Earlier today the final seven acts participating in Melodifestivalen 2015 gathered in Örebro for their first rehearsals for the fourth semi-final. Midnight Boy showed off his chest hair, Dinah Nah went “La La La” and Caroline Wennergren dropped some major soul. It all led up to superstar Måns Zelmerlöw’s performance of “Heroes”. Wanna know who soard and who flopped? Check out the 30-second snippets for the fourth semi below!

Deltävling 4, Örebro 28/2

1. “Don’t Say No” – Midnight Boy

In Midnight Boy’s world “you don’t have to be cool” — and apparently you don’t have to wear clothes either. This act is filled with flesh, including shirtless dancers in hot pants and a bare-chested Midnight Boy. This is male burlesque with a hint of 70s sleaze. Some may call it cheap. But I think the overtly sexual imagery works well with a song that, in some circles, may serve as an aphrodesiac. Will Sweden be aroused? We’ll have to wait and see.

Read our interview with Midnight Boy.

2. “Black Swan” – Caroline Wennergren

This black swan is bringing some major soul. When she sings you hear Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Josephine Baker and Diana Ross all rolled into one. The song melds jazz, R&B and blues, and I want more, more, and more! Natalie Portman may have had a bloody ending in the film “Black Swan”, but this bird Caroline is gonna fly!

3. “Building It Up” – JTR

They spent too much time applying hair product and not enough time thinking about their song. This is generic, disposable, and, despite the catchy chorus, somewhat irritating. There is too much going on vocally, and yet I’m most interested in the red confetti. Not a good sign. Their voices don’t blend, but I don’t actually think they’re trying to. #disaster.

4. “Guld och gröna skogar” – Hasse Andersson

This man is old enough to be Sanna Nielsen’s grandfather. And it kind of shows. This feels like it would have been hip in the 1950s in a barnyard somewhere outside of Vaxjö. Papa has a good voice, but the song is just dull, dull, dull. Not even the violinist, who appears to have taken a few too many happy drugs, gives this appeal. That said, it will have a monopoly on the over-50 vote. I fear it will make it to Andra Chansen.

5. “Make Me (La La La)” – Dinah Nah

“Like a plane in the sky you make me high” — did her daughter write that? This is cheap and tacky. I came expecting some Ivi Adamou realness. Instead I get a low-budget version of Isa from semi-final three. A song like this needs a killer chorus, but sadly this one just feels flat. I give her props for the pink hair — but nothing more.

6. “Ett andetag” – Annika Herlitz

This is a classy and classic Melfest ballad. Well sung, well performed….but kind of boring. We’ve heard this nearly every year since 1959, and I struggle to separate it from the likes of Sonja Aldén, Jessica Andersson, Håkan Almqvist and the army of other Swedish women whose names evade me. That said, these camera angles are amazing.

7. “Heroes” – Måns Zelmerlöw

It looks like they saved the most expensive staging for last! The stage looks great, but I’m just not feeling the song. The sound is very now, but the lyrics are beyond cheesy. “We are the heroes of our time, we wrestle with demons in our mind”? A song with this electro-anthemic feel needs stronger words than that. I’m getting Charlotte Perrelli 2012 vibes from this. Expensive staging that crashed and burned.

Melfest Fourth Semi-final Preview

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Hebbuzz
Hebbuzz
9 years ago

CAROLINE WENNERGREN to final please
and just to smallen the chances of Eric Saade , Mans too

Midnight boy and dinah to AC

Felix Prochain
Felix Prochain
9 years ago

It’s horrible. Worst Mf ever.

