The five weeks of preliminary rounds have passed by so quickly again, and here we are at the final of Melodifestivalen 2022! Be sure to tune in on Saturday the 12th of March at 8pm CET on SVT 1 or SVT Play – also available with English commentary on the latter for the international viewers!
Let’s take a look at who have made it to the final, in order of appearance on the big night
Klara Hammaström – Run to the Hills
Klara is bringing a house/EDM banger about facing her demons, dressed up in superhero gear once again, taking it up a notch from last year when she finished sixth. We would expect her to land around third place this time around and she has actually had the biggest Spotify hit of this year’s crop, being the only Melfest 2022 entry that has made it to number one this year.
THEOZ – Som du vill
THEOZ is the 16-year-old, who’s finally old enough to join Melodifestivalen. He has been Tik Tok famous since the times when Tik Tok was still Musical.ly. He brings a nice enough pop tune in Swedish, which has been quite a streaming hit. The young ones like this, but there is no winning buzz. In any case, we are sure he will be back another year.
Anna Bergendahl – Higher Power
Anna brings the third part of her trilogy of seemingly religious-themed Melfest entries after Ashes to Ashes and Kingdom Come. The sound is country-pop and the visuals include big white horses and a huge cowgirl hat. We would expect Anna to end up closer to the bottom of the table in the final this time around. But that’s all good, so she can concentrate on her other career as a medical doctor.
John Lundvik – Änglavakt
As you know, John was Sweden’s Eurovision entry for 2019, so this is quite a quick return to Melodifestivalen for a previous winner. It feels like John has used this opportunity to launch his Swedish-singing career and gain recognition for a song that will do fine at weddings. A bit too boring for our taste, and we expect this to end up in the lower half of the table.
Tone Sekelius – My Way
You will know by now that Tone is the first trans person to compete in Melodifestivalen and she brings along a sizable YouTube and TikTok following. Tone has improved with every rehearsal and performance, and the tune is a clear Pride anthem with an effectful dress reveal. Expect a placing around the middle of the table.
Anders Bagge – Bigger than the Universe
A very well-liked celebrity through many years of being an Idol judge, Anders Bagge gained a lot of support from the people in his preliminary round. A big part of it may have been sympathy votes, for overcoming his stage fright after so many years (having taken the route via Masked Singer first). We do expect him to be close to the top, but in the final people are more likely to vote for the one they expect will do well at Eurovision, rather than the one they sympathize with.
Robin Bengtsson – Innocent Love
Another retuning winner, Robin flew the Swedish colors in Eurovision in 2017. He brings a catchy good-mood song, with songwriters including Jubël. We think it’s his best Melfest song so far, but it doesn’t have much of a chance in this playing field. Expect a position in the bottom half.
Faith Kakembo – Freedom
For her second chance at Melodifestivalen, Faith is bringing an uplifting number with a gospelly choir backing her up. This may be just a little too close to Sweden’s latest entries including Tusse, The Mamas and John Lundvik to have any kind of chance in the competition.
LIAMOO – Bluffin’
For his third attempt at Melodifestivalen, Liamoo is bringing a contemporary pop hit that can be likened to someone like The Weeknd. The songwriters include fellow contenders Sami and Ali from Medina, who will be closing up the final. Liamoo has added dancers to his number, which is probably a smart move, since he did look a bit lonely up on that stage. Liamoo has so much potential to one day take this home, but this time we expect him to gain a top 5 position.
Cornelia Jakobs – Hold Me Closer
This is the ultimate favorite among the Melfest press and international fans and also in the betting odds for Melodifestivalen. Cornelia would definitely be up there fighting for the Eurovision victory if she first takes home Melodifestivalen. The song and the number have plenty of authenticity, which Eurovision fans often think Swedish entries are lacking. Cornelia really comes through the lens and her raspy voice is filled with emotion. So quite simply, we expect this one to win.
Cazzi Opeia – I Can’t Get Enough
This is actually the Melfest song that is getting the most radioplay in Sweden, and is highest on the Svensktoppen (2nd). The song is a total pop banger and the number is an explosion of fun pastel colors. Moa Carlebecker AKA Cazzi Opeia is of course known for writing plenty of K-Pop number one hits, and here she has her own personal hit song. We love this, but she is unfortunately not a contender for the top positions.
MEDINA – In i dimman
The rap duo have made a convincing comeback after five years of being away, and they do it with an anthemic sing-along tune, that mixes Nordic folk music influences with labor union fight songs. A great party tune to end Saturday’s show with. In terms of predictions, this should end up around the middle of the table.
1 Comment