EUROVISION 2024 SWEDEN: MARCUS & MARTINUS - UNFORGETTABLE + MELODIFESTIVALEN 2024

Sweden is the host country for Eurovision song contest 2024 and they're represented by ... Norwegians. So there isn't one Swedish artist competing. Oh the irony! But as usual there's no lack of Swedish songwriters, choreographers and etc in Malmö 2024. Marcus & Martinus will perform Unforgettable, a song that was clear to win Melodifestivalen with its easily most ambitious staging and camerawork of all entries. So, all went according to SVT's plans.

Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen (22) are identical Norwegian twins. They were child stars and teenage heartthrobs causing hysteria also abroad, like Finland, before growing up and concentrating on building their adult career in Sweden.

In 2012 they won the Melodi Grand Prix Junior with To dråper vann and scored their first Top-10 hit. Three years later they released their debut album and scored a string of hits in Norway and Sweden. Second album in 2016 spread the success to Finland, Denmark and Poland. Third album came out in 2017 and new countries with success were Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In 2022 they won the Swedish Masked Singer and in 2023 they reached the second place in Melodifestivalen with Air.

So, what do I think? Marcus & Martinus are very familiar names to me but I haven't ever listened to them. Last year's Air was my favorite in Melodifestivalen and I still think it was better than Unforgettable, that feels like an evolution of that created for the staging ideas they did. It just lacks a bit of melody (like so may entries this year tbh) while it is visually rather stunning and clever. Air was also more listenable.

Our Home Jury gave Sweden mid table rankings and no one was really impressed but then again no one disliked it too much either.

Melodifestivalen 2024:

Check out all videos here

Melodifestivalen was once again very sterile affair in my opinion. Middle of the road pop songs with great production but very little heart. I don't have much will to listen those songs now that it's over. Below are the results and songs with links are the ones I cared somehow a little.

Two songs went to the final, two were kicked out, *two went to another round

where from additional two songs qualified.

Heat 1 (February 3, 2024)

1. Smash Into Pieces - Heroes are calling

2. Lisa Ajax - Awful liar

3. Elisa Lindström - Forever yours (*10th)

4. Adam Woods - Super natural (*6th)

5. Samir & Viktor - Hela världen väntar

6. Melina Borglowe - Min melodi

Heat 2 (February 10, 2024)

1. LIAMOO - Dragon

2. Maria Sur - When I'm gone

3. Dear Sara - The silence after you (*8th)

4. Fröken Snusk - Unga & fria (*3rd)

5. C-Joe - Ahumma

6. Engmans Kapell - Norrland

Heat 3 (February 17, 2024)

1. Jackline - Effortless

2. Cazzi Opeia - Give my heart a break

3. Klaudy - För dig (*9th)

4. Gunilla Persson - I won't shake (La la Gunilla) (*5th)

5. Clara Klingeström - Aldrig mer

6. Kim Cesarion - Take my breath away

Heat 4 (February 24, 2024)

1. Danny Saucedo - Happy that you found me

2. Dotter - It's not easy to write a love song

3. Albin Tingwall - Done getting over you (*7th)

4. Scarlet - Circus X (*4th)

5. Lia Larsson - 30 km/h

6. Lasse Stefanz - En sång om sommaren

Heat 5 (March 2, 2024)

1. Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

2. Medina - Que sera

3. Annica Wickihalder - Light (*1st)

4. Jay Smith - Back to my roots (*2nd)

5. Chelsea Muco - Controlla

6. Electra - Banne maj

Final (March 9, 2024)

1. Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable (jury 85 + tele 92) 177

2. Medina - Que sera (43 + 61) 104

3. Smash Into Pieces - Heroas are calling (31 + 59) 90

4. Cazzi Opeia - Give my heart a break (46 + 41) 87

5. LIAMOO - Dragon (38 + 45) 83

6. Danny Saucedo - Happy that you found me (34 + 40) 74

7. Maria Sur - When I'm gone (37 + 35) 72

8. Annika Wickihalder - Light (38 + 25) 63

9. Jackline - Effortless (40 + 21) 61

10. Jay Smith - Back to my roots (20 + 26) 46

11. Lisa Ajax - Awful liar (26 + 11) 37

12. Dotter - It's not easy to write a love song (26 + 8) 34

Comments

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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