Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / SVT

Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2024 rolled on with heat 3 on Saturday night. Coming live from Vida Arena in Växjö, six new acts battled it out for two direct qualification spots into the grand final in Stockholm.

In the end, the two winners were debut participant Jacqline along with Eurovision and American Song Contest winning songwriter Cazzi Opeia.

Meanwhile, Klaudy and Swedish Hollywood wife Gunilla Persson are heading to the final qualification round after heat five.

Melodifestivalen 2024 heat 3 results

  1. Jacqline – “Effortless” – WINNER (direct to final)
  2. Cazzi Opeia – “Give My Heart A Break” – 92 points (direct to final)
  3. Klaudy – “För dig” – 59 points (qualified to finalkvalet)
  4. Gunilla Persson – “I Won’t Shake (La La Gunilla)” – 56 points (qualified to finalkvalet)
  5. Clara Klingenström – “Aldrig mer” – 52 points
  6. Kim Cesarion – “Take My Breath Away” – 45 points

Running order

  1. Jacqline – “Effortless”
  2. Clara Klingenström – “Aldrig mer”
  3. Kim Cesarion – “Take My Breath Away”
  4. Klaudy – “För dig”
  5. Gunilla Persson – “I Won’t Shake (La La Gunilla)”
  6. Cazzi Opeia – “Give My Heart A Break”

Format of Melodifestivalen 2024

30 acts participate in Melfest 2024 split into 5 heats of six acts each. The number 1 and 2 placed acts from each heat qualify directly to the grand final in Stockholm and the two lowest placed acts are finished in the competition. This make up for the first 10 acts qualifying for the grand final

Number 3 and 4 of each heat will have their fate decided in a Final Qualification held in connection with heat 5. The 10 songs in all will compete for 2 tickets to the grand final decided by the percentage of votes each entry got in their heat plus the amount of votes they get in the Final Qualification.

Who was your favourite tonight? Do you think any of these acts could go on to win the entire thing? Let us know in the comments below.

64 Comments
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Ultima Thule
Ultima Thule
10 months ago

Jacqline has the first half decent song from Sweden this year.

Héctor
Héctor
10 months ago

Wait…WHAT? Clara’s out but Gunilla and Cazzi Opeia are good to go?
The level is pretty average but they even dare to leave the best songs out of the final or the run-off voting. Sweden definitely aiming for the cheesiest and most boring final out of the last years. Betting for Smash into Pieces or Marie Sur for now. None would be a standout in May but they sound good a least.

Denis
Denis
10 months ago
Reply to  Héctor

Clara was much better last time. This was just a weaker version of that song

Erik
Erik
10 months ago
Reply to  Denis

Vad är det för likheter du hör egentligen? Den här nya var mer poppigare än förra, lät inte alls lika

Max
Max
10 months ago

What really struck me was how confident Jacqline appeared on stage whereas in the greenroom interview she was close to silent. Also, when she was announced as the winner she looked like she holding back. I hope she can enjoy her success a bit more in the final. Loosen up, girl!

Anna
Anna
10 months ago
Reply to  Max

She was like that during Idol as well, stone face and no charisma at all

Stian F
Stian F
10 months ago

FINALLY!!!!!! Jacqline server pure perfection – finally Sweden has a great entry that would be perfect for Eurovision. Effortless is a great song, Jacqline has massive charisma, het vocals were on point and that staging was absolutely amazing!!! That was even kinda like too good for Eurovision and rather belongs on a Grammy awards stage!

Overall this semi was very strong as I really liked both Jacqline, Cazzi Opeia, Kim and Klaudy. Wasnt a big fan of Clara unfortunately, nor Gunilla, but I couldnt help cheering still during Gunillas performance. I am shocked to see Kim last though…

Max
Max
10 months ago
Reply to  Stian F

Jacqline is a great singer, but that middle eight was a little bit off in some parts. I think she can easily fix that though.

Milla
Milla
10 months ago
Reply to  Stian F

Effortless could easily fit for example Dua Lipa or Ariana Grande. It really is a great song. I only wish that Jacqline could relax a bit more on stage and just go for it. Because she is a really good singer. I think she needs more confidence. However it as a great debut in Melodifestivalen

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
10 months ago

“Give My Heart a Break” – Oh songwriters, how you can make me laugh. Pachelbel’s Canon, right? Or maybe “Go West” by the Pet Shop Boys? 😀
Alright, let’s give originality a break.

Ari
Ari
10 months ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

That break is has been getting far too long. Let’s bring it back, please. Like right now.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
10 months ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

In the UK there is a group called The Farm. Listen to All Together Now and compare!

Daniël
Daniël
10 months ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

If you think “Go West” is a Pet Shop Boys’ original, you’re in no position to discuss originality in general.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
10 months ago
Reply to  Daniël

Indeed. Hence, Pachelbel’s Canon.
Though there are probably examples of that progression prior to Pachelbel as well.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
10 months ago

No Clara? Noooo

Max
Max
10 months ago

I loooove Effortless. Need to hear this in Malmö.

Jacob
Jacob
10 months ago
Reply to  Max

Yesss, amazing song, although we still have 2 heats to decide whether it’s the best one. But no matter what it’ll live rent free in my head from now on

Ari
Ari
10 months ago
Reply to  Max

It actually is the strongest one yet.

Catriona
Catriona
10 months ago
Reply to  Max

Maybe wait until we’ve heard all the songs first?

