This Saturday, Sweden will continue its road to Rotterdam with the 4d semi final of “Melodifestivalen 2021“!
The Swedish festival will have the same mechanism as in the past few years. 28 artists, already announced will compete in 4 semi-finals and the Top 4 from each semi will continue for the next round. the top 2 will go directly to the final and places 3-4 will continue for the second chance will take place a week before the final (March 6th, 2021)
Sweden’s representative for Rotterdam will be decided on the show’s grand final that will take place on March 13th, 2021. As for COVID-19 restrictions the show wont tour across Sweden’s cities and will be aired from the capital of Stockholm only. another restriction added to the 2021 is the 6 person limitation to perform at once and giving a specials attention for keeping the social distancing on stage. the show will be hosted by Christer Björkman, the Swedish singer Pernilla Wahlgren, and comedian Per Andersson.
Pernilla Wahlgren musical breakthrough came when she participated in Melodifestivalen 1985 singing “Piccadilly Circus“. she was back in 1991 with “Tvillingsjäl” ended its journey in the 1st round. In 2003 she almost made it to Eurovision and came 2nd with Jan Johansen “Let Your Spirit Fly“. Later, In 2010 she came 10th with her entry “Jag Vill Om Du Vågar“. the last time she participated in the contest was in 2013 under the name Swedish House Wives alongside her band team members Jenny Silver and Hanna Hedlund. their song “On Top of the World” was out of the contest at the semi final round. Pernilla Wahlgren has another title in the Eurovision world as she is the mother of Eurovision 2017 7th place act Benjamin Ingrosso
The show will take place on Saturday 2/20 at 20:00 CET and can be watched live HERE
Now lets take a look at this weeks entries a bit closer:
**First 1Min snippets of SF4 song will be updated on Thursday 2/18 at 13:00CET
(once the songs will be released they will be added to our playlist HERE
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Song #1: Tess Merkel – Good Life
Written by: Tony Malm, Tess Merkel, Palle Hammarlund, Mats Tärnfors
The Swedish singer is well known in the Eurovision fandom as she is one of the original members of the pop group Alcazar. Following her colleague Lina Hedlund Tess is trying her luck as a solo artists for the first time on a stage she’s actually verdant on. Her first experience in Melodifestivalen was as a backing vocalist in 1993. In 1997, a year before ALCAZAR came alive, she choired Andreas Lundstedt entry “Jag saknar dig, jag saknar dig“. Her coming to the front of the stage was in 2003 when “Not A Sinner Nor A Saint” reached the 3rd place and became one of the all-time favorite Melfest entries. The success was followed with Three more entries in the contest: 2005 “Alcastar” (3rd Place), 2009 “Stay the Night” (5th place) and 2010 “Headlines” (second chance).
Tess co-wrote “Good Life” together with Mats Tärnfors, Tony Malm, who also wrote Jon Henrik Fjällgren in 2015 “Jag är fri“, and Palle Hammarlund that is known for the creating the Swedish girl group Dolly Style and for Melfest hits such as “Winners” by Mohombi, and Klara Hammarström‘s “Nobody“.
LYRICS:
Oh oh oh
Oh oh ohDo you wanna live your life?
Put your hands up to the sky
Love, live & dance!If you wanna stay stay stay the night
I will tell the truth and a thousand lies
It’s all about a good time
It’s all about a good lifeI’m gonna be the one for you
Tell me what you wanna do
I’m gonna lay my love on you
You are gonna want it too
I’m outta my outta my outta my mind
Talking ’bout the Good life
Good lifeOh oh oh
I’m gonna sing a prayer
Oh oh oh
I’m gonna take you there
I feel love
I feel love
I feel loveTalking about the Good life
Talking about the
Good good woop!Oh oh oh
I’m gonna sing a prayer
Oh oh oh
I’m gonna take you there
I feel love
I feel love
I feel loveTalking about the Good life
Talking about the
Good good woop!Baby I got plans for you tonight
Cause I can hear us breathing in and out
It’s all about a good time
It’s all about the Good life
Good lifeOh oh oh
I’m gonna sing a prayer
Oh oh oh
I’m gonna take you there
I feel love
I feel love
I feel loveTalking about the Good life
Talking about the
Good good woop!You woop my honey
I’m gonna hypnotize you
I’m freaking crazy
And I will mesmerize youDo you wanna live your life?
Put your hands up to the sky
Love, live & dance!Oh oh oh
I’m gonna sing a prayer
Oh oh oh
I wanna take you there
I feel love
I feel love
I feel loveTalking about the Good life
Talking about the
Good good woop!Oh oh oh
I’m gonna sing a prayer
Oh oh oh
I wanna take you there
I feel love
I feel love
I feel loveTalking about the Good life
Talking about the
Good good woop!Dance!
