If Spain has been doing poorly for way too long, Sweden has been an Eurovision power house. Eight times in top-7 since their only non qualification back in 2010. But...
Melodifestivalen has been going down in my book for several years and has been very predictable and therefor rather boring, safe and manufactured for way too long. Somehow they have managed however to produce winners that have made well in the contest, usually helped heavily by the juries. This next edition on paper isn't anything different but same old, same old. In both artists and songwriters. Let's have a look.
First of all there are three previous winners taking part: Anna Bergendahl (2010), Robin Bengtsson (2017) and John Lundvik (2019), each of them having other non winning participation in recent years.
Then we have Alvaro Estrella, Klara Hammarström, LIAMOO, Lillasyster, Linda Bengtzing, Malou Prytz, Lisa Ajax, Omar Rydberg and Shirley Clamp. Among songwriters the Debs, G:son, Jansson, Boström, Aagaard, Stengaard Ljungren, Bjurman, Paul Rey, Layrell Barker, Wrethov and so on and so on.... The list is the same as every year mostly.
The only amusing this is Cazzi Opeia taking part considering should she win she'd do cazzi suoi in Italia. Also the fact there's Tenori singing perhaps in Italian... How wonderful it would be Swedes made a fool of themselves by sending some pop opera to Italy? This said, there seem to quite a few songs in Swedish which is a bit refreshing. And after all this rant I wish, like every year, that there will be pleasant surprises and better songs.
As usual there are four semi-finals, and the second chance round has been changed into a full fifth semi-final with the 3rd and 4th placed songs in other semi-finals. The fun starts February 5, 2022 in Malmö and eds up March 12, 2022 in Stockholm's Friends arena. As usual.
Alvaro Estrella - Suave
Anders Bagge - Bigger than the universe
Angelino - The end
Anna Bergendahl - Higher power
Browsing Collection - Face in the crowd
Cazzi Opeia - I can't get enough
Cornelia Jakobs - Hold me closer
Danne Stråhed - Hallabaloo
Faith Kakembo - Freedom
John Lundvik - Ånglavakt
Klara Hammarström - Run to the hills
Lance Hedman - Lyckligt slut
LIAMOO - Bluffin'
Lillasyster - Till our days are over
Linda Bengtzing - Fyrfaldigt hurra!
Lisa Miskovsky - Best to come
Malin Christin - Synd om dig
Malou Prytz - Bananas
Medina - In i dimman
Niello & Lisa Ajax - Tror du att jag bryr mig
Omar Rydberg - Moving like that
Robin Bengtsson - Innocent love
Samira Manners - I want to be loved
Shirley Clamp - Let there be angels
Tenori - La stella
Theoz - Som du vill
Tone Sekelius - My way
Tribe Friday - Shut me up
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