Jonathan Currinn
If there’s one country leading the way on how to host a national selection to Eurovision, it’s Sweden. Their Melodifestivalen is on of the biggest contests in the country and easily allows the public to select the best representative. Why do you think Sweden sends some of the best acts?
This year is one of the best. Some credible Swedish artists will be competing, including two previous Eurovision winners. That’s right, Loreen and Charlotte Perrelli, winners of Eurovision 2012 and 1999 respectively, will be competing.
Loreen won Melodifestivalen 2012 with her song “Euphoria”. That year, she went on to win Eurovision 2012 for Sweden. She had previously taken part in Melodifestivalen 2011, where she failed to qualify for the final.
As for Charlotte Perrelli, she won Melodifestivalen in 1999 and went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with “Take Me To Your Heaven”, becoming the fourth Swedish winner. She then competed in 2008 and again won Melodifestivalen with “Hero”, however she didn’t do so well at Eurovision, where she came 18th in 2008. In 2012 she gave it another go, this time with song “The Girl”, but she failed to qualify for the final of Melodifestivalen.
Roger Pontare has represented Sweden twice at the Eurovision Song Contest. He won Melodifestivalen 1994 and 2000; the former as a duet with Marie Bergman with song “Stjärnorna”, and the latter with “When The Spirits Are Calling My Name”. He came 13th place in 1994 and seventh place in 2000.
Then there are acts who have entered Melodifestivalen again and again; considering it took Sanna Nielson seven times before representing Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, it just shows that determination and constant attempts will finally go in your favour.
Ace Wilder has previously entered twice; in 2014 and 2016, with “Busy Doin’ Nothing” and “Don’t Worry”. In 2014 she just missed out and came second; as for 2016, she came third. Former footballer Boris René came tenth last year. Dinah Nah is back after coming 12th place in 2015, as well as second place Jon Henrik Fjällgren.
Krista Siegfrids is giving it another go, she competed for Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, where she came 24th with her song “Marry Me”; then she competed in Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2016 with the song: “Faller”, now she’s back with another Swedish song titled “Snurra min jord”. Lisa Ajax came seventh last year with “My Heart Wants Me Dead”, this year she’s singing “I Don’t Give A”. 2015 third place Mariette Hansson is also back this year.
Robin Bengtsson is back after coming fifth place in 2016. So is Sara Varga, who came ninth in 2011; this year she’s duetting with Juha Mulari. Lastly, Wiktoria is back again, after performing “Save Me” last year where she came fourth; her new song is titled “As I Lay Me Down”.
It is definitely one of the most competitive years, and it looks like Sweden is determined to send a good entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.
Here is the full list of participants of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2017:
Semi-Final 1:
- Adrijana – Amare
- Boris René – Her Kiss
- Nano – Hold On
- Charlotte Perrelli – Mitt liv
- Dinah Nah – One More Night
- De Vet Du – Road Trip
- Ace Wilder – Wild Child
Semi-Final 2:
- Mariette – A Million Years
- Benjamin Ingrosso – Good Loovin’
- Dismissed – Hearts Align
- Roger Pontare – Himmel och hav
- Lisa Ajax – I Don’t Give A
- Etzia – Up
- Allyawan – Vart haru varit
Semi-Final 3:
- Owe Thörnqvist – Boogieman Blues
- Bella & Filippa – Crucified
- The Fooo Conspiracy – Gotta Thing
- Jasmine Kara – Gravity
- Robin Bengtsson – I Can’t Go On
- Anton Hagman – Kiss You Goodbye
- Krista Siegfrids – Snurra min jord
Semi-Final 4:
- Wiktoria – As I Lay Me Down
- Les Gordons – Bound To Fall
- Sara Varga & Juha Mulari – Du får inte ändra på mig
- Jon Henrik Fjällgren feat. Aninia – En värld full av strider
- Axel Schylström – När ingen ser
- Alice – Running with Lions
- Loreen – Statements
The Semi-Finals will take place throughout February, with the Second Chance taking place on 4 March 2017 and then the Final on 11 March 2017.
Do you already have some favourites? Who do you want to win Melodifestivalen 2017 and represent Sweden at the 2017 Eurovision Contest? Do you think Sweden has got a shot at winning again? Tell us all your thoughts on Twitter @CelebMix.
(Photo from TT http://www.svt.se/melodifestivalen)