Vladimir
Vladimir
9 years ago

Mans is good – as usual – but the song sounds predictable. Staging is great though. I like “Don’t say no”, but the staging and styling are obnoxious. “Black swan” sounds good and Caroline is a good singer, but I don’t feel the charisma. Somehow I feel like the golden years of Melodifestivalen (for me personally 2003-2006) are gone. Awesome songs (e.g. by Sarek, Jocke Bergstrom, Cameron Cartio, Magnus Backlund, Velvet and Nanne) are long gone and most MF entries in recent years (excluding “Euphoria” and “My heart is refusing me” – I have to be fair about her) are… Read more »

AM.Casablancas
AM.Casablancas
9 years ago

for the final Mans and Dead or alive

oooh I just realize I confused Midnight Boy with them, it’s just that its so hard to make the distinction.

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
9 years ago

Got some Erasure vibes from Midnight Boy, lol! Caroline wasn’t too bad either. Hasse’s song seems catchy, could use some age diversity along with Magnus. Unique staging by Mans. Overall, a better semi than week 3.

Otna
Otna
9 years ago

It’s a weird semi – I can’t say I love anything or hate anything… everything’s just at different levels of average. The first three acts seem the best, especially Black Swan.

Bruno
Bruno
9 years ago

my favorites of this semi final are 1st Måns (he have a place in the final calling him , because for me he is one of the best this year, maeby the best), 2nd JTR (I hope they can go to the final with Måns) and 3rd Caroline (If JTR don’t go to the final I hope she can take that place in the final).

Thiefo
9 years ago

Expensive staging? Haha, what’s so expensive about Mans staging? All I see is a screen in the back which I thought was LED but looking more closely, is just a projection, doesn’t seem much expensive, unless I’m missing something? I disagree with those who say Midnight Boy will most probably be out, and I’m not saying I like him, not my style, but it will grab a lot of attention, just like Dolly Style in the first semi, so my prediction is that he will either go directly to the final or at least AC. Overall, quite disappointing year for… Read more »

Musika
Musika
9 years ago

JTR are well known in Australia. They were on X-Factor there. Hope they make it through. Their song is way better than Samir & Viktor’s!!

Mar
Mar
9 years ago

As expected, Mans is performing last, with the only staging that deserves to be described as such, and will probably slay on the night.
Midnight boy is so hilariously bad it could actually end up being good, who knows, maybe andra chansen, but performing first isn’t doing him any favours.
The la la la song is horrid, Ivi should sue and/or slap that woman with no mercy.
The rest is an open field, not bad but not great either.

blondboybc
blondboybc
9 years ago

Mans to the final. The others will be fighting for that second spot. As for Andra Chansen, very up in the air!

jasmine
jasmine
9 years ago

I’m really looking forward to hearing Annika sing since she did an amazing job voicing Elsa in the Swedish version of Frozen. The swedish translation of “Let it Go” was a mess, but Annika somehow managed to save it with her voice.

Adams
Adams
9 years ago

How awful is it to bring a horrible outfit together with an 80’s pop to the stage? I thought that Eric Saade was bad this year, but I have changed my opinion… Jon Henrik is the best that Sweden have this year for the ESC.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
9 years ago

@Jan: I think Eric, Måns and even Isa will split the pop vote and perhaps damage themselves as a result, leaving Jon Henrik to snatch up the lion’s share, with perhaps Kristin as his closest challenger.

D
D
9 years ago

Pretty weak semi, 2015 wasn’t that good of a year for MelFest, and all the good songs we had were eliminated. What I Want: 1) Caroline Wennergren – Black Swan – I absolutely love the soul in her voice. It’s one of the only songs of the semi I like and would listen to, not my favourite of the year but it’s good. 2) Annika Herlitz – Ett andetag – It’s good but not great. Kinda a one-dimensional ballad but I mean, her voice is nice. 3) Dinah Nah – Make Me (La La La) – Definitely a cliché pop… Read more »

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
9 years ago

In each of the last 3 rounds, the last 2 performers all went to the finals or Andra Chansen; the last one ALWAYS went straight to the final. You can certainly chalk up Måns for the final. I gather Annika will get the final or A.C. After a quick listen, I gather maybe Caroline and Dinah for A.C. But after seeing Andreas Weise (ugh!) steal Ellen Benediktson’s A.C. spot last week, beware this week’s potential insurgent steal from Midnight Boy.

