We’ve spent five weeks scouring the length and breadth of Sweden.
And next week Melodifestivalen 2020 comes to an end in Stockholm.
Now we know where each act will perform as SVT has released the final running order.
Melodifestivalen 2020 Running Order
-
- Victor Crone – “Troubled Waters”
- Paul Rey – “Talking In My Sleep”
- The Mamas – “Move”
- Mohombi – “Winners”
- Hanna Ferm – “Brave”
- Méndez feat. Alvaro Estrella – “Vamos Amigos”
- Dotter – “Bulletproof”
- Robin Bengtsson – “Take A Chance”
- Mariette – “Shout It Out”
- Felix Sandman – “Boys With Emotions”
- Anna Bergendahl – “Kingdom Come”
- Anis Don Demina – “Vem e som oss”
Who does the running order favour?
In previous years Melodifestivalen winners have come from all points in the starting order.
That said, typically, the later the better. Specifically spots 6-12 are held in higher esteem than earlier positions. There are exceptions to this – Robin Bengtsson won from fourth in 2017 for example – but typically producers place songs they want to win later.
With that in mind, it seems The Mamas and Hanna Ferm are not the producers preferred choices for Rotterdam. Both acts have performed well on streaming – Hanna has actually led the pack so far – but the earlier draw suggests producers would rather this be forgotten on the night.
However, Paul Rey’s earnest ballad should make The Mamas a breath of fresh air. Hanna on the other hand seems unlikely to benefit much from her song sandwich. Mohombi’s midtempo track doesn’t provide much contrast visually and “Vamos Amigos” perhaps provides too much. After Semi-Final 4, the staging of “Brave” was criticised as too empty. Méndez and Alvaro Estrella may have problems, but they do the use to stage to full extent.
The other fan favourites Dotter and Anna Bergendahl appear to be held in higher esteem. Dotter finds her midtempo modern track sandwiched between a fiesta track and Robin Bengtsson’s more visually muted performance. That should help elevate her performance significantly, although it is curious she isn’t on later.
If we discount 2017, the winning song has been performed between spots 10-12 since 2016. The favourite with that draw this year is Anna Bergendahl. “Kingdom Come” is an upbeat alternative to midtempo “Boys With Emotions” and preceding the now annual Swedish party song closer, the final “serious” song in the running order. Both factors should help push Anna up the leaderboard higher than last year’s performance.
A note of caution: Running orders are not everything and it can all change on the night. In particular the jury vote is crucial: A bad vocal in front of the international juries can sink your chances of winning overall.
Does the running order give anything away? Do you think there’ll be a surprise winner? Let us know in the comments below!
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Running orders matters only if you look at what’s placed before and after. If you do then it’s clear Anna isn’t favourable. Before her we have Sandman who has a very good slick song and number. And after her we have the obligatory Swedish fun novelty song, this time performed by a YouTuber.
With Dotter she is between Mendez and Robin Bengtsson, two acts that aren’t expected to do well and who people probably will forget even are competing.
I love Anna, but honestly I don’t think she will get her redemption with this song. Another NQ for Sweden on her would be painful to watch….
This looks good for Anna and it’s rather an indication that she is Bjorkman’s favourite for Rotterdam.
Number 11 has never been favourable though..
It is if you consider that the other 2 favourites are placed at 5 and 7 respectively. Bjorkman always puts a favourite performing near the end but never last. Also Benjamin Ingrosso won from number 11 in 2018. I’m not saying that Anna will win, but it seems likely that Bjorkman really wants to help her.
Dotterdam all the way! Of course she has to perform in the 007 slot 😉
I’m rooting for Anna!!! Getting her redemption inn Rotterdam, 10 years after Oslo!!!
Boys with Emotions is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard. Dotter is really overrated. Anis is a nice youtuber, I dont care if its a copy.
But I am happy that Sweden have bad songs.
#Nohate
You must be miserable if you take joy in others supposed misery…
Good ESC spirit… NOT
Is it really possible to win with 1 ordinal?
