VoR
Take it or leave it
In last week's thrilling edition of Melfest - youth triumphed over age, experience and the experience of shagging the aged as Liamoo, Hanna Ferm and Malou sailed to the finals, while Jan Malmsjö, Margaret and Oscar Enestad got the Swedish cold shoulder.
Will the Swedes continue their Logan's Run-esque voting patterns in Leksand? Let's have a look at the contenders...
Will the Swedes continue their Logan's Run-esque voting patterns in Leksand? Let's have a look at the contenders...
1. The Lovers of Valdarro - Somebody Wants
(Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)
Judging from the above press shot, I'd suggest that somebody wants a peroxide intervention and to give their grandma her net curtains back, but despite vaguely insufferable appearances, there's a fair bit of potential to this pair of millennial Monroes. For a start, they've got the songwriting team behind Euphoria, and their material to date suggests an electro banger is likely on the cards. They won the radio show for amateurs, which usually spells doom, but it seems unlikely Christer and co would trust them with with opening the show unless they had something decent under their statement hats.
2. Dolly Style - Habibi
(Jimmie Jansson, Palle Hammarlund, Robert Norberg)
Not so much a pop trio these days as a culturally insensitive work placement scheme, Dolly Style's lineup has gone through so many changes over the years that at this point the oldest members of the group are probably the wigs. What to make of Habibi, with its middle east-appropriating title and bewildering threat of 0% humour? Fuck knows - but if the purple haired one doesn't honour the intellectually subnormal performance tradition of her fallen sisters, I for one will be very disappointed.
3. Martin Stenmarck - Låt skiten brinna
(Uno Svenningsson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren)
Old beenie hat returns for his third attempt in six years at recapturing long-faded former glories. Even Linda Bengtzing's gotten herself a day job these days Marty, the party's over. This one was co-written by Swedish legend Uno Svenningsson, which is presumably why he's putting himself through all this again. Maybe he'll get Andreas Johnson lucky and enough of the younger artists will deliver performances of staggering incompetence to allow him to sneak into Andra Chansen. But don't hold your breath.
4. Lina Hedlund - Victorious
(Melanie Wehbe, Richard Edwards, Dino Medanhodzic, Johanna Jansson)
In an even more barren than usual year for potentially competitive schlager divas (sorry, Arja), all gay eyes over 30 are on Lina Hedlund, easily the most fabulous third of Alcazar 3.0 (sorry, Tess) to deliver this year's Party Voice-style anthem. The songwriting team isn't exactly A-list, and it's unlikely that Lina can rely on the level of goodwill that Jessica Andersson apparently commands from the wider Swedish public, so the risk of homo heartbreak is high here, but she's bound to turn out a fabulous show either way.
5. Omar Rudberg - Om om och om igen
(Omar Rudberg, Johan Lindbrandt, Robin Stjernberg, Jens Hult)
The third and final FO&O-er to go solo, Omar was initially looking doomed to be overshadowed by Oscar's hotly tipped Harold and Maude anthem. Sadly, that was not to be, so all cute little Omar needs to do is avoid the old jumbo plats and he can probably chalk this one up as a win. Robin Stjernberg has already written two Melfest winners to date, so don't be surprised if this emerges as something of a dark horse.
6. Rebecka Karlsson - Who I Am
(Rebecka Karlsson, Anderz Wrethov, Henric Pierroff)
Yet another Idol alum, 18 year old Rebecka Karlsson has a crack songwriting team and extensions that mean business, so despite the relative lack of name recognition, don't be surprised if she's one of this year's breakout competitors. With the sixth placed contenders going direkt in both of the previous semis, she'll be looking to make it three for three...
7. Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Nörrsken
(Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Niklas Carson Mattsson, Jon Henrik Fjällgren)
Is it just me or is Jon Henrik looking less like a brooding man of the woods and more like the third-billed star of a regional panto production of Aladdin with each passing year? Having made the top 3 on both of his previous outings, it's probably now or never for Sweden's favourite joiker to finally grab the win. Early reports suggest this is a more contemporary number than his previous entries, mixing his traditional sound with some Kygo-esque beats. If Sweden are ever to be convinced to send a song in their native language to Eurovision, it's probably now...
