The Wiwi Jury – our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — now turns our attention to the eight acts who have directly qualified for the grand final of Melodifestivalen 2018. First up, we take a look at returning act Benjamin Ingrosso and his tune “Dance You Off”. Were we feeling his beat? Read on to find out!

Benjamin Ingrosso – “Dance You Off”

“Dance You Off”

Angus: Benjamin’s performance is more polished, his staging is slicker and his style is cooler. So it’s unfortunate that his song isn’t better. “Dance You Off” is a perfectly serviceable piece of electropop, and a significant evolution from last year’s fondue fest, but remove the staging and it looks significantly less remarkable. Benjamin does however sell the package well, so he should be able to overcome the song’s shortcomings if he delivers a similarly impressive performance in Stockholm.

Score: 7/10

Bernardo: The performance of “Dance You Off” is out of a music a video and captures your attention from the very first second, but the last thing you need is your stage performance to be miles better than your song. In this case, despite Benjamin’s smooth and inviting vocals, the track falls flat and a bit repetitive. It’s good, but it’s far from perfect.

Score: 6.5/10

Deban: Benjamin Ingrosso makes a fantastic sophomore return to Sweden’s greatest music TV show.”Dance You Off” is a tasty slice of pop, with sassy funk sprinkles. The song title invites group choreography, but Benjamin Ingrosso does it solo on stage. Perhaps a slight misfire. However, the falsetto vocals on this take me to the highest highs, and this pop sensation’s moves blend well with the incredible set design.

Score: 8/10

Josh: Benjamin Ingrosso is back at Melfest and thankfully has toned down on the cheese this year. “Dance You Off” has the potential to be a “Finesse” but it lacks the energy and charisma that Bruno Mars brings to the table. And it’s unfortunate that the falsetto vocal wears thin rather quickly. Where the entry shines though is in its staging. The colour changing neon lights that move around Benjamin make my heart sing. With LEDs absent from Lisbon this year, SVT is one step ahead by creating this amazing set piece. This should be one to watch.

Score: 7.5/10

Ron: These are the Melodifestivalen performances I’m living for, or in one word – perfection. Benjamin is such a good performer – he’s loose on stage, dances and sings very well and the camera’s direction is genius (except for one long shot that takes us out of “Benjamin’s lights world”). The backing vocals are a bit too high. I would like to hear Benjamin a bit more, but yet we hear him and know he can sing very well. Unlike many other songs this year that have some very interesting staging – this one has both the song and the staging. I wouldn’t mind sending this one to Eurovision.

Score: 9.5/10

Tobias: Listening to “Dance You Off” for the first time, I immediately felt it was more like part two of Benjamin’s 2017 entry “Good Lovin'”. It has the same kind of vibe, tempo and rhythm. And it wasn’t that exciting to listen to. The song is very slow, almost boring, and the chorus doesn’t stick out that much from the rest of the song. It all feels very monotonous and flat. But I do like the visual staging and choreography. It feels like Benjamin is in a music video rather than a live TV show, a little like Måns Zelmerlöw’s “Heroes” performance.  The staging makes the song more interesting, with Benjamin dancing in a neon space world.

Score: 6/10

In our Sweden Wiwi Jury, we have 16 jurors but only room for 6 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:

Anthony: 6/10

Antranig: 6/10

Bogdan: 9/10

Chris: 7/10

Cinan: 9/10

Jordi: 8/10

Luis: 7/10

Natalie: 6.5/10

Robyn: 8/10

William: 5.5/10

 

 

 

 

 

Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 5.5 and a high of 9.5.

WIWI JURY VERDICT: 7.25/10

Read all our Melodifestivalen 2018 Wiwi Jury rankings here

Read more Melodifestivalen news here

78 Comments
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AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

A decent pop song with a cool staging. It’s not the WOW song though.
7/10

Alfred 5
Alfred 5
6 years ago

This is a Michael Jackson tribute act …this will NEVER win Eurovision

Denise Return
Denise Return
6 years ago
Reply to  Alfred 5

What makes you think Sweden wants to win ESC this year

desfolhada
desfolhada
6 years ago

Poor guy everybody is saying that his song is fast-food. I feel his song, it’s so 80s, “fast food” is a capitalist thing, this song is not comercial nowadays so doesn’t make sense saying that his (80s) song is “fast food”. Probably the lyrics aren’t nothing special (without content), but about music/melody I feel it. Nice beat. But the 80s pop songs many of them have strong mensage despite the melody is midtempo/uptempo. His performance is good, colours and lines, I prefer this than cheesy image on LED. It’s impossible appreciate music without having a visual connection, it is all… Read more »

Shaun
Shaun
6 years ago
Reply to  desfolhada

It doesn’t need to be current to be cheap, and that’s what this song is, at least melodically and lyrically.