Day One (Marcus)
Day One (Marcus)
9 years ago

Wow it’s like flashing back to Melodifestivalen 2007 Only worse. So we have heard a winner now. Question is out of these the songs in the final and Andra Chansen is there a Eurovision winner among them? No. But Aric will get a few televotes as will Isa and the Juries so far will enjoy Jessica Anderson and Isa. My favourite song from this years Melodifestivalen was I’ll be fine and the Swedes threw it under the bus and spat in its face so It seems the Scandinavians are going back to how they used to be in the contest… Read more »

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
9 years ago

Caroline Wennergren is absolutely fantastic
Mans Zelmerlow is alright I guess
Midnight Boy’s song is bizarre, but if I didn’t watch the video that accompanied it I would probably love it.
Other than those three there’s not much to root for. If I had to, I would send Annika to Andra Chansen just for singing in Swedish

Jan
Jan
9 years ago

My reviews! 😀 1. Midnight Boy – “Don’t Say No” Let’s all join this 80’s gay disco! 😀 It’s fun and nostalgic, I like it. (8,5/10) My prediction: Out (6th) 2. Caroline Wennergren – “Black Swan” Omg, I just love this bond-style pop! And omg I love her voice! Amazing, to the final with her please. (10/10) My prediction: Out (7th) because Sweden always votes out the epic songs 🙁 3. JTR – “Building It Up” Can’t really remember this one except that I wasn’t really fond of it. I think it sounded like tons of other boyband songs just… Read more »

spartan
spartan
9 years ago

Heroes its good but after hear dont stop believing, all these are bad

PP
PP
9 years ago

For me Caroline Wennergren is best in this semifinal. Mans wili go to finan, but this song is worst his song in melodifestivalne history. I like Hope and Glory from 2009, and Cara mia from 2007 but this is not good song, only stage presentation and visual effects, wili help him to go to final

Dhani
9 years ago

mans is 100% directly in the final, even if its bad. there is one spot in the final for the other acts

lel
lel
9 years ago

ok I might have overreacted haha, I can see that. But I was just so surprised I liked it!

lel
lel
9 years ago

OMG OMG OMG ‘HEROES’ IS INCREDIBLE! I can see it fighting with Jon, Erik and Mariette in the Final. This is going to be a close one!

Shards
Shards
9 years ago

Did UMK negotiate with Mello to keep this week full of dross so people will watch the Finnish NF??

Random.sage2.0
Random.sage2.0
9 years ago

@lel Praise the lord for lel is a prophet! I agree. They’re holding out on the best song this semi!

Random.sage2.0
Random.sage2.0
9 years ago

Quick REVIEW!!! 1. “Don’t Say No!” – Finally! Rapists like me have an anthem! Fitted with unbuttoned shirt (showing that luscious chest hair line) and stolen mannequins! 2. “Black Sawn” – If I were a str8 dude I’d love her legs but her voice and delivery is just enough to see her as finalists material! 3. “Building It Up” – I hear the sounds of Swedish female saliva being made to salivate all over this performance. Fan girl fav but I ain’t a fan girl. To Andra Chansen with you!!! 4. “Guld och gröna skogar” – I’m 24, full blooded… Read more »

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
9 years ago

oooh i like black swan

Daniel
Daniel
9 years ago

Not a good year for Sweden.

lel
lel
9 years ago

oh, and this semi is just horrible! The worst one, definitely… Only Mans Zelmerlow has a chance of doing well in the Final (even tho I haven’t heard his song yet). The rest is pure disco garbage or weird combo of jazz and pop.

lel
lel
9 years ago

… and again, the SVT favorite got 7th spot! Come on, that’s just unfair to other acts… they should draw their positions next year, to avoid the predictability.

Leaf
Leaf
9 years ago

I kinda digg Dinah Nah