Nu kör vi! 

Tonight at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg Melodifestivalen 2019 starts in earnest.

Seven acts will take to the stage and two of them will win tickets direct to the final.

Your pick to win the semi-final is Wiktoria. She’ll sing a ballad for the first time – “Not With Me” – and has a typically impressive stageshow up her sleeve. She won 29% of all votes cast.

In second place is Anna Bergendahl. She won her semi-final back in 2010 and looks to be on fighting form with her track “Ashes to Ashes”. She took 23% of all votes cast.

Nano placed third and was the only other act who won more than 20% of the vote. His song “Chasing Rivers” won 21% of the vote and if that’s replicated tonight it means he’ll be the first act headed to Andra Chansen.

Rounding out the top four is Mohombi and his track “Hello”. Mohombi trailed the top three by double digits, winning only 10% of the vote.

Zeana feat. Anis don Demina were close behind on 9%, while Arja Saijonmaa and girlband High 15 only managed to net 4% apiece.

If you have your way, those three acts will start and end their Melodifestivalen journey tonight in Gothenburg.

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MELODIFESTIVALEN INTERVAL ACT IN GOTHENBURG

Tonight’s interval act takes inspiration from Israel’s history at Eurovision.

Sarah Dawn Finer will take on Netta’s winning song from last year “Toy” and be joined by her co-hosts as backing dancers.

Attention will then turn to Israel’s three other previous winners: “A-Ba-Ni-Bi”, “Hallelujah” and Dana Interational’s “Diva”, which will be performed my Eric Saade.

Eric has form here, as he shared the stage with Dana during the second semi-final of Eurovision 2011. On that occasion, unfortunately, Dana’s “Ding Dong” was left behind in the semi, while Eric’s own track “Popular” went on to place third.

You can watch all the Melodifestivalen action unfold in Gothenburg live on SVT1 from 20:00CET.

GET MORE SWEDEN NEWS HERE

72 Comments
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jassie
jassie
5 years ago

wiktorias performance reminds me of love on the brain

ANXMLOVL
ANXMLOVL
5 years ago

when can we download the full songs?

00Lei
00Lei
5 years ago

I was so surprised with Mohombi, he did a great job live. There’s something about his voice that reminds me of ne yo. His song is catchy and He’s very likeable too 🙂 congratss

Sophie s
Sophie s
5 years ago

Wiktoria you’re beautiful sweetie

Sophie s
Sophie s
5 years ago

Well it was a great show, the best ones are in the final and im happy.

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

I loved Mohombi’s performance. His song is nice too. Would be my third pick. Congrats!

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Sadly, I can’t like the song. But he performed very well and the whole routine is well thought, so I’m fine with that.

memi
memi
5 years ago

nano didnt desserve to reach the final

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  memi

tbh I was debating between him and Zheana feat. Anis for AC. My personal final 2 made it and I defs felt Anna at least deserved AC. In the end I liked Zheana and Anis song a bit more than Nano’s but I’m not too surprised he made it to AC.

Colin
Colin
5 years ago
Reply to  memi

He didn’t (yet). He is in Andra chansen and he’ll have to duel for the finals.

memi
memi
5 years ago

jesus christ i thought it was the real netta xD

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  memi

same! haha

buls
buls
5 years ago

Hey Anna, Sobral wants his staging back. Same for Wiktoria, Ruth Lorenzo wants her concept back.

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  buls

the moment they said Sacha Jean-Baptiste worked on her staging it suddenly all made sense! That hand movement along her body was a huge throwback to Iveta from armenia’s staging in eurovision !

buls
buls
5 years ago
Reply to  Lolek

ikr, i hope they can change something because the songs are nice. Good catch with iveta.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago
Reply to  buls

Yeah, I must agree that many of the stagings this year are inspired by something I have seen before. Didn’t see the Sobral/Anna connection, though.

buls
buls
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

yeah well the whole forest thing with the fireflies and lights just reminded me of it. Most of those stagings need some work they are lazy and unoriginal compared to previous years.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Is Wiktoria the winner or is the order of the top 2 random?

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

Top 2 is always in random order to keep up with the suspense.

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

Wiktoria impressed me once again! A deserved finalist. 🙂 She was the best one. My other finalist pick would be Anna Bergendahl.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Colin

She was even better this second time. Very happy for her, she deserved!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Agreed. Wiktoria is at her best, and might end up being Sweden’s artist this year unless someone else can bring something better.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

I choose Eric in the Toy/Diva costume, hands down the best act.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Eric was sweating after that. Bless him. 😀

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

The Melodifestivalen presenters covering the previous Israeli-winning songs was fantastic! 🙂

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Sarah’s Netta is not really a parody, it’s just a re-enactment. Well, at least they found a reason to make Eric slip on something skin-tight.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Btw, a-ha called Mohombi (Hello? Hello? HELLO? Are you there?HELLO?), they want their visual concept back.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Maybe Wiktoria and Anna should have switched songs?