Safiya
Safiya
6 years ago

This has really grown on me! I wasn’t sure at first, but now I really enjoy the song! And I don’t really think we have anything better in Melfest this year, so I would be happy with this choice. He deserves it.

Renniw Rettod
Renniw Rettod
6 years ago

Benjamin or John if Sweden wants to be relevent at all this year.

friedenau
friedenau
6 years ago

Sweden did it again! They took an ok song and turned it into a visual masterpiece. For me, this is the ESC 2018 winner so far. I just can’t take my eyes off of the screen during this performance. and Benjamin is just Yummy. Well done, Sweden

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Staging is something, indeed, but singer lacks charisma.. Song is pleasent, but it’s like ‘flat line’, leaves me cold.. “I can’t go on” from last year is better song imo. But, this is probably the safest choice..

Jordan
Jordan
6 years ago
Reply to  Eve

He have much more charisma then last year Robin from Sweden. Robin had better songs then Benjamin at MF .

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Jordan

Robin had the charisma of a wet pile of rice tbh…

Denise Return Pls
Denise Return Pls
6 years ago
Reply to  Eve

Poor sad, miserable, gloomy, old Blanche had the charisma of a week old camembert but she still came 4th. Personality matters for little when you have a stunning singing talent

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

Yeah, but Blanche had killer song.. And Mans with charisma came first..

Xeph
Xeph
6 years ago

This will probably be the winner of melfest this year, and I’m not against it, it’s a blatant rip off of Charlie Puth’s Attention, yeah, but it’s upbeat and catchy and the staging is super effective, and it comes at the right time, in a year where a lot of countries will try to copy Amar Pelos Dois, this will stick out.

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

This has been my winner since day one, so I’m pretty elated right now.
With much of Europe going for tepid, yet heartfelt efforts, I think it’s important for us to stay true to ourselves, instead of trying to score cheap points by feigning authenticity or originality.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago

Agreed. Most countries will try and replicate the success of Salvador whereas these pop songs will truly stand out.

Denise Return Pls
Denise Return Pls
6 years ago

Do you want a medal for picking this song since day one. Wiwiblog is only for serious music appreciation.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago

Frankly, I like the old comedian dude better than Benjamin. I am getting the same annoying and off-putting vibes I got from his mother:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bljaYiFaeQ

The resemblance is uncanny and the songs are equally bad.

Darkpassionplay
Darkpassionplay
6 years ago

The staging is great , but the rest is really bad , allmost as generic as last year entry. A plastic maneken kind of way , with the smile , with the sass , with the blink , its all that i hate to see from a performer , the song is totally forgetable and not standing out in any way , 0 originality , so all that is left is good staging. Thats it , im not hating on Sweden but i thimk there are better entries , i even prefer marvaret song with the bad staging then this… Read more »

vangelis vt
vangelis vt
6 years ago

The problem with this is, after the first minute or so you get bored of it both visually and aurally – there is no progression, it’s just more of the same until it ends. Also there is no vocal ability there.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

The staging is great! The song is not….
This though will qualify for sure and be a favourite with the juries.
A 7/10

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago

Since there isn’t a good song on this Melodifestivalen, there are two ways of dealing with that: sending the best performer or a polished act with good staging. Benjamin is definitely not the best performer, but “Dance You Off” doesn’t bother me at all when paired with that kick-ass presentation. Actually, it even pleases me a little bit. I would go with this one or Mariette, that has a very balanced full package. As I said before, I also think that Liamoo has a solid effort, I just don’t like his genre.

Denise Return Pls
Denise Return Pls
6 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

I think he has a bigger and fuller package than Mariette. Although from the way she dresses and lifts weights I think Mariette also wants to have a full package.

Fabian
Fabian
6 years ago

Probably the best act from this years Melodifestivalen. It’s typical Swedish Pop, but his staging is very impressing. But after listening to all acts I must say that no song is outstandingly good…and I’m pretty sure the jury will like him

ImpressiveInstants
ImpressiveInstants
6 years ago

Boring. If you could boil an egg without its yolk, this would come out.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

All lightbulbs and no song. 7.25 is way too generous for this big pile of nothing. Too bad Sweden will qualify because Sweden, if this was sent by any other country people would be calling it a bathroom break moment.

