Gothenburg calling! Melodifestivalen 2018 semi-final 2 is finally underway inside the Scandinavium. Following last week’s pattern, Sweden’s SVT are in full teasing mode ahead of the show, and today released 30-second rehearsal snippets along with one-minute studio samples. As they tease we can’t help but think this semi-final will blow expectations up!
Taking part in this week’s heat have we have Melfest veterans Samir & Viktor and Mimi Werner, alongside newcomers such as LIAMOO and Ida Redig, known Swedish personalities like Jonas Gardell and Stiko Per Larsson and Poland’s sensation Margaret.
You can check out our thoughts from throughout the day here. Then, check out all seven rehearsal snippets by clicking the links below:
Melfest SF1 preview
1. SAMIR & VIKTOR – “SHUFFLA”
2. IDA REDIG– “ALTTING SOM VI SA”
3. JONAS GARDELL – “DET FINNS EN VAG”
4. MARGARET– “IN MY CABANA”
5. STIKO PER LARSSON – “TITTA VI FLYGER”
6. MIMI WERNER – “SONGBURNING”
7. LIAMOO – “LAST BREATH”
What are your thoughts on each performance? Who do you think is in with a shot of making it direct to the final? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: courtesy SVT
Sweden has to be careful, unless something wow saves the day. They won’t be in the final this year. Generally poor standard this year.
Am thinking Liamoo and S&V direct to final. Margaret and Mimi for AC.
Liamoo is the first genuinely strong Melfest song. I hope it is not the last! See a lot of potential there.
LIAMOO and Samir&Viktor are definitely going straight to final, no doubt about it. Margaret will flop, just because Swedish people doesn’t really like non Swedish competitiors in melodifestivalen (last time a non swede went DTF was in 2005 with a danish woman)
Melodifestivalen is really overpresent on this blog.
My current top 7:
1. Samir & Viktor (I’m surprising myself here)
2. Mimi Werner
3. Liamoo
4. Jonas Gardell (has a 1970’s Eurovision ballad quality)
5. Margaret
6. Stiko Per Larsson
7. Ida Redig
Liamoo definitely direct to the finals.
Samir and Viktor, Mimi Werner and Margaret the rest who will continue. Samir and Viktor have the most chances for going direct I think, with their first actually good song.
LIAMOO is definitely going straight to the grand finals. Margaret will probably get Andra Chansen. Hope Samir & Viktor does well!
The thumbnail says it all – ”toilet music” is the new ”fast food music”
Liamoo is the best here, and the song’s not even that great. What has happened to Melfest this year? Even last year was better. Do they really just want to send Benjamin or Mariette?
Everyone here is complaining yet I have fallen in love with Last Breath! It’s such a beautiful song. If nothing better comes along this may well be my number one of the whole year!
VOTE LIAMOO
Good lord, Margaret’s stage presence is horrible. Just give up
Mimi Werner is my absolutely favourite! In my opinion some genres such as country, folk or country pop are mistreated in that kind of competitions. I think “Songburning” is the perfect candidate to represent the genre and make it to the final!?
LOL! Marge is going to flop with her Havana song (I know what I wrote there).
Well.. it seems that semi 3 and 4 are holding songs that are much better according to “Schlagerprofilerna” here in Sweden. They have heard them. There is hope! 🙂
Overall seems to be better then the first semi-final, but I still haven’t heard a song that I would love to win.
My four picks are: Samir & Viktor, Margaret, Mimi Werner and Liamoo and I don’t really care which will go straight to final or to second chance.
Don’t forget to flush.
Just putting it out there – in 2 hours, we’re hearing the first of Saara Alto’s potential Eurovision songs!
It leaked earlier. It’s okay, but not much to write home about.
the first semi was miles better than this one. i don’t like any of the songs
Shuffla looks and sounds best of these, but Liamoo comes good second.
the most appalling semi Mello so far
Ok, it’s difficult to pick 4 here.
However, I predict Samir & Victor and Mimi or Liamoo to go straight to the final. I have no idea about the rest of the entries!
Scrihming @ Margaret.
Queen of the Stool!
I’m not sure about Liam yet. But Samir and Viktor.. it’s such an ear-worm! I liiike it! I never thought I was going to say this either but they are they best this semifinal.
Still there are some songs in MF that is better than most of the songs chosen for Eurovision so far. The winner of MF will come in either semifinal 3 or 4. It’s building up to it I think.
I know right? Never liked Samir & Viktor and always thought they were trying to be memes rather than artists, but this one is actually good–even the breakdown isn’t that grating. They stopped trying to be cringe and they started delivering a tune.
Am I blind or did Margaret change outfits during her performance? Is it yellow or orange?
Ooo i like allting som vi sa!
Reminds me of my life would suck without you from kelly clarkson for some reason.
Aww. Thank you so much, how sweet of you!
30 seconds of rehearsal images and 1 minute of audio and I’m already very annoyed by Samir & Viktor’s performance. I’m definitely not part of their target audience. I also don’t like his style, but Liamoo seems to have a polished and at least enjoyable track/presentation. Margaret will be fun, even if that’s super silly (or maybe because that’s super silly). “Let’s go ape in my cabana” is one of those sentences eurofans will never forget, which is not necessarily good (see “do it for your lover”, for example). I’ll root for her on this semi. I also like Ida… Read more »
Impressed by Ida and Liamoo — honestly disappointed by Margaret, but maybe she can amp it up on the live performance — Samir&Victor i think also have a shot to make it with what they bring to their song, although I think the song itself isn’t great…the rest are all just blah..
I had such high hopes for Margaret and Liamoo, but their songs don’t reach the expectations. However, SAMIR & VIKTOR…Wow, such a nice surprise! Definite qualifiers!
They all sound so weak, and the songs are horrendous. I feel like I’m watching the Lithuanian pre-selection. Any of these songs would be my last place as of now.
Never thought I was gonna say that : Samir and viktor have the best song. Liamoo is…well, alright. Margaret is a disappointment, Mimi is okay.. The rest is a big meh for me.
OMG. This is so bad.
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