Josi
Josi
5 years ago

HELL TO THE NO. Wiktoria and Mohombo were the best.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Anna left me freezing cold. My first instinct was right. The only song I like is Nano’s and he ruins it with his singing style.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

My personal ranking (including songs and performances): 1) “Mina bränder”, 2) “Ashes to Ashes”, 3) “Not with Me”, 4) “Hello”, 5) “Chasing Rivers”, 6) “Mina fyra årstider”, 7) “No Drama”

Prediction: Final – “Not with Me”, “Hello”, Andra chansen – “Mina bränder”, “Ashes to Ashes”

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

I like the melody of “Ashes to Ashes” (yeah, again the lyrics are a disaster so in my head I’ll just replace them with “la la la”s) quite a lot and I do love the staging. Anna, however, seems a bit “cold” for this type of music.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

“Ashes to Ashes” – It is so refreshing to hear a Chorus that uses a modulation. In other words: Not a four chord song. I approve! 🙂

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

And her voice sounds gorgeous while singing the chorus.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Hello, hello, hello, hello… Linnea Deb really knows how to compose a hook-line while Thomas G:Son still doesn’t give a damn about lyrics. It’s not a terrible entry at all but it also feels like it could have been better with more thought put into it.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

Honestly, I’d pick Arja at this point. I wanna take whatever happy pill she’s on.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Arja Saijonmaa is giving us the song with the best lyrics tonight (which, in all fairness, isn’t that much of an achievement). I was hoping for some charming nostalgic fest but the overall entry doesn’t seem to work too well. Arja is moving awkwardly on stage and her dress is whiter than Jimmy Carr’s teeth which doesn’t go too well with the song’s natural theme. Dead on arrival, I guess.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Meanwhile, back in Hungary: Joci Pápai is doing a great job performing his very pretty song. But it’s probably a bit too soon for him to return.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Tell that to Valentina Monetta.
Nah, Joci can come back every year; he has a beautiful voice. 🙂

M_K
M_K
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

It would fine by me, I’m just not sure if the Hungarian audience will be in on it.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

“Mina bränder” – okay, this is so much better than I expected it to be. Don’t really need the rap part, but the performers’ charisma and chemistry really make this work (and, frankly, it’s a catchy tune). This is how to do it if you go for a simple Schlager tune: You have to perform like you mean it. The only thing I dislike are the stale lyrics.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Woww. Wiktoria just slayed the pack with her acting and singing talent. A stunning performance.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

But that song…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

It is the first time I am hearing all the songs tonight. I must admit, I was waiting for a long/top note that never happened in “Not With Me”. It’s not “bad” music, but it’s a bit clunky, I thought.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Wiktoria looked great, sounded great, the staging was great. The only problem for me is that her song is just OK. But if Sweden doesn’t find anything unique this year, this would be a very respectable entry.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

I’ve got a hard time trying to relate the hype that always surrounds Wiktoria’s entries. Still, I think this might be her best one so far, even though there’s still an artificial touch to it. She’s over-performing a little and the chorus is probably a bit too schmaltzy. Overall, an okay entry but it lacks a natural charm the televoters in Eurovision seem to be (rightfully) looking for these days.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago

No drama, no good, no final.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

Yeah, there wasn’t enough drama. Which, unfortunately, was the point.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

“No Drama” is the usual pseudo-American trash. It partially sounds a bit like “Cabana” but lacks all of its charm. High15 as a whole seem to be nothing but a cheap Fifth Harmony rip-off (a group which in its own respect is far from being original). This is one of the entries I actually dislike.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Nano’s song is much better than I expected but I’m not a fan of his vocals.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

I found it really underwhelming. And I don’t like how he swallow the words.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

I felt the song and the choreography was powerful, but I’m not a personal fan of the way Nano sings – “swallowing words” is indeed one way to describe it. “Restrained” is perhaps another description; pardon the unfortunate pun. Anyhow I wish him well, and I predict he will reach the final again.

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

I think the song could be amazing with a singer who could actually make its simplicity work.

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

I believe Nano can do better than he did tonight. The song itself is probably the best of the night.

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago

Eric Saade sings Diva. I never thought I’d hear that…!

Charles
Charles
5 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

It take one diva to sing another … lol

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago
Reply to  Charles

I hope he wears the black Jean Paul Gaultier feather dress.

The truth
The truth
5 years ago

Justyna Steczkowska (ESC 1995) probably in Polish internal selections with song AVE.

Jonas
Jonas
5 years ago
Reply to  The truth

Sama was a classic!

gregor
gregor
5 years ago

why my comments are getting deleted?

Rasmus
Rasmus
5 years ago
Reply to  gregor

maybe they were not very nice

Charles
Charles
5 years ago
Reply to  gregor

Or they don’t go along with the agenda. Bless your heart.

Edu
Edu
5 years ago

Hope Anna won’t be underrated… My finalists Anna with Wiktoria/Nano
And Andra chansen Ziana feat. Adis Don Demina with Nano/Wiktoria

Dave
Dave
5 years ago

Do you know when will the 2 minutes snippets come out? Thanks a lot!

Milla
Milla
5 years ago
Reply to  Dave

There’s not going to be any 2.30 snippets this year 🙁

Edu
Edu
5 years ago
Reply to  Milla

So sad =(

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

The fandom always being predictable…

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago

No matter what the results are, I’ll be happy to have at least 3 new songs to add to my playlist tonight! 🙂

Nicola
Nicola
5 years ago

Is there another way to stream Melfest, that is not through SVT? The stream on SVT isn’t available for countries outside Sweden.

ESCNils
ESCNils
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicola

I always watch it from Italy through SVT play and it is working, that’s one of the few shows you can watch outside Sweden

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicola

Use a VPN

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicola

I’ve always watched it on the svt channel fine during previous years and am from Canada. Is it actually geoblocked this year? Thank god for vpns