Melodifestivalen 2015: The Final

Here we are at the end of another Melodifestivalen season! Who will take home the crown this year? I predicted Jon yesterday, but I'm not overly confident. Whatever happens, I can't wait for the voting. It's always the most exciting part of the show.

EDIT: I love Conchita Wurst. What a great winner. That male host has got to stop singing, though.

EDIT: As expected, the unofficial audience-applause-o-meter favored Jon and Mans, though Mans was the winner. He may just pull this off in the end.

SAMIR AND VIKTOR: Nope, still hate this. Though if I don't look at their smug, annoying faces, I like it just a little bit more.

* I am SO glad I will never have to see or hear Filippa after this year's MF is over...

JTR: I think I would like this song more if the vocals weren't so irritating. I have no idea why this is in the final. They should have just chopped off the first two songs.

DINAH NAH: This year's MF has been very good to breakout female performers. I still think this song is pretty basic, but at least it doesn't make me want to pull my hair out like the last two.

JON HENRIK: I really wonder what the International Juries are going to make of this one. I'm getting a feeling it might end up taking second place, now. Still love it, though.

JESSICA ANDERSSON: This feels very much like a non entity in the final. Honestly, I think she's just lucky to be here. I would be shocked if she finishes in the top half.

MANS: The predicted winner, and he may just do it. I like the song, but it does feel like it's missing something. The stage show is really the star here, and would do well at Eurovision.

LINUS SVENNING: This song has actually grown on me. I still feel like it's a cheap knockoff, but it's at least got a pleasant melody. Still, I think he will follow the classic path of a MF breakthrough and place significantly lower this year than he did last year.

ISA: This is another knockoff song that's grown on me, more because of Isa than the song itself. I'm curious what she'll come out with in the future. She feels like the big breakout of the competition this year, though I think she'll place somewhere in the middle.

MAGNUS CARLSSON: My favorite of the night, though there's no way it'll win even though it should. I just hope he places well. This is pure schlager, and he's really the only one bringing it this year.

ERIC SAADE: I hope Eric pulls an Anton Ewald and finishes surprisingly low. It would serve him right for a weak song and smug performance.

MARIETTE: I can see how others like this, but it's just not my thing. Too self-serious, I think. I don't think it'll do as well as some are thinking, either, though it will probably finish in the top half.

HASSE: This will likely get a healthy portion of the Swedish vote, but the juries are going to kill it. It's a very strange choice for the final performance of the year, but whatever... I have no ill will toward the song... it's just there.

* Wow, Filippa is not even funny in English.

* Ylvis is a really random choice for an interval act. I wish this song wasn't "comedy," because I actually like the melody and production. I can't deal with the "funny" lyrics, though.

VOTING BEGINS!
I feel like Jon could rack up some points from the Southern and Eastern block, while Mans will probably be tops with the West. But we'll see...

International Juries' 12 Points go to:
Armenia: Mans
Austria: Mans
Belgium: Mans
Cyprus: Mans
Estonia: Mans
France: Mans
Israel: Mariette
Malta: Mans
Netherlands: Mans
Slovenia: Mans
UK: Jon

Wow, that was a landslide for Mans in the juries. As it stands now, the top three are:
1. Mans
2. Mariette
3. Jon

But I'm presuming Mans has already won unless something really, really weird happens in the voting. Jon is too far behind, and could Mariette really rack up enough Swedish votes??

* Dirty Loops! I didn't know they'd be covering Undo. This is pretty cool.

Final Results!
01. Mans Zelmerlow
02. Jon Henrik
03. Mariette
04. Hasse Andersson
05. Eric Saade
06. Linus Svenning
07. Isa
08. Samir and Viktor
09. Magnus Carlsson
10. JTR
11. Jessica Andersson
12. Dinah Nah

Well, we have a winner, and it really wasn't close at all. Is it a good winner? Sure. An exciting winner? Not really. But then again, it's been a pretty unexciting year. Mans, I wish you luck in Eurovision! (But I hope there's something better in May...)

Melodifestivalen 2015: Finale Preview

Tomorrow marks the end of this year's Melodifestivalen. Ever since the artist line-up was announced last year, I just couldn't muster up any excitement. That's a shame, and I'm not sure if it's because it truly is a weak year, or that I'm just not enamored with the competition the same way I used to be. Whatever the case, I'm hoping that 2016 turns things around.

That said, the final line-up isn't actually too bad. In fact, cut the first two (horrendous) songs out and you'd have a pretty nice, very pop-oriented, final. As a reminder, here's what the running order will look like tomorrow:

1. Samir and Victor - Groupie
2. JTR - Building It Up
3. Dinah Nah - Make Me (La La La)
4. Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Jag är fri (Manne Leam Frijje)
5. Jessica Andersson - Can't Hurt Me Now
6. Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes
7. Linus Svenning - Forever Starts Today
8. Isa - Don't Stop
9. Magnus Carlsson - Möt mig i Gamla stan
10. Eric Saade - Sting
11. Mariette - Don't Stop Believing
12. Hasse Andersson - Guld och gröna skogar

Although I believe the final will be quite close, I think when it all comes down to it, it's a  Måns vs. Jon battle. I'd be fine with either one of them winning, so I don't have a problem with that. Although Måns has been way ahead of everyone on itunes for two weeks, I still think Jon is going to reap the majority of the audience votes, even though it may be a small majority. As usual, though, the juries are way harder to predict and may just decide the contest. I could see them supporting almost anyone on this list, so it's very hard to call. Even so, I'll stick my head out for some fearless predictions, as well as my personal opinion.

