Update at 21:00 GMT on 18 October: Carola has taken to Instagram to say that she won’t compete at Melfest in 2020. Read her full response here. We’ve left our original article below.
About one month remains until the competing acts of Melodifestivalen 2020 are announced. But until then, we now have the great guessing game that is Melfest rumours season. The first act reported for 2020 is Swedish Eurovision winner Carola Häggkvist.
Aftonbladet reports that Carola will be entering with a self-written song. The newspaper’s source says that Carola submitted her song to Melfest in a previous year but later withdrew it. But now the time is right.
The paper’s source also reports that Carola’s song is “a tribute to her Christian faith, she sings about her love for Jesus.” Carola is known as a high-profile Christian and has previously released a gospel album.
Carola at Melodifestivalen
If Carola makes it to Mello 2020, this will be her fifth appearance.
Carola first competed in Melodifestivalen 1983, where her song “Främling” won and went on to place third in Eurovision. She returned in 1990, where “Mitt i ett äventyr” placed second at Melfest.
But all the stars aligned in 1991. Carola won Melfest with “Fångad av en stormvind” and went on to also win Eurovision with the upbeat number.
In 2006, Carola took another shot at Melfest — and won. Her song “Invincible” went on to place fifth at Eurovision.
Carola last competed at Melodifestivalen in 2008, as a duet with Andreas Johnson. Unfortunately their song “One Love” crashed out in the andra chansen round.
Earlier this year Carola made headlines when her iconic hot pink dress caught alight after being too close to a hot stage light. Fortunately the fire was extinguished and Carola was unharmed. The dress, however, was singed.
If Carola does make Melodifestivalen 2020, she will be joined by P4 Nästa wildcard winner Amanda Aasa. Further rumoured acts are expected to be revealed in coming weeks.
Melodifestivalen 2020: What we know so far
The iconic Melodifestivalen tour will kick off with semi-final one in Linköping on 1 February, semi two in Gothenburg on 8 February, semi-final three in Luleå on 15 February, and the fourth semi-final will be held in Malmö on 22 February.
The andra chansen round will be held in Eskilstuna on 29 February, while the grand final — as always — will be held at Friends Arena in Stockholm on March 7th.
SVT has also confirmed the hosts of Melodifestivalen 2020. Former Alcazar singer Lina Hedlund, jazz/pop singer Linnea Henriksson and comedian David Sundin will host the shows.
SVT is expected to reveal the lucky 28 competing acts of Melodifestivalen 2020 sometime in November.
What do you think? Are you excited about a Carola comeback to Melodifestivalen? Which other acts would you like to see in the lineup? Tell us your thoughts below!
we want Loreen
Its 100% false. Swedish media have done a big mistake by saying this. Carola have even said on her instagram she is sad with this false and untrue rumours. Its a witchhunt for her. Sad. so before you talk more about it. ITS FALSE RUMOURS!
Wiwwibloggs reporters should do better research next time i feel.
what makes you capable of giving orders to other people? The fact that you are swedish?
Hopefully religion stays out of ESC. Politics is already bad enough as it is. Why annoy the Islamic Europeans like the diaspora and those in the Balkans with Christian missionary statements? ESC should unite, not divide!
I like Carola. But a Song about Jesus? I don’t really know what to think about that…
It’s not like she hasn’t sung at least a hundred of them before. She’s even done it at Melodifestivalen…back in 2005, she performed Genom Allt (Through It All) as an interval act – music and lyrics by Carola – and it was actually a lot of fun. If her 2020 entry actually happens, it may not be what we are imagining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIK_Hxbvc9c
it was not about jesus.
Not explicitly, but yes, it clearly was. Her whole 2005 album was about her religious beliefs.
oh Gosh, a Christian slager by carola…. The only thing missing is Anna Book and Bjorkman can be sure about a 7th victory lol #not
her 2006 album ‘fran nu till evighet’ (i’ve bought the cd) is entirely dedicated to jesus. it’s the gayest-sounding album i’ve ever heard in my life.
Its also false. Im a swede so you cant spread these rumours when i can speak and read swedish. Sorry.
wut? she said it herself back in 2006 sdjkhfskfajs
Isn’t Bjorkman working on American Eurovision? Maybe she can represent Sweden there. I bet Bible belt states will all give douze points.
Finally, we agree on something!
Have you actually seen evidence of her supposed bigotry or are you just assuming it based on her faith? I’d like for somebody to share a source.
12 points from Vatican City
Her evangelical church is probably really anti Catholic. Given that the current pope is relatively progressive, he might even prefer Conchita
Probably? Do you have anything to support this claim?
I don’t mind a song about your own private faith but a song intended to preach the gospel should not be welcome. Moreover, her church is really Evangelical/neo Charismatic- so not at all aligned with the majority of religions practiced in Europe, so even conservative voters would likely feel alienated by the music. But I guess it gives MelFest some variety?
Wasn’t she accused of being homophobic once upon a time? And say what you will about Herrey’s: they weren’t nearly as preach about their Mormonism.
When you wear such shoes, sing such a song and do such a choreography, you have no leg to stand on to condemn gayness. 😉 Not that anyone has a leg to stand on in that regard.
Herreys are Mormons??? Serious?
well I wouldn’t call her homophobic, just from a different era, and badly informed (just checked her comments) 🙂
Christ almighty. At least Laura Bretan could still sing. That’s where my tolerance for Christian-themed Europop ends. Even Eurovision isn’t that cheesy.
