Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2023 continued on Saturday 11 February as heat 2 got underway in Linköping.
Seven artists presented their bids for just two spots in the Melfest final — and two spots in the second chance semi-final — where they’ll be one step closer to representing Sweden at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
Maria Sur and Panetoz went through direct to final, while Theoz and Tennessee Tears claimed the semi-final spots.
Melodifestivalen 2023 heat 2 results and qualifiers
Seven artists competed in Melfest heat 2. Here they are in order of appearance:
- Wiktoria — “All My Life (Where Have You Been)”
- Eden — “Comfortable”
- Uje Brandelius — “Grytan”
- Panetoz — “On My Way”
- Tennessee Tears — “Now I Know”
- Maria Sur — “Never Give Up”
- Theoz — “Mer av dig”
Maria Sur went through direct to final with the most votes in the first round of voting. The remaining acts went through another round of voting. Panetoz also qualified direct to final, while Theoz and Tennessee earned a spot in the semi-final where they’ll battle it out for the final ticket once more.
Eden, Uje Brandelius and fan favourite Wiktoria were eliminated.
Voting round one
- Maria Sur — “Never Give Up” (Winner, finalist)
?? She will NEVER give up. Well done, Maria Sur!#melodifestivalen #melfest2023 pic.twitter.com/2VMHd6tcE8
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 11, 2023
Voting round two
- Panetoz — “On My Way” — 84 points (Runner-up, finalist)
- Theoz — “Mer av dig” — 78 points (Semi-finalist)
- Tennessee Tears — “Now I Know” — 69 points (Semi-finalist)
- Wiktoria — “All My Life (Where Have You Been) — 47 points (Eliminated)
- Uje Brandelius — “Grytan” — 22 points (Eliminated)
- Eden — “Comfortable” — 12 points (Eliminated)
How do I watch Melodifestivalen?
You can watch Melodifestivalen online via SVT Play. Heat 3 airs on Saturday 18 February at 20:00 CET (GMT + 1).
Are you watching Melfest? Will Maria Sur win the competition? Let us know in the comments below.
Guys, I’ve got some bad news. This is the least watched second Melfest heat since 2006, and that was because it was scheduled against the winter Olympics that year. Things are not looking good for Sweden. Let’s hope the next two heats have something worthwhile to turn it around.
Still the most viewed tv-show though. And do they count streams in general?
Let’s take it as good news. It gives an impetus to actually shake things up. Out with the old, in with the new.
well less people watch TV. I am amazed they got 2 million. It is still the most watched show. And do not forget streaming numbers which are not included live but accounted for later..
And Dansih MGP is the least watched in 30 years, does it mean anything? Only that people watch less regular TV these days.
Can we stop the “pity vote” comments? Some of you are suggesting that there’s no other reason a performance can do well other than just being pitied. Yes, the context of a song can impact how an audience reacts but some of you are acting like there was no possible reason other than pity for why it advanced.
Same thing happened with Stefania and some people saying it would’ve been outside the top 10 if not for the war. Be better, people.
Vi har haft två shower nu…och inte en låt som är riktigt bra … förhoppningsvis blir det bättre under de kommande veckorna
Vad tror du om Marias chanser att vinna?
Just nu känns hon ostoppbar..
Det vet jag inte om hon är.. Det kan bli som förra året när det var Cornelia vs Bagge. De internationella jurygrupperna ska väl för sjutton bedöma LÅTEN liksom?
Jag tror inte att det kommer att hända.
Omg this is not a good NF so far. Not one song is good.
I hope Maria Sur will win!!! she is worth it!!
Nah her ballad is too slow and boring to be honest, sure strong lyrics but no not a winner
Is Christer gone or not? He had a big goodbye two years ago, but after the failure of the American Song Contest, I think he’s back. Behind the scenes, pulling strings. Just no onscreen credit, because that would look bad. This is what I’ve heard, I don’t know how true it is.
All I know is that he’s been working with Maria Sur’s peformance as someone who’s giving advise. I must say that I really miss him. Something is not what it used to be when Christer was around. He was a professional.
And yet last year no one missed him.
