The second semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2015 was definitely a weaker affair than what we witnessed last week. And while it may have lacked strong songs, it was still high on the drama. Mariette did battle with a wind machine, while ageing pop star Magnus Carlsson fought through some fierce dance moves. In the end they both triumphed and advanced direkt till final. Linus Svenning and Samir & Viktor will sing again in Andra Chansen.
Melfest 2015: Second semi-final review
#melfest Deltävling 2: direkt till final
“DON’T STOP BELIEVING” – MARIETTE
There was a long pause after Magnus’ performance, presumably because they needed to crank up Mariette’s wind machine. She felt every verse of her song, and it’s clear this woman knows how to bring the drama. Her Dementor-esque dancers added an eerieness to this and it worked really well. Despite the darkness it’s meant to be uplifting. In the lyrics she seems to suggest that breaking up doesn’t mean the end of love: “And no matter what people say, from today we’re strong enough to smile and walk away…I believe in you.”
Read the “Don’t Stop Believing” lyrics here.
“MÖT MIG I GAMLA STAN” – MAGNUS CARLSSON
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Magnus, you can sing whatever you want as long as you sing it with those dance moves! The choreography was on point and Magnus proves, once again, that you can’t slow him down — even if you throw out some tricky steps. I didn’t like the 1970s build-up to the song, and I feel like we’ve heard this song at least 12 times at Melodifestivalens in the past. But the chorus is schlager-tastic and really gets stuck in your head. As ever, he’s singing about love and letting go: “Like a mirror, you were close, there is no one else who has seen me so.” Read the “Möt mig i Gamla Stan” lyrics here.
Andra Chansen
Linus Svenning — “Forever Starts Today”
A lot of people expected another ethno-ballad in the mold of last year’s“Bröder”, but this evening Linus proved he’s not a one-trick pony. The song smacks of perseverance and moving on, and could be read as a thematic extension of Bröder, which discussed losing a brother: “I close my eyes and count to ten, I realize that I can breath, that I can breath again.” The staging is decidedly urban with drummers baning on oversized drums STOMP style, though at time I thought homeless people were in the background setting things on fire. He struggled to hold his pitch on some of the lower notes, and the ending seems rather abrupt. But all in all a very sophisticated performance. Read the “Forever Starts Today” lyrics here.
“GROUPIE” – SAMIR & VIKTOR
Judging from the Groupie lyrics, this is meant to be a clever play on the two meanings of “groupie”—as in someone obsessed with an artist, and a group photo. The guys look great but they really need to work on their synchronization — it often felt off. This is more sophisticated than the numbers dropped by Sean Banan in years past, and yet this still feels somehow silly. Read the “Groupie” lyrics here.
Fifth Place
“IF I WAS GOD FOR ONE DAY” – NEVERSTORE
My opinion of this has risen a lot since the 30-second clip. It was tender and sweet and the ooo-ooo-ooos were seriously catchy. The red lighting with the elevated, transparent platform looked amaze, even if simple. In a recent interview with wiwibloggs, alt-rock band Neverstore told us that their song “is about losing someone and wanting to turn back time and to get another chance.” The lyrics capture the meloncholy inherent in that message: “If I was god for one day, I’d chase the shadows away and lead you back to my heart.” Awww.
Sixth Place
“Där och da med dig” — Emelie Irewald
From the very first note — and sight of black — I knew that I was going to need some anti-depressants. Emelie has a lovely voice and she brought the emotion and the drama. I just wish I spoke Swedish so it was more accessible to me without having to read the stalker-esque lyrics: “Wait, I want to go with you, I am afraid, afraid of the dark, Let me take you, have a chance in our last dance.” Psycho-obsessive aside, the stage was filled with hundreds of incandescent lights. Despite my sarcasm, it really was a magical performance.
Seventh Place
“NONETHELESS” – MARIE BERGMAN & SANNE SALOMONSEN
I know this much is true: They’ve got the over-60 vote on lock. #mello #melfest #mello2015 A photo posted by wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) on
Well, they’ve got the over-60 vote on lock! “A wild coyote in a prison” makes for an interesting lyric, but sadly it’s the only thing I can remember. The performance lacked drive and it sounded like they were being played back in slow motion. It had no energy or life and at times I worried that the ladies don’t have a pulse. Marie and Sanne (not Nielsen) need to fire their stylist too.
Just watched through… ok… Samir & Viktor – Either one or both of those guys had trouble hitting the notes, and it was pretty obvious. And there were these repeating parts that neither of them sung, which made me wonder how much they were boosted by pre-recorded vocals during the duration of the performance. It’s a shame, because the song sounds pretty good itself. Magnus – Wow, he can sing amazingly well, and ever the more amazing given the elaborateness of his choreography. I liked the song, too, which I wasn’t expecting based on the sample. It’s schlager, but somewhat… Read more »
Is it just me or that Magnus’s song is like two different songs mixed in one?