My fav is Victor, Paul and Robin.
really strange running order, I was sure they were gonna put Hanna Ferm on #11
Seems that all of my friends cheering for Anis Don Demina….Me personally thinks that The Mamas will win…. but I am cheering for Hanna Ferms sexiness!
So shallow stuff as someone being sexy is what you vote for.
Funny, could have been the song or staging or voice. But no, it’s the looks..
Who are you to judge people’s preferences? You are no better than anybody else ‘cuz you are, like me, a pure Eurovision normal fan.
I think it’s between Anna, Dotter and Hanna, no discussion. It all depends of their performances and how juries and people will vote. Hanna and Dotter are weaker than Anna in vocals, Dotter has a more memorable staging and Hanna has a catchy song for young audiences. It will be a difficult final, very competitive.
Disgusted by how bjorkman doesnt want Dotter to represent Sweden and it shows.
Well, Dotter is not good.
In your opinion. Don’t say it like it’s a fact. And imo dotter could win esc 2020 #dotterdam
What absolute nonsense! Out of all the direct finalists, Hanna is at the top of both Swedish Spotify (in daily streams, Dotter is leading overall) and at the top of YouTube. So why would SvT want her to “not win”, despite the “bad” position in the running order? It reminds me of the discussion about Loreen getting number 6 in the final of 2012, right in the middle of the pack, with people thinking SvT tried to sabotage her. Also remember that in 2015, both Måns and Jon Henrik Fjällgren were in the first half of the final. I noted… Read more »
Difference was that Loreen and Måns already were the winners long before the final. You just knew watching them they would win. So position didn’t matter for them since they would have won any ways.
Hanna is not anywhere close to being the big favourite. So for her position is a factor to look at.
It seems that I’m the only one who wants the Mamas to win this. 🙁
Nah I do too! With Malta almost certainly bringing gospel/soul, it’d be great to see two songs in that underrated genre be in Rotterdam! Plus the Mamas have great vocals. Dotter has ok vocals, but her voice is strained in some sections.
Just a small question to you all. Who do you think would be the best song to represent my birth country. Because honestly I can’t see any of them doing well in Rotterdam.
Personally I would choose Vamos Amigos – it has such a great vibe and I think it would do well across Europe.
Dotter is a good modern pop song with a visual hook, it sounds like a lot of songs you hear on the radio.
Anna seems to be another favorite, but I find it quite dated – again though it will have its audience across Europe.
The others have not really stood out to me.
I think that probably Dotter or Anna have a chance of performing well with the televote, with consideration of the current confirmed songs that we have ( and, as usual, Sweden will do well with the juries).
Personally, Dotter is my favourite here, even though the style of the song isn’t my cup of tea, but it is damn catchy.
As long as you guys don’t choose Hanna, I won’t cause an argument 🙂
Dotter is my personal favorite with Anna being a close second. Having said that, I think that if Anna wins Mello, she has higher chances of getting a good televote for Sweden. I dunno she has something very likable and sweet about her and I’m personally a little tired of Swedish acts being plasticky, perfect polished, almost impersonal (hi, Robin, Frans and Benjamin)
While i do agree on Robin and Benjamin, i don’t think Frans was plasticky or impersonal, at all. More the opposite.
You’re right. Maybe a little too self centered and Justin bieberish for my taste. Or honestly I still can’t get over the fact Oscar Zia did not win Mello that year (-:
I think Anis would be a great choice.
International jury groups (countries):
1. Israel
2. Austria
3. Armenia
4. Australia
5. Malta
6. Iceland
7. France
8. The Netherlands
Well the countries with international juries in Mello do matter. I can totally see them going for the Mamas
Dotter’s artistic and impactful staging reminds me of how well Aminata did in ESC 2015. So i’m hopeful she can win that and place at minimum 2nd in televote (since she is only behind hanna in views/streams).