I guess if it is a strong year then it don’t matter:)
Something has happened with the performaces and the stagings. In 2022 it was the same thing.. They make less impact somehow.
You can’t say that Melfest heat results sometimes aren’t unpredictable. First Eva & Ewa out, now Wiktoria. While I don’t think that this was her most impactful song (in fact, it might be quite less instant than her previous efforts), she was excellent on stage, and I’m surprised that she isn’t going to semi at least. My favorites of this semi were Panetoz, and I’m happy to see them DTF. Will Sweden (and most importantly, foreign juries) vote for a happy-go-lucky song in Swedish in the finals? Sadly, no. They are predictable in that regard. But I am glad they… Read more »
I can’t agree that “Never give up” would be a better Ukrainian entry than the one they themselves have chosen, considering the songwriters. It’s completely irrelevant to Laurell Barker what country she represents, she’s already done it for five or six. Actual heartfelt Ukrainian efforts will always be better. I just can’t accept this song as anything real.
Would you reject the song without *knowing* who wrote it? Another reason why I wish that the writers remain unknown until the contest is done. Far too many comments mentioning the writers, which ideally should be irrelevant. And again, I think that this particular song is kinda average. I just think that Heart of Steel is even more average.
To clarify: Art is subjective. People project their own experiences into the songs when listening. Whether they are written from personal experience or not shouldn’t matter if the listener can immerse themselves into the experience and believe that it’s real while listening. Often, subconsciously we can project our expectations into the song based on the knowledge not contained in song itself (who wrote it, why, what’s the backstory, ect). Why do we need to know that “it’s real” to appreciate it? Would the *exact same entry copy-paste* be way more appreciated if the writing credits would say “Maria Sur and… Read more »
I agree, Ari. It is, and it is so regardless of who wrote it. I’m just questioning why should authorship be so crucial to the listener. I’m not the one who even mentioned the songwriter in the first place. But the argument so many are explicitly using in writting off some entries is that they ”don’t feel authentic”. My legit question is would they all fell the same about *all* of those entries if none of them had the songwriting credit explicitly attached to it?
Yes, but the reason they feel inauthentic is because that’s exactly what they are. These lyrics leave me feeling uncomfortable, because they are being used in the scope of the horrible situation in Ukraine. They don’t deserve that association. Whether that’s fair or not, I don’t know, but I feel how I feel. I don’t agree that songwriters should be anonymous, because this is their work. If songwriters should remain anonoymous, then it’s only fair that performers do too. Do you think this song would have won this heat if we knew nothing of Maria or her story?
I’d never have even suggested that the songwriters could stay anonymous if there wasn’t an ongoing idea that their identity is compromising the entry. Performers can’t stay anonymous for long if we are actually seeing them on stage. Unless they are all wearing masks, it’s not doable. And even if so, without heavy autotune, their voices could be identified. Would Maria won the semi without her backstory? Probably not. Would people say the exact same song feels authentic if her name was on the credits? Probably yes.
I’m only being extra harsh on this one song because I just don’t like the idea of conveyor belt factory trash acting as a vessel for the soul of Ukraine.
I can understand that. And yes, this particular song does feel generic and trite. I still prefer it to Heart of Steel so far, but maybe after another take I’d put them in the same category of bland.
And yes, on occasion, I also agree that knowing the author’s backstory can elevate an entry or give a context. I understand that, and I myself often get moved by it. It’s just that the lack of a personal context can at times also make a great entry that feels personal, even if it’s not. This particular song is not the case, though.
Agreed. Again, I don’t like the song either. I *does* feel generic and inauthentic. I’m only saying that the authorship isn’t the reason it’s so. As you well pointed out, the same authors have some better work out there, yet these same arguements can be heard when describing those songs too. On the other hand, there are a couple of self-penned NF entries that sound like ”Melfest rejects”, yet are never called such, because people have read that the singer also wrote it. Dana’s song from Dora is a good example of that.
I’d take Wiktoria’s entry before that, but probably not by a big margin.