MY PERSONAL LIST:
1. Magnus Carlsson
2. Jon Henrik Fjällgren
3. Måns Zelmerlöw
4. Isa
5. Dinah Nah
6. Linus Svenning
7. Eric Saade
8. Hasse Andersson
9. Mariette
10. Jessica Andersson
11. Samir and Victor
12. JTR

MY PREDICTED RESULTS:
1. Jon Henrik Fjällgren
2. Måns Zelmerlöw
3. Mariette
4. Eric Saade
5. Samir and Victor
6. Magnus Carlsson
7. Dinah Nah
8. Isa
9. Hasse Andersson
10. JTR
11. Linus Svenning
12. Jessica Andersson

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat Four

Here we are at the last Heat for MF 2015. Historically, this tends to be the strongest round, and from the sounds of it this year will be no different. So I'm prepared for some heartbreak with regards to the results. Luckily, by the time it's all over we'll have the full album to enjoy.

EDIT: Sanna singing En Vogue is not something I ever imagined I'd see...

EDIT: Oh my god. Now she's rapping.... badly...

EDIT: JTR and Mans won the audience pre-applause unofficial vote, though I don't necessarily think that means much this week.

MIDNIGHT BOY: Wow, Kristoffer from Melody Club looks so different now! All I know about Midnight Boy is that I need an album, now. I don't care how he does this week. I just want more music. This is the kind of 80's pastiche I live for.

CAROLINE: What the hell was up with her intro? That aside, the song in full is not as good as I hoped it would be. I like the drama and bombast of the production, but the chorus feels kind of weak. Although she's done well in the past, I don't think this will be her night.

JTR: They seem to have a lot of support in the audience. I'm just not sold. The song itself sounds like something One Direction would have turned down. It's just too predictable and trendy for me. Plus, they're still annoying and tryhard.

HASSE: He seems to be a favorite if the odds are to be believed. Plus, a song (and artist) like this almost always makes it to the final to represent the older viewing audience. It might happen again today, but the song just isn't that great. If he gets through, it'll be based on name and genre alone. There have been SO many better dansband entries in the past.

DINAH NAH: This song could be so much better, but the production certainly is impactful, especially coming off the heels of the last entry. I don't see this doing well, though. I think Isa got all of these particular votes last week. Straight up dance/club music rarely does that well in MF, historically.

ANNIKA: Ugh. A ballad. I think this lady has a certain cache with the Swedish public because of Frozen, but the song is boring me to death. Next, please.

MANS: I like this a lot, and that staging is really, really cool. Surely it'll go direct to the final and retain its place as one of the frontrunners. As far as Eurovision-esque entries, it's probably between this and Jon's from last week (though I like Midnight Boy's song better).

PREDICTIONS:
To Final - Mans and Hasse (unfortunately)
AC - JTR and maybe Caroline? Or, in a just world, Midnight Boy

RESULTS:
Top 5 - Dinah (!), JTR, Caroline, Mans, Hasse
6th - Annika
7th - Midnight Boy (told ya it'd do poorly)

FINAL RESULTS:
To Final - JTR (ugh!), Mans
AC - Dinah (!), Hasse
Out - Caroline

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat Four - Preliminary Judgment

This is it, the final Heat that will decide if this year's competition can be salvaged or if it will go down as an unfortunate bump in the road. Let's see what this week's clips reveal!

(Listen to clips here)

1. Midnight Boy - Don't Say No
Based on the names involved, this was easily my most anticipated song of the entire competition. Based on the clip, I'm happy to say that it's my first "5" score of the year. I love everything about it. I hope it does well, but honestly it sounds too good for this year's MF so it probably won't.  5/5

2. Caroline Wennergren - Black Swan
I shouldn't like this, but it has some undeniable bombast that's really intriguing me. It sounds like Caroline Af Ugglas tackling some bluesy Jim Steinman track. Could be amazing. 4/5

3. JTR - Building It Up
I found them quite cheesy and annoying on X-Factor AU. This also sounds quite cheesy, but that fits much better in the context of MF. It also sounds very paint-by-numbers, so right now it's a pretty average score.  3/5

4. Hasse Andersson - Guld och gröna skogar (Gold and Green Forests)
I love dansband, but this is not my favorite slice of the genre. It's totally old man rock, and there's always one like it in MF each year. In such a boring year, this is actually kind of comforting. Doesn't make it good, though. 2.5/5

5. Dinah Nah - Make Me (La La La)
Why are all the decent songs in this heat? Now, this is nothing special at all, but it's a dance pop sound that has been sorely missing from this year's competition. The chorus sound catchy. I'm very curious about the verses. 3.5/5

6. Annika Herlitz - Ett andetag (One Breath)
Firmly in the "plodding ballad" territory that Ryan Tedder has unfortunately popularized. It doesn't sound as dirgey as some of them... at least there seems to be a spark of life in the performance. Still, it's nothing new or exciting.  2.5/5

7. Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes
I already like it miles better than Eric's song from week one. This is supposed to the big track of the week. It's not my favorite, but I'm SO happy that it seems to have the grand, epic sound that characterizes the best MF entries. I need to hear more to see just how much I like it. 4/5

Wow! Why the hell didn't they spread these songs out across the four weeks? This is easily, by a laughably wide margin, the strongest week this year... and that's just from hearing the clips! Finally, I'm looking forward to a MF Saturday again.

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat Three

I'm back! And hoping for a Heat that gives me at least a few songs that I'd actually want to listen to outside the context of the competition. So far, there have been about three tracks this year that have impressed me in some way. Three out of fourteen is not a very good ratio, and definitely not the way MF usually treats me. I'm probably just being extra picky this year...

EDIT: No idea what's going on. This year's MF seems to be particularly Swede-centric, without much of an appeal to the international audience... not that that's necessarily a bad thing.

EDIT: Ellen, Andreas and Jon seem to be getting the most applause at the outset, though nobody seems to be an overwhelming favorite in this heat.

ELLEN: This is SUCH a different Ellen from last year. I'm not sure how such a big change will go down with the voting public. It could easily be another Dilba. Luckily, the song's quite good, even though it never goes off the way I wish it would. It needed a dance beat so badly.

