Malmö took centre stage for Melfest this week. At Melodifestivalen heat 4, seven more acts took to the stage for their chance to sing for Sweden at Eurovision 2023.
Tonight’s competition saw the long-anticipated return of “Euphoria” singer and Eurovision 2012 champion Loreen, who closed the show with her song “Tattoo”. And despite a stage invader selfishly interrupting her performance, the queen proved that she was unstoppable and went on to win the first round of voting.
Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2023 heat 4
Results
Tonight’s results were be determined via two rounds of voting. After the first round, the act with the most public votes was chosen to go through direct to the final.
Then, the remaining six artists battled it out in a second round of voting based on age groups. The act with the most votes in the second round also went through direct to final, with two second chance semi-final round slots up for grabs for the runners-up.
Voting round one
- Winner: Loreen — “Tattoo”, direct to final
Voting round two
- Smash Into Pieces — “Six Feet Under” — 79 points, direct to final
- Kiana — “Where Did You Go” — 69 points, semi-finalist
- Mariette — “One Day” — 56 points, semi-finalist
- Axel Schylström — “Gorgeous” — 55 points
- Signe & Hjördis — “Edelweiss” — 27 points
- Emil Henrohn — “Mera mera mera” — 26 points
Running order
- Kiana — “Where Did You Go”
- Signe & Hjördis — “Edelweiss”
- Smash Into Pieces — “Six Feet Under”
- Mariette — “One Day”
- Emil Henrohn — “Mera mera mera”
- Axel Schylström — “Gorgeous”
- Loreen — “Tattoo”
Did you watch Mello? Are you happy Loreen has made it to the final? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Kween Loreen will surely win! <3
GAME CHANGER!! Say what you want but I don’t see any competition – LOREEN!!!!
Yeah…it’s gonna be a total slayage!
Hey Swedish haters…I didn’t think I would like it but this is A M A Z I NG!
Good luck Loreen 🙂
I feel near the end of the song it devolves from being a song and being just artificially epic over the top thing ever while having the most bland and basic lyrics :/
Euphoria was so much better and is to thank for changing the whole contest into (some) countries actually trying to get good pop music out there.
I need to say this….What happened to respect and manners? All I see here is toxicity towards Sweden, nothing more. Like Sweden has become a punching bag. But how do you think Swedish eurofans feel when all you read is ” only doing well with juries as usual ” or “plastic fake pop” or ” generic as usual “, and then reading that like 30 times? Where is the respect for fans then? How come every time someone writes positive about Sweden there is always a reply with smiling emoji and ‘ flop with televoters” or similar. Swedish eurofans are… Read more »
Standing applause!!
It’s true you can’t always hear what words Loreen says, which isn’t strange when she’s crawling on the panel squeezed in… But it’s also not possible to hear Finlands singer although he’s standing up. I still enjoy Finlands song, so people who complain of her do you say same thing about Finland or is it specifically Loreen you have problems with?
My problem with the song is there’s not enough content in the verses. A lot of the chorus, just like denmarks song and Irelands song. It has so much potential to really stretch the lyrical content out. Staging? Impeccable!
I actually think the verses are the most beautiful 🙂 and yes, stunning staging!
The performance was well produced but the song is not original and just pretentious.
Liked the song; but not my style and her other Melfest songs seems to be more original for me and reflected the emotions much better than “Tattoo”. good luck anyway!
I liked Loreen’s perfoemance; that was great! But the song, not so special or unique for me.
Loreen’s song was quite good but can’t understand the hype. For me, it was just okay song but well-prepared stage.
I watched the performance; it was impressive but the song itself, I couldn’t connect with the song. I would all of he other songs over “Tattoo”.
Loreen was queen! But the song was just okay song, wasnt impressed me so much.
Amidst of so much mediocrity on speed and steroids with a heavy dose of visuals to make it all more palatable, it is no wonder that this new Loreen’s song seems a masterpiece and if it doesn’t win, I would consider it a scandal if I were a Swede. But for me after ten years it does not add nothing and seems business as usual. Of course it risks to be a winner in Liverpool as the quality this year seems to be even worse than MF. So the Swedish fans can rejoice once more.
