After six tough weeks, Sweden has chosen its representative for Eurovision 2022. Melodifestivalen 2022 finally reached its dramatic conclusion in Stockholm. Twenty-eight artists started the journey but one has risen above the rest to claim the ticket to Turin. Cornelia Jakobs has won the contest with “Hold Me Closer”.
“Hold Me Closer” — Cornelia Jakobs
Cornelia Jakobs was the bookmakers’ favourite going into the final. The “Hold Me Closer” singer qualified direkt till final from the first heat and also topped our poll.
Bookmakers predicted that Anders Bagge would be her stiffest competition going into the final, which proved to be the case. The “Bigger Than the Universe” crooner won the public vote and finished second overall.
Melodifestivalen 2022: International jury votes
The following artists received the maximum 12 points from the juries:
- Cornelia Jakobs (Israel, Spain, Australia and Italy)
- Medina (Netherlands)
- Theoz (Czech Republic)
- John Lundvik (Finland)
- Liamoo (Ireland)
Cornelia has won the international jury vote at #melfest 2022. Will we see her at #Eurovision? pic.twitter.com/QV8VZUEmLl
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) March 12, 2022
- Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer” (76 points)
- Liamoo – “Bluffin” (65 points)
- Medina – “In i dimman” (53 points)
- John Lundvik – “Änglavakt” (43 points)
- Theoz – “Som du vill” (39 points)
- Faith Kakembo – “Freedom” (33 points)
- Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than the Universe” (31 points)
- Tone Sekelius – “My Way” (31 points)
- Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love” (29 points)
- Klara Hammarström – “Run to the Hills” (27 points)
- Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough” (26 points)
- Anna Bergendahl – “Higher Power” (11 points)
Televote results
- Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than the Universe” (90 points)
- Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer” (70 points)
- Medina – “In i dimman” (56 points)
- Klara Hammarström – “Run to the Hills” (56 points)
- Tone Sekelius – “My Way” (53 points)
- Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough” (29 points)
- Liamoo – “Bluffin” (26 points)
- Theoz – “Som du vill” (26 points)
- Faith Kakembo – “Freedom” (18 points)
- Anna Bergendahl – “Higher Power” (18 points)
- John Lundvik – “Änglavakt” (17 points)
- Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love” (5 points)
Melodifestivalen 2022: Full results
- Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer” (146 points)
- Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than the Universe” (121 points)
- Medina – “In i dimman” (109 points)
- Liamoo – “Bluffin” (91 points)
- Tone Sekelius – “My Way” (84 points)
- Klara Hammarström – “Run to the Hills” (83 points)
- Theoz – “Som du vill” (65 points)
- John Lundvik – “Änglavakt” (60 points)
- Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough” (55 points)
- Faith Kakembo – “Freedom” (51 points)
- Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love” (34 points)
- Anna Bergendahl – “Higher Power” (29 points)
?? From uncertainty to euphoria — Cornelia Jakobs has won #Melfest 2022. See you at #Eurovision! pic.twitter.com/hw4mGhhCK1
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) March 12, 2022
Melodifestivalen 2022: Grand final running order
- Klara Hammarström – “Run to the Hills”
- Theoz – “Som du vill”
- Anna Bergendahl – “Higher Power”
- John Lundvik – “Änglavakt”
- Tone Sekelius – “My Way”
- Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than the Universe”
- Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love”
- Faith Kakembo – “Freedom”
- Liamoo – “Bluffin”
- Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer”
- Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough”
- Medina – “In i dimman”
Are you happy with the results of Melodifestivalen 2022? Can Cornelia deliver Sweden its seventh victory in Turin? Let us know in the comments below.
The most overrated and overhyped song in the History of Eurovision
I had to come back to this comment section just to leave in written; Mark my words – Sweden will win in Turin! (And deservedly so, in my opinion) unless results are skewed with Ukraine (which I still don’t buy)
I dont think jurors will rate Ukraine high. So I cant see Ukraine winning unless they somehow get top 5 after jury voting.
Not saying Sweden will win either but she has a bigger chance of winning right now because I think she can manage high support from both groups
Why is it called both overhyped and overrated?
I’m sorry but why?
You only calls it for it because you don’t like it and it’s Sweden.
