If there’s a Swedish Eurovision artist who has been burned, it’s definitely Anna Bergendahl. But now the blonde bombshell is prepared to rise from the ashes at Melodifestivalen 2019 with the appropriately titled song “Ashes to Ashes.”
Anna, the only Swedish representative ever to be eliminated from the semi-finals of Eurovision, spoke with our Kevin during Tuesday’s artist reveal and press conference in Sweden. Nine years on from her difficult time at ESC, this queen has definitely found her crown and is ready to slay the competition during the first semi-final in Gothenburg on the 2nd of February.
“I couldn’t say no”
So what made her come back to the contest this year of all years? “It’s definitely the song,” she says. “To me, it’s unstoppable. I couldn’t say no.”
She wrote the song together with Melfest legends Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljungren and Erik Bernholm — and it’s clear that it has a big message.
“It’s an uptempo song. It comes with a lot of warmth, hope and light that I need to give to myself a lot of times. And that I hope to be able to give to all the people watching.”
Artist and doctor-to-be
In 2010, Anna Bergendahl won Melodifestivalen as an underdog — beating Salem Al Fakir, Eric Saade, Darin and Benjamin Ingrosso’s mother Pernilla Wahlgren, among others. She represented Sweden at Eurovision in Oslo with the song “This Is My Life”. Unfortunately, the song didn’t qualify for the final, finishing in 11th place with 62 points — only 5 away from the final.
After the contest Bergendahl picked herself up and threw herself into other projects — musical and otherwise. And clearly she is a woman of many talents as she has been studying medicine alongside her music career. She’s also lived abroad in the United States making music and touring across the country.
Even though Bergendahl has already won Melodifestivalen once, she doesn’t feel pressure to repeat that feat.
“I’m nine years older, it’s a completely different song, it’s a very powerful song and I feel kind of like a different person. So, it feels like a first time, somehow.”
She is all about the future and we can’t wait to see her in Gothenburg next year!
What are your thoughts? And what is your message to Anna? Let us know on the comments below.
It is quite a dubious honor for her to be the lonely Eurovision contestant from Sweden that failed to qualify, when Charlotte Perrelli in 2008 did worse in her semi and was saved by the jury wildcard. And I doubt that Sweden got a chance to survive the semis in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
Call me evil, but honestly, it would the crack of the century if she wins Melodifestivalen this year but stay in semifinals again.
>”Ashes to Ashes”
>Unstoppable
It reminds me of 2014??
However, we should remember, that she failed to qualify from the strongest post-2007 semi-final EVER (together with this year’s first one). It really wasn’t a shame.
She did had a really hard time in Sweden. The tabloids was not nice to her after she missed. I remember it all. I have hopes for her now :).
Sweden in 2010 was the first cautionary tale that even a supposed powerhouse could lose that touch in an instant if they get too complacent. It’s what happened to Turkey and Armenia in 2011, Greece in 2016, and Azerbaijan, Romania, and Russia this year. So she’d better rise to the occasion more than she did in 2010.
Sweden wasn’t a powerhouse back then though. We were used to low placements . It wasn’t until she flopped and they changed process Sweden became a powerhouse
I don t see Ana in uptempo song. She don t have charisma for that kind of song.
She should have qualified instead of Niamh me thinks.
Anna, InCulto & Feminnem should’ve qualified instead of Niamh, Harel & Jon in 2nd semifinal of 2010.
I’m sorry, but “Milim” was an amazingly beautiful song, which was even underrated in my opinion.
U kidding right? Milim not qualifying?… Ur DONE.
Well, according to the public, it shouldn’t have qualified. And I can’t blame them considering it’s a mere vocal showoff.
Only 7 points behind Cyprus, and facing a much worse position in the running order, so not that bad. Also, Sweden got more points from the jury than from the televoters, including 24 from the combo Denmark-Norway.
Glad to see I’m not the only one here who wasn’t a fan of that fanw*nk Milim, without The Netherlands in 2nd semi… Israel wouldn’t have qualified!
“Milim” was alright but ridiculously overhyped and wasn’t surprised at it’s mid-table finish, just like “Mercy” this year! Israel were lucky to qualify in 2010 with just enough help from juries, just 17 pts separated 2nd to 11th places on jury voting in 2010 2nd semifinal, insane but cool!
Anna Should have qualified but the semi was a strong one so to take one out is to hard to say for me.
For me instead Cyprus and Azerbaijan should ve qulified Croatia and Sweden.
Redeem yourself, wronged legend!
Hope it goes well for her. Obviously, Sweden had qualified for the final with songs worse than hers.
The horror shows “Hero” and La Voix” are close in mind. The Worrying Kind too, all though h that one was a DQ
Hero and La Voix should be in the final 100%.
I actually liked “Hero” but agree with the other two completely.
I am rooting for her, as I think her disqualification was undserved. Of course, that can change once I hear the song…
Sounds interesting at least its uptemp this time, her last entry was a little middle of the road for eurovision, Hopefully she has more confidence as a performer too Anna had that deer caught in the headlights look about her in 2010