Tonight, eight acts will compete in the andra chansen round of Melodifestivalen 2021, vying for the four remaining places in Sweden’s grand final. The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — have listened to the eight competing songs and ranked our favourites. Read on to see which songs were our favourites!
Oliver
1. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
Musical excellence? Perhaps not. But that’s not the aim here. “Rena rama ding dong” is about entertainment. And these ladies deliver it. Ewa and Eva just ooze charisma and they have the performance chops to back it up. Their song is irresistibly catchy, and although it slides more towards the novelty act end of the Eurovision spectrum, it’s executed brilliantly. In the final, Ewa and Eva would provide a breath of fresh air between the pop-centric heavy hitter favourites. It would be a challenge for anybody not to root for this. Rotterdamadingdong, here we come!
2. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
3. Alvaro Estrella – “Baila Baila”
4. Efraim Leo – “Best of Me”
5. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
Antranig
1. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
There’s little I love more than a good rock song with an anthemic feel. “Pretender” does just that with a very catchy hook and cleverly crafted lyrics. I love the way this song straddles the pop-rock divide, with Martin Westerstrand’s harsh vocals hitting you when you least expect it. The song evolves over the three minutes, starting relatively tame before exploding to life. “Pretender” is easily my favourite song participating in andra chansen and my second favourite at Melfest 2021 overall.
2. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
3. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
4. Efraim Leo – “Best of Me”
5. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
Jacob
1. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
A song like this is exactly what we need these days. I think it’s impossible to watch this and not get in a better mood. They have so much energy, they look amazing on stage and they certainly know how to perform. It’s kind of the exact opposite of some of the slick entries Sweden sent lately. It feels honest and natural, and I would be extremely happy to see them make the final next Saturday.
2. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
3. Alvaro Estrella – “Baila Baila”
4. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
5. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
Natalie
1. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
This is pure, gorgeous Swedish music. It has a wonderful melody held together by a simple guitar and some energetic percussion. Its nothing unique or revolutionary, but it’s special just for being so earnest and gentle. I actually think of this as being the kind of music we’d get at Eurovision if the language rule was never removed. And to be fair, I wouldn’t complain.
2. Frida Green – “The Silence”
3. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
4. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
5. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
Lauren
1. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
What a song. My oh my, what a song. I don’t think any piece of music in history — not “Bohemian Rhapsody”, not “Stairway to Heaven” — comes close to this work’s excellence. The sincerity and strength presented in the song’s lyrics (“Ding dong ding dong ding dong rena rama ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong rena rama ding dong”) are completely unmatched in this year’s national final season. The melody is also nothing short of genius, which makes this song a 10/10 package. The road from andra chansen to victory is the road less travelled, but Eva och Ewa should and will take it — and I can’t wait to see them in Rotterdam-a-ding-dong!
2. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
3. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
4. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
5. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
Ron
1. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
There’s not even one missing piece in this performance, it’s just perfect. This sweet little song which Paul Rey delivers so well is so touching in its message and its intimate performance that you just fall for it. Paul’s voice is so soothing and he is such a charismatic performer that easily manages to captivate you all by himself. This lovely entry that feels so sincere should get to the final and finish at a respectable place.
2. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
3. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
4. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
5. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
Luis
1. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
This is an absolute delight. Eva & Ewa are two experienced performers who just know how to command a stage. The performance is pure joy and immediately brings a smile to your face. After just one listen, this is stuck on your mind forever, and it’s also set to become one of Melodifestivalen 2021’s most remembered songs in the years to come.
2. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
3. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
4. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
5. Alvaro Estrella – “Baila Baila”
Tobias
1. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
I love this song! The lyrics are very personal, honest and naked and describe how to find confidence when you have hit the bottom. Usually I’m not a big fan of songs in Swedish but this is one of my favourites so far. It is one of those songs you want to play when you want to find strength.
2. Frida Green – “The Silence”
3. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
4. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
5. Efraim Leo – “Best of Me”
Pablo
1. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
I love when my expectations are blown out of the water. Coming into Melfest 2021, I thought Lillasyster was going to serve an acceptable rock entry to falter in the semis. What I instead got was mud on my face on the best way possible, with “Pretender” qualifying from its semifinal with a song that is squarely in my top three of this year’s edition. A grungy intro is burst open by a sheer blast of hard rock, all carried by a gloriously raspy voice and an amazing live show. It would feel like something’s seriously wrong if Lillasyster is not in this year’s final.
2. Paul Rey – “The Missing Piece”
3. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
4. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
5. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
Robyn
1. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver inte dig idag”
It’s hard for me to listen to this song and not be hit by the river of joy that runs through it. It’s a song of strength, of moving on from a bad relationship. As the song builds, the sense of confidence builds. Clara shares with the listener a sense of being ready to take on the world. The lyrics are in Swedish and they should stay like that — that’s part of its fighting spirit!
2. Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – “Rena rama ding dong”
3. Lillasyster – “Pretender”
4. Klara Hammarström – “Beat of Broken Hearts”
5. Alvaro Estrella – “Baila Baila”
What do you think? Which songs are your favourites? And which songs do you think will make it through the andra chansen duels? Sound off in the comments section below!
Simply: Eva & Ewa and Klara Hammerstöm are a must have and I dont reall, care about the others hahah
Aside from Paul Rey almost certainly making it, it’s hard to predict anything. It’s Klara H., Eva & Ewa and Lilasyster for me, but all of these duels could easily finish the other way too. I actually kinda predict Alvaro winning.
Cmon Clara! Modernity and simplicity win!
Robyn proving once again that she has taste
Robyn has the best taste indeed. It’s such a pity that my two favourites (Eva/Ewa and Clara) are dueling each other 🙁
And oh my god, Luis’ and Robyn’s Top 5 are almost the same!! o.O