Uka
Uka
6 years ago
Reply to  Hada

You really think any country can come up with that staging idea? It’s definitely Sweden ‘cuz they know how to put on a show. We need that in the contest.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

Yeah… I can’t stand his voice sorry. The song also does nothing for me. It’s objectively a very good song, but it touches me the same way that ”I can’t go on” did: Not at all. He’d be a safe choice, but I’d want Felix, S&V or maybe Liamoo to win…

Pasadena
Pasadena
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

I’m so on team Liamoo. A win for S&V would be fun though. I don’t like Benjamin and Felix at all, those songs just leave me empty, regardless of great staging for Benji.

Return Denise
Return Denise
6 years ago

Jack You Off is probably the best entry in MF this year and is a decent winner

Marcelo
Marcelo
6 years ago
Reply to  Return Denise

Jack You Off? What the Heck?!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

I thought it was funny. 😀

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Return Denise

By the way, Denise might not return if you keep on bothering her so much about it. 😛

Denise Return
Denise Return
6 years ago
Reply to  Return Denise

How do you know Denise is coming back?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Denise Return

I don’t. That’s the point.
Sorry if you misunderstood.

halk
halk
6 years ago

7.29/10 for Dance You Off and almost 9/10 for Monsters? You guys are becoming more and more ridiculous.

Edijs
Edijs
6 years ago
Reply to  halk

I have noticed that they slightly overrate their preffered artists not the song. Which is a shame because many people get influenced by these blogger opinions.

Adrien
Adrien
6 years ago
Reply to  Edijs

Personally I would give Monsters 10/10 and Dance You Off 9/10

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

This is obviously the choice for Sweden, this is top 10 material and I feel like a lot of people can react to this. This is super catchy and the stage performance is spectacular. 10/10

Kyna
Kyna
6 years ago

The song is quite ok, but it’s a meh for me. His performance is indeed really good with strobe lights or whatever the hell they are, kudos for being clever with it since there’s no LEDs in Lisbon. But for me it seems like since the staging is so polished that it keeps you distracted from the song itself. I’m not falling for that, the staging really overshadows the song so that I didn’t even notice what he was singing. It took me a while to remember the melody. When I listened for the second-third time, I was “oh, ok… Read more »

florin
florin
6 years ago

i don t think this fast food song will be doing well in the land of the king salvador and his masterpiece music…ironic

Xeph
Xeph
6 years ago
Reply to  florin

I hope Salvador is forced to hand off his trophy to one of these ”fast food” entries, just because of his stuck up comments last year.

desfolhada
desfolhada
6 years ago
Reply to  florin

take some tea
leave salvador alone
you all love him as he is like a god and he needs to approve all entries
he doesn’t give A

Antranig Shokayan
Editor
6 years ago

Best staged act for sure. I think in hindsight I would probably give it a slightly higher score!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

Nice staging but that is about it. Got to say, Benjamin commits to this. Just a shame that it is not that good a song. I don’t like his voice and I feel that over the last two years, I have seen everything that he is about. I don’t think Melfest is going to happen for him and he would do a better job as a backing dancer/boy band member than a lead vocalist.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Owh no! Poor Benjamin. 🙁
P.S. I respect your opinion, I just feel very sorry for him.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I have a feeling that Benjamin is not bothered by my opinion. Guy does not seem to be lacking in confidence. 😉

Ari
Ari
6 years ago

Kalle Moraeus for the win! I mean it.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

I’m not against him doing high notes (as one who enjoys Puth and Weeknd efforts in this direction) if he finds him able to maintain stability with mandatory usage of some choreography. As of staging – it’s a same route of last year for Sweden, but here I can’t avoid to mention that it’s natural for this youth to make this stuff therefore it all looks already more organic to me. Not sure if it’s enough spice here but would be safe qualifier from semi. Clearly I liked his releases between MFs more than this song as it more looks… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

There is some really good music hidden away behind all the arranging of this entry. If I were to play this song to you on the piano, you might cry. Seriously. It is a desperately sad song, that is obviously deeply personal to the songwriter. The staging is amazing and is entirely appropriate to the song – it is a perfect example of “theatrical counterpoint”. What you are seeing is the man dancing and trying to have fun when in fact he is broken-hearted and can’t feel any happiness. I don’t often disagree with the majority of Wiwi fans, but… Read more »

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

It’s a decent throwback with a polished performance. Nothing more and nothing less. I expect he might be the winner, as Sweden values staging and mass appeal over everything else.

