Tusse has won Melodifestivalen 2021 with “Voices”. Next stop? The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 for Sweden!
“Voices” is an electro-pop song, with a slightly dark feel to it. The chorus frequently mentions the lyrics “a million voices” — a phrase that did especially well for Russian singer Polina Gagarina at Eurovision 2015. The “Voices” lyrics are about unity, hope, perseverance and freedom.
“My song happened when I was sitting in a session with Joy Deb and Linnea Deb and the rest of the group,” Tusse tells SVT. “We were writing music, but nothing felt right, and nothing felt close to the heart. But then it transpired that they had already written such a beautiful song that I got to hear. I just said: ‘That’s the one! That’s the one we should go for.’ The song is about fellowship, freedom and the importance of all voices being heard.”
Speaking to Wiwibloggs via Skype, Tusse told me that his staging conveys the journey from “struggle to relief”. These are not empty words. As a former refugee from Congo-Kinshasa, his feelings are built on perseverance and the experience of being an outsider.
Tousin “Tusse” Chiza is a 19-year-old Congolese-Swedish singer. In 2018, Tusse reached the semi-finals of Talang — the Swedish version of the Got Talent series. Soon after, he released his debut single “My Soul Is Calling You” — a tribute to his late mother. Tusse then went on to win the 2019 series of Swedish Idol after performing a cover of Conchita Wurst’s Eurovision 2014 winning track “Rise Like a Phoenix” in the final.
Melodifestivalen 2021 Results
In the final results, Tusse was the clear winner with 175 points to Eric Saade’s 118. The Mamas maintained their stellar record at Melodifestivalen, placing third with 106 points. In a strange repeat of history, they finished one point ahead of fourth place finisher Dotter.
Overall final results
- Tusse “Voices” 175
- Eric Saade “Every Minute” 118
- The Mamas “In the Middle” 106
- Dotter “Little Tot” 105
- Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 91
- Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 79
- Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa” 74
- Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young” 60
- Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem” 44
- Alvaro Estrella “Baila Baila” 26
- Anton Ewald “New Religion” 25
- Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 25
Melodifestivalen 2021: Jury Results
- Tusse “Voices” 79
- Eric Saade “Every Minute” 69
- Dotter “Little Tot” 57
- The Mamas “In the Middle” 50
- Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 43
- Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 39
- Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa” 39
- Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young” 32
- Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem” 22
- Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 18
- Anton Ewald “New Religion” 9
- Alvaro Estrella “Baila Baila” 7
Who got 12 points from which jury? Here’s the breakdown.
Tusse “Voices” | France, Iceland, Switzerland, The Netherlands
Eric Saade “Every Minute” | Israel, Cyprus
The Mamas “In the Middle” | United Kingdom
Dotter “Little Tot” | Albania
View this post on Instagram
Melodifestivalen 2021: Televote Results
- Tusse “Voices” 96
- The Mamas “In the Middle” 56
- Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag” 52
- Eric Saade “Every Minute” 49
- Dotter “Little Tot” 48
- Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts” 36
- Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa” 35
- Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young” 28
- Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem” 22
- Alvaro Estrella “Baila Baila” 19
- Anton Ewald “New Religion” 16
- Paul Rey “The Missing Piece” 7
Number of votes in the #Melfest final:
1. Tusse, 2,964,269 votes
2. Eric Saade, 1,471,324 votes
3. The Mamas, 1,646,198 votesNumber of voting units: 1,159,881.
3,537,050 kronor were donated to the Radiohjälpen charity.
Voting record!
Full list: https://t.co/N99oG7IPej
— Gustav Dahlander (@GustavDahlander) March 13, 2021
Melodifestivalen 2021: Running order for the final
- Danny Saucedo “Dandi dansa”
- Klara Hammarström “Beat of Broken Hearts”
- Anton Ewald “New Religion”
- The Mamas “In the Middle”
- Paul Rey “The Missing Piece”
- Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young”
- Tusse “Voices”
- Alvaro Estrella “Baila Baila”
- Clara Klingenström “Behöver inte dig idag”
- Eric Saade “Every Minute”
- Dotter “Little Tot”
- Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem”
Comments on this article are now closed. Thank you for being part of the conversation!
So 7 years and counting since Sweden sent a woman to Eurovision.
Tusse clearly didn’t win because Melfest voters are “politically correct”,- they clearly aren’t.