It was a weak heat 2 yesterday. Someone had to win, but the singer despite the sympathy vote is not strong enough for winning material at ESC. Im really not sure if this will qualify at ESC, even with televoting alone. Her back story is between Sweden and Ukraine alone and many other stories are out there with the same unfortunate context, your going to have 4-5 songs probably connected to Ukraine in the contest , and as a result this will end up with split votes and someone going home. To be honest I do not think the sympathy… Read more »
It sounds as if the song has no qualities what so ever. And I do not agree that song had no qualities. Maria is a great singer and she killed that song. Was it the best song of all in Mello? Probably not. But was it the best from the songs offered last night? Probably. As for Ukriane not winning Junior ESC; well the song was simply not good enough. Ukriane won ESC last year, but they also had a good song to offer. Let us not forget it did well with juries too. To vote for something only for… Read more »
Cant believe it but my two favourites after the first listen of the 1 minute snippets actuallt won this semi! Maria Sur and Panetoz were the best. The confidence of Maria is just amazing, considering she is in a different country… I dont think she realises how difficult of a job it is to be on a Melodifestivalen stage, so she didnt let her nerves get the best of her, but of course, when you have a song with a message that means that much to you, actual life or death meaning, then you do perform well I guess. I… Read more »
I haven’t been the biggest fan of Wiktoria’s songs in Melfest previously but, I thought she clearly had the best performance (and song) in this heat and maybe, the best in both heats. For this to be the one she didn’t get out of a heat with is just a bit silly.
Oh and the actual winner might’ve had the worst song in the heat. Strange results but I guess we’re all just waiting for Loreen.
She’s a sweet girl and I wish her all the best. Now putting the war ASIDE I personally don’t get why participants send artists from other countries. Like Estonia sending Swedish Victor Croné or Sweden sending Maria Sur. I would get it if she got her break in Sweden after moving here (due to the war), but as she said, she’s got her ukrainian fame through ukrainian The Voice and Idol. It’s another thing having connections to other countries through family etc., like Loreen or Danny. Politically I’m very far to the left (mentioning it just to ensure it’s not… Read more »
She hasn’t been sent yet!
What? No of course not, I know. But she is the runner up in all of the odds (just behind Loreen) so there is a good chance she could win.
In which heat does Loreen participate?
4 (the last one, maybe she have a strong song so they want her to win)
I have no doubt 🙂
The pity vote….!
So low quality.When I listen to “Never give up”,I can’t help but sing “This is me” Never never never enough.Other songs are prerecorded chorus or something.
By some of the comments you would guess it is a mortal sin to vote for anything from Ukraine. Like who hurt you?
So Swedes wanted her in the final, is that so bad? What if we simply thought she had the best song tonight? It was not a bad song at all. Should we refrain from voting on her because people might think it is only sympathy? Should they remove her from the voting system completely so that people do not vote out of pity?
Wow. Tonight’s winning song sounds like a total Melfest reject that a country like Malta would pick up. Yikes!! What has happened to Melfest?!? Even last year it was pretty dreadful with the right song winning. Maybe it’ll happen again this year. Melfest used to have 15-20 good songs. Now they have only a couple things that can actually stand out at Eurovision.
Stop blaming this girl. It’s been a long time that Melodifestivalen is BOOOORED. The same songs again and again… Last year was an exception, but in general they repeat the same kind… And remember Tusse.
This contest needs strongs changes!
wiktoria being 5th is the proof that this season is a hot mess. oh boy i missed eurovision
I’m still shocked that she didn’t qualify.
Then maybe she should have written a better song than the bland forgettable one she competed with? I forgot it as soon as it was over. Looks like everybody else did too .
I will just say it! As a Swede I need to explain some things. The problem with Swedes is that the personal experience/ background weighs more than the quality of the song and performance. Most of them (us) are voting based of the personal experience. For example Anders Bagge, Maria Sur, Tusse etc. I always question myself that if we Swedes were blind folded or didn’t hear about the contestent personal story, would they go thru the final? If some unknown/ random person (with no backstory) sang Anders bagges song, Tusses song or even Maria song, would it go thru??… Read more »
Who did you vote for by the way for both tonight and last week? Yes, there just seem to be a tendency for Swedes to vote for the personal backstory than the quality of the song itself. Have there been other Melfest winners who won out of sympathy in the past?
