this is why the Melodifestivalen is the most popular National Final around Europe. It’s looking very good for The Ark, but there may be a surprise tonight, who knows.
What must be said is that tonight is pretty much the end of the National Final season. After tonight, all that will be left is for Hungary and Russia to reveal their songs and for the UK to pick their song next week. So it’ll be a sad one tonight, but at least with MF we go out on a high!
posted by ESCChris at
6:30 AM
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