The first act of Melodifestivalen 2019 was announced during the finals of Sverigesradio P4 Nästa contest. Since 2012, one of the finalists has always been given a spot in the coming year’s Melfest. It has usually been the winner that has received the wild card slot, but since 2015, a separate jury has decided which of the finalists should receive the shot.
Earlier this month, the final 8 artists from across Sweden were revealed, and tonight they duelled it out in Linköping to win the prize, and perhaps a spot at Mello.
In the end it was the trio, Spring City, that won this year’s contest based off public votes, combined with jury points. The trio consisting of Noomi Thorstensson, Miah Hjelmqvist and Annie “Annielle” Kullén sang their way to the top with their easy listening mid-tempo country song “Back On the Streets Again”, but they were not chosen to participate in Melodifestivalen.
The jury decided that the Stockholm based duo The Lovers of Valdaro, consisting of Erik Gabriel and Adam Warhester, should get a spot in Sweden’s Eurovision selection show instead. Named after a pair of 6,000 year old skeletons found in a “lovers embrace” in modern Italy, the duo sang a synth heavy 80s throwback song, “Lost Forever”. Perhaps the nostalgic retro throwback that last year’s Melfest winner Benjamin Ingrosso brought is still sitting fresh in the jury’s mind.
As their P4 Nästa entry was released before the Eurovision 2019 deadline, the group will now need to submit a new song for Melfest.
Erik may be a familiar face from Lisbon. He was one of the three lookalike backing singers who added to the physical comedy of DoReDo’s “My Lucky Day”. He played the double of the Red DoReDos — but his shapely legs were also called into action as the female Yellow DoReDos.
The adult radio favourites of Nästa haven’t always been a good match for the bright television aesthetic of Mello.
The Nästa acts with the best results at Melfest were Terese Fredenwall with “Breaking the Silence” in 2012 and Smilo with “Weight of the World” in 2016. Both acts each placed fifth in their respective semi-final, and both narrowly missed out on Andra Chansen.
Last year’s Melfest pick Stiko Per Larsson — who also won P4 Nästa 2017 — only placed sixth in his semi-final at Melodifestivalen 2018.
Will 2019 be the year that it all changes with The Lovers of Valdaro? For those that can’t wait to hear more from the duo, they will be dropping an EP titled “Euphoric Melancholic Electronic” on September 7th.
Do you think The Lovers of Valdaro will do well in Melodifestivalen? What was your favourite song out of the 8 Finalists of P4 Nästa? Let us know in the comments below.
The electric guitar(I think) sounds like “Take My Breath Away”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx51eegLTY8
Like it! They were one of my favs. Interesting sound and image.
Absolutely love this song! Not sure how it’ll transfer to the Eurovision stage tho
Sorry Paul, but this song cannot be their entry for Melodifestivalen, because the Eurovision song has to be published after the first of September according to EBU and not before…
Thats interesting duo! Wow! I cant wait for Melfest next year, also adore crazy Vidbir and France selection:)) and i want UK finally bring an amazing song… as Germany or France this year
Melfest had better invite Normandie to compete or we riot.
If they ever try to divide us ever break take us apart
I’ll start a riot riot riot
We now have our first 6th/7th placed semi finalists!
Erik who was singing on stage for Moldova this year.
Smilo participated in 2016, not 2015 🙂
I have high hopes for them. The song is a catchy 80s-esque pop song, which is so up my alley, and I’d love to see this style replicated in Melodifestivalen. The P4 Nästa artists rarely actually do well so a part of me is saying they’re destined for 7th place in their semi, but hopefully they will surprise me. I feel like they could be a repeat of EKO from Melodifestivalen 2014.