KALLE: My feed went dead for almost all of this, which sucks, but I can say that this is my kind of Swedish indie pop track. It will go nowhere, but I like it a lot... even if the singer himself is a bit of non-presence.

And of course the stream reconnects right in time for the boring skit between songs...

ANDREAS W: Why was I reminded of John Stewart as soon as I saw this guy? Regardless, he totally stole John Newman's beat and song structure. I guess he's just a fan of guys named John. I'm not really a fan of this song, though. It's just too bland and derivative.

ANDREAS J: Two Andreas's in a row? That's just poor planning. This Andreas has given us some amazing MF entries in the past. This is simply not up to par. It's an inoffensive enough ballad melodically, but isn't that hook a little depressing for Eurovision?

ISA: Well, at least this is upbeat and catchy. That's about all I can say about it. Very forgettable and bargain basement. MF deserves SO much better than this. What is up with this year? Has Sweden forgotten that it is one of the preeminent producers of pop music?

KRISTIN: I'm not sure what I was seeing in this track, based on the clip yesterday. In it's full form, this is nothing but a boring Adele rip-off. Bad... just bad. And she doesn't sound particularly great, either. Probably means that it'll go direct to the final.

JON: I guess I didn't realize just how popular this guy is in Sweden. The audience is ready to crown him before he even performs. Luckily, this is one of the better songs tonight, despite not being a pop song at all in the traditional sense. I wish it had more variation in it, though.

PREDICTIONS:
Well, for me, I liked Jon, Kalle and Ellen's tracks the best, but I'm guessing the results will end up something like this...
Final: Jon and Kristin
AC: Andreas and Andreas

* I hate Filippa SO much. As if I haven't said it enough already, MF really sucks this year.

RESULTS:
Top 5 - Kristin, Isa (!), Ellen, Jon, Andreas W
6th - Kalle
7th - Andreas J (wow, how the mighty have fallen!)

EDIT: Oh god, Kalle Moreaus... and he's not even singing. He's giving, like, a lecture?

FINAL RESULTS:
To Final: Jon and Isa (what the actual hell?)
To AC: Andreas and Kristin
Out: Ellen

Bad heat, bad year, but I kinda wouldn't mind it if Jon won the whole thing. Looks like he's in with a chance, too.

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat Three - Preliminary Judgment

Oh, Melodifestivalen. You've fallen out of my favor this year, and I find that kind of depressing. Maybe that just means it'll come back much stronger in 2016. From the sounds of it, Heat Three seems to at least be an improvement from last week' dire selection.

(Listen to clips here)

1. Ellen Benediktson - Insomnia
This is certainly a 180 from her entry last year. I think I was hoping for something a little more uptempo. I like the sound of this, but I'm not a fan of these midtempo, plodding beats that are supposed to be anthemic but just end up sounding repetitive. 3/5

2. Kalle Johansson - För din skull (For Your Sake)
I like the sound of this quite a bit. It has that classic Swedish indie feel to it, but the beat sounds uplifting and the hooks seem to be there. I don't think it'll do very well tomorrow, but the clip has piqued my interest. 4/5

3. Andreas Weise - Bring Out The Fire
This has potential to be good, but also to be quite lame. I'm underwhelmed by the melody in the hook, but at least the whole package seems to sound slightly more Eurovision-esque than what we've been dealt so far. 3/5

4. Andreas Johnson - Living To Die
I've been an Andreas fan as long as I've been a MF fan, so I was happy to see his name. Again, though, I wish this was an uptempo and not some dreary rock ballad. From the clip, it certainly seems like a lesser entry in his catalog. 2.5/5

5. Isa - Don't Stop
This reminds me a bit of Linda Sundblad mixed with Ace Wilder. The live vocals sound a bit shaky, but there's potential. Still, I don't see it going anywhere when it comes to results. 3/5

6. Kristin Amparo - I See You
This girl's tipped to do really well tomorrow. I'm not a huge fan of ballads, but I can tell that this will at least be a decent one. I'm hoping that the song explodes even more as it goes on. Key change, maybe? 3.5/5

7. Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Jag är fri (Manne Liem Frije) (I Am Free)
What? Hmmm... this is not what I was expecting. I might end up loving it, because I'm a big fan of this sound in general, but from the clip it doesn't sound like there's an actual song here... just a lot of chanting. It's definitely the red herring on the heat. I hope it's awesome. 4/5

From these samples, I'm happy that there doesn't seem to be any clunkers. I'm not finding much to be inspired by either, but I have more hope going into tomorrow than I did this time last week!

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat Two - Preliminary Judgment

Though I can't say I was too impressed with last week's heat, the songs have already grown on me and there were a few gems. Unfortunately, judging from the short clips released by SVT, this week seems to be even more uneventful than the last one.

(Listen to clips here)

1. Linus Svenning - Forever Starts Today
While I'm happy that he's gone for a more uptempo track this year, I cannot get behind Mumford and Sons style tracks, especially when they're already out of style. This genre just annoys me so much. I hope I'm proven wrong, but right now this clip sounds like an insurance commercial. 2/5

2. Emelie Irewald - Där och då med dig (There and then with you)
This sounds very, very... slow. It's almost impossible to decipher anything else from the short clip, but I guess maybe it could have some potential for ballad lovers? But I can't say I'm that interested to hear the full thing. 2/5

3. Samir and Viktor - Groupie
I'm glad this is in Swedish, because I get the feeling that the lyrics are lame as hell. Apparently the theme of this week is "sounds and catchphrases that were popular a year ago." This sounds remarkably like Linus's track with a dance beat. It gets some points for that dance beat, I guess 2.5/5

4. Neverstore - If I Was God For One Day
MF rock songs can either be ridiculously cheesy and wonderful, or plodding, serious bores. This strangely seems to have aspects of both, which makes it sound pretty uninteresting in general. 2/5