Song #2: Lovad – Allting är precis likadant
Written by: Mattias Andréasson, Alexander Nivek, Lova Drevstam, Albin Johnsén
28 year-old Lova Inger Irene Drevstam (A.K.A Lovad) is a Swedish singer and songwriter. Lovad will debut the Melodifestivalen after a very successful year in the local radio stations with hits such as ”Vi gjorde vårt bästa” she sings together with Albin Johnsén.
Her 2021 Melfest entry is called “Allting är precis likadant” (ENG: Everything Is Just the Same) was co-written by her with Alexander Nivek, Mattias Andréasson and Albin Johnsén. Albin & Mattias are well remembered for their Schlager “Rik” reached to the second chance round in Melodifestivalen 2016. Mattias Andréasson participated Two more times in the competition. In 2009 he came on the 3rd place singing with “Baby Goodbye” with his team members for E.M.D Erik Segerstedt and Danny Saucedo. later on he tried again as a solo artist in 2012 but was out in the semi finals with the song “Förlåt Mig“.
LYRICS
Jag vaknar och kysser dig i pannan
Vi somnade så långt ifrån varandra
Långa nätter, samma bråk
Luften ligger kvar från igårJag försöker låtsas som det regnar
Säger saker som jag borde mena
Din blick ser igenom mig
Och luften ligger kvar från igårFörsöker å prata, mina ord blir till aska
Säger nåt, du inte vill höra
Tystnaden ekar, jag skriker i rymdenHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
Lever vi bara kvar i gamla minnen
För allting är precis likadant
Men ingenting känns som det skaHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
För jag kan bara falla om du finns där
Men allting är precis likadant
Ingenting känns som det skaNej ingenting känns som det ska
Det skrämmer mig om vi har slut på chanser
Har vi tappat bort allting som fanns där
Ingen känner till förlåt
Och du kan inte låta mig gåFörsöker å prata, mina ord blir aska
Säger nåt, du inte vill höra
Tystnaden ekar, jag skriker i rymdenHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
Lever vi bara kvar i gamla minnen
För allting är precis likadant
Men ingenting känns som det skaHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
För jag kan bara falla om du finns där
Men allting är precis likadant
Ingenting känns som det skaHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
Har vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
Lever vi bara kvar i gamla minnen
För allting är precis likadant
Men ingenting känns som det skaHar vi gått och tappat bort alltihop
För jag kan bara falla om du finns där
Men allting är precis likadant
Ingenting känns som det skaNej ingenting känns som det ska
Song #3: Efraim Leo – Best Of Me
Written by: Efraim Leo, Cornelia Jakobsdotter, Amanda Björkegren, Herman Gardarfve
Efraim Leo is a 23 years old singer-songwriter based in Stockholm. The super talented guy will debut Melodifestivalen this year. Despite his young age Efraim has already released his first EP “Timing” a year ago and worked with huge names in the music industry such as The Vamps and Icona Pop.
“Best Of Me” was co-written by Efraim with Herman Gardarfve who was behind last year’s winner “MOVE” by The Mamas.
LYRICS:
I can’t go on like,
I can’t go on like thisKnew you were trouble
Ever since your first kissI’m sleeping with the sound on,
in case you forgot
The reasons why you left me,
and took off
Call me if you need me,
I wish you would
Cause I don’t wanna leave you,
even if I shouldHate to think, you do better now
Use to be the one you care about
Can’t help but help myself cause
You got the best of meDon’t know how, to move on when you
Keep on showing on my phone and I
Can’t help it hurts like hell cause
You got the best of meI’ll never win right?