I don’t think Loreen’s song would be winner in Liverpool and I want to see another country win. Yeah, after 11 years; she brought nothing new because Loreen counts on the popularity.
Yawn…hand me a sausage hun’
Oh yes, can she get rid of those nails? Reminds me o Conan Osiris and it is scary and distracting.
Well if you don’t see the artistry in Loreen, her song and performance maybe you haven’t watched it since the 90’s 😉
I was blown away by the staging. Never seen anything like it. And I think the song is very strong. I especially love the verse. And say what you want about Loreen but she has such a stage presence…a true artist and I think she has great chances to win if she makes it to Liverpool. People can argue that it is a song contest but it has become so much more than that and Loreen delivers the whole package.
I agree with your comment about the staging but in terms of the song, Loreen didn’t bring anything special or unique 🙂 There was quite hype around the song that’s why I expected something special.
can you imagine the chaos, pandemonium, ABSOLUTE MAYHEM from the fandom if this doesn’t win melfest?
swedes, you only have one choice!
I know people generally find Sweden’s entries overhyped,overrated and I generally disagree with this argument. But for Loreen’s song, I also agree; the song is hyped because of its singer and for me, this is unfair because I also didn’t find the song impressive, although I always like Loreen’s other songs.
Performance was good; SVT and Swedish teams are good at staging but the song was not so mindlowing or fascinating for me.
Watch it again…
i dont care what y’all have to say — tattoo has been on repeat for me since it went out. even if loreen wasn’t a former eurovision winner, this performance — the staging, the voice, her vulnerability– was truly miles ahead amongst all melfest competitors. that’s something you can’t deny, and i bet she won that semi by a landslide.
Agree. Despite the amount of hate this is getting, I’m sure it’s getting love 2x a more. And in Eurovision, the latter one only matters.
This is extreme jury bait, and I don’t see televote ignoring the quality of this entry at all — Sweden got 6th last year on televote, and for me this is arguably a better song with eye-catching visuals that are bound to get everyone’s attention.
I’m hoping my country realizes what a gem this is.
Might be better than other Melfest performance but only staging was original. Her voice also but she is just shouting out; singing simple, nothing special song. Vulnerability? No; the song was just polished with too much staging effects; emotions don’t trasncend
Emotions don’t transcend? I am sorry but I think you are absolutely wrong. She shows pure emotions singing this song and she is one to beat 🙂
I think you didn’t see Cinan crying over this performance.
Wiwibloggs always overhype Swedish entries; we all know this 🙂
I think she has the whole package. Song, voice, stage presence, originality and really feeling her song when she sings it. And the staging – incredible!!
I really dont get why some people dont think this is great. She sounds great, it is catchy as hell! Is it the most original song ever? No, but I dont think you need that for Eurovision.
This is a dance pop track performance exectuted perfectly! If anyone else would have released it, with the same staging and confidence everyone would live for it, but just because she is Loreen the standards are suddenly abnormally high
I am sorry but if a previous ESC winner returns to the ESC and its song was overhyped too much by the fans, it is normal for us to expect something original.
Also yes; almost every year Sweden already sends generic songs; selling them with good staging effects. We look for original songs for other countries’ songs for judging and we can also judge the originality of Loreen’s songs.
The performance was great but the song was not; simple lyrics.
It is an original song! If you dont agree that means every song in history is not original to you. Like all ballads send to eurovision and in the national selection 99% of the time are the same. Rise like a Phoenix, Undo, Birds. In MGP honsestly was the most standard ballad ever, and people wanted her to go. Even Queen of Kings is not original, and still people love it. We always have the southern Euro pop songs like Fuego, she got me, Slomo, and we still lived for them Previous winners shouldn’t be treated differently. Yes it might… Read more »
If Loreen sang a ballad, I am sure that you and some fans would still love it; without even questioning whether the song is really good or not.
I respect to your point 🙂 For me, the performance is original, not The song itself. Creating always original songs is difficult but it would be exaggerating to overhype a song due to the Credit of its singer as most popular ESC winner.
