LIVE: Melodifestivalen 2009 - semifinal 1

Here it is again. The opening included Charlotte not wanting to give up the trophy and it took some convincing from Martin Stenmarck to get it back and to Göteborg but here it is so let the show begin!

Nina Söderqvist - Tick tock: an explosive start for the show. She's on stage with black leather and four male dancers in black skirts. Pyros and wind machine complete the act that works well. Great staging, pretty good song and she's got presence on stage even if she performs in a rather theatralic way, like a real vampire.
Jonathan Fagerlund - Welcome to my life: He looks so gay it hurts and acts the way, too. If shaking your pelvis won't come naturally don't do it! A fake rock girlband is on stage with him performing this rather useless pop tune.
Shirley Clamp - Med hjärtat fyllt av ljus: the diva returns with a power ballad and a very Carola-esque act in her flowing blue dress and wind machine. A few shaky notes here and there but beautiful song and Shirley... well, Shirley is Shirley!
Scotts - Jag tror på oss: the dansband act performed their songs the danceband way. Here we got the first look at the new rule: no longer max people on stage as they have 3 female backing singers. The song's okeyish.
Emilia - You're my world: she's back with another world song after big big world. Quite nice tune but is it strong enough for Eurovision? More like some romantic comedy's soundtrack I would say. Also she has more than 6 people on stage. Pyros and sort of 60's golden dress that fits the song.
Alcazar - Stay the night: Great choreography, catchy tune, 80's neonpink that owes a lot to Madonna's Hard candy look and a heavy dance beat that owes a lot to Diana Ross' Chain reaction. The performance was much better than the song but then this is Eurovision, it's the package! Pretty fabulous at least for the first hearing! (And isn't that also what Eurovision is all about?). Let's see if Swedes get it this time....
Caroline af Ugglas - Snälla, snälla: Ok, she might be wonderful and all that but this was more like a lament. Yawn. But she did give it all....
Marie Serneholt - Disconnect me: white for her and black for the dancers in this number that looks like Helena Paparizou-Hadise and the song isn't as good as theirs.

Well, I might be overcritical here but these songs didn't impress me much. I would sent to final Alcazar and Nina, Shirley and Marie to second chance. Let's see.... The best part of the show was the presenter Petra Mede. Shame her jokes were lost to those who don't understand Swedish.... but then this IS a Swedish show for Swedish people. Like all national finals are, something eurofans tend to forget at times. Like when webcasts fail to deliver.... Here for the results now:

Oh dear, Shirley and Marie are out, along with Jonathan! What happened here? So, Alcazar, Emilia, Scotts, Nina and Caroline go on to the next round of voting.

First duel is Scotts vs Alcazar. And... Alcazar goes to final! Scotts to 2nd chance.

OMG Nina's out, too. Second duel is Emilia vs Caroline! And... Emilia goes to final and Caroline to second chance. Caroline was the international jury's choise and will therefor have also another chance... Wow, quite surprising results here. I guess most everyone agrees?