The closer we get to the big Melodifestivalen announcement, the more rumoured acts are revealed. Aftonbladet are reporting that bubblegum pop trio Dolly Style will be returning, along with two-time Melfest entrant David Lindgren and American-born rapper Swingfly. Aftonbladet also strengthen an earlier media report that multi-ethnic group Panetoz will make a return.
Dolly Style
The trio consisting of Molly, Holly and Polly were one of the favourites at Melfest this year with their effervescent tune “Hello Hi”. But while they made it to the Andra Chansen round, “Hello Hi” lost to Dinah Nah’s “Make Me (La La La)”. The trio has since had some line-up changes, with Polly, then Molly leaving earlier in the year. But like the Sugababes, they simply replaced the departed members and kept on singing. Aftonbladet is reporting that the trio will perform a song written by Thomas G:son, a big change from his upcoming work with Cypriot rockers Minus One.
David Lindgren
David Lindgren has competed in Melfest twice before. In 2012 he entered with “Shout It Out” which placed fourth in the final. The following year he placed eighth in the final with “Skyline”.
Swingfly
American-born Swedish rapper Swingfly had a No.2 hit single with his 2011 Melfest song “Me and My Drum”. The song placed fifth in the final.
The list keeps growing
The list of rumoured Melfest acts now tops 25 out of 28 acts, with Dolly Style, David Lindgren and Swingfly joining Smajling Swedes, Ace Wilder, Oscar Zia, Lisa Ajax, Samir & Viktor, Dinah Nah, Panetoz, Sigrid Bernson, Pidde Pannkaka, Linda Bengtzing, Eclipse, Pernilla Andersson, Isa, Frans Jeppsson-Wall, Albin feat. Mattias Andréasson, After Dark, Anna Book, SaRaha, Molly Sandén, Molly Pettersson Hammar, Tommy Nilsson, Patrik Isaksson and Uno Svenningsson, and B Robin.
The full list of the 2016 participants will be presented at the official press conference on Monday at 9:00 CET.
Dolly Style look like an act for pre-school kids. I don’t want to watch their video. Surely there must be something better.
I’m amazed that Dolly Style is still a going concern, regardless of who the members are. Their new look increases their credibility factor slightly (it couldn’t have been any lower), and presumably with G:Son on the payroll they’ll show up with a whole song this time. I’m looking forward to the rematch with Dinah Nah.
@Anthony
There must be some money in it though, especially after having a winning song. Same for Charlie Mason.
I think Dolly Style would fare better this year. They’ve done concert tours around Sweden, they still have their record deal, they have matured their fashion sense a bit and I might say the same for the music. Basically, they have realized that they have to open up to a wider demographic to have better chances in the music industry and in MelFest. They made a good decision to work with Thomas G:son, actually. I’m already expecting a powerful song from them at this point.
@PP: I would need more than all my 10 fingers and 10 toes to count the number of so called Swedish artists who actually limit themselves by replicating someone’s else music style and imagery. But again in Eurovision world none of that matters for as long as fans are entertained by any piece of uptempo rubbish heard a millions times before (the same way as with ballads but again ….the beat is everything for these people). Imagine Saucedo or Lindgren going into ballad mode … fans would kill themselves lol
@Harpy: Fascination, indeed. These are the days when some artists will do anything to sell a performance. But some aspects of Dolly Style’s fascination with Japanese anime present too much of a distraction (on stage) from the song they are trying to sell…
…And again, they have since replaced 2 of its original members. In my opinion, once the last original member of a group leaves, the group is technically DEAD, and what you have is essentially an entirely different group from the one that started it all.
@Harpy: The outfits (and those Sailor Moon wigs) would have been too much of a distraction, and they would have failed to qualify. Look what happened to Moje 3 in 2013.
You see, I don’t like that Hello Hi at all but I have something of a bile fascination with it
Out of interest, how do most think Dolly Style would have done if they went to Vienna last year? 1st place?
I sincerely hope they finish last in their semi and we never hear from them again…
I gather is might not be the same or feel the same for Dolly Style, having lost 2 of its original members. Not every group can be like Exposé, whose 3 original members in 1985 were all replaced in the middle of 1986 and became big hitmakers until 1993. Once the last original Sugababe was replaced, it went sharply downhill. @Charles: I know exactly how you feel. We can’t do much about the craving for novelty that many have, but I would suggest this for D.S.: If they STILL want to maintain those personas AND give the public a good… Read more »
Good luck!
@EugeneESCUK Alongside Fredrik Kempe, I admire G:son’s commitment and determination on writing Eurovision/Melodifestivalen/national selection entries on a regular basis. Of course, he knows that results won’t always go his way.
Ok… I must leave, hello bye…
For me David Lindgren is bad copy of Danny Saucedo.
@Charles
Hahahah hello to the no. Priceless.
Hell to the no!
yesss so happy dolly style is back. i can see why people didn’t like hello hi but their song cherry gum is actually really good, they remind me of a more over the top swedish pc music. also some swedish newspaper don’t have dinah nah on their list of confirmed artists but i would like to see her again
OMG DAVID LINDGREN IS COMING BACK!! YES YES YES He always sends good songs <3
If dolly style are going to keep returning they should change it from Melfest to Cringe fest.
I didn’t like Dolly Style this year, it’s too childish.
David Lindgren is just neutral. He’s song are just ok.
I don’t like Swingfly at all. He’s song “Me and my drum” was so annoying.
Yes to Dolly Style! Let’s hope Thomas has written them a good song.
Glad to see David Lindgren back, both of his songs were among my favourites.