But even with a different singer it still would have qualified. It is a good song. Cheesy yes, but it is ESC
So well put Bella. And I am tired of people shooting down people who comment on the fact that voting due to backstory and pity is missing the point of a song contest where you should vote for best song and act. I have never once criticized the Ukrainian act or the country, it is not about that, it’s about what motivates people to vote. You can support the Ukrainian situation in many ways without resorting to high jacking a public vote, which many non music loving people during these times
I also don’t let personal stories affect me when I vote, I think like you. I wish more people could vote like that to be honest..
To be honest with you guys. Maria Sur’s song is a good but not an ESC winner song BUT (hear me out) – if I would have to choose between the official ESC song from Ukraine this year (Tvorchi – Heart of steel) ….I would pick Maria and her song.
You’re crazy. Ukraine’s song is so good. Stageing is just wow.
How is this person “crazy” because they have an opinion and don’t like a song?
It hurts me to say this but I miss Christer Bjorkman as a Mellofest producer…
You Never realize what you have until it’s gone.
I’m happy that Tennessee Tears qualified! 🙂
Sweden wants to win Eurovision again with the Ukrainian pitty vote. I see you, Sverige.
Nah, they want to win Eurovision with Loreen again, pulling a Johnny Logan.
Stop giving Ukrainian artist pitty votes. It’s so 2022.
?
”XD
I’m sorry, but as a Ukrainian guy, I have to speak up. And I haven’t heard any of the songs, so my opinion will be based off the comments and information i’ve read so far. I don’t mind Ukrainians presenting their work abroad as many other nations do it as well, but… will you treat any work made by Ukrainians as “pitiful” and “undeserved”? First of all, it was public voting of the Swedish people, so it wasn’t quite our choice. Secondly, I truly understand your favourites may not have won the semi final… but why do you spread hate… Read more »
This is wiwibloggs after all! The site where everyone will hate, thrash talk, downvote and be mean to everyone who defeats their favourite or talks positive about entries or countries they do not like.
Please remember however that the site in no way represents the fandom at large, only a small bitter minority of it. Not even general fans take the blog seriously any more
Well if I did it is what the site turned me into. You become what you despise!
But I never talk bad about winners or downvote comments because there is no point with it
I would recommend you to listen to the Maria’s song – yes, comments are unnecessary harsh, but I really wonder if you would say her song represents Ukraine in a best way possible. In my opinion – no. I prefer all the songs in the Ukrainian nf over Never Give Up.
It’s not the work made by Ukrainian artists that is critiqued, but the way people is treating it because it is made by Ukrainian people — like a winning material. And that’s totally an out of mind and unfair thing. You can’t know how it feels because you’re Ukrainian. Maria’s song didn’t deserve to win this heat, Tennessee Tears did, yet she did and Tennesse Tears ended up in the Second Chance lot. Is that Maria’s fault ? Absolutely not, the poor girl is innocent in all of this case. Is that the fault of the public treating everything Ukrainian… Read more »
Or maybe people just like the song and genuinly voted for it? By the way of some comments on here it is like a mortal sin to vote for anything Ukrainain.
Maybe Swedes think it could win because they genuinly think it is a good song and not because of her story or anything?
Then that’s a maybe, not a fact. But on the Ukrainian case, you can’t deny that anything Ukrainian is not getting easy and sympathy votes at Eurovision. That’s a fact.
Well its just as a big maybe as claiming Swedes only voted for her due to sympathy. You have no way of knowing that. And that makes it sound as if she did not deserve to qualify. I voted for her because I thought it was the best. What do you suggest people do? Stop voting all together because it might be sympathy?
Ukraine winning last year is not why we have fewer countries this year. Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia withdrew because of financial issues with the energy crisis, not because Ukraine won. Even if somebody else had won Eurovision 2022, they still wouldn’t have participated anyway and that’s their choice.
