Dotter rode a wave of hype into the final of Melodifestivalen 2020, ultimately finishing second to The Mamas.

Now, in a wide-ranging interview with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the “Bulletproof” hitmaker says that she likely dodged a bullet.

The newspaper asked Dotter — real name Johanna Jansson — what it was like to win the international jury vote, but then ultimately lose out to The Mamas by just one point. The 33-year-old says she wasn’t disappointed.

“I was confused that I came second,” she said. “From the start I did not even think I would go to the final. Now that there was no Eurovision final, it would not have been so fun to win either.”

Dotter at Melodifestivalen 2021?

The Swedish broadcaster SVT has already made it clear that The Mamas will not receive an automatic place at Eurovision next year. Melodifestivalen will take place again in 2021. That means Dotter could very well enter the contest for a third time, having been eliminated from her semi-final in 2018 with the number “Cry”.

So will we see her at Melodifestivalen next year? She played it coy with Aftonbladet. “We shall see,” she said. “In any case I have not received any invitation yet.”

A big theme of her interview with Aftonbladet was that her song “Bulletproof” has outperformed the winning  song “Move” on multiple fronts.

On Spotify “Bulletproof” has been streamed around 300,000 more times than “Move”. The Swedish charts tell a similar story. Dotter’s hit made the Svensktoppen list for 15 weeks and managed to secure the top spot for four weeks, while remaining in the Top 3 for eleven weeks. The Mamas, on the other hand, topped the chart for just one week, and only managed the Top 3 for two weeks. They were in the charts for a total of 11 weeks — a month less than Dotter.

Dotter, however, isn’t paying too much attention.

“I’m not sitting and counting the streaming and such,” she said. “But God, what fun that you get to be part of having a real hit. I had thought that my genre is a bit too alternative.”

What do you think? Should Dotter give it another go in 2021? Do you think that she’s got what it takes to win Melfest and Eurovision? Shout it out down below!

16 Comments
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ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago

Obviously yes, she deserves another shot to compete at Melfest next year and that’s on period.

David S
David S
3 years ago

She’s gonna get the Swedish ticket to Eurovision at some point IF she trumps ‘Bullerproof’. I suspect she will. Got the same feeling from her this year as I did with Loreen in 2011……she’s gonna come back and win the whole thing some day.

Kosey
Kosey
3 years ago

It’s all about the song for me now. Dotter has proved she has the stage charisma and her team have proved they can produce an iconic stage show, so we just need another top quality pop song and Dotter has got a very good chance.

I’m not surprised that Dotter did better than The Mamas in the charts. The Mamas was a very safe family song that works in a Saturday night setting but Dotter has more permanent appeal beyond the confines of a TV show.

Erik
Erik
3 years ago

Although not an official rule, they never let an act compete more than two years a row. The exception being if they are joined or separated from some of the people on stage. For example Sandman first doing FO & O and then doing two years solo. Dotter could write more songs to other artists or join a group. As a solo artist she must wait one year.

PP77
PP77
3 years ago
Reply to  Erik

Shirley Clamp compete 3 times in row from 2003-2005. After that some singers compete 2 time in row, sometimes winners from previous year (Afro-dite 2002,2003, Fame 2003,2004)

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  PP77

Anna Bergendahl competed the last two years. If we’re talking about being relieved for people, how anti-climactic would it have been if she’d gotten her chance to avenge for ten years ago and then never got to go?

I think doing it every year vs. every other year is up to the artists. Jon Henrik Fjallgren’s done every odd year for the last three, so I’d be pleased if he was back for 2021 and kept the pattern going! (Plus, “Spirit in the Sky” was proof positive Eurovision is ready for more yoik!)

Kriksis
Kriksis
3 years ago

Keeping my fingers crossed for 2021!

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

The right song won, but if it means she comes back even stronger next year, all the better.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

Hard to imagine that she won’t be there in some form. I’d prefer it to be as a songwriter for a package including a really strong female vocalist.

Denis
Denis
3 years ago

As someone who liked the song, can you honestly say it is a great song without the effect? Take it away and all you are left with is a good solid radio mainstream song that Sia would have killed to have in her repertoire. If it was the masterpiece it was hyped up to be it would have won MF. But it’s not. It’s not “Heroes” where the effects are a aprt of the story and had a great song, and it’s certainly not “Euphoria”. It is just a decent good song, not a winner or anything.

EurovisionBenny_AUT
EurovisionBenny_AUT
3 years ago

Dotter and her team are able to make songs which perfectly balance creativity and accessability, which is the key for success at Eurovision. Once Sweden puts Dotter forward to the big stage, we’ll most probably be in for a treat!

Esc2021rotterdam
Esc2021rotterdam
3 years ago

Dotterdam is still possible

Last edited 3 years ago by Esc2021rotterdam
Mr Vanilla Bean
Mr Vanilla Bean
3 years ago

I don’t see anything ‘alternative’ about ‘Bulletproof’ though. It’s good mainstream to me.

Mr Vanilla Bean
Mr Vanilla Bean
3 years ago

MAD 2021
Molly-Anna-Dotter

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
3 years ago

But Anna competed in 2019 and 2020, so we won’t see her in 2021 according to the rules 😀

Cocooo
Cocooo
3 years ago

Anna will probably not compete because of her medicine studies, she took a study leave this term so she could focus on Melodifestivalen.