6/10

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

gosh, you say it like its a bad thing.gif

JEFFERSON LAMAS
JEFFERSON LAMAS
6 years ago

How I wanted Sweden to stay in the semifinal, but it’s impossible. This is another cheap copy of the lousy Justin Timberlake, who does everything generic. Staying in the top 5 for Sweden is easy with a society that despises quality music, and likes songs from The Chainsmokers, Justin Bieber, Mikolas Josef, etc!

Xeph
Xeph
6 years ago

I love it when people think their subjective taste in music is somehow superior to other people’s, and I really hope Salvador is forced to hand off his trophy to one of these ”fast food music” acts he so despises.

Marcelo
Marcelo
6 years ago
Reply to  Xeph

I’ll be laughing if Salvador has to give his trophy to Czech Republic or Finland.

Uka
Uka
6 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

I so want that to happen! I love fast food music and I’m proud of it! Who gives a damn about the song that can’t be played on the radio after the performance? People will forget it real quick.
By the way, who the heck are you to say Justin is lousy? And who the heck do you think you can define what quality music are like? Keep living in your Eurovision quality bubble ‘cuz at the end of the day, you’re still irrelevant.

desfolhada
desfolhada
6 years ago
Reply to  Xeph

keep dreamin’ it’s free
Italy will win
bye

Karl
Karl
6 years ago
Reply to  desfolhada

desfolhada HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

To me, everything about this is incredibly irritating. The song is just cheap, his voice is good but the falsetto throughout the whole thing is not my cup of tea. Honestly, this is my least favorite out of all 28 acts this year and I’m not even exaggerating. I struggled to watch the whole Semi 1 because this had to perform twice. If Sweden chooses this, last place in my top guaranteed.

2/10

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago

My favourite in this year’s Melodifestivalen. It’s a nice tune with an impressive staging. Hopefully they’ll choose this.

DenizNL
DenizNL
6 years ago

My favourite this year. Addicting.

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago

The song is dull and while the staging is impressive I don’t think they will be able to replicate it in Lisbon.

Snobral says no.

pop
pop
6 years ago

This is the most addictive song this year. It continues his hits’ lines. It’s pure gold.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

I find this terrible. Not only it COMPLETELY sounds like Attention by Charlie Puth, but his voice is so off-putting. Without the LEDs, nothing good’s left from this.

James
James
6 years ago

I think those are customized strobe lights.

Piotr
Piotr
6 years ago

Sorry, but I don’t know where you hear “Attention” in this song. It may be in similar style, but please…

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Piotr

The chorus is basically the same but with different words lmao

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

About the Charlie Puth “Attention” comparison: – The lyrical ideas are similar, but Charlie is being more specific to one incident, whereas Benjamin is in total general despair. – The tempo of Charlie’s song “Attention” is a lot slower that Benjamin’s “Dance you off”. – The melodies and harmonies of both songs are entirely different, although the overall structure of each song is similar. – While I 100% believe Benjamin is telling “the truth” with the emotions in his song, I’m not as sure about Charlie; it feels like he could be the one playing games in the relationship. But… Read more »

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

You can’t Keep trying to make Songs look bad with claiming similarities between Songs that aren’t there. At least not in this case… I agree, I also would NOT like to see him win, but you’ll have to find better reasons than ”Sounds like Attention lol”, because it’s not true.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

What do you want me to say, that it flat out sux?

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

It does tho…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

LOLz. So literal! 😀
By the way, it doesn’t suck. (hides)

Alex M
Alex M
6 years ago

Oh just send this, Sweden. At least he’s fun to watch.

allexo
allexo
6 years ago

Did you just call loreen’s masterpiece a mess ? You’re probably from Sweden your stupid country won’t understand art if hit in the balls.

IngrossoFan231
IngrossoFan231
6 years ago
Reply to  allexo

Yes, it was a complete mess and that’s why it failed. 900000 for Anton Hagman and 800000 for Loreen in Andra Chansen. Kiss Me Goodbye was clearly better than Statements. And I’m not from Sweden, more than 3000 km from there.

IngrossoFan231
IngrossoFan231
6 years ago

Last year they reviewed Loreen’s mess of a song and gave it like 9.2, and this gets 7.25
Wiwi, I’m terribly disappointed in you

Pavel
Pavel
6 years ago
Reply to  IngrossoFan231

Loreen had a 9.25 Jamala points out of 10 with ”Statements”.
Benjamin can only get 7.25 ”fast-food” music points out of 10
Jokes aside, the song is nice and probably the only Melodifestivalen song this year that is going to get Sweden a good result (in case they bring their own staging with them)

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

KK that’s a nice measurement.