Melodifestivalen 2011 - Heat Four - Malmö

[Samuel]

And now we face the final curtain...

MF11 reaches its final destination this week in southern Sweden. In the past 10 years, 4 of the eventual winners of MF have come through heats in Malmö, will it be the 5th this year?

Last week we saw returning pretty-boy Eric Saade storm to victory with '(Oh Mama I'm) Popular' and the slightly less pretty Playtones take the second DTG spot with 'The King'. Shirley's Angels went to hell in a hangbag with 'I Thought It Was Forever' and they'll battle it out alongside Sara Varga in two weeks time at Andra Chansen.

Much like last week, we've got some massive names in Sweden competing against some new and familiar faces.

Who'll be taking those coveted 4 places this week? Let's take a look at the artists...



Melody Club - 'The Hunter'
Text och musik - Melody Club

Melody Club are perhaps one of the biggest names in MF this year, with ten Top 40 singles under their belt and 5 studio albums to their name, they're one of the more well respected acts in their genre. See them as a (slightly) less successful version of The Ark but with a few more synths thrown in for good measure, and less of the religious shit. This is their first time in the competition and I think it's safe to say they've probably lost a little bit of their credibility in doing so, but here they are anyway. Will they follow in The Ark's footsteps? Or go the same way as Eskobar?



Julia Alvgard - 'Better Or Worse'
Text och musik - Manne Hjelm, Ola Holstad, Joar Lenz and Julia Alvgard

Julia is the last of the two webjokers to perform this year, in what on paper looks to be a very competitive heat. As she's completely unknown to the public, will she suffer the same fate as Jonas Matsson?



Lasse Stefanz - 'En blick och nånting händer'
Text och musik - Alexander Bard, Ola Håkansson and Tim Norell

Lasse Stefanz were one of the first four acts to be announced this year and I'm sure you've all been chomping at the bit to hear their entry since. Hailing from Kristianstad, this country-influenced dansband have been kicking around for nearly 50 years, reaching their peak from the 80's onwards. They're a real force to be reckoned with and I think there will be a few tears before bedtime come Saturday evening...



Linda Pritchard - 'Alive'
Text och musik - Fredrik Kempe and Oscar Görres

She failed to make us 'hot, hot, hot!' in 2010, but she's back for another crack of the whip this year with what Christer claims to be 'the best ballad in the competition, by miles'. I've also heard other reports saying this is the winning song this year so, NO PRESSURE LINDA. With Kempe on her side can she reverse her fortunes this year?



Anders Fernette - 'Run'
Text och musik - Desmond Child, Negin Djafari, Hugo Lira, Ian-Paolo Lira and Thomas Gustafsson

Anders was caught up in a furore earlier on in the year after his original song was found on YouTube, causing it be disqualified. He was allowed to enter a different song however, and this is the song he believes will take him all the way to Germany.



Linda Bengtzing - 'E det fel på mej'
Text och musik - Pontus Assarsson, Thomas G:son, Jörgen Ringqvist and Daniel Barkman

Linda makes her MF-return with her 4th 'uptempo schlager' number and she's hoping that this time, she'll strike lucky. She's been a busy bee since her last entry in 2008, releasing a duet with MF-favourite Velvet to name just one. She also entered an English version of Pernilla Wahlgren's 2010 entry called 'Bad Boy Casanova' but obviously failed to impress the jury. A year on and she's back, back, BACK and ready to represent her country! Can she do it? Or will she be resigned to summer tours and breakfast TV?



Nicke Borg - 'Leaving Home'
Text ock musik - Jojo Borg Larsson, Nicke Borg, Fredrik Thomander and Anders Wikström

Would MF really be the same without the compulsory rock song? This has been described as very similar to 'Road Salt' from last year, but miles better. Will you be reaching for the scissors or the phone? I think I know...



Love Generation - 'Dance Alone'
Text och musik - RedOne, Bilal 'The Chef', Teddy Sky, AJ Junior, Jimmy Joker and BeatGeek


And in struts the favourites...

Love Generation are a four piece (used to be five but the other left citing 'musical differences') girl-group formed by smash hit producer RedOne. The girls have garnered massive amounts of press due to the song being written and produced RedOne and a number of the worlds biggest producers and writers. They've just come off a successful summer tour in Sweden and have a got a rather large female teenage following. They're the last to perform in this years MF, a spot in which many previous winners have come from. Will the girls romp home to victory or will they fail to connect with the Swedish public?

The odds are as follows (again, I must stress that this is to win!)

