Sweden: 2021 Melodifestivalen's back up plans due to covid-19 pandemic circumstances

Sweden: 2021 Melodifestivalen's back up plans due to covid-19 pandemic circumstances
Wednesday, 20 January 2021

  • Melodifestivalen's producer, Karin Gunnarsson, has revealed that the production team of the Swedish national selection has ready back up plans in case the show cannot unfold according to current plans due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. 

    With the Melodifestivalen show set to hit our screens in about two weeks time, the preparations for the Swedish iconic event are in full swing with the production team tryng to set up a production that can easily adjust to any kind circumstances the ongoing coronavirus pandemic might bring up.

    During a radio interview today, Karin Gunnarsson, referred to three aleternative plans in case things don't develop in a way that the show can go ahead in accordance with current plans. 

    Spesifically, in case a competing act is found covid-19 positive but was able to perform its songs in the rehearsals previosuly, the rehearal footage will be used in the live show replacing the act's live performance. 

    In addition, the working team behind the entries will be isolated wroking things out in a prive bubble in order to prevent continuous contact between the teams that might ease the diaspora of the virus. 

    A total of 28 acts will battle for the trophy over six shows that are set to all take place in Stockholm, marking a break from the Melfest Tour where the six shows took place across the country's cities and towns. This edition will see only one venue, Annexet in Stockholm, the place which hosted the press center during Eurovision 2016. 

    Melodifestivalen live shows will kick of on March 6 while the grand final is set for March 13, 2020. 

    • 06/02/2021- Semifinal 1
    • 13/02/2021- Semifinal 2
    • 20/02/2021- Semifinal 3
    • 27/02/2021- Semifinal 4
    • 06/03/2021-  Second Chance  (Andra Chansen)
    • 13/03/2021-  Grand Final

     

    Sweden in Eurovision 

    Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests (1964, 1970 and 1976). Since 1959, the Swedish entry has been chosen through the annual televised competition, named since 1967 as Melodifestivalen. 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. 

     

    News Source: Eurovoix/Sveriges Radio