A new week and we are already on the way for Semi-Final 2 this week. After Danny Saucedo and Arvingarna both advanced to the final, it is time to look at the seven new competing acts for this week. Thursday will be the day for us to talk about the full songs and rehearsals, Friday we will bring you updates from the rehearsals, and in the evening we live blog the dress rehearsal. Saturday we, of course, bring you the full coverage for the live show. Everything here on ESCXTRA! 🙂
Before the broadcast of the Melodifestivalen, 60 seconds audio clips of the competing entries will be published on Thursdays at 13.30 on SVT Play and Melodifestivalen’s app.
30 seconds from each contestant’s rehearsal get published on SVT Play and in Melodifestivalen’s app on Thursdays as well.
Entire entries (not finalists) will be posted after 9.30 pm on SVT Play and in Melodifestivalen’s app on Saturday after the broadcast.
Now let’s take a look at this week’s seven competing acts and some facts provided by SVT.
Anton Ewald – New Religion
Written by: Jonas Wallin, Joe Killington, Anton Ewald, Maja Strömstedt
Performers
• Dancers: Robin Haghi and Daniel Koivunen.
• Off stage in house backing vocalist: Lars Säfsund.
Show creators
• Show creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
• Choreographers: Anton Ewald and Robin Haghi.
Special effects and props
• Laser.
Theme: Rhythmical, cocky, flirtatious.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 62.
Anton on his entry:
– My song was created when I sat down with the songwriters in a studio session. We came up with this bang-on melody for the chorus, and after that we just felt that we had the song, it was all set. You’ll get action, plenty of dancing, plenty of energy, and I’ll give it my all.
Julia Alfrida – Rich
Written by: Julia Alfrida, Jimmy Jansson, Melanie Wehbe
Performers
• Off stage backing vocals: Melanie Wehbe.
Show creators
• Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste och Jennie Widegren.
Special effects and props
• LED: Pre-filmed content with a uniting theme.
Theme: Intense, unity, power.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 55.
Julia on her entry:
– The song is about self-worth and diversity, that we are all different but have the exact same value.
WAHL feat. SAMI – 90-talet
Written by: Sami Rekik, Christopher Wahlberg, Josefin Glenmark, Jesper Welander, Andreas Larsson
Performers
• Dancers: Keisha von Arnold (in-house dancer), Lovisa Bengtsson (in-house dancer), Lamin Holmén and Kenny Lantz (in-house dancer).
Show creators
• Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
Props and special effects
• 4 podiums in different dimensions, creating different shapes. The podiums have different surfaces in the spirit of the ’90’s.
• LED: Words and posters from the lyrics.
Theme: Colour, energy.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 43.
WAHL and SAMI on their entry:
– The viewers can expect good energy, dance, nice colours and nostalgia.
Frida Green – The Silence
Written By: Anna Bergendahl, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias, Joy Deb
Performers
• On-stage backing vocals: Johanna Ekholm, Cedrik Hammar and Joanné Pastor Nugas.
Show creators
• Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
Props and special effects
• Pyrotechnics: 6 silver fountains, positioned on the right straight of the catwalk.
• 2 fans.
Theme: Infinite, grand, warm.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 36.
Frida on her entry:
– The song is like an energy source, it fills you up, it’s very grand.
Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Rena rama ding dong
Written by: Göran Sparrdal, Kalle Rydberg, Ari Lehtonen
Performers
• In-house dancers: Keisha von Arnold, Amir Ashoor, Lovisa Bengtsson and Kenny Lantz.
Show creators
• Show creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
• Choreographer: Birgitta Rydberg.
Props and special effects
• 4 round podiums, 2 meters wide; the 2 inner ones 20 centimeters high, the 2 outer ones 40 centimeters high.
• 4 canes.
Theme: Humour, joy, surprise.
Camera cuts
• Ca 45.
Eva Rydberg on the entry:
”The song is merry, swinging and somewhat whacky. When the viewers will see our performance, I hope they will get to laugh and feel a little joy.”
Patrik Jean – Tears Run Dry
Written By: Herman Gardarfve, Patrik Jean, Melanie Wehbe
Performers
• Dancers: Amir Ashoor (in-house dancer), Daniel Gürow Lundkvist, Lamin Holmén and Kenny Lantz (in-house dancer).
Show creators
• Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
Props and special effects
• Patterned floor, approximately 6 meters in diameter.
• Smoke.
Theme: Organic, dramatic, artistic.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 43.
Patrik on his entry:
– My song is very much me. It’s the type of song where you don’t really know if you should cry, dance or perhaps cry and dance.
Dotter – Little Tot
Written by: Johanna ”Dotter” Jansson, Dino Medanhodzic
Participants
• In-house dancers: Keisha von Arnold, Amir Ashoor, Lovisa Bengtsson and Kenny Lantz.
• In-house off-stage backing vocalist: Emelie Fjällström.
Show creators
• Show creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Jennie Widegren.
• Choreographer: Keisha von Arnold.
Props and special effects
• 7 light sources placed in the back edge of the stage.
• 1 podium, 1×1 meter.
Theme: Utopian, artistic, mighty.
Camera cuts
• Approximately 82.
Dotter on her entry:
– My song is about getting aware of one’s ego. This might be even more fun than last year. When the viewers will get to see my act, they will probably think that it’s pretty maxed out.
Semi-Final 2 will be hosted by Christer Björkman together with Anis Don Demina & Oscar Zia!
You can find more info about the competing acts and about the show on media.melodifestivalen.se
Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest
Sweden has participated in the contest 59 times since its debut in 1958. They have missed only three contests since their debut (1964, 1970 and 1976). Since 1959, the Swedish entry has been chosen through Melodifestivalen. In 1997, Sweden was one of the first five countries to adopt televoting, and have continued to innovate the technology behind the contest whenever they host.
Sweden is one of the most successful countries at the contest, winning six contests so far. Notably, their wins span their participation history; their victories span five decades with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson (1999), Loreen (2012), and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015). They currently have the second-highest number of wins, behind Ireland’s seven.
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