As usual, the line-up is a mix of established and unknown artists, with some very well-known Melodifestivalen songwriters. Ah yes, those songwriters. That's still my biggest complaint about the contest: the same old songwriters year in, year out. Oh well....let's just hope we get some good songs out of it.
But I'm not getting my hopes up too high: the modern day Melodifestivalen isn't just a song contest any more - it's a great big 21st century entertainment event, which sadly these days is as much about the attention-grabbing novelty entries/publicity stunts, which will get maximum press attention, as it is about actual songs. But on the other hand, I always look forward to the annual six-week extravaganza. Hard to believe it, but it's only a few weeks away!
So here's what we have to look forward to in February 2013!
Heat 1 - Karlskrona 02.02.13
Burning Flags - Cookies N Beans (Fredrik Kempe)
It's "Groundhog Day" once again, as Mr Kempe has one more try at MF success. I'm guessing 'anthemic country ballad'?
Gosa - Mary N'diaye (Johan Åsgärde, Mattias Frändå, Mary N'diaye)
An unknown quantity to me, but sometimes the unknown names provide the most pleasant surprises. Remember a certain Loreen from a couple of years ago? Although this may get lost amongst the more well-known names.
Heartbreak Hotel - Yohio (Johan Fransson, Tobias Lundgren, Tim Larsson, Henrik Göranson, Yohio)
Now here's a fascinating entry. I'm excited by that songwriting team, based on their past efforts, and the singer will certainly get people talking...
Paris - Jay-Jay Johanson (Jay-Jay Johanson)
Another new name to me and an unknown quantity.
Porslin - Anna Järvinen (Björn Olsson, Martin Elisson)
Anna is among that group of credible female singer-songwriters of recent years in Sweden, but I can't really see this being such an interesting entry.
Skyline - David Lindgren (Fernando Fuentes, Henrik Nordenback, Christian Fast)
He was the big breakout star this year, so I'll guess, even without hearing the song, that he'll be direkt-till-Globen and I'm expecting an uptempo entry.
Vi kommer aldrig att förlora - Eric Gadd (Eric Gadd, Thomas Stenström, Jacob Olofsson)
I was really happy to see Eric amongst the line-up, and with a Swedish-language song too! He was very popular a few years ago but I don't know if he'll appeal to the MF voters though.
We're Still Kids - Michael Feiner & Caisa (Michael Feiner, Caisa Ahlroth)
With Feiner's pedigree as an established dance act - and of course one of the people responsible for the Melodifestivalen end credits theme - he has a very good chance here. I'm expecting a very modern, current, electronic dance anthem.
Heat 2 - Gothenburg 09.02.13
Annelie - Joacim Cans (Joacim Cans)
Mr Cans is of course the lead singer of heavy metallers Hammerfall, but became more famous in recent years for competing in Körslaget. That's what I love about Swedish rockers - and I always like rock acts in Melodifestivalen so I'm looking forward to this.
Begging - Anton Ewald (Fredrik Kempe, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad)
Kempe time again - does the man never give up? Based on looks alone, Anton will probably be 2013's answer to Eric Saade.
Copacabanana - Sean Banan (Sean Banan, Ola Lindholm, Hans Blomberg, Joakim Larsson)
Digga digga digga ding ding ding, he's back again. Where would Melodifestivalen be without a nonsense song? However you could also argue that this is keeping a more worthy entry out of the line-up. Oh well, that's the modern contest for you I guess :(
En förlorad sommar - Rikard Wolff (Tomas Andersson Wij)
Is he 2013's answer to Thorsten Flinck? I'm not so keen on the songwriter either. I'm guessing it may be something boring.
Hello Goodbye - Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli (Robin Fredriksson, Mattias Larsson, Måns Zelmerlöw)
Back on familiar ground with some very familiar names, which would suggest that it could be one of the favourites not just in this heat, but in the full contest. A very intriguing Swedish-Norwegian collaboration. Hopefully something uptempo and not a boring ballad.
Make Me No 1 - Felicia Olsson (Amir Aly, Henrik Wikström, Ingela Pling Forsman, Maria Haukaas Mittet)
She's a new name to me, but the songwriters certainly aren't. I'm guessing a mid-paced ballad?
On Top Of The World - Pernilla Wahlgren, Hanna Hedlund, Jenny Silver (Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)
With that line-up of singers and songwriters, the schlager-fanatics will be in heaven - you could even say they will be 'on top of the world'! Expect something big and uptempo with lots of strutting, glitter, and the obligatory key change of course. I wonder if they will be known as PHJ? Pity Lena Philipsson didn't join the line-up, then it would be PHPHJ. (Oh shut up Laura, that's just silly!)
