Six weeks of slayage are about to come to an end. On March 9 Sweden’s much-ballyhooed Eurovision selection Melodifestivalen reaches its grand climax.
Twelve acts will sing it out for a spot in Tel Aviv…and the coins that come with a chart-topping, Spotify-streaming hit. There’s a lot to play for and we now who will sing when in the final in Stockholm’s Friends Arena.
Melodifestivalen 2019 running order
1. Jon Henrik Fjällgren — “Norrsken”
2. Lisa Ajax — “Torn”
3. Mohombi — “Hello”
4. Lina Hedlund — “Victorious”
5. Bishara — “On My Own”
6. Anna Bergendahl — “Ashes to Ashes”
7. Nano — “Chasing Rivers”
8. Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO — “Hold You”
9. Malou Prytz — “I Do Me”
10. John Lundvik — “Too Late for Love:”
11. Wiktoria — “Not With Me”
12. Arvingarna — “I Do”
Fans frequently say that performing in the latter half is a boost to one’s chances — you’re said to stick in the minds of televoters just before they enter the voting segment.
That seems to be good news for bookies’ favourite John Lundvik. The “Too Late for Love” singer performs 10th in the running order. You’ll surely remember that Frans performed in the same position in 2016, before going on to place fifth at Eurovision.
Of course, you could make a similar argument for Wiktoria. She’ll be getting very wet — with her on-stage rain shower — in eleventh position. Last year Benjamin Ingrosso took the crown performing in the same position.
The latter half theory isn’t a guarantee of anything though. In 2017 Robin Bengtsson sang fourth. And in 2015 Måns Zelmerlöw sang sixth before winning Melfest and Eurovision.
Do you think the running order gives anything away about producers’ favourites? Do you think it will actually impact the results in any meaningful way? Or does the best song always win? Let us know down below!
Jon Henrik is just trying to copy Austria from last year. Sweden seems to have lost its originality these days. Russia will dominate Eurovision as the superpower and will win every year.
Just wanna say that Mendez started as no.1 last year and he as the third favorite in the televotes, so it’s not over for Jon Henrik! But i’ll agree with the most here and say that it’s literally open for John Lundvik to win this. Fine by me tbh And also I have noticed that Wiktoria and Lisa Ajax have competed the same three years and theyve had almost the exact running order all these times; In 2016 Lisa Ajax performed 2nd while Wiktoria performed 11th, in 2017 Lisa performed 3rd while Wiktoria had the 10th spot and this year… Read more »
If Sweden actually want to win this year, then the only chance they have is John Lundvik. This isn’t about whether you like the song, but whether it will do well at Eurovision.
Wiktoria isn’t in the hunt to win. It’s between John and Hanna and Liamoo. Anna Bergendahl maybe the dark horse.
I think it’s always more important to like the song. I would never want a song I didn’t like to be the winner.
I really want Anna, I love her with all my heart. I know that is almost impossible, but her song it’s so beautiful…
Anna, if you read this (?): I love you! I hope to see you again on ESC this time or another, but I will always want it!
My second option is Nano. I don’t feel the other songs, maybe are not my type.
The best part is that John also is the songwriter for the UK entry. So he will essentially compete against himself.
That’s a little premature, he hasn’t actually won yet…
In every national final there is a song that everyone knows is going to win and a song that deserves to win. I really don’t get the hype for John Lundvik, it’s not a copy of César y’all but the song isn’t interesting. The rightful winner is Wiktoria. Her flawless vocals and Melfest experience shouldn’t let her down and she’s performing after John Lundvik which people in Sweden have heard recently and have massively elevated it until Wiktoria swoops in. If I was a Melfest juror: 12 points- Wiktoria 10 points- Anna Bergendahl 8 points- Lisa Ajax 7 points- Jon… Read more »
I’ll just say, I wish you actually were a Melodifestivalen juror. Great picks!
Wiktoria may deserve it, but I would say that the song itself does not…so for me, it can never be the “rightful” winner. It’s almost cheating to have her sing it, she elevates it so much.
Well done Jake!!
Wiktoria should win. She has the best song. Upvote if you agree.
We agreee
John Lundvik will win! For sure
I’m sad about the running order as norrsken is my favourite. He would’nt’ve won anyways but he has no hope now
I have to say that I like the variety in this year’s final. I’m rooting for Anna and my girl Wiktoria… but based on the experiences of the last years, Sweden will root for John Lundvik… and Arvingarna will probably be among the last with the juries and among the first with the televoters…
Melodifestivalen final is so OPEN this year!!!
Something tells me it’s gonna be between:
Wiktoria
John Lundvik
Mohombi
Liamoo & Hanna Ferm
I am sure jury’s winner will be Lundvik, but televote I would say Wiktoria???
We will find out on Saturday
Best from Spain
Wiktoria Will not win the televote. She does not have the ”buzz” needed do to so here in sweden. I think the televote is between John, Liamoo/Hanna and Bishara
Seems the seven age groups of the appvotes + the televotes all awards 1-8, 10 & 12 points, just as the eight juries, there is no need to speak about the popular votes favourite. It could differ age between the youngest and the oldest etc. Quite exiting.
