Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Sweden has its third Meloifestivalen 2018 semifinal tonight and it's still very bland. When I saw Cuba libre in the title I was expecting something great. Instead, I don't feel Cuba in it at all and I should know, I still have the Cuban suntan on my skin! It sounds like Swedish mock song with African rhythms and the ladies "dressed as Cubans" are ridiculous and more of a joke. As Cuban as Booga-loo dansa rockenrolla. ... Shame on you. Shame! Where are now those people who shout out for using Indian headpieces of Sami dresses? This is as embarassing and bad - and so wrong. Also Mendez seems to be mocking flamenco dancers. What's going on?! But at least the song is better, and not so obviously fake. Actually the only song I liked a bit in this semi. Martin Almgren - A Bitter Lullaby FINAL Barbi Escobar - Stark 7th Moncho - Cuba Libre Andra chansen Jessica Andersson - Party Voice FINAL Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän - Min d...

Anywhere else 2.549 songs sent to the national final would be a huge amount but in Sweden it's actually the lowest since 2002! And a drop of 936 since last year. But maybe it only means those unlucky ones that have sent their songs year after year, again and again have finally decided to give up? Or did simply Thomas G:son give up after winning, too, and didn't send in his usual about a zillion songs? :-) Seriously, all that matters here of course is the quality, not the quantity like in many other things in life, too.  Now the SVT jury will pick up 16 songs for the semifinals, one of them at least must come from the so called amateur selection (647 songs in total). Svensktoppen selection winner Terese Fredenwal has already her place secured and the remaining 15 places will be filled by SVT as they please; among the songs sent in or by inviting artists and songwriters directly to make the usual 32 semifinalists. The song titles and their writers will be publis...