Sweden: First 14 Melodifestivalen 2022 contestants unveiled

Sweden: First 14 Melodifestivalen 2022 contestants unveiled
Friday, 26 November 2021

  • The Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, has unveiled the first 14 acts of the 2022 edition of Melodifestivalen, the show that determined Sweden's representative at Eurovision. 

    A total of 28 entries compete in the Melodifestivalen 2021. The selection jury selects 14 songs from the submitted entries, the other 14 entries are selected by SVT from songs by artists or songwriters that have been invited to compete, or songs that SVT has chosen from the submissions.

    SVT, has revealed the first half of the contestants that will be taking part in Melodifestivalen 2022 with the ambition to represent the country at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, Italy next May. 

    Namely, the 14 acts that will compete in the next edition of Melodifestivalen along with their respective songtitles are: 

    • Anders Bagge – “Bigger Than The Universe”
    • Laimoo – “Bluffin”
    • Faith Kakembo – “Freedom”
    • Linda Bengtzing – “Fyrfaldigt hurra!” (Four times hurray!)
    • Danne Stråhed – “Hallabaloo”
    • Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer”
    • Cazzi Opeia – “I can’t get enough”
    • Samira Manners – “I want to be loved”
    • Omar Rudberg – “Moving like that”
    • Klara Hammarström – “Run to the hills”
    • Tribe Friday – “Shut me up”
    • Theoz – “Som du vill” (As you want)
    • Niello & Lisa Ajax – “Tror du att jag bryr mig” (Do you think I care)
    • John Lundvik – “Änglavakt” (Angel guard)

    Among the names we notice the return of John Lundvik, the Swedish Eurovision 2019 representative who finished 5th with the song "Too Late for Love". Also Melfest past participants are giving one more shot to reach the Eurovision stage among which Klara Hammarström , Lisa Ajax and Liamoo. 

     

    Oscar Zia will host the next edtion of Melodifestivalen which will unfold  on the following dates and respective locations: 

    • 05/02/2022 –  1st Semifinal (Malmo/Malmo Arena)
    • 12/02/2022 -  2nd Semifinal (Gothenburg/ Scandinavium)
    • 19/02/2022 -  3rd Semifinal (Linköping / Saab Arena)
    • 26/02/2022 -  4th Semifinal  (Lidköping / Sparbanken Arena)
    • 05/03/2022 -  Second  Chance Semifinal ( Örnsköldsvik – Hägglunds Arena)
    • 12/03/2022 - Grand Final ( Stockholm/ Friends Arena)

     

    Sweden in Eurovision

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). At the 1997 contest, Sweden was one of the first five countries to adopt televoting. Sweden is the only country to have hosted the event in five different decades, three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, 2016), twice in Malmö (1992, 2013) and once in Gothenburg (1985).

    Sweden is one of the most successful competing nations at the Eurovision Song Contest, with a total of six victories, just one win behind Ireland. The country has the most top five results of the 21st century, with thirteen. In total, Sweden has achieved 24 top five results in the contest. After finishing second with Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson in 1966, Sweden went on to achieve its six victories with ABBA (1974), Herreys (1984), Carola (1991), Charlotte Nilsson(1999), Loreen (2012) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2015).

    In 2019 John Lundvik represented the country with his song “Too Late For Love”,achieving another top 5 placing for Sweden as he  finished 5th overall with 334 points. Last year The Mamas won the Melodifestivalen 2020 and earned the right to represent Sweden in Rotterdam with their entry "Move" . Unfortunately for them, the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and The Mamas never had the chance to perform in Rotterdam Ahoy.

    This year Tusse won Melodifestivalen 2021 with his song 'Voices' and went on representing the Nordic country in Rotterdam. After qualifying from the 1st semi final, he finished 14th in the Grand final with a total of 109 points in the overall score. 

    News Source: SVT