VoR
Take it or leave it
In last weeks thrilling edition of Melodifestivalen, the boy with emotions lost out to the ladies who lunch, Sonja Aldén ascended to a higher spiritual plane (5th place), and it all went a bit Black Swan for the Ballerina.
For many people, this week is the heat to watch though, and frankly it looks like an absolute nightmare. But hopefully the kind that is filled with banging tunes. Let's take a look at the contestants...
For many people, this week is the heat to watch though, and frankly it looks like an absolute nightmare. But hopefully the kind that is filled with banging tunes. Let's take a look at the contestants...
1. Klara Hammerström - Nobody
(Erik Smaaland, Palle Hammarlund, Klara Hammarström)
Already a reality TV star at the tender age of 19, Klara Hammerström has recently extended her brand into a fledgling pop career, with the basic but enjoyable You Should Know Me Better making minor ripples in the Swedish charts. Her Melfest entry has been described as an uptempo pop track with large-scale production, so evidently somebody's flinging a bit of money at it. If she can avoid being shoved down a flight of stairs by Linda Bengtzing in the next five days, this could go big.
2. Jan Johansen - Miraklernas tid
(Thomas G:son)
The focal point of the obligatory Melfest DRAMA this year, this was supposed to be the comeback effort for tabloid-friendly bad boy actor Thorsten Flinck, until he was inconveniently charged with a variety of crimes several months ago, which nobody thought to address until now, causing huge amounts of media attention just days before the show was set to air. How UNFORTUNATE.
Anyway, an altogether safer pair of hands has been drafted in, in the form of crumpled former heartthrob Jan Johansen, who took Sweden to third place back in 1995 with Se på mig. Will the column inches translate into votes? I wouldn't bet against it...
3. Dotter - Bulletproof
(Dino Medanhodzic, Johanna Jansson (Dotter), Erik Dahlqvist)
The last time Dotter hit the Melfest stage, she was hotly tipped to win the whole damn thing with her strikingly original electro balladIssues Cry. Sadly, there was the minor inconvenience of her being completely incapable of singing it. Expectations have been somewhat tamped down this time around, but there's still talk of this being 'ambitious'. If that ambition is to crawl into AC, she might just achieve it.
4. Mendez feat. Alvaro Estrella - Vamos Amigos
(Palle Hammarlund, Jimmy Jansson, Jakke Erixson, Leo Mendez)
After enjoying one of the major hits of Melodifestivalen 2018 with Everyday, it was inevitable that Mendez would be back before long. This time he's drafted in Alvaro Estrella, most notable for fronting one of the more hilarious Melodifestivalen train wrecks of recent years. Hopefully he's developed a bit of stage presence in the intervening years. Actually, scrap that. Hopefully he HASN'T.
5. Linda Bengtzing - All mina sorger
(Yvonne Dahlbom, Jesper Welander, Adam Jönsson, Linda Bengtzing)
The queen of wanting it all just a *little* bit too badly, Linda Bengtzing is back with a full head of hair and high hopes to bounce back from the unpleasantness that was 2016. She's not even pretending to care about artistic growth this time around, she's fully marketing this as Alla Flickor part 2. That's obviously music to my ears, though one suspects public mileage may vary.
6. Paul Rey - Talking in my Sleep
(Paul Rey, Lukas Hällgren, Alexander Standal Pavelich)
Now that Felix Sandman has been knocked from pole position, Sweden is going to need to anoint another young male soloist as the second coming, or this whole thing could risk actually turning into an interesting competition. Paul Rey looks to be a likely candidate, with a string of modest hits under his belt already and strong advance buzz for this track. Expect the results to be workmanlike, Spotify friendly and more votable than all your faves.
7. Anna Bergendahl - Kingdom Come
(Bobby Ljunggren, Thomas G:son, Erik Bernholm, Anna Bergendahl)
After a near decade in the wilderness, Anna enjoyed a sweet redemption arc at last year's Contest, scrapping her way to the finals and enjoying a big fat radio hit with Ashes to Ashes. Coming straight back again either suggests a wave of momentum, or some very ill-advised luck pushing. I'd expect the latter, but they've given her the pimp slot again so evidently somebody has faith in it.
Press reviews: Tuesday
SNIPPETS: Wednesday
Show: 7pm UK Time Saturday
(Erik Smaaland, Palle Hammarlund, Klara Hammarström)
Already a reality TV star at the tender age of 19, Klara Hammerström has recently extended her brand into a fledgling pop career, with the basic but enjoyable You Should Know Me Better making minor ripples in the Swedish charts. Her Melfest entry has been described as an uptempo pop track with large-scale production, so evidently somebody's flinging a bit of money at it. If she can avoid being shoved down a flight of stairs by Linda Bengtzing in the next five days, this could go big.
2. Jan Johansen - Miraklernas tid
(Thomas G:son)
The focal point of the obligatory Melfest DRAMA this year, this was supposed to be the comeback effort for tabloid-friendly bad boy actor Thorsten Flinck, until he was inconveniently charged with a variety of crimes several months ago, which nobody thought to address until now, causing huge amounts of media attention just days before the show was set to air. How UNFORTUNATE.
Anyway, an altogether safer pair of hands has been drafted in, in the form of crumpled former heartthrob Jan Johansen, who took Sweden to third place back in 1995 with Se på mig. Will the column inches translate into votes? I wouldn't bet against it...
3. Dotter - Bulletproof
(Dino Medanhodzic, Johanna Jansson (Dotter), Erik Dahlqvist)
The last time Dotter hit the Melfest stage, she was hotly tipped to win the whole damn thing with her strikingly original electro ballad
4. Mendez feat. Alvaro Estrella - Vamos Amigos
(Palle Hammarlund, Jimmy Jansson, Jakke Erixson, Leo Mendez)
After enjoying one of the major hits of Melodifestivalen 2018 with Everyday, it was inevitable that Mendez would be back before long. This time he's drafted in Alvaro Estrella, most notable for fronting one of the more hilarious Melodifestivalen train wrecks of recent years. Hopefully he's developed a bit of stage presence in the intervening years. Actually, scrap that. Hopefully he HASN'T.
5. Linda Bengtzing - All mina sorger
(Yvonne Dahlbom, Jesper Welander, Adam Jönsson, Linda Bengtzing)
The queen of wanting it all just a *little* bit too badly, Linda Bengtzing is back with a full head of hair and high hopes to bounce back from the unpleasantness that was 2016. She's not even pretending to care about artistic growth this time around, she's fully marketing this as Alla Flickor part 2. That's obviously music to my ears, though one suspects public mileage may vary.
6. Paul Rey - Talking in my Sleep
(Paul Rey, Lukas Hällgren, Alexander Standal Pavelich)
Now that Felix Sandman has been knocked from pole position, Sweden is going to need to anoint another young male soloist as the second coming, or this whole thing could risk actually turning into an interesting competition. Paul Rey looks to be a likely candidate, with a string of modest hits under his belt already and strong advance buzz for this track. Expect the results to be workmanlike, Spotify friendly and more votable than all your faves.
7. Anna Bergendahl - Kingdom Come
(Bobby Ljunggren, Thomas G:son, Erik Bernholm, Anna Bergendahl)
After a near decade in the wilderness, Anna enjoyed a sweet redemption arc at last year's Contest, scrapping her way to the finals and enjoying a big fat radio hit with Ashes to Ashes. Coming straight back again either suggests a wave of momentum, or some very ill-advised luck pushing. I'd expect the latter, but they've given her the pimp slot again so evidently somebody has faith in it.
Press reviews: Tuesday
SNIPPETS: Wednesday
Show: 7pm UK Time Saturday
