If national selection season is one big act of foreplay, then Melodifestivalen may be the bit that accidentally induces orgasm. Sweden’s national selection contest never fails to titillate, and regularly puts the rest of Europe to shame with its depth and quality. This year will be no different as the first 16 acts already include a few stand-out artists and MF veterans.
First semi-final
Among those returning to the contest is David Lindgren, one of the whitest men ever to bring something hip-hop-ish to Melodifestivalen. He finished fourth in the final last year with “Shout It Out.”
He’ll square off against a group called “Cookies N Beans”—hate that name—who had less success in 2009.
Here’s the complete line-up for the first semi:
Cookies N Beans – Burning Flags (Fredrik Kempe)
Marie N’Diaye – Gosa (Johan Åsgärde, Mattias Frändå & Mary N’diaye)
YOHIO – Heartbreak Hotel (Johan Fransson, Tobias Lundgren, Tim Larsson, Henrik Göranson, YOHIO)
Jay-Jay Johanson – Paris (Jay-Jay Johanson)
Anna Järvinen – Porslin (Björn Olsson, Martin Elisson)
David Lindgren – Skyline (Fernando Fuentes, Henrik Nordenback, Christian Fast)
Eric Gadd – Vi Kommer Aldrig Att Förlora (Eric Gadd, Thomas Stenström, Jacob Olofsson)
Michael Feiner & Caisa – We’re Still Kids (Michael Feiner, Caisa Ahlroth)
Second semi-final
In the second semi-final, Anton Ewald will be giving his vocals a go. You may recognize him as one of Eric Saade’s back-up dancers. Looks like he got sick of staring at Eric’s backside! He’ll be singing a song called “Begging.” You can learn more about Anton by clicking here.
He’ll face joke-cum-pop-star Sean Banan, who made it to the Melodifestivalen final second-chance round last year with “Sean den förste Banan.”
Also back is Jenny Silver, who sang “Something In Your Eyes” back in 2011.
Here’s the complete line-up:
Joacim Cans – Annelie (Joacim Cans)
Anton Ewald – Begging (Fredrik Kempe, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad)
Sean Banan – Copacabanana (Sean Banan, Ola Lindholm, Hans Blomberg, Joakim Larsson)
Rikard Wolff – En Förlorad Sommar (Tomas Andersson Wij)
Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli – Hello Goodbye (Robin Fredriksson, Mattias Larsson, Måns Zelmerlöw)
Felicia Olsson – Make Me No 1 (Amir Aly, Henrik Wikström, Ingela Pling Forsman, Maria Haukaas Mittet)
Pernilla Wahlgren, Hanna Hedlund & Jenny Silver – On Top Of The World (Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)
Louise Hoffsten – Only The Dead Fish Follow The Stream (Louise Hoffsten, Sandra Bjurman, Stefan Örn)
The first time I heard Jenny Silver, singing “Something In Your Eyes” I thought it was an unreleased song originally by ABBA. Loved it!!!!
Pernilla Wahlgren, Hanna Hedlund & Jenny Silver and Anton Ewald 🙂
If Anton has indeed gotten tired of staring at Eric Saade’s backside, I am more than willing to take his place…
Anton Ewald was also back-up dancer for Danny Saucedo’s Amazing at Melodifestivalen 2012… Am I Right?
Jenny Silver was the bomb y’all. I love that eye thing she does.
Julian
Stefan Örn has done a magnificent job for Azerbaijan. So why would he leave the country they trusted him to compose their entries? It’ll be like Sir Alex Ferguson quitting Manchester United today after all the success he achieved in the past.
With one Eurovision title and two entries he composed in the top 5, hopefully Sweden will take notice of Stefan Örn’s achievements on Melodifestivalen 2013.
Finally Stefan Örn and co writes for Sweden, i hope this year, he won’t send again an entry for azerbaijan.
Sean Banan is the WORST. He isn’t a singer. He is a clown. NEXT.