5. Marie Bergman and Sanne Salomonsen - Nonetheless
Bathroom break. 1.5/5

6. Magnus Carlsson - Möt mig i Gamla stan (Meet me in Old Town)
Thank GOD for this. In an otherwise dull-as-hell week, this sounds like it will bring some actual pop and schlager back to the competition. This is what MF is about, and although it doesn't sound jaw-droppingly amazing, at least it's a step in the right direction. 4/5

7. Mariette - Don't Stop Believing
This kind of sounds like Laleh, but without the same level of quirkiness. This could be quite good, judging from the clip. It could also turn out to be a bit of a bore. 3.5/5

Overall, I can't say I'm impressed by these clips in the slightest. I feel like Heat Two is historically the weakest each year, and I'm hoping that's the case here as well. I won't be live-blogging this, as I'll be working on Saturday. I'll probably post some thoughts when I get the chance to watch the show, though.

Melodifestivalen 2015: Heat One

It begins for another year, and I'm honestly not sure what to expect because I just haven't been following the contest as closely as I usually do. The previews yesterday didn't knock me out, but then again they were ridiculously short, so there is still a lot of room for a pleasant surprise. I think what I'm most hoping for this year is a brand new artist that just takes the competition by storm.

EDIT: God, Conchita Wurst was such an awesome Eurovision winner last year. That was an epic contest.

EDIT: I'm not familiar with this Robin Paulsson guy, but I'm glad Sanna's co-hosting this year. I just hope it means a lot of musical moments in between the actual performers.

EDIT: Unofficial audience applause o'meter is not surprising. Eric and Jessica seem to be the favorites, with the weird opera duo getting some love too.

MOLLY: Awwwwkwwwaaard. She seemed a little.... drunk... in the opening clip? The song doesn't really do anything for me. It's just not my preferred style at all, although she's obviously very talented and it's well produced. The stage, however, is beautiful to look at this year. It seems a bit smaller, but with a lot of depth to it.

DANIEL: I liked his song with Pain Of Salvation a few years back, but that doesn't mean that these are the types of songs I want in this competition. And, this is not as good as the PoS entry. It's pretty, and fragile, and nice. But it's also just kind of... there. That stage, though!!

RICKARD and ELIZE: This is easily my favorite so far, but I also feel like it could have been so much more. It seems oddly lifeless on stage, especially when it sounds so epic on paper. I think it needed a higher tempo and much, much more impactful production. Wasted opportunity.

DOLLY STYLE: Oh my god, the cheese. Why do I love this so much? It's so STUPID, yet it has everything the prior three acts were missing. The lyrics are beyond cringey... so bad that they're somehow good. I would be shocked if this got through, but I'd also love it.

BEHRANG MIRI: Although this is not what I was hoping for from Behrang at all, I don't hate it. I love the production and the hook is alright. The rap, I could leave or take, which is probably not a good thing. Ooh, and that final chorus bumped it up a bit. For now, it's this and Dolly Style for me. (And they couldn't be more different, right?)

JESSICA: This is the song that made Jessica cry? Sorry, but it's pretty basic... an unending list of cliches. I like Jessica. She's given us some great pop in the past, but this is not her best. She'll probably take one of the top four spots on name recognition, but I can't say anything about this performance is that exciting.

ERIC: Unpopular opinion alert: Eric Saade has always annoyed me. I like some of his music, but his voice grates and his personality and facial expressions irk me. Still, this is a guaranteed finalist based on its weak competition alone. The song is actually quite good. The live vocals don't sound completely on-key, though. And "sting" sounds like "stink," so there's that...

My top 4, in a very weak heat:
1. Dolly Style (!)
2. Behrang Miri
3. Eric Saade
4. Rickard and Elize

My fearless predictions:
1. Eric Saade
2. Jessica
3. Behrang Miri
4. Molly
(Though honestly, I have much less confidence about this than I usually do)

Actual TOP 5:
Dolly Style (yes!!), Behrang Miri, Rickard and Elize, Eric, and Jessica.
6th place: Molly
7th place: Daniel

Good results so far!

EDIT: The Dolly girls remind me of E's The Girls Next Door reality series. Maybe that's why I find them somehow charming. I think Behrang's song may end up being my actual favorite this week, though.

FINAL RESULTS:
To Final - Eric, Jessica (so, no surprise at all, then)
To AC - Dolly Style, Behrang
Out - Rickard and Elize

Final Thoughts - Boring heat, boring result. Sweden better do more in the coming weeks, because so far this is a disappointment.

Melodifestivalen 2015 Heat One: Preliminary Judgment

It's weird. Melodifestivalen is one of the best pop periods of each year, yet my excitement level is not nearly as high this year as it usually is. Maybe it's because there are less songs, or maybe it's because none of my favorite artists are competing this year... but I'm entering with lowered expectations. Hopefully, this'll mean that it will be easier to blow me away! As always, these reviews are based on the rehearsal clips of the songs provided by svt and my opinions may change when I hear them in full tomorrow.