Italy, Sweden and Greece served this year. Periodt
Whatcha gon’ do with all that junk
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get you drunk
Get you love drunk off my hump
My hump, my hump
As of now, we don’t know the songs from Armenia & Azerbaijan. And we don’t need to, because with all that’s going on there’s no way in hell ESC2023 will take place in the Caucasus. So, it means that Sweden is the N° 1 favourite to win. If John Lundsvik managed to win the jury vote with that blander-than-tap-water nonsensical song, Cornelia can go all the way and win the contest. Although 2022 will not sink to the depths of the Dark Ages of Eurovision (1998-2003), it is still song-wise one of the worst years in recent memory. Sweden has… Read more »
It was not a weak year when Måns or Loreen won. In fact it was the opposite. But I agree this year is weak.
In fact 2015 have some of my favorite songs in the history if Eurovision, belgium with logic Nottet, Estonia with Elina Born and Stig Rästa, Norway and Russia had some of their best entries ever. And the big fan favorite Italy with il Volo. So I think Sweden has won very difficult years.
I didn’t mention Loreen or Mans. Loreen was the obvious winner. Mans was OK as a winner, but Latvia had the best song that year and Georgia, Belgium, Israel, Serbia all were better than Mans. These are only a few I can remember right now, I’m sure there were other songs that were better than Mans.
i answered to what you said that Sweden always wins when there is a weak year. That is not a fact. Quite the opposite.
2015 was the strongest year in ages though. Almost every single top 10 song could have ended up winner, it was that strong!
The fact that Måns managed to win despite all that though competition is ismpressive, more impressive than Loreen’s landslide since she had no real competition..
Swedeb didnt winn kast year, and that was the wirst sibg EVER. You have vad tast about music
Home to everything that’s bland and undercooked, Sweden went for something else this time around: bloody irritating (her voice is). Well… at least there are some emotions somewhere in there, I’m don’t know where. Which is a lot more than what Sanna Nielsen’s Undo had, for example. That song was 100% devoid of any real human emotions.
Her voice landed on my ears in a very grating way as well. And the song wasn’t good enough to make willing to listen to it again anyway.
So you prefer blond faked girls dancing around in a little tight glitter top and singing kliché songs?
Sweden got it this year so please leave your hate somewhere else.
It didn’t particularly grab me the first time I heard it but a few listens later and it’s a very solid pop song that is elevated by an excellent voice and a very charismatic performance. Between the performative wokeness and overly slick production, I’ve not enjoyed many of Sweden’s recent entries but this feels authentic and a return to form. Top 10 finish.
Yes but there are some special myths and conspiracies saved for Sweden. It even here when the song is not as good as this one.
This is a winner for me, no doubt about it!
What was William on when he recorded the reaction to the winner of Melodienfestival? It is like he is having an orgasm. Glad that Deben was more down to earth.
Nice to see Cornelia make the Spotify Global chart today, and with the second highest streams for a Melfest song ever.
who’s the first?
My guess – Frans, with If I Were Sorry
Yes, it was Frans. Even more impressively, this might be one of the highest totals in Swedish Spotify history. For anyone who thinks that Sweden is being forced to send a song their country doesn’t like, the numbers say otherwise.
I don’t dislike it but I can’t help that I’ve heard it before. I can hear hints of Jon Lundvik’s “Too Late for love” in the chorus crossed with the vocals of First Aid Kit.
I like the song and it reminds me of something else, what’s the down voting for?
With Sweden, you always give them a 100 point headstart for the juries in any Eurovision. It’s the televote that has cost Sweden lately, so we will see. Cornelia Jakobs is the 1st Swedish woman in 8 years to represent Sweden at Eurovision (yes I know about The Mamas in 2020, but that was cancelled), so that is a change. This song teases me.. It threatens to go somewhere and then never quite gets there. I know we judge Sweden harsher, beacuse expectations are high, but 2022 will be about 10th to 15th for this entry. I give it 5.5/10… Read more »
Sweden shouldnt be judged harsher, but equal to other entries…
Like last year? As far as remember it it Tusse was not favored at all by the juries in comparison to the televotes. No – Sweden has no special spot in the hearts of the juries. They just like well sung and well produced pop. Somewhat safe choices. Sometimes they prefer other artists from other countries. The only time Sweden did not make to the final it was the juries that sunk Sweden.
I am really put off of what seems really hateful comments towards a song only because it is from Sweden. This song is obviously very good, whether you like the genre of not. It is completely different from what Sweden has been sending and this should be acknowledged and even celebrated. I see the same thing towards Portugal. Why so much hate and arrogance? What is your problem? Sometimes I really have disgust and shame of being an ESC fan!
