It’s one of the most anticipated national finals of the season. Now Swedish broadcaster SVT has revealed the running order of the four semi-finals in Melodifestivalen 2021.
The announcement was made today in a live stream on social media. The Melfest team revealed the positions to an eager online audience, including the regular wall of colour-coded Post-Its.
Contest producer Karin Gunnarsson said the line-up contains at least three songs capable of getting a strong result for Sweden at Eurovision with at least one song they think could be a Eurovision winner.
Openers and closers of the Melodifestivalen 2021 heats
The first act we’ll see on stage in at The Annex in Stockholm in just over three weeks time will be Kadiatou who opens the first semi-final with “One Touch”. Danny Saucedo will close the semi with his song “Dandi dansa”.
The second semi sees Anton Ewald opening with “New Religion”, while 2020 runner-up Dotter will close with her song “Little Tot”.
Taking to the stage first at the third semi-final will be Sweden’s Eurovision queen Charlotte Perrelli and her song “Still Young”. Closing the show will be Tusse with “Voices”.
And opening the last semi-final will be former Alcazar singer Tess Merkel with “Good Life”. The last performer of the semi-finals will be Eurovision 2011 star Eric Saade with “Every Minute”.
The running order for both the andra chasen round and the grand final will be announced ahead of those shows, once the lineup for each show has been confirmed.
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Does the running order guarantee Melodifestivalen success?
It’s generally thought that the opening and closing positions in each semi are given to two of the strongest songs, so today’s reveal can offer clues to the songs likely to make the grand final or andra chansen.
While fans have various theories about the power and potential of performing first and last, it is no guarantee of going direkt till final. It usually all comes down to the song.
Last year five of the eight direct qualifiers performed first or last. However, Robin Bengtsson and Dotter qualified after performing third in their semis, while Victor Crone qualified from fourth place.
Conversely, Felix Sandman closed his semi-final but had to detour via the andra chansen round. Klara Hammarström opened her semi-final but failed to make it any further in the contest.
Much effort goes into determining the order of the songs. Each show contains songs in a mix of genres and languages, performed by different types of artists. As well, thought is given to ensuring the overall song order creates an entertaining television show.
Melodifestivalen 2021 – Semi-finals running order
Semi-final 1: 6 February
- Kadiatou – “One Touch”
- Lillasyster – “Pretender”
- Jessica Andersson – “Horizon”
- Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
- Arvingarna – “Tänker inte alls gå hem”
- Nathalie Brydolf – “Fingerprints”
- Danny Saucedo – “Dandi dansa”
Semi-final 2: 13 February
- Anton Ewald – “New Religion”
- Julia Alfrida – “Rich”
- WAHL feat. SAMI – “90-talet”
- Frida Green – “The Silence”
- Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
- Patrik Jean – “Tears Run Dry”
- Dotter – “Little Tot”
Semi-final 3: 20 February
- Charlotte Perrelli – “Still Young”
- Emil Assergård – “Om allting skiter sig”
- Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
- Mustasch – “Contagious”
- Elisa – “Den du är”
- Alvaro Estrella – “Baila Baila”
- Tusse – “Voices”
Semi-final 4: 20 February
- Tess Merkel – “Good Life”
- Lovad – “Allting är precis likadant”
- Efraim Leo – “Best of Me”
- The Mamas – “In the Middle”
- Sannex – “All Inclusive”
- Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
- Eric Saade – “Every Minute”
What do you think of the Melfest 2021 running order? Are you surprised by any of the placings? Will the running order help certain artists? Share your thoughts below!
I’m surprised that The Mamas did not get a closing spot. Apart from Robin, don’t all former winners get to close a heat when they return for the first time?
Technically it’s not their first return. And no, they don’t all get to close a heat. It depends on if the returning song is perceived as a winning candidate or not.
I am ready to singing – I am not a Little Tot, i am not a Little Tot – hoo hoo …
Given that Mello last year called Bulletproof a Marinaesque song, I sang that in the notes of I am not a robot!
As if Marina Diamandis? Yeah, thay was not her type of song.
After hearing what type of styles they shall sing i think Kadiatou,Charlotte Perelli, Frida Green, Dotter, Anton Ewald, Eric Saade. Efraim Leo, Clara Klingenström and The mamas can win it.
I Agree. 🙂
I wait for the songs. If a new artist have the best song, it will win. If not, They wont. Easy:)
Wonder if the colours mean something…
good question:) i think its what type of song it is 🙂
Usually they mean something but this year i do not catch the meaning
Differnet sound, label, ….
Just for a reference, DTFs last year were: Dtv. 1 – 1st and 3rd Dtv. 2 – 3rd and 7th Dtv. 3 – 1st and 7th Dtv. 4 – 4th and 7th As for the winners, they were primarily featured as: 2020 – 1st in dtv. 1 2019 – 7th in dtv. 4 2018 – 7th in dtv. 1 2017 – 1st in dtv. 3 2016 – 5th in dtv. 4 2015 – 7th in dtv. 4 2014 – 6th in dtv. 2 2013 – 3rd in dtv. 4 2012 – 8th in dtv. 1 2011 – 8th in dtv.… Read more »
Dotter had my favorite song last year. I hope she can win this time around.
Why? She might not have your favourite song this year.
Before hearing the songs, Eric and Dotter are my favorites. So excited for this great line-up.
DOTTERDAM
Hoo Hoo and (hair flips)
Loving how The Mamas are literally in the middle of their semi
Unless someone comes through with a song and performance that look like a guaranteed win, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that The Mamas have a 99% chance of winning again.
I don’t think so. The swedes vote for what they like. They don’t really think about what they want to see on that eurovision stage because melfest is seen as a thing on it’s own.