Love Generation - 4/1
Melody Club - 9/1
Anders Fernette - 16/1
Lasse Stefanz - 20/1
Linda Pritchard - 33/1
Nicke Borge - 40/1
Linda Bengtzing - 60/1
Julia Alvgard - 100/1

Predictions everyone?

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Bengtzing 60/1 to win?

REALLY?

OH GOD

[Sheena]

60-1 for Linda?

Ouch...

[Pingu]

FUCKING HELL this is a tough heat.

Well, it's not, I just mean tough for the Lindas.

And for music in general...

[Samuel]

I think that's pretty reasonable in terms of the competition, she's yet to actually win a heat and even though she's gone DTG twice, she's bombed in the Final both times.

[David]

I think that's pretty reasonable in terms of the competition, she's yet to actually win a heat and even though she's gone DTG twice, she's bombed in the Final both times.

Fifth is NOT bombing... though it is worth noting she's only once scored with the televote.

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Having said that, Christer wouldn't have put her into the last heat unless she had a good song.

Or at least I refuse to believe otherwise.

[David]

The winner HAS to be in this heat (I now have come to the conclusion Loreen can hope for 5th or 6th AT BEST if she gets through AC).

Everything that is through is so.... AVERAGE

[Apocalypt_flyer]

I still haven't put money on Linda Pritchard to win overall.

DAMMIT.

[Pingu]

I can just tell that Andra Chansen is going to be HELL, even more so now that it's where Linda Pritchard is BLATANTLY going

[Apocalypt_flyer]

I can just tell that Andra Chansen is going to be HELL, even more so now that it's where Linda Pritchard is BLATANTLY going

Something tells me she could end up being the more successful Linda.

If Kempe has managed to actually write a half-decent ballad, she's gonna sing the shit out of it and qualify over all the uptempos.

[Samuel]

Something tells me she could end up being the more successful Linda.

If Kempe has managed to actually write a half-decent ballad, she's gonna sing the shit out of it and qualify over all the uptempos.

I completely agree. If LG are ropey, I think she might do a Bergendahl and come out of nowhere to win the heat.

[Pingu]

Something tells me she could end up being the more successful Linda.

That's what I meant

You don't wanna know my prediction for the other one!

[Kevin]

Most looking forward to Linda Bengtzing and Love Generation.

[Music]

I think that Eric Saade or Love Generation (if they go DTG and the song's great) are the most likely winners

[[insert your best offer here]]

Anders, Linda, Love Generation. What a line-up.

[Music]

I really hope Linda produces something as as this

[Pingu]

The girls have garnered massive amounts of press due to the song being written and produced RedOne and a number of the worlds biggest producers and writers.

The question is, will ANY of them be there to wave at the camera when the song is being introduced?

[Apocalypt_flyer]

I really hope she comes up with something, how shall I say, meatier. I like Victorious but in reality she'd have come fifth with it at best. I hope "E det fel på mej" has a stronger hook and borrows from some of her more guitary uptempo album stuff instead of relying on Grace Kelly-verses.

I'm not sure she's got a winning song that'll proper cross over though, I reckon she's keeping it safe to at least get to Globen and consolidate herself as one of the bigger names in the MF-circus rather than fall flat on her face with something more risky.

[Pingu]

I really hope she comes up with something, how shall I say, meatier. I like Victorious but in reality she'd have come fifth with it at best. I hope "E det fel på mej" has a stronger hook and borrows from some of her more guitary uptempo album stuff instead of relying on Grace Kelly-verses.

I'm not sure she's got a winning song that'll proper cross over though, I reckon she's keeping it safe to at least get to Globen and consolidate herself as one of the bigger names in the MF-circus rather than fall flat on her face with something more risky.

That's what I'd guess she'll be doing as well. However, what would be considered safe for Linda might not be what gets votes in 2011.

[FetchFugly]

That's what I'd guess she'll be doing as well. However, what would be considered safe for Linda might not be what gets votes in 2011.

Yes Sweden loves modern pop music now like Brolle and The Playtones. The rapping in heat one was some kind of false dawn.

I agree that a full pelt schlager with guitar elements is her best bet rather than a Victorious-dance influenced number, but I'm quite worried about Linda's chances now and I'm not sure whether Sanna and Shirley advancing makes me feel better or worse about her prospects. At least Sweden are voting for the schlager stalwarts in some kind of number, but does this mean she is the one to be humiliated this year?