(Listen to clips here)

1. Molly Pettersson Hammar - I'll Be Fine
I get that this is probably supposed to capture the Adele audience (it's way too late for that, btw), but it sounds much too adult contemporary for my tastes based on this clip. Not want I want to see in MF. 2/5

2. Daniel Gildenlöw - Pappa
Ummmm..... I just don't know. I like the pensive Swedish ballad as much as the next guy, but I can't tell a thing based on this short of a clip. It doesn't sound particularly memorable, but maybe it gets better? 2.5/5

3. Rickard Söderberg And Elize Ryd - One By One
At least this is the kind of bonzo MF concoction that I look forward to. Dang, why are these clips so short this year? I can't make out much, but it does sound like their entry will be memorable. I always love a bit of opera. 3/5

4. Dolly Style - Hello Hi
So far, this is the only track I can decipher a hook from, based on the sample. I doubt it'll do that well on the night, but I think this will be one of my highlights of the first week just because it sounds so cheesy and poppy. 4/5

5. Behrang Miri (ft. Victor Crone) - Det rår vi inte för (We Don't Control It)
I LOVED his last entry, but this is definitely a different sound. I like that it seems kind of anthemic, but I wish that the tempo was a little more upbeat. But unlike the first couple of entries, I'm actually excited to hear the rest of it tomorrow. I think I'll end up liking the chorus more than the verses. 4/5

6. Jessica Andersson - Can't Hurt Me Now
Every contest needs a big ballad. Hell, last year the big ballad won. I'm not sold on this yet, but ballads usually can't be expressed very well through a short clip. I'm willing to give it a chance, especially since I've like Jessica's entries in the past, but I can't say this sample is exciting me very much. 3/5

7. Eric Saade - Sting
This is basically a guaranteed qualifier, so I'm happy it's uptempo and seems to be interestingly produced. That said, I'm not getting much from this clip. Eric's vocals tend to grate (on me, at least), and the production is what catches my ear the most at this point. We'll see! 3.5/5

Well, I'm excited to hear the Dolly Style, Behrang and Eric songs in full, especially since you can't tell anything from these lame clips. My somewhat ambivalent feeling around the contest as a whole remains, so I'm hoping the performances will reignite the schlager spark!

Melodifestivalen 2014: The Final

This is a weird one. Last year everything seemed already etched in stone at this point of the competition, but we ended up with a big surprise winner. This year, things seem to be a little more flexible, yet I don't think the winner will be much of a surprise at all. I feel like it's going to be Ace vs. Sanna. But as we learned in 2013, anything can happen when it comes to the juries.

* Always nice to see Charlotte Perrelli, even if she's singing Disney. Maybe she should host next year?

* It sounded like the announcer announced Yohio as "Loreen." Maybe it's just me.

* Seeming like Oscar, Linus and Ace are getting the most audience love, but then again I'm not sure the audience knew they were supposed to be clapping when Yohio and Anton first showed up.

ANTON: I can't help but think that, with a stronger song that catered more to his vocal range, he could have walked this final. It's a shame, as I think he'll struggle to finish in the top three this year. His vocals are better than two weeks ago, though. Still, it's no Beggin', and that's what's going to hurt him the most. You just can't come back with a weaker song.

ELLEN: She's the real red herring of this year's final. I like the song. It's pleasant. It just doesn't jibe. She may win some votes with it, though, just for the fact that she's got no direct competition. But SVT's given her the death slot. Never a good sign.

ALCAZAR: Talk about a change of tempo! Out of the ten acts, these guys would be my choice to win today's final, even though it's not their best song. I would just love something so campy and Abba-esque to represent Sweden. I think they'll probably end up 3rd or 4th in the results, unfortunately. Weirdly, I think the live version of this is better than the studio version.

OSCAR: Another song I like a lot. I wish his live vocals were better, but you simply can't deny the strength of that chorus. Now watch him finish middle of the pack and come back next year with a weaker song. Seems to be the pattern.

LINUS: I wouldn't be surprised if this guy finished higher than most are predicting. The juries probably won't like him, but I bet his televote is pretty strong. The song's grown on me as well. I love how this is the third Kempe song in a row. That guy owns MF.

HELENA: I can't muster the excitement for this song like everyone else seems to. I don't dislike it. It just doesn't do anything for me. In the battle of the divas, I guess I prefer Sanna. She does give it her all, though.

YOHIO: Last year, when he was the presumed frontrunner, I thought his song was incredibly weak. This year he's got one of my favorite entries of the competition, yet nobody seems to be talking about him. I would love to see this surprise. I doubt it will. Still, the televote should help him quite a bit. I do hate that he does these great pop/rock numbers on MF and then his albums are filled with absolute, grungy/screamy crap. Kinda feels like he's just using this competition.

SANNA: I've come around with this song over the last few weeks. I've always loved her, but I liked Empty Room better. However, this would be a worthy winner for Sweden. The moment the second chorus kicks in, it absolutely takes off. If it truly is between Sanna and Ace, I vote for Sanna.

PANETOZ: I feel like they're destined for a finish somewhere towards the bottom. Any other year and they might stand out more. The quality's too high. It's a fun festive song, nothing more.

ACE: It's definitely the "cool" song of the final, but I don't think it's the best. I like her, though, and I'm happy to see that this has been a great launching pad for her. Personally, I think she'd do better not to win and focus her attention on a great album. Eurovision can really be a double-edged sword for an artist like her. But she's in with a major chance, so we'll see how things go.

* Getting the International Jury scoreboard ready below. Excited! These are the votes that can really change things up.

* You simply CAN'T beat an Abba tribute. Makes up for all the crappy intervals this year.

* Wow, I am loving all the former winners coming out to salute the best. Wish Loreen would have been there, though...

* Edit: That baker's fingernails are disgusting!

RESULTS - INTERNATIONAL JURIES
Denmark - 12 points: Ace
Estonia - 12 points: Linus
France - 12 points: Alcazar!!
Germany - 12 points: Linus (woah!)
Israel - 12 points: Ace
Italy - 12 points: Ace
Malta - 12 points: Helena
Netherlands - 12 points: Ace
Russia - 12 points: Ace (and of course they gave nothing to Alcazar...)
Spain - 12 points: Sanna (finally!)
UK - 12 points: Alcazar (haha yes!)

So we've got:
1. Ace
2. Sanna
3. Alcazar
and poor Anton in last place....
Still hoping for a Sanna or Alcazar win, but I feel like Ace has it pretty much wrapped up.

* Weird that they're letting the public vote after the jury selections were revealed. I don't think they did this last year, and it could definitely change things now that we know who the frontrunners are.