Great song and voice! Potential contender for an eurovision win! 🙂
Oh my! So many comments about Sweden’s choice. Unbelievable! Thank god the comment section of Sweden’s entry on youtube are more positive than on this site! It seems all the moaners and haters gather here. And Tusse seem to cause a debate it seems about blacks, gender etc. I take this as something good actually, if it’s done with respect. I’m sure all of this will in some way or another get him noticed. Because first of all he’s talented, he’s got something that stands out from the crowd and that is his voice, prescence and personality, the way he… Read more »
I think I’d be fine with this entry, actually! Was rooting for Dotter and Eric ofc. The lyrics are pretty cheesy but his performance really elevated the song. I’m not Swedish so it’s not really my place to complain about who deserved better and whatnot (still listening to Kadiatou’s entry) but the country voted for Tusse by a landslide and I’m thrilled for him since it’s his first time trying for Eurovision! Good luck in Rotterdam!
I’m so sorry for Eric… Sweden had the chance to send him and fight for the whole thing, but they missed it…
The Swedish viewers have spoken. And they made it quite clear that Voices was their favorite song. And if we like or not, we have to respect that decision. Just like they respect the choices of songs that have been made by the other participating countries.
We can respect their right to choose and also criticize the choice.
The epithome of modern Eurovision: a factory pop-song sang by someone who can’t sing. What’s not to like?
Best song of the night, glad he won ! His vocals were perfect ! Keep you hate guys. Sweden my not win this year, but it’s not because the song is bad, it’s because Switzerland’s song is amazing. Sweden at least Top 5.
Well, a lot of eurofans watch the Mello, and the fandom that has been following Eurovision for years tends to have a pretty good idea whether or not a certain song can do well at ESC. People have high standards and just want the best show, so it’s normal.
Dead at Dotter just losing to The Mamas by a single point… again! This time it wasn’t about the win, though.
The problem people have with it is that melodifestivalen is clearly not about musical merit anymore…
I hear that song ten times a day. It’s that generic. With Eric, Eurovision would have gone to sweden and petra would have hosted again. With tusse, sweden are only a borderline qualifier with the help of juries.
No one’s moaning buddy.
Do you have a crystal ball? Or can you look into the future?? You don’t know a thing what’s gonna happen in May…Come on!
So you’re saying that denmark can win? Sure.
What? This Eric’s song with horrible lyrics and mediocre instrumental? Wow, Arvingarna would have been better
Wow, so much hate!
As a swede I rooted for Dotter and Eric Saade but they didn’t win. But why should I bash Tusse for their lose? So immature
The thing is eurofans expect so much from Sweden, especially to choose their favorites and if not, hell break loose.
It’s our country and our vote that matters. just like many other country in Europe.
So take the bad energy and covert it into something good because the negativity won’t change the winner.
Done is Done!
Well said @Bella!!! I had like four favorites and Tusse was one of them but Dotter was my first choice. So many good somgs in the Swedish NF this year. However when Tusse received twice as much televots (1,5m more) the second best i have to be homest. Tusse is just 19 and also the jury gave him the victory do I wish him the all best.
Still you’re the most immature person in here who can’t take facts when they are presented against your opinion. Also, if you actually think tusse can win Eurovision (even in a weak Eurovision) you are actually delusional and should really get some help mentally.
How am I racist when john lundvik was in my melodifestivalen top three for two consecutive melodifestivalens. It’s not racist to point out that the Swedish education system and media have brainwashed some people to vote for darker people for that sole reason. Move and voices were not the best songs. Not everything is racist. I’ve seen some people been accused of being racist for stating the fact that sweden has sent three consecutive black acts. You have to realize that some people will find that weird without any racist intentions but because sweden is very much predominantly white and… Read more »
So have you about France (ethnic garbage were your words) and against Portugal
Oh please. You have been “moaning” about people having different opinions than you hundreds of times already. The “losers” at least have the decency to leave after saying what they have to say.
Again? All I have commented here was a reply to a comment yesterday that said “I have mixed feelings on this. I’m happy for Tusse as you could see how much this meant to him and he is an amazingly talented performer, with that said, I think the song itself falls a bit flat for me, and it kind of reminds of Denmark 2017, it’ll do well with the juries, but I’m not sure how the televoters will respond to it. Regardless, he won fair and square, he did an amazing job, so he deserved it.” by user named joe.… Read more »
The scandinavian countries are not going to the final this year. Many countries are underperforming maybe due to the rise of a pandemic.
Tusse is the Swedish favorite. You don’t know him like we Swedes do. He won a Swedish song competition fair and square by a landslide. Mind your own business.
Im sorry but this song earning the most televotes ever since the new system in Melfest doesn’t sit right for me. What are Swedish people seeing in « Voices »???
What are eurofans seeing in Dotter apart from being “robbed” last year?
Why are you making it about Dotter? There were 4 or 5 other songs that were at least as good as Voices, yet they received less than half of the amount of votes Voices got.