Reviews: Tomorrow
Snippets: Thursday
Show: 7pm UK Time Saturday
(Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)
Judging from the above press shot, I'd suggest that somebody wants a peroxide intervention and to give their grandma her net curtains back, but despite vaguely insufferable appearances, there's a fair bit of potential to this pair of millennial Monroes. For a start, they've got the songwriting team behind Euphoria, and their material to date suggests an electro banger is likely on the cards. They won the radio show for amateurs, which usually spells doom, but it seems unlikely Christer and co would trust them with with opening the show unless they had something decent under their statement hats.
2. Dolly Style - Habibi
(Jimmie Jansson, Palle Hammarlund, Robert Norberg)
Not so much a pop trio these days as a culturally insensitive work placement scheme, Dolly Style's lineup has gone through so many changes over the years that at this point the oldest members of the group are probably the wigs. What to make of Habibi, with its middle east-appropriating title and bewildering threat of 0% humour? Fuck knows - but if the purple haired one doesn't honour the intellectually subnormal performance tradition of her fallen sisters, I for one will be very disappointed.
3. Martin Stenmarck - Låt skiten brinna
(Uno Svenningsson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren)
Old beenie hat returns for his third attempt in six years at recapturing long-faded former glories. Even Linda Bengtzing's gotten herself a day job these days Marty, the party's over. This one was co-written by Swedish legend Uno Svenningsson, which is presumably why he's putting himself through all this again. Maybe he'll get Andreas Johnson lucky and enough of the younger artists will deliver performances of staggering incompetence to allow him to sneak into Andra Chansen. But don't hold your breath.
4. Lina Hedlund - Victorious
(Melanie Wehbe, Richard Edwards, Dino Medanhodzic, Johanna Jansson)
In an even more barren than usual year for potentially competitive schlager divas (sorry, Arja), all gay eyes over 30 are on Lina Hedlund, easily the most fabulous third of Alcazar 3.0 (sorry, Tess) to deliver this year's Party Voice-style anthem. The songwriting team isn't exactly A-list, and it's unlikely that Lina can rely on the level of goodwill that Jessica Andersson apparently commands from the wider Swedish public, so the risk of homo heartbreak is high here, but she's bound to turn out a fabulous show either way.
5. Omar Rudberg - Om om och om igen
(Omar Rudberg, Johan Lindbrandt, Robin Stjernberg, Jens Hult)
The third and final FO&O-er to go solo, Omar was initially looking doomed to be overshadowed by Oscar's hotly tipped Harold and Maude anthem. Sadly, that was not to be, so all cute little Omar needs to do is avoid the old jumbo plats and he can probably chalk this one up as a win. Robin Stjernberg has already written two Melfest winners to date, so don't be surprised if this emerges as something of a dark horse.
6. Rebecka Karlsson - Who I Am
(Rebecka Karlsson, Anderz Wrethov, Henric Pierroff)
Yet another Idol alum, 18 year old Rebecka Karlsson has a crack songwriting team and extensions that mean business, so despite the relative lack of name recognition, don't be surprised if she's one of this year's breakout competitors. With the sixth placed contenders going direkt in both of the previous semis, she'll be looking to make it three for three...
7. Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Nörrsken
(Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Niklas Carson Mattsson, Jon Henrik Fjällgren)
Is it just me or is Jon Henrik looking less like a brooding man of the woods and more like the third-billed star of a regional panto production of Aladdin with each passing year? Having made the top 3 on both of his previous outings, it's probably now or never for Sweden's favourite joiker to finally grab the win. Early reports suggest this is a more contemporary number than his previous entries, mixing his traditional sound with some Kygo-esque beats. If Sweden are ever to be convinced to send a song in their native language to Eurovision, it's probably now...
Reviews: Tomorrow
Snippets: Thursday
Show: 7pm UK Time Saturday
at Jon Henrik having the look of a regional panto star.
Hopefully she can sell the shit out of it but I'm not optimistic. It's no PARTY VOICE.