FINAL RESULTS:

The winner is...
1. Sanna!!  (by. two. freaking. points.)
2. Ace
3. Alcazar
4. Helena
5. Linus
6. Yohio
7. Ellen
8. Oscar
9. Panetoz
10. Anton (!)

FINAL THOUGHTS:

A deserving winner, I'd say. This has gotta feel like sweet justice after Charlotte squeaked by over Sanna in the 2008 final. What an incredibly close victory, though. I can't remember one being this tight. The biggest surprise for me is Anton's last place finish with both the juries and the voters. Let that be a lesson to next year's artists: don't come back with a crap song. Still hoping for that Anton album that surely must be in the works.

Melodifestivalen Favorites: Lena Philipsson - Det gör ont

I have a lot of work to do when it comes to catching up with Lena Philipsson's back catalog. She's been around since the late 80's and most of her stuff from back then is English-language, high energy dance/club music. In the past decade or so, she's returned to singing in Swedish. This song, the winner of Melodifestivalen 2004, happens to have been released in both languages. When I think of epic, classic all-out schlager that's actually won the competition in its modern incarnation, this is really the sterling example. I mean, it's just pure, unadulterated joy. It's the kind of song that, to me, exists solely because of things like MF and Eurovision, and it's the reason why I'm so grateful for this platform. Too much of music is trying to be "cool" or "serious" or "deep." But you know what? I take this very seriously, I find it effortlessly cool and in my opinion, there is something very deep about the blitz a sugar rush like this gifts its listener.

Melodifestivalen Favorites: Linda Bengtzing - E det fel på mej?

In the annals of Melodifestivalen history, there is certainly more than a few schlager queens. They're each fantastic in their own way and bring something different to the competition, but the one we can always count on to bring the most energy is the human dynamo herself, Linda Bengtzing. I'm convinced there is no other singer in Sweden who can sell a song as completely as Linda. It helps that she routinely works with catchy-as-sin pop songs that worm their way into your brain no matter what language you speak. Unfortunately, her entry this year didn't make it to the final, but E det fel på mej was one of the many that did (this one, back in 2011). As is characteristic of her, it's a bundle of raw energy funneled into one intense jolt of pop music.

Melodifestivalen Favorites: Roger Pontare - Silverland

This is the kind of song that could only come out of something like Melodifestivalen. Roger Pontare has actually represented Sweden twice at Eurovision, but this song, which jut missed out on the final in 2006, is my absolute favorite of his. His music is an interesting mix of folk, new age, tribal, pop and big, epic, ridiculous schlager. Silverland starts out like the theme song to Survivor before moving into a huge We Will Rock You-type stomp. Despite my comparisons, it actually sounds quite unlike anything else you're likely to hear. It was probably just too weird for the final, but it holds a very special place in my collection. I love over the top stuff like this that isn't afraid to be different.

Melodifestivalen Favorites: Magnus Carlsson - Live Forever

"All the stars in heaven will shine for me"

Leading up to the 2014 final this Saturday, I thought I'd flash back to some of my favorite Melodifestivalen songs this week, starting with one from the 2007 contest. I was first lured to MF in 2007 due to my love of the Ark, who went on to win the whole thing that year. I still remember the horribly grainy video online, buffering every few seconds. In that sense, it was a bit of a slog to get through the broadcast, but I hardly noticed. I was so enraptured with the idea of Melodifestivalen. As an American, I had nothing to compare it to. In fact, I'd only discovered Eurovision one year before, when I'd been living in the UK. I remember that 2007 final being quite a strong one, but I was definitely surprised and annoyed that this little gem didn't make it through (it placed fifth in its heat). Live Forever is some euphoric synth pop. It's like A-Ha's Take On Me on steroids and would have made one hell of a winner. I still listen to it quite a bit.

Melodifestivalen Week - Looking at the Final

I thought I'd focus on Melodifestivalen all this week, leading up to the final on Saturday. Before I get into some of my favorite MF songs (past and present) over the next few days, let's look at what this weekend's final will look like, in the order the artists will perform:

1. Anton Ewald - Natural
2. Ellen Benediktson - Songbird
3. Alcazar - Blame It On The Disco
4. Oscar Zia - Yes We Can
5. Linus Svenning - Bröder
6. Helena Paparizou - Survivor
7. Yohio - To The End
8. Sanna Nielsen - Undo
9. Panetoz - Efter solsken
10. Ace Wilder - Busy Doin' Nothin

It's an interesting (and strong) line-up, and marks the first time in awhile where I genuinely like every single song. I can't say there's an entry I can get passionate about this year (like Ulrik's in 2013 or Loreen's in 2012), but I wouldn't be disappointed with any of these acts winning.

I feel like the public votes will probably end up going to mostly Sanna and Ace, with a few others having an outside chance as well. It's the jury vote that will really decide things. As of today, I'm feeling like Sanna still has this sewn up. I wasn't too happy about that a week or two ago, as I thought she had WAY stronger entries in the past, but then I heard the recorded studio version of Undo and it all clicked for me. I wouldn't mind seeing her win. Not my favorite, but at least it would be a worthy winner. And I love her.

That said, even though my two favorite songs of the year aren't in the final, here's what I would vote for if it was up to me:

1st - Alcazar - Blame It On The Disco
2nd - Yohio - To The End
3rd - Oscar Zia - Yes We Can
4th - Anton Ewald - Natural
5th - Sanna Nielsen - Undo
6th - Linus Svenning - Bröder
7th - Ace Wilder - Busy Doin' Nothin
8th - Panetoz - Efter solsken
9th - Helena Paparizou - Survivor (sorry! I know a lot of folks are fans!)
10th - Ellen Benediktson - Songbird

Melodifestivalen 2014 - Andra Chansen

Here we are in the second chance round and, whereas the main competition is looking ever-less competitive (it's going to be Sanna or Ace, surely), this round feels like anybody's game. Of the eight, Helena has to have the best chance going in, but Andra Chansen has a history of being pretty surprising.

