VoR
Take it or leave it
It's Melfest time again - and the Contest feels like it might be approaching a bit of a crossroads. Terrified wolf boy Benjamin Ingrosso became the fourth photogenic male solo artist to lift the trophy in 2018, but a dismal televote score in Lisbon suggested that the Swedish formula may be looking a little stale.
With a tweaked voting system in place, could the Scandi heavyweights be ready to try something a little different this year? Here are the first batch of contenders...
1. Nano - Chasing Rivers
(Lise Cabble, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Thomas G:son, Nano Omar)
Honking manbun Nano won the televote at Melfest 2017, but was cruelly denied the ticket to Kyiv after Robin Bengtsson swept the international jury vote. His stock has taken a bit of a hit since then with tabloid scandals and no follow up hits, but he's back this year with a crack songwriting team that suggests he's not here to play. (Lise Cabble, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Thomas G:son, Nano Omar)
2. High15 - No Drama
(Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Kate Tizzard)
Ah, the dead-eyed girl group. A grand Melfest tradition stretching from Bubbles to Timoteij. Apparently they were put together for Sweden's Got Talent, so this is definitely what they want to be doing right now, and whichever one does all the vocals totally won't be drafting her tweet of resignation as soon as the first round of votes comes in. Still, with the DEBS on songwriting duties, this should be diverting, if ultimately doomed. (Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Kate Tizzard)
3. Wiktoria - Not With Me
(Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Wiktoria Johansson)
More DEBS! Goodness, does Sweden actually have any other songwriters left at this point? Anyway, old Sticky Wicky was a hot favourite in both 2016 and 2017, but both times came unstuck due to her unfortunate inability to sing without descending into aggressive Jessie J-esque bellowing. Fortunately she's gone with a ballid this year, so I'm sure total restraint is on the cards. Putting her on third is a bit of a slap in the face after her previous successes, so either the song isn't quite up to scratch or Christer and co still haven't shaken off the tinnitus...
4. Zeana feat. Anis don Demina - Mina Bränder
(Thomas G:son, Jimmy Jansson, Anis Don Demina, Pa Moudou Badjie)
Well, these two look every inch the modern face of pop culture, don't they? He's a DJ/rapper who's done stuff for Samir & Viktor, she made the early live rounds on Swedish Idol. Expect a big party song with questionable vocals and a strong whiff of obligatory brand extension. (Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Wiktoria Johansson)
More DEBS! Goodness, does Sweden actually have any other songwriters left at this point? Anyway, old Sticky Wicky was a hot favourite in both 2016 and 2017, but both times came unstuck due to her unfortunate inability to sing without descending into aggressive Jessie J-esque bellowing. Fortunately she's gone with a ballid this year, so I'm sure total restraint is on the cards. Putting her on third is a bit of a slap in the face after her previous successes, so either the song isn't quite up to scratch or Christer and co still haven't shaken off the tinnitus...
4. Zeana feat. Anis don Demina - Mina Bränder
(Thomas G:son, Jimmy Jansson, Anis Don Demina, Pa Moudou Badjie)
5. Arja Saijonmaa - Mina fyra årstider
(Göran Sparrdal, Arja Saijonmaa)
Look, I know I should be jumping for joy at the return of another batshit schlager diva of yore, but at this point they really are just wheeling them out for the on-air equivalent of a lethal injection, aren't they?. Apparently it's a romantic midtempo number about climate change. That'll go gangbusters with the post-millenial vote I'm sure.
6. Mohombi - Hello
(Alexandru Florin Cotoi, Thomas G:son, Mohombi Moupondo, Linnea Deb)
Former RedOne collaborator Mohombi had a few big hits in the early 10s with the kind of sub-Jason Derulo nonsense that included an inevitable duet with Nicole Scherzinger and the second least-tasteful sampling of Cranberries Zombie ever committed to record. He's been out of the spotlight for a while, but this should be another big party track and he's well positioned in the running order to do well.
7. Anna Bergendahl - Ashes to Ashes
(Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm, Anna Bergendahl)
Anna Bergendahl is of course Sweden's most hated woman, after betraying the public's trust and bringing shame on her country in 2010. Since then, she's kept a low profile and re-trained as a doctor. Now she's back for one last shot at redemption, and the pre-contest whisperings combined with a Semi One pimp slot suggest she might just have something tasty in the bag. Will Sweden be able to forgive and forget though?
Reviews: Today(Göran Sparrdal, Arja Saijonmaa)
Look, I know I should be jumping for joy at the return of another batshit schlager diva of yore, but at this point they really are just wheeling them out for the on-air equivalent of a lethal injection, aren't they?. Apparently it's a romantic midtempo number about climate change. That'll go gangbusters with the post-millenial vote I'm sure.
6. Mohombi - Hello
(Alexandru Florin Cotoi, Thomas G:son, Mohombi Moupondo, Linnea Deb)
Former RedOne collaborator Mohombi had a few big hits in the early 10s with the kind of sub-Jason Derulo nonsense that included an inevitable duet with Nicole Scherzinger and the second least-tasteful sampling of Cranberries Zombie ever committed to record. He's been out of the spotlight for a while, but this should be another big party track and he's well positioned in the running order to do well.
7. Anna Bergendahl - Ashes to Ashes
(Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm, Anna Bergendahl)
Anna Bergendahl is of course Sweden's most hated woman, after betraying the public's trust and bringing shame on her country in 2010. Since then, she's kept a low profile and re-trained as a doctor. Now she's back for one last shot at redemption, and the pre-contest whisperings combined with a Semi One pimp slot suggest she might just have something tasty in the bag. Will Sweden be able to forgive and forget though?
Snippets: Thursday
Show: 7pm UK Time Saturday
if anyone else wants to do it, I didn't know I was supposed to do it again.
)