I just watched the 2nd round (without knowing the results beforehand); and here is how I saw it: Predicted for finals 1. Mariette: “Don’t Stop Believing”, 9.36 [Advanced to final. A song and a stage performance absolutely worthy of the Eurovision stage, and she executed her performance very well. There was no way she could not be sent straight to the finals. Depending on what happens in the next 2 rounds and Andra Chansen, Mariette and Eric could end up in a replay of Sanna and Ace, fighting for every last point in the final.] 2. Linus Svenning: “Forever Starts… Read more »
Just watched Linus’s performance… he made the same mistake of dressing too casually again. And yeah, he had a hard time hitting that one A flat, but I’m reminded why I liked him so much last time. When he sings well, he’s a stallion.
I said before that this would be the weaker semi final, but I was very wrong!! Mariette’s song and performance completely won me over at the end, and there were also stronger-than-expected performances elsewhere. I felt that Neverstore gave an exceptional performance and should have been in the Top 4. I don’t understand the song ‘Groupie’ [are they trying to appeal to children? Children can’t vote, right? Or are they just being overly theatrical? Gimmicky?]; it made it to the final somehow. Linus Svenning has a very good song but his vocals were not perfect in the semi; he needs… Read more »
Mariette was breathtaking and definitely the best of Melodifestivalen so far.
At some point I had the same feeling I had while seeing “Euphoria” for the first time: “this is going to be a hit”. I just hope Eric Saade does not steal her place in Eurovision. Sweden has a Top 3 song right there.
Mariette was in a league of her own.
She’ll be a dark horse in the final.
Wow, I don’t know how it happens, but my favorites always seem to end on the bottom! I clearly don’t agree with the Swedes! Here is my ranking of the Semi Final 2, which in my eyes was way stronger than Semi 1: 1. “Dar Och Da Med Dig”: 9/10: I didn’t understand a single word, but it was fascinating. This seriously gave me chills. Flawless performance. 2. “Don’t Stop Believing”: 8.8/10: The melody is fantastic! She is a charismatic vocalist. The only thing that irritates me are the mainstream lyrics. 3. “Nonetheless: 8.7/10: Almost a joint second. I clearly… Read more »
Also can’t believe Neverstore lost to Groupie -_- Almost as tragic as I’ll Be Fine and One By One…
Mariette is glam, but Linus is better than Magnus… :/
Neverstore should have gone to the final.
The lead vocal singer from the rock group band *Neverstore* was very hot babe… <3 {if only his hair were shorter.. 🙂 } Pity that their song did not progress unluckily and others less good did instead… Magnus' that i did not like his song & it was let down 4 me as i expected to hear a very cool one instead,must had voted 2nd after Mariette (i supposs..) But it makes totally sense why the Swedes voted him as its typical called schlager dance pop from that kind that these people always tend to like mainly.. The *Groupie* song… Read more »
@ Bavarson you are really annoying u know.. You keep mentioning Eric Saade like you are obsessed with him.. Well nobody cares dude! Here we were talking only about this semifinal actually.. If the topic was at least rellevant indeed to Eric Saade then fine you were allowed to do it.. I already dislike egomaniac prick Eric {like too many of us do..} and now you will make me to dislike him even more when you keep mentioning his name everywhere! I don’t give a d@mn about him! Simple as that! Do us a favor and just give us a… Read more »
I have to say to the author of this article (william) that I think you’ll find a lot of ESC fans disagree with you about the quality of this semi. It was far superior to the first one, and I dislike that you present it as fact that the first semi was stronger.
Those two choices were perfect; I love Magnus’ song (and schlager in general), and Mariette’s performance was breathtakingly gorgeous.
Oh hush up about erik saade already
So….! Mariette DID deserve to qualify to the Friends Arena Finalen…I like her song and especially her per4mance that was the best of the 7….She stole the whole show definitely and bravo 4 her.. I don’t think the same about Magnus’s song i did not like it really unfortunately and with no offense but i believe that his song did not even deserve to go to the andra chancen alone.. My most liked song was the one of Linus’ **4Ever Starts Today**…Pity that he was not voted either 1st or 2nd…I really hope that he will get his ticket 4… Read more »
poor semifinal, still Eric Saade is the best 🙂
Poor Linus has to go through the 2nd Chance Round again, he’ll sail through to the final again, but real glad that Groupie song didn’t make it to the final
I’m so happy for Mariette, she slayed tonight.
If the semis don’t get better, then I really expect it to win.
agree with thiefo
I don’t really know why I said Sanne while I meant Emelie, LOL
I prefered Neverstone over Carlsson everyday. Sorry William, I know you’re a fan of his moves, but they didn’t impress me.
This was probably the most boring melfest semifinal I’ve watched in a long time, none of the songs were anything special, not even Linus’ and Mariette’s which were my favourites. Glad to see Mariette in the final and Linus at least in Andra.
Sanne underrated, but glad with mariette!
Mariette could win the final… two more semis.. exciting
Pleased with the results, Magnus and Mariette were the best in this semi final 😀
Super happy Mariette made it, she deserved it. Emelie and Sanne & Marie were both really underrated and deserved to at least make it to the second voting round. I didn’t really like Neverstore but I had some bits of hope inside of me that they’d upset and make it to the final, sending Magnus home, but oh well. You win some you lose some.
I like Mariette but I’d rather see Neverstore or Linus in the final instead of Magnus…