John Will win the votes and Liamoo the jury – who the winner Will be put of that calculation is Hard to predict.
Euphoria was also performed sixth, as well as Heroes. Maybe a good omen for Anna.
Hmmmm….. would you have said that for Anton Hagman in 2017 who then tanked to the BOTTOM 3.
Yes.
Running orders says it’s likely between Wiktoria and John Lundvik, which is both fine by me. I’d prefer Wiktoria, but John’s song would still dance circles around their last two, so I’ll be okay if he wins too. A very pleasant surprise would be Anna Bergendahl, but what are the chances?
We’re on the same page, Colin. Wiktoria and John have the best packages, Anna the best song. Any of them would make me happy. I like Lisa too, but I assume she has no chance by now.
Exactly the same here too. I suppose I don’t need to comment here any more when you both do my job for me so well. 😀
Anna is now number one on Svensktoppen…that has to count for something, right?
Nah. Svensktoppen is mostly voted by older people. It’s more accurate to follow Spotify. And guess whos first there? Papa John!
I wanna finally see a girl from Sweden, but Lundvik is really the best act in the final, I hope he wins on saturday. I love Wiktoria so much and I believe that she will represent Sweden once, but unfortunately, she has almost no chance of winning this time 🙁
Can you imagine if there’s a crazy upset – everyone focusing on John Lundvik and Wiktoria and then out of nowhere Malou Prytz wins the whole thing!! Can you just imagine!!
I hope so she is my favourite 🙂
Malou Prytz 4 the win, her song is so fresh
Stage directors/choreographers for the competing acts
Sasha Jean Baptiste (Fuego, Beautiful Mess) & Lotta Furubäck: Not With Me, Norrsken, Victorious, Torn, I Do
Zain Odelstål (Dance You Off, I Can’t Go On) & Dennis Brochner: Too Late For Love, Hold You, Ashes to Ashes
Benke Rydman (Heroes): Hello
Mari Ryberger (If I Were Sorry): Chasing Rivers
Jennie Widegren (Every Single Day): On My Own
Ace Wilder (Busy Doin’ Nothin’) & Jonna Hökengren: I Do Me
Torn??? Sasha Jean Baptiste did nothing to her staging. It’s all dark with light.
Let’s be honest, dark and light is basically Baptiste MO, give it or take it
Right, that was an artistic decision. Staging doesn’t mean choreography.
My heart says Mohombi, but my guts say Wiktoria will win. She’s been due since 2016 (how close I was of have 4/5 of Two’s set that year), Sweden needs a bit of a change from the last couple of years and she could pull it off.
Some artists always perform late (Wiktoria or Benjamin) while others always perform early (Lisa or Jon). Björkman must know why XD
That said, juries will decide this as usual so running order is not a big deal I guess.
Hanna & Liamoo, Anna or Wiktoria to win!
Lundvik FTW
Oh man, John Lundvik is really gonna win, isn’t he? I’m sorry to say this, but ,except for Bishara’s and maybe Malou’s song, there’s not a single one in this final I like less than John’s. But I seem to be in the minority here, so let him win I guess. I’m rooting for Lisa, Mohombi, Jon Henrik and Wiktoria.
I agree. Its so bland. This will probably be the second year in a row that I don’t support the song we’re sending
Interesting enough this would be the first time since 2016 I completely support our entry.
It’s a heavy choir-based version of UK.
For me John Lundvik is César from Austria 2018 – 2.0
I think it will be ” fight” between John Lundvik/Bishara and Mohombi ….
My favourites are – Jon Henrik Fjallgren, Lisa Ajax, Wiktoria, Mohombi, Anna Bergendahl och Nano
I dont liké Liamo and Hana ( its nice song but not for me sorry + Arvingarna, Lena and Malou is just ok – not winning
I totally agree. So bland 🙁
He’s bigger than us. (Pun-tastic!)
Jon is out. SVT want to John or Wiktoria to win. Interesting to slowly song open show not uptempo. And why 2 uptempo song get 3,4 spot in draw. SVT don t want to Mohobi have chance for win,and ruin chance for good placement for Linda .
As William points out in the article, we Swedes vote for what we like irrespective of running order!
so vote for Malou from Växjö
Well international juries voted always for staging + good songs so I think Bishara have a lot of potencional but its boring ? ….on this case o think Wiktoria/John Lundvik or Mohombi can win ( my personal favourite is Fjallgren and btw Did Charlotte Perreli performed 1 in the final ? In 2008 ?
in 2008 voting start with 1st song.
I think the running order reflects a bit on how Christer Björkman & co think it will go if you compare two songs from the same genre and tempo. But not always. It depends on the songs. They want a good show. They don’t want 5 slow songs in a row and then 5 up-tempo songs in row. They want variation. They want the last song to be an upbeat song that will put everyone in a party mood. and not a dark moody ballad. The want the first one to be a song that the audience likes but not… Read more »
Here formally apologizing to Queen Wiktoria cuz Pope John is now getting me with his religious beliefs.