Last night’s semi-final results at Melodifestivalen must have been a surprise for Ellen Benediktson too. It’s the only explanation for why quiet-and-demure Ellen turned into a party animal after leaving Malmö Arena. The 18-year-old singer pushed Helena Paparizou with “Survivor” into the Andra Chansen. She took us—as well as the betmakers—by surprise. Then she partied her way from backstage to her hotel room and straight to the afterparty, where all the artists danced and celebrated, regardless of where they finished. We can imagine them saying, “Pass the champagne, Ellen…”

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“I’m very happy I won,” 18-year-old singer YOHIO said. “We don’t know yet if we’ll make any changes to my performance…Now, it’s time to go home. I have to work hard, as my new album is going to be released on spring.”

It was expected that YOHIO would pass through Deltavling 1. The question now is whether he will actually win Melodifestivalen 2014. Last year, it was the European juries which prevented him from taking the title. Will the same thing happen this year?

 

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The winner of the night, however, was Ellen Benediktson. “It feels completely unreal!” she told SVT.

Speaking to Nöjesbladet she gushed even more. “It feels crazy and unreal. I’d never be able to prepare myself for the feelings afterwards. I have never felt so much in my life. I tend not to be the one who cries.”

The waterworks were on during the encore. With tears running down her face she struggled through the reprise. Do you think that the jury or the public will be her bigget backers during the final in Friends Arena?

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Now it’s time to leave Malmö Arena behind and to look forward to Linkoping Deltavling 2 on February 8. Sanna Nielsen and Martin Stenmarck are thought to be the hot favourites to procceed directly to the final. But, as we learned last night, Melodifestivalen is always unpredictable!

Billy Xifaras contributed this report from Greece. Follow him on Twitter at @bill_xifaras. You can also keep up-to-date on the latest Eurovision news and liking our Facebook page.

Photos: SVT

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Arianna
10 years ago

Ellen deserved that party!! Woo 😀 Pleased for her. Looking forward to hearing what Sanna has to bring to the table this Saturday!

DS
DS
10 years ago

Helena had -hands down- the best song in this semi-final and one of the strongest and most instant songs in the history of ESC national finals – and to top it off she gave a a stunning and empowering performance where she sang her heart out (some fans have even reported that the experience in the arena was even more intense). As a result the strong reactions against the results don’t surprise me at all. I think the average Swede saw her as a certain qualifier so they decided to vote for the more “fragile” and sweet-looking Ellen and since… Read more »

KM
KM
10 years ago

You’re being way too dramatic about this, seriously get a grip.

Richard
Richard
10 years ago

YOHIO song is very very boring and general…I always listen the same kind of it in Japanese anime…Trust me, It doesn’t work well at Eurovision..such a big downgrade from Sweden

I prefer Helena so far…She only needs some transformation and preparation mainly for stage acts and body gestures..Come on her song is Top 5 entry…

Wake Up Sweden!!

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

As far as YOHIO goes, haters gonna hate. He sung well this time and he had a really nice song. He deserved his place in the final. (Last time I was shaking my head wondering how he got there!) Betting odds for Melodifestivalen semifinals are almost meaningless because the songs aren’t released until 6 hours before a show, and often you have no idea how the live vocals are going to be. It is somewhat of a surprise that Helena didn’t make it. I think 3 people deserved to go to the final (YOHIO, Ellen and Helena), heck even 4… Read more »

Melissa J
10 years ago

I personally was let down by Helena’s song. Vocally, she was very strong and has a good live voice. But the song seemed to bail out half way through ramping up to something. It’s not a bad song, and certainly deserves a place in Andra Chansen at least. I don’t dislike her at all, though. I felt like YOHIO had one of the best performances of the night–exciting, passionate, with strong vocals. Ellen, too, was one of my favorites. I’m very happy for her unexpected advancing to the finals. On a side note, I’m looking forward to some cute after… Read more »

AnesBosna
AnesBosna
10 years ago

@Jericho.

How are we racist? She came 3rd – 4th place, NOT 8TH PLACE!
Next time you call us racists, have a reasonable answer, and not bullshits like that.

D
D
10 years ago

@Jericho
I’m Swedish, and I love foreigners. The reason Helena didn’t advance is because we hate her song, not her. Also, that just shows how stupid you are, Greek is not a race, which means even if Swedes did hate Greeks, which they don’t, they would not be racist. A race is white, black, Asian, etc.

Dhani
10 years ago

@Mex, maybe it was not PERFECT, but if was definitely the best song of last night and should definitely have gone straight to the final !!
but who has a perfect song? that is different from each music’s taste 🙂

Emma
Emma
10 years ago

Jericho: not fair and not true. Loreen and Eric Saade won Melfest and both of them are at least half not-Swedish in terms of heritage–and unlike Helena, they look it. Danny Saucedo, who looks extremely Slavic and has a Spanish surname, has received a TON of votes at Melodifestivalen (on that note, in 2013, literally more than half the votes in the final when to Loreen and Danny, both of whom have made it publically known they are not of Swedish descent). Darin (Zanyar) is of Kurdish descent and doesn’t look ‘Swedish’ and yet he has had a very long… Read more »

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

I’m am more than glad to express my joy when an unexpected undergod wins big time in such a competition like MF … and it went straght to the final. I told you before and I’ll say it again … learn to never expect anything … even if your name is Helena … eh eh eh 🙂 Songbird all the way … (and maybe Sanna Nielsen should start to feel bit more nervous …)

Mex
Mex
10 years ago

ESC fans, be honest – Helena DID NOT had the perfect song. The end.

Jericho
Jericho
10 years ago

We need to address the issue no one is talking about: Swedes don’t like foreigners. Even though Helena was born and raised in Sweden, they don’t consider her a Swede. If she were the same woman — same voice, same song, same looks — but had Swedish parents she would have gone through. FACT. Swedes are racist.

Dhani
10 years ago

yohio sucks, his song sucks, sweden sucks, melodifestivalen sucks balls.

OK FINE SWEDEN SEND YOHIO TO ESC, END LAST IN SEMI FINAL 1 AND LET US NEVER SEE HIS FACE AGAIN!!!!!!