Some of you haters complain you can’t hear the lyrics, others say the lyrics are too simple. Make up your mind haha
So for many of you the song Tattoo is practical a copy of Euphoria….Okay then…What about Queen of Kings? Isn’t that a copy of Klara’s Run to the hills?
I don’t think that Tattoo is copy of Euphoria.Tattoo is more gloomy, intense song which doesnt appeal for me. Euophoria was something more unique, original and after 11 years and in line with the overhyped comments before the Melfest; the song didn’t seem to be really unique.
I understand what you mean about queen of the kings and run to the hills. But according to VG (norwegian newspaper) she claims that she have not even heard the song «run to the hills». And as a Norwegian i have seen this… Queen of the kings have many simililarities to a norwegian song called “en til”, which have the same producer aswell. And also that song was even made before run to the hills, so you can take that as a copy too? Many pop songs have very many similarities. It is hard generally to make songs without people… Read more »
J’adooooooore !!! ALERTE WINNER ESC 2023 !!!
YEEESSS
People complaining they can’t hear what Loreen is singing, I can’t understand what Marco Mengoni with “Due vite” or La Zarra with “Évidemment” is singing, but I can still hear it’s good songs. They could have as good sung ” la la la la” through the whole song, I would still enjoy the song…?
The too much staging effect doesn’t transcend the meaning of the song; that’s what I mean.
To be fair she does tend to mumble in the quieter parts. She mumbled when she performed Eurphoria as well. I don’t think it greatly detracts from either song tough.
Very well designed stage and performance but the song itself just didn’t impress me so much.
One thing I am still concerned about: you don’t understand the lyrics when she sings. That’s something. Otherwise her performance is epic!
Yes you are right; the song is also bland and generic. Loreen sings the song too fast and it is not possible to gasp the song
I will not understand France or Italy songs either. Btw maybe time go to the doctor and check your ears?
Why Loreen’s fans are so disrespectful towards different opinion?
Well people do not understand Ch Cha Lyrics from Finland either but love that..
It is just Loreen and Sweden they have problem with
The song is epic; I personally like it a lot, already on repeat. It’s a very typical Loreen song if you happen to have listened to her albums (I do and love her sound). The performance is great and I feel it might win Melodifestivalen, although Nordic people rarely do that (vote again for someone who has previously won, it sounds too much, against Jante Law, I feel). If it wins and goes to ESC, I am not sure it will win, probably not. It will do well, and juries will worship it. Televote? Who knows. Good luck to Loreen… Read more »
Regardless of the song sent by Sweden, juries tend to overrate Sweden’s entries which is annoying (except in 2021, finally they also realized that Sweden’s entry in 2021 was not good).
Or maybe the jury simply thinks Sweden has good songs….
I’ve never understood the argument that juries always overrate Sweden. I feel it’s something people claim to try and undermine the success of the Swedish entries and to make it seem like they’re less worthy of the results they’ve gotten compared to other nations. It takes a few minutes to look up the actual stats for this, but no one does it because the stats don’t fit their agenda so they ignore it. Since 2016 the only year there was a huge discrepancy between juries and televoters (where you can say that the juries actually “overrated” Sweden) was in 2018… Read more »
That is quite a slap
The stage imvasion reminded the me same incident in Eurovision 2018 UK entry; that was also unlucky incident.
Liked Loreen’s performance but sorry, didn’t like the song so much, my personal opinion and everyone has the right to not prefer every song 🙂
I had expected more energetic song from Loreen; a song that you can always want to listen. But after watching the performance, I was done and din’t want to listen the song again and hear the shoutings. It is an emotional but it was difficult to catch the song; just didn’t transcend
The song is just not my cup of tea 🙂 I would prefer Cornelia Jakobs’ song over this song but good luck anyway 🙂
Too bad. That was last year then ??
Loreen; good perform but just okay song; especially the lyrics are really bland 🙁 The song just didn’t connect with me; I know Loreen wanted to show emotions but what I saw was just foggy stage and she was singing a monotonous song :/
Clean your glasses ??
