Last night the Wiwi Jury, our in-house panel of musical unprofessionals, read up on gender equality and headed to Sweden to review Sanna Nielsen’s Melodifestivalen song. Did “Undo” pull our heartstrings? Or did it unravel like a drag queen in the rain? Read on to find out…
Deban: Vocally, this is epic. The song is well-crafted, and although the formula is predictable, Sanna Nielsen’s performance keeps us guessing. Note to styling, hair and wardrobe: Please don’t age a beautiful twenty something year old girl. It doesn’t win votes! If the staging could be tidied up, and infused with DRAMA, then, this entry should advance to Copenhagen. It’s about time. This is Neilsen’s seventh appearance at the contest. Seventh time a charm?
Score: 8.5/10
Padraig: My relationship with “Undo” has been a strange one. At first, I thought it was a pleasant, if somewhat unremarkable, ballad. But then, I developed an urge to listen again… and again … and again. And now it’s one of my favourites. Anyone who says you should always go with your gut instinct is clearly speaking baloney. There’ll be no “Ctrl Z” for me, “F5” all the way. Oh, and on a sidenote, I completely agree with Deban – Sanna is 29 not 49 – please Melfest wardrobe department, quit dressing lamb up as mutton.
Score: 9/10
http://youtu.be/Oe3ybnC312c
Angus: Sanna started off the whole shebang strong and she’s still going strong although momentum is starting to ebb from her as Alcazar and Ace Wilder snap at her heels. ‘Undo’ is an excellent entry and could do well for the Swedes. Though the lyrics could do with some kinks being ironed out (“Undo my self” would sound much better than “Undo my sad”), Sanna’s vocal and the haunting production is fabulous. The backing vocal is a little heavy in places but Sanna is by no means the only act guilty of that in the final. She’s on to a very good thing here.
Score: 9.5/10
Zach: Sanna Nielsen. The girl you can count on for a high quality Melodifestivalen entry whenever her name springs up in the participant list. And this year, I think she may just go all the way. I personally feel she should’ve won in 2011 with “I’m In Love,” and now I’m liking “Undo” even more than that entry. It’s the perfect blend of ballad and electro, vocals being shown off in the more acapella areas of the song, and a cool/dark chorus with awesome backing beats and words that you remember after just one listen. After seven tries, and despite my love of Helena and her powerful song, I really think Sanna deserves her shot, especially considering this song is her best entry ever.
Score: 10/10
Patrick: What a masterpiece of music! I really loved “I’m in Love” and “Empty Room” but “Undo” is amazing. Frederic Kempe did a great job as always. The melody at the beginning is beautiful and her silent voice gives it a mystic touch. And then she got me. There is this loud moment when her voice explodes and the song catapults me into my goosebumps-moment. Sanna is the sentimental favourite of Sweden and mine as well. She has the biggest chance of anyone to receive 12 points from the jury and from the voters. I think Sweden can be proud to have such a amazing singer. Lycka till Sanna!
Score: 10/10
Sami: This is so freaking overrated and I can’t see why this is so popular. It’s an okay pop ballad, Sanna is good singer, but there’s nothing new, nothing memorable and nothing interesting. I can’t see anyone else but hardcore Eurovision fans voting for it in Eurovision, so it would be a huge flop. We’ve heard this so many times. Also, the melody of verses is exactly the same as in Eric Saade’s It’s Gonna Rain, also written by Fredrik Kempe.
Score: 6/10
Anthony: An astonishing four entries composed by Fredrik Kempe himself will be in this year’s final. One of them comes from a Melodifestivalen veteran that has yet to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. This one clearly has a lot more pizzazz than the ballad from fellow finalist Ellen Benediktson. Overall, “Undo” is a very good entry and I can see why it’s one of the favourites to win this year. Could I see Sweden as Eurovision title contenders with Sanna Nielsen at Copenhagen? Unfortunately, no.
Score: 8/10
James: Is it wrong if I said that when I watched this for the first time it gave me goosebumps? It did – I swear. This is a pure performance piece and with the added fact that it could easily be played on British radio without anyone battering an eyelid is an added factor that this will be simply received SO well in Copenhagen if it won. It combines a lovely simple ballad at the beginning with a powerful overload of greatness at the end – it just works. Though, my recommendation: more lights, more pyrotechnics, more everything. Surprise us! Make us cry! Otherwise this just ain’t worth it.
Score: 8/10
Franceska: I started out this song thinking that this was going to be the most boring thing ever. Boy, was I wrong. The song doesn’t change suddenly, it builds so wonderfully. Sanna’s vocals are killer, and it’s emotional without being schmaltzy.
Rate: 9/10
Ramadan: This is the song that is going to win Melodifestivalen 2014? Oh really? It’s alright song but it takes quite a while to get going. There’s something in the chorus that kinda bugs me too. It’s outdated and what is Sanna wearing!?!? It’s OK. I have nothing more to say.
Rating: 4/10
Wiwi Jury Verdict: 8.2/10
Final Ranking: #2 of 10
See our latest #melfest reviews and rankings on the Wiwi Jury page, and then vote for your favourite in our #melfest poll.
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Sweden might win again with her… 12 points from me 🙂
@Jordan and it’s a fact because you said so? I’m not Sanna’s fan, I’m not European. I just like her song a lot. I don’t understand what is the big deal with Ace Wilder’s song either, so what? It’s all about musical tastes. Just relax and enjoy your personal favorite like everyone else does instead of being negative or rude.
@yessi
It isn’t about opinion, it is about fact. She should find some REAL lyricists that can ACTUALLY write a GOOD song. I genuinely don’t understand the mentality of the fans. They’re making the contest look bad by supporting such crap.