Matt
Matt
10 months ago

I think Effortless is the best song I’ve heard so far, Awful Liar and maybe Dragon are the next best but I felt Jacqline had a far superior package. I was really pleasantly surprised by Klaudy. I hadn’t listened to the snippets prior but he was not on my radar, but was so glad he made it through the next round. I don’t expect him to make it through, actually Gunilla probably has a better chance if anything due to the different way of voting. I thought Kim Cesarion’s vocal was quite weak in places, but did like his song… Read more »

Denis
Denis
10 months ago

I think the songs are more enyoable as the heats progress.
Both qualifiers were ace, and Cazzi brings so much joy and feel good factor.
Gunilla Persson was fun too, we need more fun songs in Mello. Surprised by Klaudy but good for him.
Overall a good fun night!

Carlos
Carlos
10 months ago

What in the world with these semifinals I think this year is very weak!!!

Boo
Boo
10 months ago
Reply to  Carlos

People say that every year.

Viggz
Viggz
10 months ago

Sad that Clara NQued

Erik
Erik
10 months ago
Reply to  Viggz

She was better last time. This time, it was just boring

Ari
Ari
10 months ago

Effortless won effortlessly in this dire bunch. Deserved.

François
François
10 months ago

Until this Melodifestivalen episodes; most of the finalists are average songs, in my opinion. Anyway, it would be better to see Sweden out of top5 for this year because I want new countries to be in top5.

Jonas
Jonas
10 months ago
Reply to  François

Danny Saucedo will have something to say about that.

Milla
Milla
10 months ago
Reply to  François

I don’t think we’ve heard the winner of Melodifestivalen yet.. At least I hope not!

Milla
Milla
10 months ago
Reply to  Milla

So far my choice is Maria Sur.

Denis
Denis
10 months ago
Reply to  Milla

I think Jacqline can be strong contender

Jonas
Jonas
10 months ago
Reply to  Milla

Danny!

Milla
Milla
10 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Yes if he has a great song and a performance worth the song. I have high hopes for Dotter and Marcus and Martinus as well.

Catriona
Catriona
10 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

You haven’t heard his song yet.

Musiclover
10 months ago
Reply to  François

Like Italy and Ukraine…

Anna
Anna
10 months ago
Reply to  François

And I want to see other teams on top in Champions League but we can’t have that can we?

Jonas
Jonas
10 months ago

Clara, I’m sorry.

Emily
Emily
10 months ago

Bye Clara…. 🙁

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

Clara not getting to the second chance round was not on my cards. 🙁

Emily
Emily
10 months ago
Reply to  Lolek

I thought Klaudy was pretty forgettable. I think Gunilla was inevitable…

Stian F
Stian F
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

My 16 year old niece only reacted to Klaudy in the recap of the songs… saying that was the nice song of them all. So it definitely has appeal to even the youngest.

Jonas
Jonas
10 months ago

I wish they’d go back to the old way of revealing results.

Emily
Emily
10 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Me too. It’s incredibly confusing.

Jonas
Jonas
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

I don’t like knowing who came first/second, it ruins the excitement, and the whole app voting sequence does not make good television.

Jacob
Jacob
10 months ago

Let’s go Jacqline!!!

Colin H
Colin H
10 months ago

Cazzi’s song: the visuals and music were similar to ‘Go West’ by the Pet Shop Boys. Not a bad thing.

Musiclover
10 months ago
Reply to  Colin H

You meen Villige peoples song.
Its always the same, ohh its sounds like this song…

Emily
Emily
10 months ago

Cazzi + Jaqline DTF. Clara and….. I don’t know… to the semi-final.

Emily
Emily
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

*or whatever it’s called now. I have no idea.

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

I suspect it’s Gunilla to the SF, or even DtF

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago

After watching the performances, I would put Cazzi and Jaqline DtF. I would put Clara and Kim through to AC, but it seems as though the Swedes have some unique affection for Gunilla, so I suspect she will go to second chance, or even possibly DtF which I would find rather jarring, but hey, we’ll see what goes down!

Emily
Emily
10 months ago

Oh boy, Pachelbel’s canon!

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago
Reply to  Emily

I really love how Cazzi included the sampling of Canon in C into her song. It was subtle enough that it didn’t seem like a blatant copy, and mixed so well with her signature ‘style’. All in all a very enjoyable presentation! I think she was my favourite.

Emily
Emily
10 months ago
Reply to  Lolek

Yeah, sometimes it’s used a bit heavy-handedly, but I really enjoyed Cazzi’s take on it.

Troy
Troy
10 months ago

Breaking news! The Israeli song was chosen tonight by the majority of votes in the song selection committee! The song was sent to the EBU for final approval. I am so excited! I am so intrigued to know which song was chosen!

Yuarith
Yuarith
10 months ago
Reply to  Troy

Bruh, at least put an “Off-Topic” before your comment

Troy
Troy
10 months ago
Reply to  Yuarith

OMG I can’t!! I hope the song is amazing!! Just thinking of what happend to Israel made me want to cry. They deserve an amazing song! can’t wait!

Jacob
Jacob
10 months ago
Reply to  Troy

“What happened to Israel”? You must be blind or ignorant

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago

Wow… Gunilla… no words. ?

Emily
Emily
10 months ago

Pretty good so far! Here comes Gunilla…

Lolek
Lolek
10 months ago

I’m calling it, Gunilla will be the Bjorn Ranelid of Melo 2024. Also, I find the songs increasingly enjoyable with every semi. Jaqline was amazing, Clara sounded great. Kim was better than in the snippets, and I quite liked Klaudy’s voice too.

Emily
Emily
10 months ago

Great start to the show. She really does make it look effortless, haha

Jacob
Jacob
10 months ago

Jacqline will definitely win this heat, amazing performance and really good and catchy song

Edu
Edu
10 months ago

It was perfect. I got shivers.