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The first semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2018 takes place Saturday in Karlstad. On Thursday the first snippets and rehearsal clips of the seven competing act’s songs debuted through SVT’s website. 

Sigrid Bernson is serving rays of sunshine for days, John Lundvik has borrowed Sanna Nielsen’s laser matrix lights show from 2014 and Idol alum Renaida is rocking a red hot stage show, complete with backing dancers.

Like Lumiere in Beauty And The BeastEdward Blom is surrounded by dancing cutlery and food, Kikki Danielsson‘s staging calls to mind a Nashville dive bar, while Kamferdrops is bringing a magic trick to the stage and Benjamin Ingrosso looks set to gyrate his way through his performance of “Dance You Off”.

And now after watching the rehearsals, and hearing the snippets, we want to know who you think should win the semi-final.

You can let us know by voting in the poll below, which will close on February 3rd just before the semi-final starts live on SVT.

1. Sigrid Bernson – Patrick Swayze

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813450192033810/

2. John Lundvik – My Turn

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813453442033485/

3. Renaida – “All The Feels”

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813463602032469/

4.Edward Blom – “Livet på en pinne”

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813469878698508/

5. Kikki Danielsson – “Osby Tennessee”

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813472615364901/

6. Kamferdrops – “Solen lever kvar hos dig”

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813475645364598/

7. Benjamin Ingrosso – “Dance Me Off”

https://www.facebook.com/svtmelodifestivalen/videos/1813479678697528/

Those are your entries, now it’s time to vote. You can vote for as many of the acts as you like. But remember, you can only vote once, so make sure that vote counts!
[polldaddy poll=9930769]

Make sure to let us know who your favourite is ahead of Saturday night as well, down in the comments section.

GET MORE SWEDEN NEWS HERE

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Ian
Ian
6 years ago

Do people honestly like Sigrid’s song? I’d honestly put it near the bottom of my list.
And despite it being very generic, I find myself liking John’s song.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

I say this all the time: I can’t make a full assesment of the song based in the clip. But, since everyone comments their impressions, I was thinking; why the f. not! I will not rate them, but I will comment on my first impressions. Patrick Swayze – Guilty pleasure alert! This is so silly, but catchy. That also depends on how repetitive it is. My Turn – Sounds promising. His voice is great and this kind of power ballads can be a big hit if the climax is good. All the Feels – So far, seems generic. The kind… Read more »

Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

“Livet på en pinne” is a song about enjoying every moment of your life. The lyrics center around eating good food in good company. To not worry too much about eating healthy, but rather see every meal as a celebration. It’s an allusion to “Bare Necessities” from Disney’s Jungle Book and “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast.
The lyrics aren’t that witty, but carry a positive message. Blom doesn’t shy away from being a dork, and that is sure to capture some of the anti-melfest votes.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Thank you for the explanation. 😉

Marty Mc
Marty Mc
6 years ago

Radio friendly, agree 4 are not that bad at all, but there is nothing wow!!! and two of the songs are hideous. If any of these songs appered in the line up for let’s say the UK then there would be so many moans and groans coming from left right and centre. We have high expectations of Sweden. Are they reaching their peak? We will just have to wait and see. We have 3 more semis and I am sure there is a gem or two in there. It just takes one song to win the whole thing anyway.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Marty Mc

Which two do you find “hideous”? I agree about no instant WOW part, but these are clips. Full performances will likely round the songs much better.

Marty Mc
Marty Mc
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I know its a snippet but Edward Blom and Kamferdrops are not good from what i saw. A novelty act by someone who is known in Sweden only with backing singers dressed in cutlery and a girl behind a hello kitty mask joined by a magician will not get anywhere, it’s rather bizarre and she can’t sing live. I won’t be suprised if they do get through though. Seriously if they send these to Eurovision where would they end up? I didn’t include Kikki because she’s an icon and we all love Bra Vibrationer. 🙂

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

I think Benjamin’s song is terrible, even worse than last year. John is my favorite for now.

Real Winner
Real Winner
6 years ago

It’s the first time ever that my answer is “no one”. Really, the worst semi ever. Nothing to hang on to.

Marty Mc
Marty Mc
6 years ago

Benjamin and John most likely go to the final. John has the strongest song. Benjamin relies on his lights.

Kamferdrops can not sing. Second chance round open to anyone. It’s not a strong semi-final, one of the weakest in years.

SpirK
SpirK
6 years ago

For the time being, my favourite is Kamferdrops by a long shot. This song has a great retronostalgia beat and I think we’re gonna see a fantastic show. John is building up to something really good I think. Kikki is also wonderful, a cute and easy going country song. Benjamin has incredible staging but I’m not going nuts about the song. Sigrid has a happy quality into it, but it is really mainstream and heard it all before. Renaida has a big attitude but I dont really enjoy her song. Edward isn’t horrendous, but he’s far from good. I know… Read more »

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

Swedish odds are shortening by the minute. I wonder why- because oddsmakers like Benjamin or Kampferdrops, or because they are probably the only country to choose an uptempo song and are expected to stand out in a sea of ballads?

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Czech Republic chose an uptempo song. Albania chose mid-tempo. Malta is likely to choose an uptempo song this Saturday. The Swiss forthrunner is also uptempo. While noticing that half of the songs are slow in tempo, people tend to forget that the other half is uptempo. Either way, tempo by itself isn’t good or bad, it’s neutral. The songs’ individual merits are what makes them stand out or sink.