We’ll never know. Turkey stopped its Eurovision journey because of the Big 5 privilege. Who can say the others can’t do the same with the Ukrainian blind success at ESC.
War in Ukraine and sanction EU for Russia (EU pushed so hard countries outside EU on Europe to do same sanction Russia) bring energy crisis ,food crisis in Europe
How exactly can we all, or you personally, measure what’s “deserved” and what “isn’t”, plus, aren’t most of hate opinions based on the way their favourites didn’t win in the same contest (chanel fans are crazy, right haha)? For you, it might be completely unfair, for me or for other people the song can be a good one as well. I can have a bad opinion about, for example, Danish choice today, while some people will LOVE it. Still, I didn’t write anything like “these danish people have no ears and how can i still support them if they always… Read more »
Tenessee Tears aren’t my favourites. They just had a better song compared to the other bland ones. You can write whatever you want and take for example whatever entry from whatever country : Denmark, Romania, Italy. But it still won’t be Ukraine. Nowadays at ESC, Ukraine and something or someone Ukrainian means ‘be blindly supportive to it at any cost’. You can’t unsee and deny it. Stop fooling yourself and look at the betting odds, right at the truth. I’m not calling at boycotting everything Ukrainian, you’re misinterpretating my words. I’m just calling for fair treatments towards anything sung by… Read more »
Still, I can’t understand the definition of “being deserved to win” while it’s all pretty much subjective. To me, i could never say something is bad or not enough to win, qualify etc. because it’s only my opinion and I can’t state it’s good or bad objectively. Betting odds are made by the same people as us, and honestly, the only tendency they’re following – the ongoing war (not any songs quality or whatever). Who set the expectations though? And who will trust the odds with only 15 revealed songs so far? So basically what i see, you said that… Read more »
Thx for understanding what I meant. I’ll then just stop bringing your nationality to the table on future comments. I wish you the best in those hard times.
Well said brother. Slava Ukraini!
MGP is the new Melodifestivalen. The show needs big changes.
MGP >>>>>>>>> Mello
No pity vote for me as I hated the Ukrainian “song” last year. This song I liked a lot, she’s good on stage and the performance and staging was great!
I’m not hearing a winner of Melodifestivalen yet. At this point I usually have one or two potential winners. I hope the last two semifinals will be a lot better, but for now someone has not been doing their job! Jon Henrik is the best option,, but I don’t like the performance and the staging.
But I liked the show and the hosts. The interval acts and the humor is so much better this year. I still had a great time watching Melodifestivalen.
hear hear! International fans are so salty over MF they forget that the purpose with it is to entertain Swedish audiences, not random watchers from Mexico or wherever. It is not even a national selection or finding a representative at this stage, that comes later.
Like so what if we voted for Maria only for sympathy, that is all part of the fun with MF. To connect people through music.
It was still a great show doing what it’s supposed to do: entertain and being a festival of music. ESC is not even at our mind this early..
Agreed. So far the only act that I find more compelling for eurovision is Jon Henrik. This semi final, while had some catchy tunes, didn’t bring anything particularly interesting.
Agree that they lack staging this year. Wiktorias stage was really dull.
Uje as well had a staging that didn’t suite his song. It’s know everywhere that a song that is very detailed and describing should either have a very minimalistic staging or it should go completely against the song. You don’t show kitchen and a table in a song like this. Because he uses a failed stew as a metaphor for lifelong friendship in a marriage.
Pathetic sympathy vote
Wow, Melfest this year is truly dreadful! I tried watching last week but gave up. Just went to check tonight’s performances out and I simply couldn’t force myself to watch any of them for longer than a minute. I clicked some off in less than 30 seconds. wow!
I truly hope it really was a situation where no one wanted to waste a good song in a year when Loreen’s competing. Otherwise Sweden is in deep deep trouble…
Let’s hope Loreen has the goods to win the second time, because otherwise if even she has a weak song, Sweden is truly in trouble.
Not what I expected, but then again it’s not like I had any favourites this week. I’m really hoping week 4 will have the hits.