This is going to be an interesting final. Anna is still my favourite of the final 12, but Dotter’s song has really grown on me and now I actually really like it. I never thought it was bad, I just never saw the hype behind it, but it’s grown on me a lot. I don’t think Hanna Ferm can be ruled out yet, she’s been doing well on Spotify, which to some extent can be an indicator as to how the public may rank the songs, it’s just ‘Brave’ isn’t the winning song it was cracked up to be. So… Read more »
Same! I prefer Anna because of her immediate impact, but Dotter’s song and performance have grown on me a lot since the semi.
Exactly! I instantly fell in love with ‘Kingdom Come’ whereas it took me a while to warm up to ‘Bulletproof’.
Just curious: has it ever happened that an act who had to go through Andra Chansen won the whole Melodifestivalen? Have we seen an act like that at Eurovision?
Yes it happened 2013 with Robin Stjernberg.
Robin Stjernberg back in 2013.
2013 with Robin Stjernberg and Felix Sandman almost won back in 2018 coming in second place
Yes 2013 – but to be fair, Melodifestivalen 2013 was a fluke, nobody took the competition seriously after winning with Loreen 2012. I think nobody thought they could measure up to her and SVT probably did not want to win again and focused all their energy on hosting 2013 rather than putting in effort with the 2013 entry. Robin Stjernberg came in 14th, which I personally think is really bad for Sweden these days. I would have wished Sweden would have taken a risk a year like that, send something funny, experimental or weird just because, not an ”ok –… Read more »
In the end public vote will be so close that someone winn who the most have not thought about it, that gains a lot of jury votes (for example Robin) It would be so funny 😉
Felix vocals were much better tonight than in the semifinal, he didnt just speak out the words in every chorus the same way this time. I think he is heavily underrated and has a bigger chance of winning than many think
I really hope that Dotter wins Melodifestivalen!
Who do you guys think will win the Melodifestivalen and why?
Dotter, she is the most talked about around here and she seems to appeal to every age group while Anna or Hanna seems to appeal to older / younger only
It looks unlikely someone will runaway with televoting. Like 2018. Juries will probably have the say. I wish Swedes would
Yeah, i wish so too. I think the juries might vote for Felix, the mamas etc while us televoters want Dotter or Anna
I think juries might favour Dotter too. It’s very artistic and stands out.
I’m little bit worried because I’m rooting for Dotter but Hanna is in 12th place #trending on youtube (for Sweden) and number 3 on Sweden’s Spotify. It feels like many people from other countries are rooting for Dotter but that many Swedes are rooting for Hanna. But as you guys said, it depends on the age group.
The final will be interesting!
Has Spotify indicated anything before? Samir och Viktor was number 1 in 2018 , did that help?
I wouldn’t trust Spotify plays. Youtube isn’t a great indicator either. Statements (Loreen) had most views on Youtube by a landslide in 2017 but it still failed to qualify at AC.
To be fair, most people who watched Loreen’s “statements” where international fans and not so much us Swedes
Hanna isn’t winning anything. It between Dotter and Anna.
Great news for Dotter and Anna, not so great for Hanna and The Mamas. Am I the only one who thinks Mariette will overperform with the juries and underperform with televoters?
So it will be like every time the takes part then? When will poor girl get it that she is voting poison?
Two past Melfest winners are in the grand finale what an exciting season this hard turned out. Fingers crossed Dotter goes to Rotterdam
Anna, Dotter or Robin for me. But I’m really scared that Felix steals the trophy
I’d be super happy with 4 out of 12 songs, but I swear I’ll be happy as long as it’s not Sandman or Hanna.
Well as usual the favourites got the best spots. Feel sorry though for Vamos Amigos cause no one will remembet it 🙁 Also it is not a good thing for me that Anna is after Felix and before Anis Don Demina. She might lose some votes because of it
For now I think it is mostly for Dotter followed by Hanna and then Anna or Felix.
Dotter is fantastic! She has to win!!!! Dotterdam 2020
We all giving big relevance to running order yet Juries/Bjorkman criteria will decide everything as usual lol
You can win performing early like Robin in 2017 so ?
Yeah but he won thanks to the jury.