[Pingu]

By the way, I've just remembered I won't be around next week...does anybody know if there's any chance I'll be able to watch this from a Holiday Inn?? Or is their internet not quite that generous?

[Music]

I'm going to be in Sweden next weekend though none of my friends I'm going with appreciate the importance

[Apocalypt_flyer]

By the way, I've just remembered I won't be around next week...does anybody know if there's any chance I'll be able to watch this from a Holiday Inn?? Or is their internet not quite that generous?

They usually have wireless lan. Just check the hotel page or something.

[Pingu]

I hope Love Generation and Linda Pritchard manage to go DTG...we need some VAG in the final, considering it's all male at the moment except for Sanna.

[RobotBoy]

Hopefully the Playtones getting through will be enough to fuck up Lasse Stefanz chances which leaves the Lindas, Love Generation, Melody Club and Anders as the front runners. If Sebastian only made it to fifth, I don't think Anders is by any means guaranteed, and Melody Club have had all this negative press about one of them being a RAPIST, plus their fans all propbably think they've degraded themselves by entering in the first place. They'll need a really great song to get a lot of public support, I think.

LG and the Lindas should have a decent enough chance at all qualifying in some way or other.

[FetchFugly]

X

[FetchFugly]

Hopefully the Playtones getting through will be enough to fuck up Lasse Stefanz chances which leaves the Lindas, Love Generation, Melody Club and Anders as the front runners. If Sebastian only made it to fifth, I don't think Anders is by any means guaranteed, and Melody Club have had all this negative press about one of them being a RAPIST, plus their fans all propbably think they've degraded themselves by entering in the first place. They'll need a really great song to get a lot of public support, I think.

I was hoping the same about Lasse Stefanz. I do quite like Melody Club's older stuff, but what I heard of the last album I wasn't so keen on. I haven't heard anything about this rapist business, what is that all about?

[RobotBoy]

I haven't heard anything about this rapist business, what is that all about?

I believe one of them has been named by the press as the rapist in a case that was known about for a while with an unnamed celebrity. He's since left the band but that kind of scandal is never good and he only left after they'd been selected for MF.

[FetchFugly]

I believe one of them has been named by the press as the rapist in a case that was known about for a while with an unnamed celebrity. He's since left the band but that kind of scandal is never good and he only left after they'd been selected for MF.

That is a little unfortunate (for them, not so much for everyone else).

[Kevin]

When will all the performances go online / songs on iTunes? After this heat, or after AC?

[David]

When will all the performances go online / songs on iTunes? After this heat, or after AC?

If memory serves they were available as soon as Heat 4 was done and dusted last year.

[David_5000]

I'm really worried about Lasse Stefanz, I can barely cope with one dansband in the final, let alone two.

[[insert your best offer here]]

My dear MF friends, when will Moopyfestivalen start this year?

[Apocalypt_flyer]

Either after the 4th heat or after the finals. I suspect the former might be the case though.

[JET BOY]

Are Melody Club actually all that big in Sweden still? I could definitely see them as a shock casualty of this heat unless their song is absolutely amazing, by the look of their wikipedia they don't seem to have had a proper hit in years.

Oh and who is Anders Fernette, and why are his odds so good?

Wouldn't it be awful if Melody Club, Anders, Nicke and Lasse Stefanz were the 4 qualifiers. I think that would bring an entire new meaning to the phrase SCHLAGERFIASKOT

[Samuel]

Are Melody Club actually all that big in Sweden still? I could definitely see them as a shock casualty of this heat unless their song is absolutely amazing, by the look of their wikipedia they don't seem to have had a proper hit in years.

Not really, no. Their last album sold well but its respective singles didn't do anything at all.

I think in their case, they're more of a 'name' instead of an ever-popular group.

[[insert your best offer here]]

Are there any odds that the winner is agani from heat #4?

[Madison]

Are there any odds that the winner is agani from heat #4?

Take these numbers, convert them into decimal odds and then add them together.

Love Generation - 4/1
Melody Club - 9/1
Anders Fernette - 16/1
Lasse Stefanz - 20/1
Linda Pritchard - 33/1
Nicke Borge - 40/1
Linda Bengtzing - 60/1
Julia Alvgard - 100/1

[Penelope]

Take these numbers, convert them into decimal odds and then add them together.

Love Generation - 4/1
Melody Club - 9/1
Anders Fernette - 16/1
Lasse Stefanz - 20/1
Linda Pritchard - 33/1
Nicke Borge - 40/1
Linda Bengtzing - 60/1
Julia Alvgard - 100/1

48% chance? Bit steep.