NickC
NickC
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Colin, I did not suggest this is absolutely the case. But then how do you explain the shortening of odds for Sweden? I would love to hear your theory.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  NickC

I would love to have one. Personally, I find it strange that countries who haven’t selected a song are being included in the odds either way. I would find it logical to just have Albania, France, Czech Republic and Spain in odds towards each other, and to include other countries as they pick. Anyway, who bets on blind? It’s like Belarus’ NF vote for Alexeev… you can literally vote anything without realizing it. But just for fun, let’s add another theory: Sweden is a new ESC giant, almost always in top 10 and people are having high expectations. Tempo theory… Read more »

NickC
NickC
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Sounds reasonable brate. No objection to any of your theories, but I think some betters obviously think one of the songs in this semi has winning potential, and started betting on Sweden, that is the only reasonable explanation for shortening odds. Because odds shortened right after snippets and rehearsal videos became available.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

His song is literally a cover of Attention by Charlie Puth.

West
West
6 years ago

I don’t – the song is ok, but those clothes are hideous and litghs blinding. My guess is that people are voting for him just because it’s him.

Are You Not Entertained?
Are You Not Entertained?
6 years ago

Mello is going down. No reason to be that bad, even for the first semifinal. These are like children songs.

Ananas
Ananas
6 years ago

I think Benjamin and Renaida for the final and John and Sigrid for Andra Chansen… the rest is just… meh..

Cheat Akurat
6 years ago

Well this is really cool, i think tihs is the best that i’ve ever seen :’)

Are You Not Entertained?
Are You Not Entertained?
6 years ago
Reply to  Cheat Akurat

Are you serious, or is just advertising for your site Cheat Judi?

Jerome
Jerome
6 years ago

Benjamin Ingrosso and Renaida for the final.
John Lundvik for second chance. The other spot is between Sigrid Bernson and Kamferdrops.

This is only my opinion. The actual results will probably be nothing like this.

Random.Sage
Random.Sage
6 years ago

lol Benjamin and Singrid for the final! Kamferdrops and John for Andra Chansen… John needs touches on his staging and deserves better.

I’m thankful for Kikki Danielsson for saving this semi from the dancing fruit. There’s no bad songs here but probably not the strongest semi this year.

Is that green screen for Dance You Off? Give the poor countries hope with this one!

I question Renaida’s song but I think she can pull it off better than her chosen entry.

Ok. I’m interested in the dancing fruit now. lol

Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Random.Sage

It’s not a green screen. It’s a 7x2m wall made from flourescent lights.

Peyton
Peyton
6 years ago

Only one I really like is Sigrid. Renaida is fine too I guess, but I can’t see myself listening to her song after the semi. Only redeeming factor of Benjamin is his performance which is very good, but I still don’t like his song

Are You Not Entertained?
Are You Not Entertained?
6 years ago

I really think Edward Blom is the only good one. Yes, this is the first semifinal, and they save the best for last, but still…is not the 80’s anymore. At least Edward Blom is himself, I will support him till the end. Make Eurovision Fun Again.

Are You Not Entertained?
Are You Not Entertained?
6 years ago

BENJAMIN INGROSSO – “DANCE ME OFF” sounds like Take That reject from 1991. Is just the beginning of Melodifestivalen, but why had to be so so so low.

Random.Sage
Random.Sage
6 years ago

I almost choked on a banana I was eating when I read that. lol Dancing in my esophagus!

DyGh
DyGh
6 years ago

GIVE ME THAT DANCING FRUIT

Boy
Boy
6 years ago

This is not a good SF. Anyone But Benjamin. Its a elevater son, Boring

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

It’s a BIG no from me to Benjamin’s song. I like the colours and lights tho.

Napaw
Napaw
6 years ago

The only interesting act seems to be Benjamin for me, although Renaida might win me over after we get to hear the rest of her song. Plus, I kind of like the strictly orangy color concept.

Asap
Asap
6 years ago

Sigrid doesn’t have a good voice. Her song sounds a bit cheap, but she has charisma and great energy. John has amazing voice, but his song sounds a bit boring. He deserves better. Renaida’s voice and instrumentation of song don’t go well together. But damn, she has attidude for days. Edward is a bad joke, not a good one. I can’t say anything positive about this. The whole entry makes me feel awkward. Kamferdrops lacks energy. The music is too loud compared to her voice, but she is going to give us interesting performance, for sure. Kikki’s song is so… Read more »

Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

Coreographers:
Patrick Swayze – Thomas Benstem
My Turn – Lotta Furebäck and Mari Ryberger
All the Feels – Ambra Succi
Livet på en pinne – Lotta Furebäck and Mari Ryberger
Osby Tennessee – Rickard Engfors
Solen lever kvar hos dig – Lotta Furebäck and Mari Ryberger.
Dance You Off – Zain Odelstål

Succi is known for “Euphoria” and “If Love Was A Crime”. Odelstål for “I Can’t Go On”. Ryberger is the director for all the entries and was Sweden’s HoD in 2013, 2016 and 2017. Created the performance for “If I Were Sorry”.

Esc
Esc
6 years ago

Benjamin coreography looks like similar to robin bengtson last year ,

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
6 years ago

I love how so many are just voting for Ingrosso because they’ve heard of him.

Horrible semi. Sigrid only decent song so far.

Janro
Janro
6 years ago

Benjamin Ingrosso and John Lundvik should go to the final in my opinion. They have the best voices by far 🙂