The song is meh, as well as all other songs in the competition this year. Obviously, Sweden cannot deliver each time, a big thanks (and respect!) to them for “Euphoria”, “Heroes”, and a few other songs.
I’m glad he won, it was the best song and I’m not mad at it. This might even be enough for win in May. It’s very catchy song.
Random Fact : “Tusse” means something like “chick” or “bitch” in German, I can’t unread this hahaha
About the song : it’s pretty good, I really like it 🙂 not my fav this year, but it’s a good choice
I don’t get the negative reactions about Tusse. I rooted for Dotter, but Tusse gave me goosebumps. I think Sweden will qualify.
Oh of course LOL. You’re missing the point. Everybody wants Sweden to send a good song because there are a lot of good songs in Melfest. Yet every year Sweden sends the most basic one. It’s why people are complaining. But keep believing people are « jealous » ahahaahh
What exactly was a good song in Melfest this year? They couldn’t send any better than this (maybe Eric Saade would fare a bit better, but either would hardly get to the top half of the scoreboard in the finals – I’m talking about televotes, of course).
Just meh…. They had better songs. Paul Rey being last, even worse than playback Anton was awful.
But hey, he won on a landslide, so congrats, he is the swedish favorite, don’t hate him
Happy for Tusse and for Sweden. Just one thing: get rid of the Rykka-The-last-of-our-kind-choreography elements.
I don’t see these elements in voices.
you don‘t se both making these knee bending exercises???
I don’t think anyone is hating on him (if they are then something is wrong with them). I think that frustration is with Sweden in general because it seems they are recycling the sqme act and hoping for a different result (a win) which is getting old. Insert here that Tyra Banks meme “we were all rooting for you” because we expect more from a ESC powerhouse that is Sweden.
Come on guys, it was not even a close contest. Tusse won by a landslide. It was the choice of the people. He was not my favorite. But congrats to him. And let’s be respectful.
Can’t wait to hear “With 21 points… Sweden” again this year.
Dude … only Germany and Belarus could be jealous about this. Every other country has a song that’s about as okay-ish as ‘Voices’ or waaay better.
Because of the incredible immaturity showcased in all of your comments. Other than that, I don’t even care any more about Sweden or Tusse than I do care about, say, North Macedonia and Vasil or literally any other entry.
Yet, I’m starting to get the feeling you wish I would. 😉
Actually it is Ireland with 7 wins. Now your fragile heart is shattered, what are you going to do? Cry in a corner. 🙂
Only you are grasping at straws – the salt from your tears is palatable.
How about shutting up abou Dotter and let this young man enjoy his damn win? It’s our choice. It might not work, fine. It also might work really well, who knows? Dont bash him or Sweden because your favourite didnt win. Eurofans think Swedes constantly think about doing well but we dont care. We send what we like, like every country. Seems more that eurofans obsess over Sweden than Sweden!
Such a good and honest response.
Yes !
It’s not really YOUR choice when Melfest has an international jury.
Sweden should choose their OWN entry, not have the rest of the world help choose it for you.
It’s a national competition.
The jury agreed with the swedes last night tho. If it was only up to the televotes Tusse would’ve still won
That may be, but the idea that Sweden chooses their own entry just isn’t true.
I’d prefer it if Melfest had regional/local juries rather than an international one.
A jury for Stockholm, Göteburg, Skäne etc would be better.
International juries in a national final just feels off for me, even though Melfest and others have been doing it for years.
Absolutely agree. International juries feel odd. Is it an attempt at gaming the system? To dilute national choices with music industry opinions? The international juries have been way off at Eurovision finals too for years. Popular vote all the way!
Quite true. Foreign artists and foreign juries – quite soon there won’t be any difference whether you enter the national selection in Country A or in Country B.
Best comment ever! Haven’t heard any swede obsessing over winning or get a great resultat esc. We just enjoy our choise. Let us enjoy it in peace and let Tusse have his moment. Melfest is not about you. Most swedes just care about melfest and never watch esc. We don’t care. You do!
Well said. The act probably won’t work, but you are 100% right (not that you had much better to choose from).
God awful song
So covid really messed with your sense of taste didn’t it. It doesn’t surprise me given that you’re from the country without mask mandates.
How delusional are you?
You have not had a single outstanding (even good) song since heroes, but were in the top always because of biased juries. The public obviously cought on to your lack of originality in recent years and it will show this year again, mark my words. This song has nothing going for it.
Positive message-puke
Average voice
Dull production
Repetative, etc.
