Svensktoppen Nästa is the Swedish song competition which aims to find the next big hit song for Swedish radio. It’s been running since 2008, and since 2012 the competition has also given a place in Melodifestivalen to one lucky act. But which act is your favourite? Listen to the five acts and vote for your favourite in our poll!
From 2012 to 2014, the Melfest entry went to the outright winner of Svensktoppen Nästa. However, due to the poor results of the acts at Melodifestivalen, the wildcard is now selected separately by the competition jury, looking for an act that suits the visual style of Melfest rather than just the radio format of Svensktoppen Nästa.
Because Svensktoppen Nästa is decided before the 1 September Eurovision deadline, the chosen acts must enter a new song for Melfest.
2012: Terese Fredenwall
Terese Fredenwall won Svensktoppen Nästa 2012 with “Drop the Fight”, which earned her the first wildcard entry into Melodifestivalen 2013. Her entry for Mefest was the uplifting “Breaking the Silence”. It moved onto the second voting round in its semi-final, where it ultimately placed fifth, missing out on a place in the final.
2013: EKO
The winners of Svensktoppen Nästa 2014 were electronic trio EKO with their song “Yellow”. They stuck to the primary-colour theme with their Melfest 2014 entry “Red”, co-written with future “Heroes” songwriters Joy Deb and Linnea Deb. The dramatic synthpop tune didn’t impress Melfest viewers – it placed last in its semi-final.
2014: Kalle Johansson
Teen singer-songwriter Kalle Johansson won Svensktoppen Nästa 2014 with his folk-pop song “Den där dan” (That day). When it came to his Melfest 2015 entry, he performed “För din skull” (For your sake), co-written with Thomas G:son. But the jaunty pop number didn’t do so well at Melfest — it placed sixth in its semi-final.
2015: Smilo
Originally known as Smajl, then Smajling Swedes, and finally Smilo, the tropical house trio didn’t win Svensktoppen Nästa with “Goosebumps”, but they did win a place in Melfest 2016. As Smilo, their song “Weight of the World” placed fifth in its semi-final, very narrowly missing out on a place in Andra Chansen.
2016: Les Gordons
The indie-rock band Les Gordons are the latest to win a place at Melfest. Their Svensktoppen Nästa entry “Need to Feel” is an energetic song with a strong pop sensibility, and the potential for a performance that will come across really well on television. They’ll have to enter a different song in Melfest 2017, which we’ll learn more about at the big Melfest reveal later this year.
Who is your favourite Melodifestivalen act from Svensktoppen Nästa?
Who is your favourite? You can vote for as many acts as you like, but you can only vote once so choose carefully.
[polldaddy poll=9511509]
Being an indie rock band, Les Gordon is the most promissing name. Their song is very good.
They’re all quite good!
My favourite is SMILO. Looking forward to listening to Les Gordons’ song.
Eko were great and modern .. They need to come back ..
I loved the boys from smilo .. Soo sexy ..
Easily EKO, the only song that could’ve actually made a big mark on Eurovision.
EKO, by far. In fact is the only act from this bunch that I like.
EKO all the way !!! I love still “Red”