Only The Dead Fish Follow The Stream - Louise Hoffsten (Louise Hoffsten, Sandra Bjurman, Stefan Örn)
One of the most bizarre MF song-titles of recent years, from an artist who was very popular in the 80s and 90s. The other songwriters were responsible for various Azerbaijan ESC entries, so it'll probably be rather predictable.
Heat 3: Skellefteå 16.02.13
Alibi - Eddie Razaz (Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)
Regardless of what the song's like, I have no doubt that this will be my favourite three minutes of Melodifestivalen 2013. Need I say more?
Dumb - Amanda Fondell (Freja Blomberg, Fredrik Samsson)
Eddie is not the only ex-Swedish Idol contestant in this year's contest - Amanda was of course the final winner of Swedish Idol so I'm sure she'll get a lot of votes anyway.
En riktig jävla schlager - Tommy Körberg, Claes Malmberg, Johan Rabaeus, Mats Ronander (Kjell Jennstig, Leif Goldkuhl, Henrik Dorsin)
With a title like that, the return of Tommy Körberg, and a certain Mr Dorsin in the songwriting line-up, you just know that this will be one of the year's most talked-about entries. Yet another song which is probably taking the place of a better song, but one, like Mirakel this year, that guarantees lots and lots of press.
Falling - State of Drama (Göran Werner, Sebastian Hallifax, Emil Gullhamn, James Hallifax)
A totally new name to me, I'm expecting some rock/pop here?
Heartstrings - Janet Leon (Fredrik Kempe, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad)
A new opportunity for Janet to resurrect her pop career here, and with those songwriters I'm expecting a big modern uptempo dance-pop number.
Hon har inte - Caroline af Ugglas (Heinz Liljedahl, Caroline af Ugglas)
And now, one of the serious contenders this year. Based on previous form this is likely to be an absolute qualifier. I'm no fan of her work though, and I doubt if this song will change my mind.
In And Out Of Love - Martin Rolinski (Thomas G:son, Andreas Rickstrand)
I'm delighted to see Martin in the line-up as a solo artist and I'm hoping that the song is up to the standard of his previous Melodifestivalen entries with BWO. I'm not so sure if he'll qualify though, but it will be very nice to see him again!
Island - Elin Petersson (Elin Petersson)
One of this year's pre-qualifiers which have taken over from the webbjoker which I don't think has been such a successful experiment, so I can't really see this progressing further.
Heat 4: Malmö 23.02.13
Bed On Fire - Ralf Gyllenhammar (Ralf Gyllenhammar, David Wilhelmsson)
Another frontman from a famous Swedish rock band striking out on his own: this time it's the lead singer of Mustasch. Will his fanbase be watching Melodifestivalen though? Very interesting song title!
Breaking The Silence - Terese Fredenwall (Terese Fredenwall, Simon Petrén)
Like Elin Petersson in heat 3, this was one of the pre-qualifying entries which we knew about before the final line-up was revealed. Again, not a likely qualifier.
Jalla Dansa Sawa - Behrang Miri (Behrang Miri, Anderz Wrethov, Firas Razak Tuma, Tacfarinas Yamoun)
Another new name here, so I don't really have anything to say about it, but it could be an intriguing entry with a very exotic feel to it.
Must Be Love - Lucia Pinera (Peter Kvint, Jonas Myrin)
Here we go...yet another new name, there are a lot of them this year! Peter Kvint is an MF regular though, so I'm expecting an uptempo pop-rock number.
Rockin' The Ride - Army of Lovers (Alexander Bard, Henrik Wikström, Per QX, Andreas Öhrn, Jean-Pierre Barda)
Ladies and gentlemen, it's the return of one of Sweden's most flamboyant pop combos ever! Melodifestivalen just got a million times more interesting. Let's hope that the song is as amazing as their reunion.
Tell The World I'm Here - Ulrik Munther (Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Ulrik Munther)
A very welcome return by young Ulrik who gave us one of my favourite songs in this year's contest, "Soldiers". Hopefully this will be as good as that one.
Trivialitet - Sylvia Vrethammar (Thomas G:son, Calle Kindbom, Mats Tärnfors)
Mr G:son has been very busy again this year hasn't he! Sylvia - yes, she of "Y Viva Espana" fame - is currently starring in series 3 of Så mycket bättre so this will keep her in the spotlight for a little bit longer yet. Expect some good old fashioned schlager.
You - Robin Stjernberg (Robin Stjernberg, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Joakim Harestad Haukaas)
Another artist I'm very happy to see in the line-up, I'm sure that Idol finalist Robin will give it his all, he has such a great voice andwhether he qualifies or not, I'm hoping that this will certainly give his career a massive boost.
All will be revealed in February!
(Pictures courtesy of SVT/Scanpix)
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