Why Sweden’s fans are so disrespectful towards any different opinion? We don’t have to like every song sang by Loreen
It could be because too many people here are very toxic and negative when it comes to Sweden
I am not on that boat but we are free to like or dislike a song. Swedish fans don’t accept any different opinion, even question the musical preferences of other countries. But at the end, they always vote for their Nordic neighbours :/
Well, why is everybody on this site constantly using Sweden as a punching bag? Why is Sweden always bashed on here? Why do Swedish ESC fans always have to read “always overrated”m only doing well with juries”, or “plastic fake pop as usual”. Is that respectful towards Swedish fans? That every time someone writes anything positive bout Sweden people like yourself must always reply back with smiling emoji and remarks about tellvoters not liking the entry. Where is the respect for fans there? If you want to be treated nicely then maybe stop posting 30 remarks about how overrated it… Read more »
I couldn’t understand a single word she sang. Although she has power in her voice and at times sounds like Rihanna, it seems that her singing style lacks clarity in enunciating the words.
Loreen is definitely a Queen. If one day a woman manages to win the contest twice, it could be her, she is so talented. Afterwards, the road is still long until May, a dozen songs are missing to unveil. For my part, I wholeheartedly support France and La Zarra, but the competition will be tough!
I’m obsessed with how the performance goes from extremely intimate to artistic to anthemic.
The entire 3:00 minutes feels like an art piece. The subtle references to her Amazigh culture are just the cherry on top. Without a doubt, this should win in Liverpool.
The performance was good but the song was just okay; and an average, generic and not original song shouldnt win in Liverpool:)
Arcade was generic.
Euphoria was generic.
Heroes was generic.
Rise Like A Pheonix was generic.
Nothing wrong with a song being catered to a wider audience!
I am sorry but Arcade, Euphoria, even heroes were not generic songs; all of them were quite original songs when they were first released. But we already saw a better version of the song “Tattoo” and it won Eurovision. After 11 years, she brought nothing new song but just a good staging.
If you just hype mediocre songs just because of the popularity; continue to do that! There are at least fans who still give importance to the meanings of the songs; unlike you 🙂
Eurovision is 64 years old, everything is generic because it is 64 years old. If you think this is generic then you should not listen to modern music..
But I do not think this is generic because no one but Loreen could have done it.
I also do think it sounds nothing like ” Euphoria ä
Be realistic, all songs mentioned above are generic and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Scrolling through TikTok and Twitter I’m constantly seeing videos of the Tattoo performance and non-Eurovision fans are loving it. Loreen haters are always the loudest people in the room, so please continue but be aware that nobody cares if you think it’s too generic.
I dont think that not liking the Tattoo song would mean hating the singer 🙂
It’s also double standard when some countries bring generic song but dislike them; when Loreen sings a generic song; overhype her :/
Well spoken
I’m happy Sweden won in 2015, but being honest, it was heavily influenced by David Guetta. Lovers on the Sun.
Are you ok hun?
Well said, I agree. It has a build-up and goes from intimate to epic.
Loreen’s voice embraces. Her song comforts and gives hope.
I like her song, but I wonder if she would have a chance of winning if she wasn’t Loreen. Btw, have you ever listened “Flying free – Pont Aeri”? Would you agree they are a bit similar? Maybe an influence?
Yes, It also seemed to me that there is some influence with that song. And yes, I am sure that that song would be so overhyoed had its singer was not Loreen
Yes, Tattoo absolutely has to be influenced by this song (Flying Free). You can actually sing the whole verse and pre-chorus to this. Not that it’s illegal in any way.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N9VERCIkSCQ
Well I believe euphoria also wouldnt have been that big without Loreen simply because she is such a big part of her songs and what makes them great. Her art, her passion and voice. A really good singer manages to catch your emotions and imo thats a big part of what makes a song great. I’m sure lots of our biggest hits wouldnt have been that great with another singer.
I can’t hear it. Greece last year was not a copy, it was stolen straight off another song. But nobody say nothing about that
I think the song was great! I expected a little more for the drop but it was fine. I sadly only got to listen to Loreens song as I completely forgot that today was Melfest.
Let’s see how the song does in the final!
Sometimes fans doesnt like the songs sent by some countries by saying that they are typical songs, bland entries etc. I am 100% sure that if Loreen sings a boring ballad song; Fans would still overhype her song thanks to her popularity.