Get over yourself
Agree, heroes was the last good one
If the UK had sent this it would end up bottom 5, but Sweden’s ass will be kissed by the juries. The televote will put this in its proper place: mid-table.
Jealous of a generic pop song? In your dreams. Fortunately there are a few gems this Eurovision to compensate for the lacklustre Scandinavian entries this cycle.
lmao win.. sure buddy, maybe if we are up by like 300 points with the juries but even then I wouldnt count on it. Europe will rightfully punish us in the televote for sending this and personally I cant wait for the reaction from naive people like you who think we are going to win
The salt from your tears is palatable. 😀
No, there’s truth in it. Swedish entries (except truly exceptional ones) constantly fare better with the juries, and it is hard to believe that it is purely for musical quality.
Well Congratulations. But isn’t it tragic that Dotter always predicted to be the favorite to win, Cry, Bulletproof and now Little Tot. I just wish her good luck and never give up and try again next year. Her time to represent will eventually come at due time.
Or not. It’s not an entitlement.
She was only predicted to win with Bulletproof. This year she ended up as the odds predicted, top half but nowhere near winning sadly.
Your true colors revealing themselves… again… I don’t see jealousy I just see arrogance, nationalism and hate from your side. You can criticize all the countries like you did with France (“ethnic garbage” remember ??? Were your words) and many others. But when others express their opinions on Sweden you attack with jealousy. Yes, there are many things to be jealous about in Sweden. ESC is not one of them, and certainly people like you
My fav was Clara, the swedish language add mystery to the song.
Eric Saade song was good, but the outfit, dancing was just weird. just standing and singing had been better
I really enjoyed Tusse’s song and I think he’s a great performer. He will slay in Rotterdam!
No, it is quite credible, and nothing more than that, unfortunately. This is just not Sweden’s year (and Sweden had been sending incredible songs, no mistake about that).
Equinox – “Bones” was better
That song might have had Swedish songwriters. But it did not compete in this year’s Melfest, did it?
dotter again just 1 point behind the mamas… history is repeating itself xD
So glad, my favourite won. All the best and good luck for Tusse. Great voice and he looks so gorgeous.
I don’t see this in the top 10. It’s not a bad song, but after listening to the chorus for the first time, I felt like I heard it literally a million times before.
A few good songs, a few mediocre ones. Tusse wins. My choice? Good song, although my favorite was Dotter. Good show and enjoyed it with my family. What’s all the fuzz getting upset over the result? And moralizing/complaining about Tusse or a whole nation because of a Melfest/ESC? Grow up, haters! Congratz Tusse and thanks SVT for a good time!
I haven’t seen Melfest so my question is: My dear Sweden, is this really the best you got?.., Pretty bad song and Tusse doesn’t seem a very good singer in my opinion. Of course it will qualify, as always, but doesn’t seem deserved this year, sorry. PS: I like Tusse’s style though and I think he is beautiful
Sad your song didn’t win? Why not lash out in a racist and homophobic way….. do you know Eurovision at all?
Being completely honest…there are some national finals that I get interested and engaged in and some I just cannot bring myself to give half a crap about…and this year’s Melfest is the latter. There weren’t any options I particularly cared about or wanted to win compared to other shows :-/ It’s all dry toast to me this time around sorry
Again, all this hate in these comments sections!!! It’s crazy in what a world wie live in!!!!
My favorite was Eric but I am very happy for Tusse and I wish him all the best!!!!!!!
Oh Dear! You shoud see all that hate come to Samanta Tina`s entry! Seems like we have to live with it,,,,,,,
You think Tusse is the only one who gets so much hate. Try to read some comments about Hooverphonic…But you’re right, such a thing should not be done!
No, I don’t think that! I am just shocked about all the hate in all the comment sections here. Not only on Tusse!!! That’s why I wrote „again“ at the beginning of my comment!!!!
I am not surprised anymore, look how toxic fandom to TIX is/was. And the list continues with Tusse, Latvias Song, etc.
Why is no one happy for Tusse? He has a memorable song, great stage presence and comes across really likable which you need to stand out in Eurovision (it speaks that he won both votes)! It’s sad not seeing your fave win but I feel like this is a good choice, and go Tusse wining your first Mello! 😀
That song is anything but memorable.
Because that song was memorable last 7 times that Sweden has sent it. Not all memories are good.
Why do you all care so much if Sweden keep sending song that we love? What is wrong with you all? It is actually Swedish music created in Sweden, isn’t that what Eurovision is about? This year we also have a young artist that is extremly talented and really feels his song. The song has a positive message. He delivers with passion and can sing and perform. The act has class all over it. Moreover it is actually wonderful what he managed to do in his life. His life story is a real fairytale. You can’t take that away. And… Read more »
Sweden can send whatever it wants. Everyone else has a right to say whether they like it or think it will do well. Sweden had an opportunity to send a purely authentic act (Clara) or a nice high ranking performance (Eric) but instead chose generic mediocrity.
