Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2022 continues and last Saturday two more acts made it to the grand final and another two will try their luck in the upcoming second-chance semi-final. This Saturday, seven more acts will perform their songs in heat two of Mello 2022.
Today SVT previewed studio versions of this week’s competing songs for the Mello media. Join us as we bring you our first reactions to the seven competing entries in heat three. Fans will get their first listen of the heat three entries when snippets of the songs are released on Thursday.
Melodifestivalen 2022: Heat 3 first reactions
Disclaimer: The media listening sessions involve the studio versions of the competing songs being played over a video call. This is not the same as the experience of seeing the song performed live so please keep that in mind. We will do our best to convey our first impressions of the songs.
Cazzi Opeia – “I Can’t Get Enough”
Sample lyric: I know that I’m a mess / I’m the first one to confess / I got issues
“I Can’t Get Enough” is the brightest and poppiest number of the week and it’s one of my big favourites. The song comes with a string orchestra and builds up to a fairly mighty synth-pop chorus. Cazzi has a great pop voice and it seems a given that she’ll bring a quirky style to the Mello stage. It’s a really catchy pop number and a perfect song to start the show with.
Lancelot – “Lyckligt slut” (“Happy ending”)
Sample lyric: Vill inte ha nåt vackert / Jag vill ha nåt som är fult / För vackert har ett slut
(Do not want anything beautiful / I want something ugly / Too beautiful has an end)
“Lyckligt slut” is a simple folk-pop ballad with simple acoustic guitar and Lancelot’s voice is very pleasant. The lyrics are about the bittersweet feeling of wanting a relationship to end while it feels completely perfect, so that there are no bad memories, only a happy ending. The problem is, the song is a little too laidback, a bit easy listening. It’s too easy to lose attention. Lancelot could over come with if he can bring a captivating live performance. P.S. It’s pronounced “sloot”.
Lisa Miskovsky – “Best to Come”
Sample lyric: It will always hurt / Not in vain / More like driving in the rain
Weirdly, this reminds me of the style of Christian pop that was really big in the ’80s! “Best to Come” is a bold self-empowerment anthem, that never gives up with its mission to motivate. There’s even an obnoxious key change which actually works really well, as it adds to the song’s intense energy. In theory, I wouldn’t really enjoy a song like this, but in the audio version at least it is impossible to dislike its relentless cheer. Lisa’s vocals are on point and she’s sure to deliver on Saturday.
Tribe Friday – “Shut Me Up”
Sample lyric: She shut me up! / I really tried to speak my mind / But she shut me up
Tribe Friday gets its influences from the UK, with shades of ’90s Britpop and the ’00s garage rock revival. “Shut Me Up” is a super cool pop-rock jam, and builds to a really enjoyable chorus. I want to say this is the best band entry in Melfest 2022 so far. The song gets a little repetitive near the end, up the energy holds. Tribe Friday seem like the sort of band who will deliver with their live performance.
Faith Kakembo – “Freedom”
Sample lyric: I won’t give up / I’m not afraid / No my hope don’t stop believing
Faith has this week’s best vocals. Her voice is strong and clear and I even want to say there are hints of Adele (but better?). “Freedom” is a fairly bog-standard uplifting Eurovision ballad. There are no surprises, which puts the burden on Faith to make it interesting. It feels a bit boring near the end, but there is potential for that to be overcome with a captivating live performance.
Linda Bengtzing – “Fyrfaldigt hurra!” (“Fourfold hurray!”)
Sample lyric: Jag ska leva detta livet / Som att det faktiskt vore mitt / Bara sträcka upp ett finger för ”I don’t give a sh*t”
(I’m going to live this life / As if it were actually mine / Just stretch a finger for “I do not give a sh*t”)
The song is an upbeat number, sung almost entirely in Swedish. (See above for the one English line — which would never be allowed at Eurovision!) The Swedish lyrics mean if will have limited international appeal, but as the song is all about bursting through and proudly doing your own thing, I don’t think that matters at all. Hey, it’s Linda Bengtzing — that should be reward enough!
Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than the Universe”
Sample lyric: Lord, my heart is / Beating like a symphony / And every word is poetry
Anders is well known in Sweden, both as a judge of Idol and for his recent stint as the popular Sea Bear on The Masked Singer. Making the most of that momentum, he has the uplifting “Bigger Than the Universe”. (Yes, there are a lot of uplifting songs this week!) Anders has a tone to his voice like the Olsen Brothers, and he brings a similar cosy vibe, like a nice uncle. The song doesn’t do anything amazing, but it’s a perfect choice to close the show.
General note: This is an unusual week! There don’t seem to be any big Mello stars (like Robin or John) who we could expect to hoover up points. Instead we’ve got interesting newcomers and a few returning icons but no obvious shoo-in for going direct to the grand final! Saturday’s show will be very interesting.
What do you think? Which songs are you looking forward to hearing? What do you think this week’s results will be? Sound off in the comments section below!
What do you think of the similarty between the songs “Bigger than the universe” with Anders Bagge and “Quedate Conmigo” with Pastora Soler? Both very good but have a lot of similarities. :)!