Also the Mamas were not great last year
I really cant see the mamas winning again with this years line up
For what it’s worth they haven’t been given an opening or closing spot, spots usually given to songs that producers think will do well.
I don’t understand why they put Old ladys (Eva and Ewa) in this Melo (older generation should be at home not in the Melodifestivalen) at least for this year
That comment seems a little ageist though I don’t think you intended it that way. I think that, as long as the Melo team takes the right precautions and being safe, there shouldn’t be any problem with them participating.
And not to go into a Covid debate, but it seems like Sweden’s measures are far less stringent than they are in most of Europe or Canada so I have trouble imagining it being any “less” safe at Melo for them than it is generally at the moment.
Thanks for dislikes 🙁 i was just honest and do not wantet to be rude or something …but i still think older generation should be at home 🙂 just for now …I dont have anything againts older generation in Melo 🙂
It’s the last years of their life. As long as you test everybody and take pre-measures let them live ’em.
I could stop visiting my grandmother for a complete year but that’s also not a life worth living for an elderly woman that lives alone.
Or you can do like me, sending postcards. Calling her, placing things outside her door and singing outside her house etc. You don’t need to meet her just now
I have feeling that the boy Tusse will be Frans (2016) 2.0
I want to believe a song can be strong on itself to be regarded as a potential winner of melfest, but why is it that all the singers in the middle are basically the newcomers? It isn’t news that melfest likes to favour their old sports but can we at least make it so that it doesn’t look as if newcomers get the short end of the stick?
It’s quite rare for someone to win MelFest as a complete newcomer and usually people who’ve done it before can attract stronger songwriters or have become better songwriters themselves through doing it so many times. In recent times, Frans is the only exception I can think of.
Eric saade seems to be in the bag.
Also, the post it note colours used to designate a music genre. Is it fair to assume that is not the case this year?
That was my impression as well. Thanks Robyn!
Anyone else get a strange sense of satisfaction seeing the mamas with a song called “in the middle” and are performing in 4th (ie in the middle of their semi)?
How many times are they going to send the same names they had in the last few years, or in some cases 10 or 20 years ago? Charlotte Perelli, Anthon Ewald, Jessica Andersson, Arvingarna, Danny Saucedo, Dotter, Eric Saade, Alvaro Estrella, the Mamas? What new does any of them have to offer? An endless loop of names that have been institutionalised and can’t exist outside the SVT circuit.
Serioulsy, this is like a festival on the importance of recycling.
Oh please! You really are showing your absolute ignorance of what Melodifestivalen is and how it actually works. Of course, they are going to use Swedish names to pad out their incredibly popular Saturday night entertainment show – of course, at least half of these names are not there as a serious contender for Eurovision. That’ because, as everyone knows, Melodifestivalen is so much more than just a Eurovision National Final. So, before posting such nonsense in future – at least have the self-respect to familiarise yourself with the bare bones of the dedicated Wikipedia page – otherwise you’re presenting… Read more »
It’s true. But also the contest will be extremely costly this year. Normally there is a lot of ticket sales etc. that could further explaining why to use “safe” cards, but they’ll probably not turn any profit this year
Every single year? That’s how melodifestivalen works. You get a mix from new and veteran artists.
OMG your comment!! I don’t know if crying or laughing. You can’t also know how the competence is, maybe the songs that got discarted were pure SH*T.
Also, as said before by others, it is not only the Eurovision selection, but also a way of entretaining the swedes. Also, every year, there are new participants.
Danny vs Eric 2.0
from their running order it’s always clear as day who svt wants to qualify for the final and who they expect to not make it
I’m so rooting for Dotter! Bulletproof was my favourite song from last year’s Eurovision season. I hope she brings it as hard this year!
Likewise! I truly hope Dotterdam becomes a reality this year!
Can’t believe 3rd and 4th semi are on same day. Must be a typo. 4th at 27th February?
I can’t wait for Dotter’s song. I hope she wins this year. I think it’ll be between Dotter and The Mamas again. Maybe Eric as well
can definitely see Sweden win ESC2021 by the looks of this Melfest line up
and this, students, is a wonderful example of the word “hype”.
They’ve definitely got a good spread of the big names, I think it’s safe to say who will be in final from looking at this. Hoping for very good things from eric, especially seeing he’s the last to perform. Also have everything crossed for a better result for klara hammerstrom , she was really robbed last year!
amazing, seems like a very strong edition
Queen Dotter closing her semi <3
contenders are Dotter, Eric, The Mamas
Danny Saucedo won’t even survive the semi lol, he’s just a fake odds hype lol
Can’t wait! This edition seems really strong!
My most anticipated acts: Dotter, Eric, Danny, Anton, Julia Alfrida, Paul Rey, Klara Hammerstorm, Kadiatou, Nathalie Brydolf and also the Mamas..
we’ll see who wins… It’s probably between Dotter and Eric?
For those who did not see the live on instagram. Those who presented the songs and who have also heard them said that “Little Tot” and “Every Minute” were strong contenders for the victory. And also acts such as “One Touch”, “Dandi Dansa” and “Voices” were strong contenders as well. I’m so excited for this!
Same people thought about Tempo, Universe, Brave or Take a chance on me ..and Boys with an emotions and Cry
True enough, though I would argue that those songs weren’t bad in of themselves, just that they didn’t translate quite so well live (Tempo, Boys and Cry) or still did decently despite not winning melo (Brave, Chance and Youniverse)… though I thought Take a Chance on Me wasn’t expected to do well originally, no?
Personally those are all songs I still listen to now and again.
Journalist said Take a chance on me is the best song from Melo (last year) ofc.
Go Little tot!!
All I can say is that is a fierce line up. There is going to be carnage!