Personally, Martin's song is my favorite tonight by a mile, but I doubt he'll find his way through.

Edit: Not a fan of this opening.

1. AMMOTRACK - Still not much of a fan of this song.

2. LINUS - This has grown on me quite a bit. Wouldn't mind it going through.

3. JEM - This song's grown on me as well. I just feel that someone like Linus could edge them out.

4. STATE OF DRAMA- Like this one too, but I don't think it'll go anywhere.

5. ELLINORE - Don't get it. Pleasant song, but no stage presence and not much of a voice, either.

6. MARTIN - I ADORE this song. I have my doubts about it going through, but I would be ecstatic if it did.

7. HELENA - I've never been as enamored with this as many others, but I think it'll make the final. I wouldn't be upset if it did.

8. OUTTRIGGER - I don't hate this as much as I first did, and actually if they didn't go into the horrible screamy part, I probably wouldn't hate it at all. Still don't want it in the final, though.

My Predictions (in order of likeliness for making it through):
1. Helena
2. Linus
3. JEM
4. Martin
5. Outtrigger
6. Ellinore
7. State Of Drama
8. Ammotrack

Still, this is obviously a SHOT IN THE DARK

EDIT: Okay, this is the first time I've liked the male host all year. Of course, it took some drag...

RESULTS:
Top 5 - Martin, Outtrigger, Helena, State Of Drama, Linus
(why they're doing a top five this round, I don't know)

RESULTS II:
First Duel - Outtrigger vs. Helena (this could be deadly...)
I guess we can assume that this is the 1st vs 4th place duel and Helena was first? 

Second Duel - Linus vs. Martin
Well, at least I love both songs, but I'm sorry to see one kicked out. I hope Martin wins, though!

RESULTS III:
Through to the final - Helena and Linus!
(sad for Martin, but at least Outtrigger didn't go through)

Oh, and by the way.... who predicted this result? That's right, me! haha

Josef Johansson - Hela Natten

There's one in Melodifestivalen every year. I'm talking about that jaw-droppingly awesome piece of pop that, for some inextricable reason, finishes towards the bottom of the voting line-up. I'm thinking about epics like Magnus Carlsson's Live Forever, Melody Club's The Hunter, Alcazar's Headlines and Charlotte Perrelli's The Girl. These usually find their justice on the charts, where they earn more success than they did on the show. Josef Johansson's Hela Natten is one of these cases. Honestly, I would have liked to see it win the whole thing. Perhaps if it hadn't directly been competing against Anton Ewald, it would have found more support. It's a gargantuan slab of pop music, complete with a background choir reminiscent of some of Michael Jackson's best ballads. Josef himself also seems like a potentially interesting pop star. I hope the track's success on itunes spurs him on to make more music, because if he can keep churning out masterpieces like this, the future should be very bright. Plus, on a selfish note, whenever I hear music this affecting, I desperately want more of it.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Melodifestivalen 2014: Heat Four

I'm back, ready to delve into the fourth and last heat of this year's Melodifestivalen. My hopes are high, and I'm a bit worried about what the results will be, but I'm also so excited for the album to finally be released.

* I like how these opening bits are getting more and more elaborate (if only to cover up the boring hosts)

* The unofficial applause-o-meter gives Linda and Anton the edge, but barely. The crowd was hardly cheering at all! For anyone!

ALCAZAR: Oh yeah, I love the catwalk intro for them. This type of camp is necessary when you've got so many acts that are just kinda... dull. As for the song, I LOVE IT. They're just in a different class when it comes to the type of music they perform. I just hope Sweden isn't sick of this kind of cheesy pop, because it's a pretty massive song.

IDA: Does the background music in these painting segments remind anyone else of Harry Potter? This song is so much better than most of the "rock" that's been in the contest this year, but I still don't feel like they have a chance of qualifying. If anything, I hope they steal votes away from Ammotrack. As it went on, the song grew on me quite a bit. I'll be playing this :)

JANET LEON: I might be in the minority, but I kind of feel like she shouldn't have come back after the bad placement of her entry last year. Since she did, she definitely should have had a stronger song than this. To me, this is just SO vanilla and boring, like a bad X-Factor winner's song. Vocals don't sound good either...

AMMOTRACK: I'm worried. We managed to mostly avoid the boring "rock" acts triumphing last week, but I don't feel like we can get that lucky twice. On the plus side, this is miles better than that horrible Echo song last week, but I just don't want it to take a spot from one of the big pop acts. And I feel like it might.

JOSEF JOHANSSON: I know nothing about this guy, but I loved the clip of his song. The full thing's just as good, and a really nice surprise. I'm also kind of obsessed with his weird outfit. I predict that he could end up being a (somewhat) shock top four qualifier on the strength of the song alone, kind of like Robin last year.

LINDA BENGTZING: A lot of love for this lady. I almost wish she'd win the whole thing just because she probably wants it so badly. On another note, this sign language bit before her performance is not funny at all. Linda, on the other hand, is on fire (as usual). The song isn't quite up there with her classics, but it's still very good and you've gotta admire her constant oomph. Also, I think Josef worked his way into her back-up singer group.

ELLINORE HOLMER: That has got to be the most... creative... spelling of a first name I have seen in awhile. The song itself is hopelessly boring and unfortunately the vocals just aren't there (which would be okay if the song was better). Seventh or Eighth place, easy.

ANTON EWALD: He's carrying the frontrunner status on his back just like Ulrik did last year, which can be a blessing but more often a curse. This song isn't as good as last year's, which is a shame. Oh WAIT... it really kicked up in the second half. Still not as good as Beggin, but I like it, and I want to see him succeed.