At least Ace Wilder is fresh. “Busy Doin’ Nothin” would appeal to an international audience than a typical outdated Schlager song like “Undo”. No wonder why no one from the REAL music industry will ever take the contest seriously. Gah.
@Jordan let me guess… Are you a Paparizou/Ace fan? Thankfully we all have different tastes. If you don’t like it’s fine but there’s a lot of people that actually thinks this song is awesome and you can’t change that. Show some respect to somebody else opinions and we all respect yours.
If Sanna Nielsen wins Melodifestivalen, I will be rooting for her to fail in Denmark. I genuinely don’t understand the hype surrounding “Undo”. It’s the most overrated, C-Grade song that I have heard come out of the competition. I can’t believe the Wiwi Jury gave her an 8.2 out of 10. Seriously, guys? Come one! BLAH!
This one should win on saturday. go sanna !!!
so disappointed that media manipulated the people even before we got to hear it.. that this was the winner… its so boring and her style is a disaster and i hate all kempe winners 🙁
go ace wilder, or ellen, or alcazar.
I LOVE THIS SONG ELENA HAD HER CHAMPIONSHIP I PREFEER SOMEBODY NEW AND SOMEBODY FROM SWEDEN
I don’t think Sweden is one for ballads like this. Helena has a song more down the Swedens lane. (2011, 2012, 2013 were all upbeat songs). Nevertheless I like the song and can’t see it placing well!! 🙂
So it’s time for the Kempe-formula, eh? It took Carola, Charlotte, and Eric to victory and it looks like, annoyingly, we’ll be adding Sanna to that list after Saturday. The song is nice enough but totally predictable. Clean growth, bombastic chorus, huge key change, it’s all been done before. Sanna injects some life into the song with her gorgeous staging and performance, and it actually is in my MF 2014 top 10, but I don’t want to see this in Copenhagen, no way, no how. Ellen, Ace, or Panetoz (wishful thinking) would be great Swedish reps. Nevertheless, good luck to… Read more »
My first instinct about this song was being a bit let down. It’s grown on me, and I do enjoy it, but at the same time I’m not sure about it. Staging is beautiful though. Lighting is really well done!
MEGA ANALYSE:
Yohio vs Sanna Nielsen (beauty vs power)
Yohio has nicer performance, but Sanna Nielsen has stronger performance.
To me, she will always be outshined by Yohanna, who does the same thing, but in a much superior way. The song is OK. But it’s a bit ‘this belongs in a random teen romance movie’ type of song.
Dhani has a point on Ace Wilder. I first thought she was in her early 20s!
This is the best song from melodifestivalen 2014. Great singer! I think we have a potencial ESC winner here. Gotta love Sweden this year!
A little overrated, but it’s still pretty good.
If Ace Wilder is to beat Sanna, she needs to sing much better than she did in the semifinals. But it’s not like these are the only two entries that have a chance to win!
ELLEN IS MUCH BETTER. BOO
Don’t like it and don’t think it’ll win either. Ace Wilder seems to be very popular here in Sweden so I think she has a good chance. Sanna will probably place in the top half like always but not win yet again.
I love all the finalists except Yohio and Panetoz this year. Way better final than last year.
@Dhani I agree with you on Ace. I thought she was like 17!
Eurovision has no value without Yohio.
And Helena is also older than Sanna, actually!! I never thought Helena would be 32, she looks like a 23-year old.
DID YOU KNOW THAT SANNA IS ONLY 29??? AND ACE WILDER IS 31!!!! i would never have guessed that ace is older than sanna!! Sanna nielsen looks like she is 40 or something, and Ace looks like she’s 17…..!!!!
This needs to be freshened up. “Undo my sad” makes me cringe as someone who needed to study english.
But this is one of the ones I root for. Unfortunately, Sanna’s first time at Eurovision she might fail to go to the big final with this slow song and the heavy competition out there. This is the best Kempe one here, but it really needs a refreshment.
I’m a die hard Helena & Survivor fan but I won’t mind if this wins. Sanna deserves it. The song is beautiful & emotional. If Ace gets picked, she’ll be slayed by the other acts at esc (tbh I don’t like her song & if Carly Rae Jepsen & Avril Lavigne had a baby together that would be Ace). But if Helena or Sanna go to Copenhagen Sweden stands a chance.
It is a good song, has a powerful chorus and Sanna’s voice itself is great. I can see it winning and I wouldn’t mind, at least is far better than the other balads. So where’s the problem? I can’t pin point it, maybe is just personal taste, the thing is that it doesn’t appeal me that much.
At first i thought that this song won’t even go through the semifinal, but after it grew on me so much and now I’m desperately hoping that it’ll win. People, you should stop being so partial, especially you @Dhani ( everybody knows that you’re in love with Helena). She has the voice , the beat, she can improve the looks, and moreover this is something specific to Sweden, that make all the people love it’s entries in Esc.
I love this. However Sanna look much older than she is. She is styled like a 40+ yr old desperate housewife .. I don’t know if it’s the hair or something …
The winner! So emotional song and Sanna has an incredible voice to deliver it. 12 points!
The best by far.
Sanna is Bloody. Amazing. Together with Ace, she has the best song and she is no doubt the person who deserves winning this thing the most. By far. Like, plane-to-ground far. So eh, she better win it eh
Amazing voice, my favorite.
The best! Sanna for the win! 😀
this is soooo boring i really don’t get the hype about it. There are so many good songs in the swedish final this year, and they are probably going to choose this song. really don’t get why. it will make the final in cph, but won’t get a top 10 placing.
As average as it gets 5/10