Entries for Melodifestivalen 2016 closed today and now the speculation begins as to who will be in with a chance to represent their country on home soil in May.
In total SVT have received 2450 entries – 1982 from the established artists and 468 from public entries. Already this is up on the 2177 that were received for Melodifestivalen 2015.
Melfest executive producer Christer Björkman attributes the higher numbers to “the ESC effect” – the appeal of performing as the host country’s act. Björkman also revealed his hopes for another Swedish victory. “I have high hopes and hope to present a winner at home in the Globe in May.”
SVT will reveal the names of the selected songs and singers in autumn.
So we know where and when the Melfest shows will be held, and we know that Måns Zelmerlöw is strongly rumoured to be involved with hosting. We also know that the Smajling Swedes are the first confirmed participants, but who will the other 27 acts be?
Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed some Melfest stars posting pics to social media of them hard at work in the studio, but now even more Swedish stars appear to have been recording new material ahead of the deadline. Is Mello 2016 in their sights as well?
Erika Selin
Erika gave Ireland’s Eurosong a good shot with her amazing single “Break Me Up” (a favourite with the Wiwi Jury and readers alike), but is she aiming for something a little closer to home next year?
Ola
Ola is an alum of Idol 2005, the series that was also the big break for Måns. He’s previously appeared in Melfest twice. In 2008 he made it as far as the andra chansen round with “Love in Stereo”, and in 2010 he placed seventh in the final with “Unstoppable”. Is he back for another go in 2016?
Therese
Therese Grankvist is a Melfest veteran. In 1999, as part of Eurodance group Grömhus she sang “Stjärna på himmelen” (Star in the sky) in the Melfest final. Then in 2007 she sang “The Arrival” with The Attic, but they only placed seventh in their heat (Måns Zelmerlöw came first with “Cara Mia”!). So is Therese’s recent studio time a sign that she’s going for a third attempt?
Robin Stjernberg
There’s nothing like performing in front of the home crowd. In 2013 Robin performed on home turf but only placed 14th. Is he hoping to get a better score for his country in Stockholm next year?
Linda Bengtzing
Linda is a Melodifestivalen veteran, having competed in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2014. She qualified for the final four times, with her best result being fifth place in 2008 for “Hur svårt kan det va?”. It took Sanna Nielsen seven appearances before she won – can Linda do it in six?
Lisa Ajax
Lisa won the last series of Swedish Idol, the show that was the big break for Eurovision winners Loreen and Måns. Lisa has been in the studio with Linnea Deb, one of the songwriters behind “Heroes”. Could this winning combo pay off?
https://instagram.com/p/7VoM07jenM/
Eric Saade
Oh, hej Eric! So nice to see you! After placing third in Düsseldorf in 2011, it’s always seemed that Eric has some unfinished business with Eurovision. His 2015 song “Sting” only placed fifth at Melodifestivalen, which could have spurred him on to come back with something even bigger. Does he have his eyes on a fourth Mello entry?
https://instagram.com/p/7a_fAbDd_0/
Who would you like to see in Melodifestivalen next year?
Of all the Swedish stars we’ve recently seen busy in the recording studio, who would you like to see in Melfest 2016?
You can vote for as many acts as you like, but you can only vote once.
[polldaddy poll=9075571]
It would be awesome seeing Eric Saade again! ????
Laleh and Zara Larsson all the way
Darin, Eric Saade with a better song than “Sting”, Molly Hammar Petterson, Laleh would be my wishlist.
I’ve seen at least a dozen YouTube fan proposals for entries to Eurovision 2016, and I’d say 6 or 7 of them want Zara Larsson to represent Sweden.
Nanne Gronwall, A reformed BwO or Army Of Lovers or Gravitonas
I’m not sure if I could stand yet another participation from Saade 😛 no thanks.
MPH is of course the one I want to see back the most!
Alcazar!
I hope we see more variety this year, I’m getting pretty tired of all the samey sounding dance-pop Sweden usually sends. I mean, I know it’s what they’re known for, but I want Sweden to send something unexpected.
Molly, Dinah and Ace Wilder are my favs. 🙂
dolly style were also in the studio a week ago so i’d love to see them back, other than that i’d like to see linus svenning, isa, eric saade and maybe ace wilder.
I don’t want to see none of them.
We don’t need to suffer through ridiculous/doesn’t make sense lyrics sung by Saade. Dinah Nah (i like her) but won’t go far. Ace Wilder is overrated in Melfest.
Lisa Ajax might have just been declined from this list.
She just revealed a snippet of a new song of hers.
Unless she has planned another song for MF, she’s pretty much not in.
Ace Wilder with a song like Riot or Dinah Nah with a song like Taste Your Love.
Stockholm -2017? 😀
Lisa Ajax tried to represent Sweden in JESC 2012, you should put that in her description.
I think a female will win, continuing the girl in even years/guys in odd cycle. So more Ace, Dinah, and Isa please. Maybe if SDF decides to compete again instead of hosting, I would so cheer for her!
But if there’s a guy who could win it, please be Darin or Danny!
There’ll be plenty of fireworks if Ace Wilder enters.
oh and Molly Petterson Hammar, she was robbed at mf2015
Dinah Nah, Isa and Erika 🙂
Dinah Nah and Isa!