The only mildly exciting or enterteining about Melfest this year has been the Hall of Fame thing. This final line up is so uninteresting :/
Can we go back to years like 2014, 2015 and 2016 when all the songs were bops? Please, Christer.
Dotterdam vs Anna’s revenge after a decade,
that will be the 2020 duel!!!
I originally wanted Hanna but it’s very unlikely she’ll win given her position in the running order so I’ll instead root for Dotter, who has a better position in the running order. I really hope Anna doesn’t win but apparently it seems SVT/Bjorkman want her to win (I guess out of sympathy because this is the ten year anniversary of her failing to make the Eurovision final in 2010 and as a result they want her to get redemption)
Also Anna’s song is very good and Warner Music spent a lot of money on the performance. They probably demanded a good spot for her since the start.
The collusion is strong with record labels, they shouldn’t impact running order decisions.
Between Sandman and Anis I dont think it’s favourable
It is favorable performing after Felix. For anyone. The likeable contrast between Felix and Anna performances is too obvious
Are you saying Felix isn’t likeable?
Very unlikely. But Bishara performed 5th and he came second so…
Love Kingdom come and Bulletproof!! Go Anna and Dotter!
Her kingdom is coming! Great draw and time for Anna to get her ultimate revenge in Rotterdam 🙂
Still think Bulletproof is the winner. I think it’s the only act than can score high among all voting groups and not just score high in some few. Hanna will likely score high among young, Anna among older and seniors. Dotter is the act that most groups likes and that’s why it should win. It doesn’t even have to be the highest in each group but its about being the song all groups can like. The common factor
Agree!
Funny, I have the same argument but for Anna. I think she is more likely to fare well in all voting groups. Dotter is the winner mainly among voters in the 16-29 group, while I think it isn’t catchy enough for younger and older voters. I could be wrong, but I see a lot of advantages for Anna across the board. (I’d be happy with any of them winning though, Dotter is great!)
Agree with your comment Bob – had similar sentiments myself in the other thread (expect Anna to be “competitive” in young age groups, but dominate older groups over Dotter)
Dennis – your comment 3 weeks ago: “I dont think we have a winner in this heat. Dotter is generic pop that sounds like Sia. Bergendahl was better than the song. I really can’t see any of them doing well in Europe”
people change:)
I have since come to love it!
Dotter will only appear to the younger voters. The mid to older will go for Anna, the very young will go for either Hanna or Victor.
So who will win then? Who has the appeal of all groups?
#DOTTERDAM2020
it’s time to support song number 7!
Aggressive Hairflip agree 😀
Didn’t you bash her just last week?
didn’t you hear of the italian saying fuori dai coglioni?
No the only Italian I know is from The Godfather. But I don’t think it’s suitable here..
No, bitch! Number 11 ftw!
The Kingdom is coming!! Anna for the win!! She won from the penultimate position ten years ago she can do it again.
Yes! The time has come for the revenge 😀
Kingdom come is my winner
Dotter is definitely winning.
They clearly want Dotter, Felix or Anna to win!
they can want felix to win all they want, he’s not even going to come close to winning
Nah he’ll definitely come in the top 4 at least
And with Her being sandwiched between Sandman and Anis Demina is it really a pimp spot?
Anna come thru
Måns was favorite to win 2015 and got number 6, so it’s not THAT important to be placed late for “good position” but even as a Dotter stan I have to say Björkman placing Anna at 11 sure makes it look like he wants her to win. -.-
Tbh the 11 spot is one of the worst to get imo. Before the 12th spot aka the most fun entrance
Yep, what diana said. This draw is actually a great one for Dotter IMO.
Benjamin literally won from 11th slot 2 years ago.
Yeah but it was between Margaret whose song sucked ass and Fuldans who should’ve been left in the semi!
Also Loreen was #6 in the running order 2012.
My top 5:
1. Dotter
2. Victor
3. Felix
4. Paul
5. Hanna
I don’t want Anna to win it…
So they want Anna Bergendahl to win
Well it’s good that they don’t want Hanna to win
Bulletproof and Kingdome Come for the win!
Ha , this! I cant choose 🙁 Love them both
Same