Please don’t assume that everyone dislikes the Swedish entry because ‘it’s Swedish’. I love Swedish music and every year find so many songs from Melfest that I seriously enjoy and add to my Eurovision playlist. They’re an absolute powerhouse when it comes to Eurovision. Personally I don’t think the song is anything special, although it’s not bad and I could happily listen to it in the background. It has parts that remind me of Lana Del Ray and a chorus that reminds me of Lady Gaga. Neither of which I like, so I was never going to be a fan… Read more »
Oh, what do you think we Swedes feel then? It’s been like this since Loreen won..And this site ain’t helping..
Everything we send will be called “overrated, if any other country sent it no one would praise it”.
If Sweden sent Duncan Laurence and he won people would say “only won because it’s Sweden, had he represented Netherlands s no one would have voted for it..
‘because it’s Sweden’ Still got irritated about 2018, when the juries decided to practically licking Sweden. It was so plastic, cold and boring repetitive song.
2021 on the other hand did expect the same, but this time didn’t happened.
Sweden has quality, but not every song are good.
I think no Swede expects the fans to like all our songs. But it’s not very nice when people throw about conspiracy theories that Sweden always bribe the juries or something like that. To me it’s just clear that the juries focuses more on clean pop entries, which Sweden often sends, than the audience does.
Yh, like some random downvotes. Kindergarten for sure. I like this song – down! I don’t like this song- down! Literally what’s your problem, they don’t even know what they like.
it is a generic song
She likes to bleed waking up, I would bullet her!
Misogynist much!
Extremely bland for me and not winning the Tele Vote does not bode well. Too much hype here.
LOL, ok!
Its not like Bagge won because he was amazing..
Cornelia won what matters
Anders Bagge only got that many points because the people in Sweden love his personality. He’s a judge on Swedish Idol and has a really lovable personality. His song was pretty basic.
Poor Lady Gaga. Getting her songs stolen every single year.
Rooting for a result outside the top 5. But the juries won’t let it happen.
And poor Madonna, Cher and Cyndi Lauper getting thier songs stolen by Lady Gaga, katy Perry and every female pop star every year..
These are just imitations and Gaga’s prophets. Gaga is the real deal, trust me.
I genuinely believe this will not go to top 10 overall. It MAY make the final, but maybe not? Viewers can only vote for so many slower songs and ballads, and with North Macedonia, Montenegro and Malta (new song is not a whole lot better) in this semi. It also has Australia, Poland and Belgium in this semi, plus Serbia is not a banger by any means. It’s the semi of slow, melodic ballad style songs, and I think Sweden may be in a bit of trouble. There are 4 songs I like or love in SF2 including my #1… Read more »
Have you herd Greece song. Thsts a cooy, or stolen right off
Its funny. For 2 days ago everybody on wiwiblog loves Cornelia. Now, everybody hates her. This is the best song this year
A lot of sudden hate for Hold Me Closer lmao the delusion in people is jumping out ?
Nope, only the general Sweden hate kicking in!
The song “Hold me closer” sounds very similiar like SHALLOW from
Lady Gaga in the film A star is born
Sorry, but nothing special.. I am not captivated by any part of this song… none of my friends like it….
I just checked the song, that won the Televote (…) and therefore I’m quite happy with “Hold me closer”…
Sweden and Italy have proven yet again their power of producing exceptional music compositions for Eurovision. They just know how to package and sell their product perfectly. Their commitment and sheer brilliance of delivering some of the best music throughout their national selections. Wow!!!
My top three are Italy, Sweden, and Portugal.
tone sekelius really pulled through! first she beat out alvaro in second chance after placing 4th in their heat behind liamoo, lundvik, and alvaro and then goes on to do way better than john lundvik who won every voting group aside from 1 in heat 2 and also swamps half of the DTF acts in the televote with ease. that is something she should be so proud of and it’s amazing to see a trans woman make it so far in such a huge competition. maybe i wasn’t the biggest fan of her song but tone really sold it and… Read more »
I’m Swedish and I agree it’s the best song we’ve sent in the last years, but it’s not a winner.
agree not a winner
Who do you think has potential to win? I think it that there is no other song that is a clear winner. Cornelia is a clear contender for the win. Italy is very good but it is not a clear winner to me. The song would have been better with one singer. The two do not match so well. It is hard to understand why they are on stage together except that their voices matches each other..Cornelia has a lot of carisma on stage and tells a personal story. She gives me brividi. Moreover we don’t know about several of… Read more »
You bring up many good points. With regards to Italy, idk… I actually much preferred Mahmood’s solo attempt in 2019. I almost can’t help but think that he is being overrated because of his previous efforts. Cornelia will probably end 3rd-5th. She is definitely a contender for the win. With Netherlands, yes we have to see how it will be on stage. Having a strong staging could really elevate it, as was the case with Ukraine last year or Cyprus in 2018, or absolutely destroy it, like Greece and Belgium in 2018, who were favorites to at least make the… Read more »
So WHO do you think will win? I n,t se any other song as strong as cornelia, except Italy. Ukraine might win if they participate. I still think Cornelius song is better though.