PREDICTIONS:
Top 5 - Anton, Josef, Ammotrack, Alcazar, Linda
Top 2 - Anton and Josef (I've got a big feeling about this one)
AC - Ammotrack, Alcazar
Out - Linda
(though I would love Ammotrack to take that 5th place - or lower)

RESULTS:
Top 5 - Anton, Linda, Ammotrack, Ellinore (WTF?), Alcazar
6th - IDA
7th - Josef (wow my feeling was WAY off base)
8th - Janet

* What is with all these downtempo, acoustic interludes this week? Isn't MF supposed to be fun?

* I swear, if Ellinore makes it past 5th place, I will be incensed

RESULTS II:
Top 2 - Anton, Alcazar
AC - Ammotrack, Ellinore (I. just. don't. get. it.)
Out - Linda :(

Melodifestivalen 2014 Heat Four: Preliminary Judgment

This is the big one. More often than not, the winner of the whole sh'bang comes from the final heat of Melodifestivalen. And even putting that aside, this is the strongest heat this year by a mile... on paper. Will the actual songs live up to the promise? Let's take a look...

(Listen to clips here)

1. Alcazar - Blame It On The Disco
This is exactly the thing I'm wanting from Alcazar. It sounds a lot like Stay The Night, their entry from a few years ago. I'm not sure if it'll end up as strong melodically, but the sound of this clip is quite promising. 4/5

2. I.D.A. - Fight Me If You Dare
This is just kind of weird. It sounds so... messy? I can't tell if it's great or absolute crap. I'm leaning towards the latter, but there are pieces that seem sort of promising. Either way, I doubt it'll make much of a dent in the competition. 2.5/5

3. Janet Leon - Hollow
This has a faster tempo than I expected. Still, from the clip I think I preferred her entry last year. That didn't do so well for her, so I don't see this improving things much. It's fine, but doesn't sound like anything special. 2.5/5

4. Ammotrack - Raise Your Hands
Please, please don't let this take a spot in the top four. Why the hell are these types of songs part of the competition? It's just not my thing at all. And I love rock music, but when it's sung by people who can actually sing! Not just growl their way through a song... 1.5/5

5. Josef Johansson - Hela natten (All Night)
This is more like it. Though I'm not sure about his vocals yet, I love the big production on this. It sounds kind of like a cross between Ulrik and Robin's songs from last year. 4/5

6. Linda Bengtzing - Ta mig (Take Me)
I was predisposed to love this, just based on her history in the competition. From the clip, it doesn't sound as strong as most of her past hits, but I can see it totally growing on me once I hear the full thing. I definitely love the beat, but not as sure about the chorus. 4/5

7. Ellinore Holmer - En himmelsk sång (A heavenly song)
Last week we had a "simple song," this week it's a "heavenly" one. I think I preferred last week's, and even then I wasn't much of a fan. As a ballad, it just seems hopelessly boring. Her vocals don't sound all that amazing, either. 1.5/5

8. Anton Ewald - Natural
The entry I was looking forward to the most. This sounds a LOT like his entry last year, and has the potential to be just as good if he gets a handle on the vocals. That's what worries me the most. Either way, I'll likely be playing this a lot. 4/5

So, really hit or miss this week. We've got the very strong pop (Alcazar, Anton, Linda, Josef), which I would love to be the top four, and... the rest. I think Anton's a safe bet, and Alcazar will probably slide in there somewhere. I'm worried about Ammotrack.

Melodifestivalen 2014 Heat Three: Preliminary Judgment

Hoping for a bit of a rebound in quality this week. So far I'm not sure we've heard the winner for 2014. I'm thinking that victor will eventually be plucked from next week's Heat Four, but what's in store for us this Saturday?

(Listen to clips here)

1. Outrigger - Echo
Hate. Hate. HATE. This has no place in MF. I'd hesitate to even call it music. Easily the single worst thing we've heard this year, and probably last year too. 0/5

2. EKO - Red
I really like the sound of this woman's voice. Kinda Kate Bush-esque. The song sounds very nice, too. Not sure it's one fo this specific contest, but I can imagine playing it quite often outside the confines of MF. 3.5/5

3. Oscar Zia - Yes We Can
The hook sounds pretty damn catchy and I'm definitely a fan of the production. Not sure about the verses yet, but if he's got a good performance to go along with this, I think I'll love it. 4/5

4. Shirley Clamp - Burning Alive
There seems to be a lot of drama around this one. I can't quite tell if the melody's very strong, but the general sound is promising and she sounds great. I'll be cautiously optimistic about this one, too. 3.5/5

5. State Of Drama - All We Are
I didn't like their song last year at all. This sounds a bit better, but still very, very generic... like they were trying to write a song by Fun. That said, the galvanizing production sounds nice. 3/5

6. CajsaStina Åkerström - En enkel sång (A simple song)
Basically, it's "Songbird" Part Two. Her voice is lovely, the song seems pleasant, but I can't find myself getting all that excited over it. That could change the more I hear it. 3/5

7. Ace Wilder - Busy Doin' Nothing
I really like this girl, but this sounds kind of like a mess. Another case of very little melody and overly busy production trying to make up for it. A pity, because I was looking forward to her entry. 2.5/5

8. Dr. Alban and Jessica Folcker - Around The World
Meh. Nothing horrible, nothing blazingly special. I wish I was more excited by the clip. Maybe it'll amount to more in full. Right now, it sounds pretty forgettable. 2.5/5

Ugh. I hope they're saving the best for last, because even though I like a few of these clips, I'm not really getting inspired (and who the hell let entry #1 in the room?). Based on name recognition, I think State Of Drama and Shirley may get through. I hope Oscar and EKO can make a dent. Unfortunately, there'll be no live blog tomorrow as I'll be working during the contest, but I'll be back for Heat Four!

Also, today is Alienhits' Eighth Anniversary!! Freaking hell, I've been at this awhile :)