On Saturday night he shocked the Melodifestivalen favourites by winning the international jury vote and walking away with the winner’s trophy.
And moments afterwards “I Can’t Go On” singer Robin Bengtsson was still in awe of what had just unfolded inside Friends Arena when he spoke with wiwiblogger Tobias.
“I’m shocked and I’m surprised and, of course, super happy and thankful,” he said, visibly dazed.
Following the jury vote and the revelation of the majority of the televotes, producers cut to a side-by-side of Robin and Nano — one of the pre-contest favourites.
“I was just sitting there biting my nails and my heart was pounding 200 miles an hour,” Robin says of those tense seconds. “It was the most nervous moment of my life.”
Swedes have made much of the fact that the public didn’t choose the winner, with many saying the international juries have too much power.
What does Robin think pushed him ahead with the foreign judges?
“I don’t know,” he says. “I love the song. I think it’s a great song and the whole package they liked — from walking in on back stage and the treadmills. It brought something new to the competition and perhaps that’s what they liked.”
Given the intense competition he faced in Sweden — including from third and fourth place finishers Jon Henrik Fjällgren feat. Aninia and Mariette — Robin can be forgiven for focusing on the songs at home rather than thinking ahead to Eurovision.
Has he listened to any of them? “Not really. Only thing I know is there some kind of gorilla involved.”
He says the first thing he’ll do on Sunday morning is drink some water. Sounds like someone had a long night of celebrations planned.
But he’ll get back to work soon enough.
“We have to summon the team and talk about what we’re going to do in Ukraine, and maybe change a few things and maybe don’t.”
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Sweden needs to be reminded about Malena Ernman back in 2009.
Yes, you guys have the strongest national selection by far, but we’ll be happy to puke back in your face this crap you are trying to shove down our throats.
You had way better entries this years and we are not feeling this Justin Timberlake wannabe.
This is not as good as the past few Swedish entries.
I don’t see this making the top 10 at Eurovision.
@Marc But.. if someone like Måns comes along then there’s no problem! Haha! The thing is that someone also needs to stand out among the others. This year so many could take the trophy. It was obvious before people even started to vote. But I agree that the app IS a problem, especially when kids find something fun and teenage girls vote for cute guys hehe.. They probobly give five hearts to everyone they like. I want viewers that are voting with app to be forced to rank five acts. Well.. something like that. That means you have to wait… Read more »
@Milla, you are from Sweden and you know how the App works.
We saw it last year, and this year as well.. with this system is impossible to have a runnaway winner.. it makes impossible to have gaps and overtake the jury’s favourite. Pretty simple to understand.
Bjorkman should choose App or Juries. Both don’t work well together.
He is so confident and such a humble person who knows his goals and doesn’t care what other think. Respects others opinions but has own goal and believes in himself and own team.
In my opinion it`s better option than Nano. This song is catchy and optimistic.
My top 39:
https://youtu.be/WqQ60h_77c8
The best song selected so far! By a mile…
Can’t say I’m very excited with this year’s Nordic selection. I love Finland. But all the other entries, though not horrible and sung by good performers, leave me cold (pun not intended).
On a totally unrelated note, am I the only one who sees a little something of Cillian Murphy in Robin? Something in the eyes…
Calm down everyone. You don’t want Sweden to win anyway so why so upset? I like our song, and though it won’t get close to winning, it hopefully will end up top 10.
However, I wish we could send something super fresh, like Belgium. I’m in love with their song and think it’s miles ahead of all the rest!
Sweden will win ESC2017! This song is really contemporary!
Sweden should keep the app, it gives a voice to its citizens, but give up international jury.
The treadmills: “It brought something new to the competition and perhaps that’s what they liked.”
Something new ? He’s obviously forgotten “Never Forget” circa 2008
Also, let me remind y’all that whenever Sweden’s winner has been decided by the juries, they TANKED at the contest (2005, 2008 and 2013). Even Anna Bergendahl was 9th in her semi’s televote, while Charlotte was 12th and only qualified for the final through the jury wildcard. I’m not expecting Robin to flop, but I’m not expecting him to win Norway’s televote either.
His personality is pretty dull, and he lacks charisma. His song is nice, but just “nice”, and the performance is well-staged. The hype and pre-contest promo will be enough for Sweden to achieve a decent result, but I can’t see his song winning (not like any of the other Melfest 2017 songs could win the contest, anyway). I just don’t like how the international juries decided his victory, but I guess that’s how it’s going to be from now on since the app voting is so spread out. Remember when the televote winner used to have 100+ points from televote?… Read more »
Racel, it was the internationel jury that chose Robin for sweden. The swedish people woted for Nano and then Wiktoria. Robin was the third coice for the swedish people!
brunowskii, flop again?
Well, this is’t my or the swedish peoples favorite but I hope it will go to the final and perhaps top 10! But flop again? I think we have done great. Many top 10 and have been in the final almost every year. I wonder what a flop is for you? That sweden doesen’t win? Well then almost every country flop every year.
He’s hot <3
Sweden stands a good chance to win ESC again with this great song!
This is Justin Timberlake, without the talent. Sweden sent a novelty act las year with Frans, I’m surprised they went back to sending the usual cheap pop thing…
Wiktoria goes to my iPod, and Sweden joins the pack of forgettable entries in my ranking. 😉
@Oli
HaHaHaHaHa no.
Sweden will not be in the final and Nano was better, his song was genuine, authentic.
International jury is never bold.
I feel like it would be really awkward if the singers met each other and they’d never even bothered to listen to each other’s songs beforehand. Most countries have already chosen their songs. Better get listening Robin! The song with the gorilla is amazeballs
Sweden should thank the international jury for making them favorite for the win one more year. Nano couldnt sind and his song was nothing special. Robin, on the other hand, will apeal more viewrs from Europe. I wish we could have had an international jury in Germany (or any kind of jury)
No, he was not “toally out of the radar”. His odds shortened after thursday’s or friday’s rehearsals. And the talk about that juries did it for Sweden is bull! It’s not like Nano was a runaway winner with the televotes lol!
Not sure what the drama is over the jury vote this year. The televote was pretty tight (read: unclear), and the jury wanted Robin. This isn’t anything like, say, 2013 when Robin Stjernberg won thanks to a strong jury vote despite Yohio carrying a huge lead on the televote.
As for the song, ain’t a huge fan of it, but it’ll do to break up the ballads in the first semi at least.
Most boring song they’ve sent in years. Won’t make it to the final, IMO. Dull as ditchwater.
If next year esc will go to Italy and the presenter will force the foreign points presenters to speak italian like Toto Cutugno did, I hope somebody will have the …stamina… to give the deserved answer.
Oops ! … International Jury … Did It Again
Sweden will flop again. Yeah I said Sweden…. hey where are you Anna Bergendahl?
he was totally out of the radar leading up to the finals but i ain’t mad that he won.
curious how his performance will translate to kyiv. he probably need to remove one or two backup dancers and get some backing vocalist instead.
He’s cute but has the personality of a wet biscuit. He has zero charisma or personality. The nod he does during the dancing is SO cringe.