Panetoz is my favourite so far, and they always make me happy! 😀
We all know why she won
Without any surprise, the Ukrainian girl gets the win… What a sad era for Eurovision, everything Ukrainian will top anything. I still have high hopes for Loreen to step it up and end it.
Sadly – same happened in Czech Rep and Estonia … Well Estonia is sending Russian girl
I don’t get your point
Maria has a good voice, but there were better songs and stagings than hers. I though that “tears vote” (as we use to call it in Argentina when ppl votes for a sad life story rather than the actual talent) only happens here. But good for her. Let’s see what happens with the rest of heats and the final itself
While I do think Maria has a good voice, the song really lacks. Generic, by the numbers. Something we sadly have come to expect when seeing Laurell in the songwriting credits.
Listen did pity help Maria? Yes. But was it also a good song that deserved to qualify? Yes? Even if someone else sang it it would have made it through. Do I think it will win? No, for several reasons.
But overall this heat was a step up from last week. More enyoable songs. So pleased to see Tennesee Tears in semifinal! Nice that my age group gave it 8 points. We need more country..
Wow, wow… I missed Maria Sur was Ukrainian, that’s pretty self explanatory then. It’s not that this SF has much better songs though.
I hope Sweden can win ESC again. Cornelia finished 4th last year. Call me superstitious, but if there is a pattern, it is likely to be the winning year for Sweden.
Yet, I have to say no song so far has that kind of winning quality (maybe more of a tie with the very competitive UMK23, if not weaker.) Well, still looking forwards to Loreen!
I also see the pattern but I’m afraid Spain could win. Or if Maria Sur win for Sweden…. She might win it all….
I’m honestly shocked that Theoz didnt go DTF. I love Panetoz and massvoted for them so I don’t mind. Maria has a great voice but the song is very much 2011. Oh well, onto to the one.
This is getting ridiculous. If they send this Maria to Eurovision out of pity….?
If Europe votes for Ukraine, and let them Winn last year, and they gonna Winn 2023 to, so why can’t Maria winn
I know this is not Wiktoria’s best entry, but I still feel so broken for her. Still deem her performance one of the best tonight. T_T
Agreed. It was definitely not her best entry, but I think it should have at least gone through to the semi final. Her performance was strong and her voice is fire as always!
I think it was deserved. I have been a BIG fan of Wiktoria since ‘Save me’ and for the life of me I cannot understand why she entered Melodifestivalen with such a weak effort. If she ever comes back, I hope it’ll be to avenge this year.
527.368 votes = 417.647 Swedish Krona to earthquake victims of Turkey&Syria. That’s so kind thank you Sweden!
And congratulitions to tonight’s qualifiers !
If they send Maria Sur to Eurovision forget a Liverpool final , such a very very weak singer with a weak song . She’s sweet. But this is awful.
And you don’t think people will vote out of pity in Eurovision as well?
No, because the war is already old news. People are suffering from fatigue of it.
Ukraina song it’s not strong, but they are in the topp in the betting, but they gonna Winn anyway
Yeah, the oods say that but I doubt they will second year in a row.
Wiktoria’s song was so weak, i miss her previous entries which were amazing and should have taken her to Eurovision.
So a Ukrainian singer won this semifinal? Well….
What’s happened to Sweden. The former king of eurovision national selections, now filled with one carbon copy song after another and lyrics that are blander than bland. Even the staging and coreo routines have become cliché. And lots of playback going on. I think that this my once absolute highlight of the year, has run its course, and it is time for Sweden to rethink the whole thing. So sad. And what’s up with the huge black bars on top and bottom of each performance – almost half of my tv-screen is just blacked out – are we supposed to… Read more »
No money after the pandemic?
Theoz will sail through the semifinal with ease
Oh wow. Two of the literally worst songs qualified. Well done Sweden
Between Anna Bergendahl last year and Tennessee Tears this year, it looks like Swedish seniors have an appreciation for country!! Quite happy for Tennessee Tears, did not expect that. Well earned Panetoz. I do think that Wiktoria should have qualified above Maria though, to be frank.
pls tenesse tears are so beautiful but they are prolly out :((
Looks like you might be in for a surprise!!
YeSSSSS YES YES