I mean it a good entry however, I don’t think it’s the strongest ballad this year. I think this will place well but I don’t think it’s a winner.
One word. Overrated.
Bottom 5 for me. Seriously. There are better songs in the contest.
as all Swedish entries honestly
Amen!!!!!
These is like when republicans reply to their fellows because no one in their living sanity would consider their verbiage logical. Look a thread of salt, wonder where it’ll lead to…
Sweden did the thing. The right song won! Regardless of their final result, Sweden should be proud to send Cornelia. They are FINALLY taking a risk (by Sweden’s standards) and sending something more authentic and raw. Is it winner potential? I think so, but it’s definitely going to be crowded at the top against Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands.
“A risk (by Sweden’s standards)…” Best description so far. You made my day!
If the UK or any other country had sent this, the conversation would be so much different.
UK would never send this – but only camp cheesy Eurovision songs like Electro VELVET or their 2007 song lol …. Get a life and listen Andorra 2009 girl
Yes because UK would finally give us a good song..
This is probably one of the worst songs to ever be in Eurovision. The song is lazy. She is lazy. She is sloppy and terrible at delivery. Some serious delusion going on here. It’s kind of boring too and other , funner, more beautiful entries should have taken the place of this soul destroying dirge.
I don’t think it is a strong song either and there is something about the tone of her voice that lands wrong on my ears and is grating – that happens sometimes, but others don’t seem to have the same effect on their ears. Lena was another one just to stay in the ESC universe. Whatever,there are other songs I do like to listen to.
All that said, this is hardly the ‘worst to ever be in Eurovision”. I can think of a several examples of worse just since 2020. Including a couple from this year.
The worst songs to ever in ESC? A bit exaggerating maybe?
She has a sultry, boozy persona that emulates star quality – similar to Marylin Monroe but toned down sex appeal. I was mute at first in Heat 1 but if staging has a bit more oomph, it can be a showstopper in Turin
Wow, that is some serious hate. Are you ok hun? Firstly, I’m no fan of the song. It doesn’t do anything for me (i much preferred Liamoo myself) but even I know it’s not the worst song in this years competition, and by quite a mile! To call this ‘the worst song in ESC history’ equates to the fact that you’re just being hateful because your favourite didn’t win, or that you actually hate anything Sweden sends because they’re a powerhouse at Eurovision. Or that you’re just being nasty for the sake of attention. You need to sort your head… Read more »
Wow, this is a bit much… Who hurt you? Maybe you can channel that anger into something productive?
Elevator music.
Next
Agreed. Some songs had much more oomph. I only watched the final so maybe her journey was fab but her song is quite bland. In my opinion. Good to have a woman representing Sweden but I am listening to it as I am typing and I won’t remember it by tomorrow.
I’d like to know the elevators you know, it’ll be amazing to ride them up and down the whole day.
Yes, Cornelia was the right winner. But her vocals was not as strong in the final as after she won, the winning performance was better. Also the acoustic version she release on YouTube is very strong and shows here voice potential.
https://youtu.be/rkWJI0-lpqM
Ärligt talat, de allra bästa vann! Cornelia var bara fantastisk, och till och med jag har kommit att älska låten. Jag tror faktiskt att vi har vinnaren av Eurovision 2022!
” Jag tror faktiskt att vi har vinnaren av Eurovision 2022!” Vel, vel, vel… Vent litt, vent litt 🙂 (Frankrike, Italia, Nederland… Norge kansjke)
Det finns såklart andra bra låtar! Men jag tror att allmänheten kommer att gå för Sverige. Det är bara en känsla jag har.
“Det finns såklart andra bra låtar!”: ja, klart. “Men jag tror att allmänheten kommer att gå för Sverige.”: kansjke. “Det är bara en känsla jag har.”: Vi får se! 🙂 En tout cas, moi, je donne au moins 8 points à la Suède!
Et moi je donne 12 p à la France!
