He’s a two-time Melfest veteran, and this year he’s got his eyes on the crown. Superstar singer-songwriter Paul Rey is back at Melodifestivalen 2023. He’s bidding to sing “Royals” for Sweden at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
We caught up with Paul about “Royals” ahead of Mello heat 3 in Lidköping. In a wiwibloggs exclusive interview, Paul reveals his musical inspirations and the meaning behind the lyrics of “Royals”.
Interview: Paul Rey “Royals” (Melodifestivalen 2023)
How’s it going with the preparations for Melodifestivalen?
It’s going great! I am so excited for everyone to see my performance and hear my new song. I am really happy with everything right now.
It’s an uplifting and energetic song, and it’s about how everyone can be in charge of their own destiny, and reign over their own kingdom.
You are also one of the songwriters of your entry, how did the idea of this song came to you?
I wrote the song together with the brilliant minds of Dino Medahodzic, LIAMOO and Jimmy Joker! We had the best time writing and recording this song, and I had a gut-feeling instantly that this is gonna make it to Melodifestivalen.
?? We’re about to hear the #Melodifestivalen2023 heat 3 songs for the first time in full ? watch this space for reactions and reviews from our @samuelbaugh pic.twitter.com/KfTg4WBq8i
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 14, 2023
You competed in Melodifestivalen 2020 with the song “Talking in My Sleep” and in 2021 with the song “The Missing Piece”. How were your previous experiences in Melodifestivalen?
They were very different. In 2020 it was an arena tour, and the final was in Friends Arena in Stockholm just five days before the country shut down because of Covid-19. The year after there was no crowd, so it was a bit surreal. So I’m excited to compete this year again in front of the beautiful Mello-crowd!
You signed a contract in the USA, having collaborations with big names: a song with Snoop Dog, touring as opening act with Fifth Harmony… Tell us more about these collaborations. What’s your favourite memory from all of these collaborations?
The best memory has to be shooting the music video to “California Dreaming” with Snoop Dogg in LA. It was surreal meeting him, working with him, and actually hanging out with him. He’s such a legend in the music industry, and I grew up listening to his music as a huge rap fan.
What was your journey like, from being a rapper to being a pop singer?
It wasn’t super clear for me to make the move to create pop music, but when I decided to make the transition everything kind of happened really quickly. Within five months of me recording my first pop song, I had a record deal in the States with Epic Records and LA Reid, and Quincy Jones as my mentor.
Who’s your role model in music?
Jon Bellion and Bruno Major. They are excellent artists, producers, song-writers that create beautiful art. I really adore their work.
Are you a Eurovision fan? If yes, what are your favourite Eurovision songs?
P: Yes, it’s so much fun to watch each year! My favourite is “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence.
Your latest release is the single “Aska”. Can you introduce it to us a bit?
It’s an energetic song that sounds happy, but really is about you wishing someone would just get out of your life. I like the contrast in that it sounds so cheerful, but the lyrics are dark. “Aska” means ashes in English.
At the end of this interview, what message would you like to share with your followers and with our wiwibloggs readers?
Try every week to do something you like to do. Something simple that brings you joy. Life is for living. Love!
Are you excited for Paul Rey’s return to Melodifestivalen? Let us know in the comments below!
Snippets for deltävling 3 are out. I must say, I enjoy the previews this week much more than what we got last week. Looking forward to the live show Saturday!!
Seems like they asked chat GPT for the lyrics
Let me tell you something, no one will like Israel on this site, no matter what song represents Israel. I’ve seen the comments here over the years, the comments are always negative and skeptical. Even in 2018 they underestimated “TOY” and Israel still won. I also saw the filmed reaction of the “WIWI team” to Netta’s victory and it was a shock and why? Because they hoped “FUEGO” would win. So I really don’t care what people think on this site. I will still continue to give good reviews to the Israeli song, because if I don’t then no one will, I’m here to stay. deal with it!
What has this got to do with Paul Rey? , I’m baffled .
So he’s the master of his domain (dating myself with a Seinfeld reference).
If I remember right… that means something else in Seinfeld? Refraining from… let’s call it “self care”… is that what Paul is singing about?
I don’t think Paul Rey’s song is about that type of self-care (nudge nudge wink wink). I was just being facetious.
Ahaha, but can we get a Wiwibloggs interviewer to ask him that question? Politely, of course.
With Dino Medanhodzic it could be a step up for him. Becasue for me he is like Victor Crone and and Robin Bwngtsson, one of those male artists who just is not interesting at all..
Though I liked “Talking in My Sleep”..
ruling over your own kingdom…so inspirational…
Always loved Paul reys melfest entries. One of my favourite Swedish artists. Really hope his song is as good as his last 2
The work with Snoop and Quincy was six years ago. I don’t mean anything by saying this, just that the article reads like it is a recent thing.
how very inspiring! i’ve never heard a message quite like this before, paul is so original
Was that sarcasm?
I always enjoy the music created/worked on by Dino, so I am excited to see what Paul brings this year!
I am always excited for Paul Rey
Doesn’t even matter for me if I will like this song or not, I just want the best result possible for this man
He’s very talented and likeable
The Missing Piece was underrated AF
I’m always fascinated that so many Melodifestivalen artists lean heavily on Swedish language tracks in their career but when they enter Melfest they do so with English tracks.
Send Paul all my best wishes; he’s a great musician and I hope he does well. It could be his year.
BTW.. The song “Unicorn” (Israel 2023) will be revealed on 8/3, I’m excited!!! It’s not going to be a dark horse, it’s going to be a colored horse! haha
Lately everyone wants to be kings and queens.. interesting..
I assume it’s because Eurovision is going to the U.K. and there will be a royal coronation taking place at the start in of May. It’s just an assumption though. There was also recently a Netflix fictional drama in Sweden about “Young Royals,” plus all the Harry and Meghan press, of course.
I’m not so sure about that. 2021 was in a country with a king. The queen even took part in Eurovision videos with Nikki. No less royal than any other kings and queens.
How is Meghan a little terror? Tearing down the ridiculous “royal” institution would be considered interesting.
It was also her choice to leave it, which she did. Shrug. I find “royalty” interesting in an obscene kinda way, but it’s also something I would ever recognize as a real thing. I hope for little Prince George’s sake that it is abolished. If not, then I hope that he is cishet, again, for his own sake.
Never
Even weirder is the likes of Canada and Australia still having Charles as their head of state.
It’s called heritage and culture and brings with it a massive income revenue called tourism .
The pyramids of Egypt still bring in tourism, it doesn’t mean there is still a Pharoah.