This a very mediocre comment by a sad fanboy
I agree
What I do not get is why people are angry about Sweden sending “bad” songs, isn’t that better for their own countries, to have weaker competitors or am I wrong?
If you love ESC you want all countries to flourish!
Once again Sweden choses a generic, by-the-numbers- song choice. Expect another middling result where they are propped up by jury votes but get an embarrassingly low number of public votes. When will they learn? Many other countries are now choosing or presenting more contemporary sounding songs but Sweden seems stuck into a pattern from 10 years ago.
scandipop as we know it stopped being cool like five years ago. listen to the top hits sweden playlist on spotify and you’ll hear that the music the public consumes there sounds nothing like those melfest songs (except for clara, her song was shocking for mediocrityfestivalen’s standards)
You should start listen to sing-song writers in Sweden. They have sounded like Clara for 30 years. It is not a problem. She is nice but it is nothing new about her. Cajsa Stina Åkterström is just one of them. There are many more. There was another girl that sang about abuse from her boyfriend som ten years ago.
Sorry a typo. I wanted to write not new.
Sweden had sent by far the best song twice in the last 10 years. Many countries have never done that. I don’t know about others here, but I find that worthy of respect. That said, the juries have been pushing Sweden up for some time and the rest of the world finds it unfair – you cannot call that jealousy.
Tusse… forget about the haters. <3 Grattis till dig!
Am I the only one who wanted Anton Ewald to win???
His song is much more memorable than tusse
What did he sing again?
Yes
A society based on compliance and cancel rather than merit and tolerance leads here. A combination of activists too strong and vocal that destroy everything that challenges their views and of trolls that blanket follow them without understanding or caring what or why they troll. Sweden is a winner already in this.
Are you talking about Dotter fanboys?
I am a bit confused. The first comments warned me that I landed on a page where the KKK would feel at home but when I scroll down it feels more like people take issue with the song, like me, than the colour of Tusse his skin colour. Did Wiwibloggs really delete them all? Or could it be that because Tusse has a dark skin colour some people get extra sensitive when he is being critized for his song? Let’s all take a deep breath and enjoy what we have in common. Our passion for the ESC. Sweden can’t win… Read more »
No not many people at all have mentioned the skin of his color, here people complain more about the song and generic artist that is sent a young, male singer with a quite mainstream song (that would do well outside ESC but not in ESC). That is what you get in these forums, hate towards countries that chose “wrong” songs
Wrong, many people were, and still are, mentioning his skin colour and suspected sexuality. Closing your eyes to racism doesn’t help. I’m guessing it was mostly by dotter fanboys who take these song competitions way too seriously and who lashed out and showed their true colours when her pretty crap song lost.
in what world would a song like voices do well in the real world in 2021 ? it sounds completely outdated. it’s like it was written with the eurovision juries in mind, which is what people here criticize
It has just done well in the real world.
When John won or the mamas in 2019 and 2020, there were not so much discussions and arguments because songs were pretty good and racial context was not so discussed. This year the song is bad and those who liked the song or maybe are really extra sensitive think that reason why people dislike the song is his skin color. And I’d like to address this comment to them. we are all civilized people and listen to music with ears not with eyes, and I don’t care about singer’s appearance. If the song is bad, I will say it is… Read more »
That may be so but there were many comments which may have been moderated away now that said he won ONLY because of the colour of his skin and because Sweden is full of people who are too PC to vote for another song. Fine if you don’t like the song but don’t come on here being ignorant and trying to deny the blatant racism that was taking place in these comments. They were offensive to him. Offensive to Sweden. And I am guessing from people who have never stepped foot in Sweden nor spoken to any Sweded beyond the… Read more »
Yes, racist comments started appearing almost straight away after he won. Fair enough if you don’t like his sung but many were saying he only won because he was black which is utterly racist and abhorrent. There are more comments like this above.
Yes they deleted all comments saying he just won because of political correctness, BLM, or his skin color
Freedom of speech
There is no freedom to offend. Also, we are not in the USA. The law works differently in different jurisdictions.
Freedom of speech doesnt mean everybody must accept your views. People have every right to feel as offended as they want, thats democracy. Also freedom of speech is about your right vs the state. This isnt a state, meaning that no you dont have that right.
I’m amazed that there are people who make an issue out of someone’s skin colour. Black, white or green, nobody can make this song work.