Och föredrar Nederländernas ballad framför Sveriges.
Italiens är sååå tråkig!
Tror att vi för första gången på länge kan få många telefonröster, och inte bara klara sig tack vare jury
Jag håller helt med om det.
You probably need accreditation. You might be able to wait at the door.
By the way, I loved Oscar Anthem – but nothing could ever be as good as Lena Anthem.
I’m sorry. I just wanted to say that.
This was the best final line up, I’ve ever seen at Melodifestivalen!!! I only would’ve swapped Robin’s song for Omar’s song, but other than that i fully agree with the results. I am so happy and proud of Tone Sekelius! Placing 4th in heat 2 > then qualifying from the semi final > and now placing 5th in the final, i can’t be happier :’) I’m also kinda surprised by Klara’s low jury ranking, being in 10th place. Klara and Medina both received 56 points from the televoting, so i’m curious to see the full voting results from heat 4.… Read more »
I love the song, but she doesn’t put much emotion in it. Then I’ve realized that her face didn’t change when she was crying at the end after winning. Hope she won’t top her face with injections again, hate emotionless face.
Does her face after the performance matters? Maybe, her expression is important during the show as it’s a part of the overall emotional experience, but after it? Why would you pay attention? Perhaps, I misunderstood you, but it seems like you’re shaming her for some sort of beauty procedure. It isn’t a good look.
Her face after performance doesn’t matter at all and I’m not shaming her for any beauty procedure, but she sings without emotion with blank face. This song is my no1 favorite, but I’m upset about that lack of emotion in her face during song delivery like she doesn’t have connection to it
I was down voted for normal explanation ? what’s wrong with you people ?? gosh
Nordic trash pop at its best. MF is over, SVT let’s now focus on rigging the juries.
Jury ranked Sweden 17th last year. Televote ranked them 11th. So your point was…?
OK, let’s “play statistics” – jury vs. televoting – for a moment: 2019: 241 vs 93 (just by accident Sweden winning the televised live jury voting and not Macedonia; 2018: 253 vs. 21 (2nd vs. 23rd); 2015: winning just and only and exclusively thanks to the jury vote. You need some more points?
Sweden won the jury vote in 2019. The fake points of Belarus don’t count as a jury, read upside down or not.
If you focus on placement rather than points, you can clearly see Sweden has often been popular in the televote as well the last few years. The only exception is 2018.
This is Sweden’s placement in the televote the last six years:
2015: 3rd
2016: 6th
2017: 8th
2018: 23rd
2019: 9th
2021: 11th
I loved this song from the first time, it is a typical festival Eurovision song, with its build-ups, and catchy chorus, and that’s why I love it (the mood of the song also reminds me of Hold Me Now). .
It’s good…but there are many strong ballads this years.
Also, the staging needs more than a spinning circle.
It’s a pleasant song and will probably reach top 5 but it’s not anywhere close to Euphoria or Heroes in terms of impact. As someone else said, it doesn’t give the chills like some other entries this year such as Netherlands. I thought there were several other songs in the Melodifestivalen final that were just as good
Doesn’t match Euphoria or Arcade either, but still strong!
Too bad I didn’t bet on her. I could win like 20 euros.
Anyway the song is the definition of mediocre.
Sweden is BACK!!!!
Jury and televote will eat this up! Love it! So modern, so catchy, so Swedish.
Definitely Top 5.
Well done Sweden and good luck! Potential top-5 song! The best choice among this year’s Melodifestivalen songs. It was clear from the start. I wouldnt like Bagge to win, his song is good but the whole package was not for Eurovision. I know Swedes favoured him but people I know are from an older age group who hold Anders very dear. He is popular and a big name in Sweden.
This is the first time in many years that a non typical melfest song wins. I ve been very critical against Sweden in Eurovision but Hold me closer is the most interesting and not stereotypical winner of melodifestivalen for many years. Everyone attacking Sweden and the plastic typical pop songs but we need to give credit to a winner with personality and talent
Good chance for Sweden to win again…but I don’t think many casual viewers will get the staging.
We know nothing of the staging. Perhaps they will decide to do something else.
She have said that there will not be huge changes.
Well, small changes will have to be done. They do that every year. Because the staging is always different in ESC so they have to adapt to it. But the essence will be there..
What is with the staging that viewers won’t get?
The green screen…
Pleasant enough song, yet vocally weak. This fits into the background music category for me. But I do love the staging.
Becoming in love with the portuguese entry.
Top 3
Poland
Sweden
The Netherlands