I also didn’t so much like her song; I watched the Melfest in the arena and without closer camera angles on TV, the song was gloomy :/
No we wouldn’t. I didn’t like Statements that much for example.
I think is very similar to a song in spanish ” porque me abandonaste” by Paloma San Basilio.
I see a lot of people are not impressed with the song, but I actually found it powerful, moving and her voice always pierces straight into my soul. I loved evrything about it!
Not this year, sorry.
I really like Loreen and she was a definite well deserved winner in 2012 but this is not bringing something new to the contest that would justify a second win. It’s a nice song, she could do well with it but not winning material.
I also think that her song is not so special; Just supported with good visual effects but the song itself is nothing unique.
It’s still better than any other song, selected so far.
Yes it is
Free wetlands. There are better ways to spread that message. But better than bombs and stuff of course. Most of the soil we buy in Sweden comes from peat that we take from the dried out wetlands. It’s not good. But I’d never want people to intrude on a stage like this. I don’t think the message will come though
Loreen is definitely a Eurovision icon, but I don’t know if she did herself a favour by returning to the contest. What she showed us in 2012 was fresh and innovative, while her performance in 2023 does not really stand out that much. Probably she could do (very) well in Liverpool, but it would partly be because of a Loreen bonus, which I think is sad.
I agree with your comment and that’s why I don’t want Sweden to get a good position if Loreen song was chosen to represent. Even with that not so special song, we all know that fans would still hype it.
They are free to return to the contest but I think some fans are just waiting for overhype any kind of song that was sent by the ESC 2012 winner. Last year, Cornelia’s song deserved much more hype; compared to the overhyping on Loreen’s this song.
Does anyone remind them “The Winner Takes it All” from ABBA the first 40 secs or so? Been listening to a lot of ABBA recently and last night as I heard “Tattoo” for the first time, I knew I’d heard it from somewhere else..
Yes, that is a true fact…
King of Eurovision – Johnny Logan
What’s another year 1980
Hold me now 1987
Queen of Eurovision -Loreen
Euphoria 2012
Tattoo 2023
Yes for Euphoria, but No for Tattoo.
No, no. That wasnt a question 🙂
That’s right 😉
This stage ”activist” is a m*ron, because he invaded Loreen’s performance out of all people. She is herself an activist, but in a healthy way. Invading her performance sends no message at all, aside from him being an ignorant.
I liked Melodifestivalen, it was a nice show. Regarding to Loreen’s song and performance; I found the song a bit average, without staging it was an okay song.
Due to stage incident, the distant camera angle showed the performance for 10 seconds and I realized that without closer camera shots; The song looks a bit bleak.
Excited to learn other entries for Eurovision and I also saw from the Italian TV Rai1 that during an interview, Marco Mengoni stated that he might choose another song for Eurovision from the songs he wrote for his album.
Loreen’s performance was nice but the song didn’t impress me; her song, it’s lyrics looks a bit ordinary for me. I might have expected something more unique, maybe but it was an okay song 🙂
You may love this or you may be underwhelmed by this (though personally I love it). But you cannot deny one thing: 10 years ago, Loreen revolutionised Eurovision and set the stage for a modern contest that would eventually propel Duncan Laurence and Måneskin to global stardom. There is Eurovision before Loreen and after Loreen. I argue it is only fitting then that she now returns for a chance to reap what she has sown.
I am so tired of the jealousy against swedish entries. The same people who complains about Loreens song is generic are the same who thinks that Norways song is so fresh and new. Haha, laughing out loud.
It’s so obvious why they do that and still they think they’re smart and that other people believe them. Lol
I don’t think that they are jealous of Sweden’s entries; everyone is free to express opinion and Sweden’s fans should respect to these comments.
You are right; for me both Sweden and Norway are competing on which country would bring a more generic bland song 🙂 Sweden brings a generic, nothing special song but since it was sang by Loreen; no one focuses on the generic aspect of it 🙂
Might be better than some other Melfest songs but I wasn’t so much impresssed with Loreen’s song, tbh. Nice staging but weak song which doesnt so much elevated with the staging. I would be objective; ? don’t want to hype the songs just because of their singers 🙂