Well we all know who’s definitely not going to represent Sweden next year.
If it’s true I can see it doing as well as Perelli did her last time around: last in semifinal. I can’t see that type of song dong well at all.
But then again, I just think Carola wants a platform to release her new music. I doubt she is in it to win it, otherwise she would have chosen a different song.
“Rise and shine…”
Actually, please let this be true. It sounds hilarious. 😛 I don’t think Sweden would go for it anyway, right? I hear the Nordics are very secular and non-religious, one of the reasons I appreciate them. Seems like an act for the elderly that places 7th in one of the semi finals. In the very, VEEERY unlikely, almost impossible case that this is actually good, I’m prepared to eat my words, though. I will always appreciate a good song, no matter where it comes from and however delusional its background might be.
Amina was, is and always will be the true winner! Her song was high quality, carola was cheap plastic pop!
False. The “true” winner is decided by the rules. That’s Carola.
You rightfully put “true” under quotation marks which means (as to be read on grammerly):
“Quotation marks used this way are commonly called scare quotes or shudder quotes. It’s a way of implying that you’re using a term in an unusual way or that you don’t necessarily approve of it.” (https://www.grammarly.com/blog/quotation-marks/)
So thanks for admitting yourself that you don’t approve to call Carola the true winner. :’D
Yes, it was insufferable. But back then, I think the EBU actually obeyed their own rules, so Carola is the true winner.
At least Frank Naef knew how to handle the situation. Sweden’s victory in 1991 was jury only – if 2019 was jury only, Sweden would again have been announced the winner, John Lundvik would have leapt for joy, performed again…only to be robbed of his victory the following day. This year really was one of the worst mistakes in Eurovision history.
Agreed. Also: How tragic it would have been for the actual winner. Heads should have rolled. Before getting a nice, comfortable and probably planned exit after Rotterdam.
Except it wasn’t really a robbery, it was rightful acknowledgement (of North MKD’s win). And it didn’t happen the following day, it happened after four days thanks once @euro_bruno’s tweet was recognised.
I wasn’t referring to what actually happened, I was speculating about what might have happened if (like 1991) there had been no televote this year. Viewers all across Europe would have seen Sweden win.
Also, while I’m on the subject…I’m not sure if I agree with the notion that North Macedonia are the “rightful” winner. The fake jury results were called out the wrong way around – but even the right way around, they’re still fake. To me, they are completely invalid no matter what order you put them in. They have no moral superiority, and should have been nullified. If we take them out of the equation completely, the top three would have been as follows: 1) Sweden, 239 points 2) North Macedona, 237 points 3) The Netherlands, 231 points …so, the lesson… Read more »
True. I was so happy for North Macedonia, but in reality, the entire thing was so messed-up that neither the Swedish victory in the show, nor the Macedonian victory in the aftermath counts for anything. With a result this close, the fake voting of San Marino alone makes it impossible not to doubt this result. And who knows what certain other countries were doing that we don’t know of.
Funny enough, I heard that San Marino actually had enough people tuning in this year that their televotes counted.
San Marino’s televote always counts
But it’s diluted in the much larger Italian population
San Marino uses the same network providers as Italy
We wish. It’s impossible for San Marino to have their own televote, because they share their telephone system and network with Italy, meaning that the televotes the San Marineese cast is counted as a part of the Italian televote.
If the Sanmarinese televote and Belarussian jury vote had been counted out:
– Slovenia would have finished 13th
– France would have finished 14th
– Malta would have finished 15th
– Cyprus would have finished 16th
I love the drama. LGBT loving a religious freak.
“And isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?”
(Alanis Morissette – Ironic)
If politics is banned in ESC then religion should be too. Just as divisive (maybe even more so).
EBU rules are just for show. Politics even won in 2016.
There’s a difference between politics and history. 1944 is history.
Well, that is one way to look at it, granted, one valid way. But I stroooongly doubt the submission and the victory of 1944 would have happened without the circumstances of 2014. So, it IS politics, mixed with history.
Seems as if my response got filtered.
I’ve wanted her to come back and at least get to the final. To see her crash out in 2008 was sad…but of course since then, we’ve had two other Eurovision winners do the same or worse, so now it doesn’t seem so bad.
We already had “Hard Rock Hallelujah”, “Molitva” and “Take Me To Your Heaven”, so why not?
I agree. Hard Rock Hallelujah, in particular, was full of religious language. I doubt many people could actually make out the words though!
Carola, wind machines and Jesus… Epic!
If the song is good I will vote for her for sure, singing about christian faith in a secular country is brave
Her christian mexican friend Jesus or Jesus – Jesus. Is 2nd one allowed in ESC anyway? I mean bringing up religion.
wtf.. Why wouldn’t it be allowed?
I remember that Tulia had to remove cross from their music video for some reason. It could be broadcaster’s demand though, idk.
Orego (hungary 2017) was also about god. Just like albania and latvia 2010.
Well, Israel won with religion back in 1979. So I guess it’s allowed!
Carola cited Hallelujah as her favorite winner during the 2016 broadcast, remember – no surprise there, I guess.
Interesting, given that Hallelujah, as an Israeli song, was most likely Jewish in its sentiments.