Stockholm 2016

Predictions for Melodifestivalen’s Third Semifinal.

All things must come to an end, so get ready and gorge on today’s guide because next week will be the last Friday with Matteo’s amazing Melodifestivalen guide.
SaRaha
1. SaRaha – Kizunguzungu – Anderz Wrethov, Sara “SaRaha” Larsson, Arash Labaf
The artist: SaRaha is a Swedish singer who moved to Tanzania in 1985 with her family. She was only 2 and up until the last few months she has lived there. SaRaha is called Sara Larsson. People please note that Z and S are pronounced identically in Sweden and there’s a Zara Larsson out there making more money and I guess she had to pick an artistic name.
SaRaha sings in English with bits in Swahili, which will not be the first time that a language from Africa will appear on the Melodifestivalen stage. She has a bit of success in “East Africa” as described by the Melodifestivalen website and now she has come to take Sweden.
The composers: Wrethov again. Please refer to last week or two weeks ago, SaRaha själv and Arash. Yes, the Iranian born Swedish singer/songwriter that represented Azerbaijan in 2009 in a featuring with Aysel. Him.
The song: She has a bit of a September voice, the song itself sounds like that Swedish basic pop with notes of exotic that… oh well.
Chances of qualifying: Not sure. Not bought into this. Probably 5th?
Swingfly Helena Gutarra
2. Swingfly feat. Helena Gutarra – You Carved Your Name – Joakim Åhlund, Andreas Kleerup
The artist: Swingfly already competed in Melodifestivalen in 2011 with “Me and my drum” and that was surprising for that year. He has been living in Sweden for basically 20 years and I don’t think can speak a single word of Swedish still – which must be a really weird life to live.
Helena Gutarra is the Swedish one of the two and has been a backing vocalist for many things and worked with Petter – who is a very brilliant Swedish rapper. She published her first solo song in 2013. Titled “Dicksuckin’”. Oh well.
The composers: Joakim Åhlund has worked also as video director – but I care more about the other one: Andreas Kleerup. One of the biggest and bestest composers in Swedish. The most finestest electronic music in the world. Love him.
The song: Like five years ago, but the piece sang by Helena Gutarra makes it worth it a bit more. Even though I’d rather stop Swingfly from shouting randomly.
Chances of qualifying: Probably in the final.
Smilo
3. Smilo – Weight of the World – Arvid Ångström, Dennis Babic, Oscar Berglund Juhola, Anton Göransson, Robin Danielsson
The artists: Smilo have won the talent show “Svensktoppen nästa” last year. No, wait: they have been selected from it – the winner was someone else, but SVT decided to make it a bit weird and just went with a jury to pick from the Svensktoppen final.
The guys are young and previously were named SMAJL, then “Smajling Swedes” at the talent and now they are called Smilo and we are probably sticking to it.
The composers: The artists and have called Anton Göransson and Robin Danielsson (no info available) to be helped writing the perfect Melodifestivalen song.
The song: An electronic piece à la Avicii, with awkward dancing from the group on a dj console.
Chances of qualifying: Seeing how they are on stage and the name: dead last.
Afterdark
4. After Dark – Kom ut som en stjärna – Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson, Larry Forsberg, Lina Eriksson, Kent “Sippan” Olsson, Calle Kindbom
The artist: Christer Lindarw is the face of After Dark, the notorious drag act that has made history in Sweden. They are back in 2016 because this is their 40th anniversary of shows. Other important act associated with After Dark is Babsan. That said, After Dark was part of Melodifestivalen 2004 and 2007. In 2004 they came second to Lena Ph (both in the semifinal and in the final), in 2005 they came 5th in the semifinal, signing a song titled “Oh, when we took things in our hands”, with a pun about masturbation (the title starts with “Åh när ni” that sounds like Onani that means that in Swedish).
Now they are back with something about Coming out as a star – throwing names randomly.
The composers: Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson and Larry Forsberg have already written After Dark’s song for Melodifestivalen 2004 – and Anna Book’s disqualified song. Lina Eriksson has written a LOT of stuff and Ireland 2010, Kent “Sippan” Olsson had two songs (one with After Dark) in 2007 and Calle Kindbom had 11 songs in Melodifestivalen. Most importantly: Kikki Danielsson’s Idag och i morgon. (Yeah, the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2003 too, but I mean…).
The song: The usual Afterdark Schlager. Nothing more, nothing less.
Chances of qualifying: 6th place. Just because Smilo are not convincing live.
Lisa Ajax
5. Lisa Ajax – My Heart Wants Me Dead – Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad
The artist: Lisa Ajax was born in 1998. The Spice Girls already became four when she was born and the UK already won for the last time. Apart from making me feel very old, she won Idol in 2014 and she was one of the youngest winner with Anges Carlsson and Amanda Fondell.
Her bio is quite short because let’s face it. She’s 17.
The composers: The dream team: Debs + Hård af Segerstad – you can read all about them in the other posts.
The song: A big Zara Larsson song. I said it all.
Chances of qualifying: She’s young, but she’ll make it big. In the Andra Chansen.
Boris Rene
6. Boris René – Put Your Love On Me – Boris René, Tobias Lundgren, Tim Larsson
The artist: Boris René is a football player turned singer that was born in the DR Congo and now is at Melodifestivalen. He released his first song in 2013 called “Alive”.
The composers: The artist, Tobias Lundgren and Tim Larsson that have written big stuff like Linda Pritchard’s Alive or Anniela’s Elektrisk (plus a song for Celine Dion).
The song: A nice radio friendly uptempo piece that from the 30 sec video doesn’t show any influence at all.
Chances of qualifying: I wouldn’t be surprised people would like this, for now I’ll say Andra Chansen.
Oscar Zia
7. Oscar Zia – Human – Oscar Zia, Victor Thell, Maria Smith
The artist: Oscar Zia came out as gay two or three weeks ago. I know this is not important, but singing a song that says “we are all human” and stuff like that is quite a signal.
Anyway, Oscar Zia comes out of the only season of the X Factor that Sweden has ever seen. He went to Melodifestivalen 2014 with the (song that I found terribly annoying) “Yes we can” and he went straight to the final, coming 8th out of 10. He did all the big tournées like Diggiloo and Moreaus med mera and now he’s back at Melodifestivalen.
Bear in mind he’s 19.
The composers: Oscar Zia himself. Victor Thell has worked with Samir&Viktor on Success and Groupie and on the big hit by Molly Sandén “Freak” with Maria Smith.
The song: A strong powerballad with a meaning, it will definitely go down strong – the whole evening seems to build up on this.
Chances of qualifying: To the final, if Lisa Ajax doesn’t get his spot.

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