And 10 years of difference 😮
Not to surprising, since Anders Bagge is one of the writers of Quedate Conmigo 🙂
I see how Bagge get most of the votes in the big final – i don’t know if everyone outside of Sweden understand how “big/likeable” he is in Sweden. He has his own tv-show – he works with homeless dogs, he is the judge of Swedish Idol etc etc. But i do think Cornelia will be very close to Bagge in the final. Then the jury decides to send Cornelia to Italy – the outcome i belive in :)!
I think audience will vote for Cornelia as well. Bagge hasn’t really that big of a song most people think he has. It’s overblown rock-musical without the campiness of Queen and Meatloaf. Lance Hedman probably is more vote friendly than Bagge
Cornelia has the ticket to Turin in her pocket! And I’m not even a fan of her song!
People of Sweden, is Lancelot making Elliott Smith/ French chanson stuff in a sense that most of the appeal is lost if you don’t get the lyrics? Or the general vibe for a Swedish person wouldn’t differ?
It¨’s more Swedish 70’s folk pop in new version. Like Victor Leksell
This sounds like the best SF overall! Looking forward to listening to the snippets tomorrow
That’s next week bro lol
I’m hyped about Tribe Friday.
Klara?
@Robin – who do u think will go to the final and Semi 5? According to you and your listening? Last week u was right
I was already expecting good things from them and based on Robyn’s descriptions Cazzi Opeia and Tribe Friday may indeed have entries I’ll like.
Finally a semi-final where NONE of the singers feel predictable.
Are not Wiwibloggs in place to interview the artists as they have done before?
Okay, but all restrictions in Sweden is removed
Yes but there are travel restriction to Sweden until March 31st. And even if all restrictions are lifted Mello won’t have full capacity of anything until the final.
Sorry jag glömde det. Jag är också svensk
Lancelot is now second to qualify :O
Not sure if he actually will qualify though. Especially with that running order. The only certain qualifier is Anders Bagge I think.
John Lundvik was number 2 in 2018 and went straight to the final
Was about to say same haha
Malou and John Lundvik were 2 in running orther in 2018/19 and Theoz was also second
There are of course exceptions. Lundvik and Prydz were not expeced to qualify but surprised. That doesnt mean it happens often especially with songs in Swedish.
But Theoz did haha somehow
He got to semi final which isn’t straight to final..
But he did not go home …. He has got a chance still
Rösta på cazzi !!!
I like cazzi from Sweden
Sorry but this is not unpredictable at all. Anders Bagge is loved in Sweden and Lance has the exact kind of song that always hits the charts in Sweden. No one can “steal” their places in the final.
But starting as number 2 is never a good sign…
That usually means The producers sees you as fillers.
Malou Prytz 2019, Lundvik 2018, Theoz 2022??
Theoz didn’t qualified DTF, he just made to the semi-final
And the others weren’t predicted to qualify..
But he is continuing and not going home
Cornelia will be second after Bagge after the voting. The international jury dont know anything about Bagge and they will send Cornelia to Italy.
Liamoo and Klara are still here. Cornelia is another Beegendahl 2.0
This semi is make for newcomer to qualify to the final or Semi final 5/ also is made for Girls … we have 4 of them here …
I think Anders and Cazzi will go to the final
And Faith and Lisa to ACH
5 will be probably – Group
6 Linda
7 Lancelot (i would love to see him in ACH) tho – he has got rly good music!
As long as Linda will be eliminated i am fine – and do not like her songs in Melo – sorry
Her early melfest songs are real classics here. But you can have your own opinion. They are carried mostly by their Swedish lyrics
I was living in Sweden so i know haha. But i never like her song somehow 🙁
I might be in the minority here but I am hoping Linda brings a good Schlagger banger. Just wouldn’t be Melo with one of those tunes.
Otherwise very excited to hear all the other songs!!
Tribe Friday sounds like something I’m going to enjoy – the 90s Britpop, 2000s garage rock sound is music I enjoy outside of Eurovision, so I’m excited! Something like Blur or Arctic Monkeys would be great
Same here.
Sounds promising! Altough, to be picky, Lacelots lyrics are mistranslated. Instead of “Too beautiful has an end” it’s more like “Because beautiful has an end”
Fun to see a field with no real big Mello stars, makes it unpredictable!
I predict Bagge and Miskowsky to final, followed by Faith Kakembo and Cas to Semi final. Now question is can any of these threaten Cornelia?
This semi seems to go more to the ballad/midtempo type of semi, except the rock/punk group i suppose
And except for Linda Bengtzing who always will have uptempo!
Oh yeah forgot about her hahaha
Except Cazzi
For Robyn’s reactions, I think Cazzi Opeia and Tribe Friday could be my jam. I looove Britpop and Synthpop!!!
Robin had also Synthpop … and it was annoying tho
Yeah, but there’s good synthpop out there.
How do u know? Song is not out ..
I like how this semi is looking to be unpredictable
I would love an “only girls” passing on this semi:
Cazzi and Linda or Lisa “till finalen”
Faith and Lisa (or Linda) “till semifinal”
cazzi opeia’s song sounds exactly like the song she wrote for bts from the description, which is one of my favorites from their discography. i’m glad robyn enjoyed it too, she’s one of my big favorites this year !
Yeah she’s also been involved in creating some of SM’s biggest bops so my expectations are high!
Which one did she wrote?