You’ll never want me back?Don’t want to face it,
not when you look like thatI’m sleeping with the sound on,
in case you forgot
The reasons why you left me,
and took off
Call me if you need me,
I wish you would
Cause I don’t wanna leave you,
even if I shouldHate to think, you do better now
Use to be the one you care about
Can’t help but help myself cause
You got the best of meDon’t know how, to move on when you
Keep on showing on my phone and I
Can’t help it hurts like hell cause
You got the best of meYou got the best of me
You got the best of meI’m sleeping with the sound on,
wish you would call
Don’t know what to say though,
but I would say it allHate to think, you do better now
Use to be the one you care about
Can’t help but help myself cause
You got the best of meDon’t know how, to move on when you
Keep on showing on my phone and I
Can’t help it hurts like hell cause
You got the best of meYou got the best of me
Cause you got the best of me
Song #4: The Mamas – In The Middle
Written by: Emily Falvey, Robin Stjernberg, Jimmy Jansson
Eurovision 2020 winners are back for another try to win it all! Following the huge success reaching the 5th place in Eurovision 2019 as the backing vocalists for John Lundvik‘s “Too Late For Love” and the rest is history. The following year the bad members Ashley Haynes, Loulou Lamotte, and Dinah Yonas Manna has made a decision to go in front of the stage and it worked, BIG TIME! After their dream to perform on the Eurovision stage again was broken with the cancellation of the 2020 contest, the girts confirms its never “too late” and returns in the race for Rotterdam. BTW, Loulou had another Melfest attempt, back in 2013 when she was in the backing vocals alongside Oscar Zia in the Behrang Miri song “Jalla Dansa Sawa“
The mamas entry for 2021 “In The Middle” was written by Eurovision 2013 representative and 2017 composer Robin Stjernberg (“You” ESC2013 14th place, “I Can’t Go On” ESC2017 5th place) together with Jimmy Jansson which is his 3rd and last song in 2021 competition (besides Emil Assergård “Om allting skiter sig” and Julia Alfrida “Rich“). As an artist Jansson was participated on Melodifestivalen Three times singing: ”What Difference Does It Make?” as a part of the band “Poets” in 2002, ”Vi kan gunga” in 2005, and “Amanda” in 2007. But Jansson is not a singer only. his Melfest record is set as a composer when last year (2020) he had 6 (!!) competing entries in one year co-written by him.
LYRICS:
Sometimes I’m lost and feeling low
the waves rush in it’s like I’m drowning
when I get far away from home
I can forget that I’m surroundedBut you are my
sunshine in the open sky
moonlight on my darkest nights
the sky is brighter when you’re hereAnd if I fall down a little
I know I’m not alone
you meet me there in the middle
when I run out of hope
I know that I’ll be alright
as long as you’re by my sideoooooooo
My past comes back to haunt and hurt
but you remind me who I am now
you love my best you love my worst
so good that I don’t understand howBut you are my
sunshine in the open sky
moonlight on my darkest nights
my whole world’s brighter when you’re hereAnd if I fall down a little
I know I’m not alone
you meet me there in the middle
when I run out of hope
I know that I’ll be alright
as long as you’re by my sideoooooooo
And if I fall down a little,
we’ll meet in the middleoooooooo
Sunshine in the open sky
moonlight on my darkest nights
the sky is brighter when you’reoooooooo
I know I’m not alone
you meet me there in the middle
when I run out of hope
I know that I’ll be alright
as long as you’re by my sideoooooooo
And if I fall down a little,
we’ll meet in the middleoooooooo
Song #5: Sannex – All Inclusive
Written by: Greta Svensson, Hans Thorstensson
Sannex is a well-known Swedish band in the dansband genre consist of Andreas Olsson as the leading vocalist and guitar, Patrich Rundström on the piano, Christian “Mini” Olsson on the bas, and Micke Norsten on the drums and. The band will participate in Melodifestivalen for the first time. Talking about their entry they were queued ”The parents of our songwriters like dansband and schlager music, and the song was born when they set their mind to write the best goddamn song there is in the dansband/schlager genre. The song suits everybody and speaks straight to the heart and soul of the people.”
LYRICS
Bilen den är packad med takräcken och allt
Nu så lämnar vi vår villa och allt det som känns kallt
Fjorton dagar framåt så kommer allt bli lätt
Jag har bantat inför detta men nu ska jag fan bli mättPoolen den är blank och jag är kanske pank
Men de här är all inclusive vi behöver ingen bank
Om man går utanför stängslet så kostar de och så
Men vi stannar ju här inne, jag vill aldrig gåSolfaktor tretti,
jag börjar bli svettig
Baby här går det hett till
Och du tar en PT
Jag tar en GT
Är det gratis med en tillSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Till solen och sanden
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Baby håll mig i handen
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveNu så ligger vi vid poolen och allting känns så bra
Alla kidsen har vi dumpat i bollhavet hurra
Bjuder sköna damen på en pina colada
Själv så tar man sig en klassisk rom och colaSolfaktor tretti,
jag börjar bli svettig
Baby här går det hett till
Skinnet de svider,
Gyllene tider
Är det gratis med ciderSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Till solen och sanden
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Baby håll mig i handen
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveSolfaktor tretti,
jag börjar bli svettig
Baby här går det hett till
Och du tar en PT
Jag tar en GT
Är det gratis med en tillSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Till solen och sanden
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveSå packa din väska låt oss dra härifrån
Baby håll mig i handen
Man blir ju tokig
När det är all inclusiveSå packa din väska
Song #6: Clara Klingenström – Behöver inte dig idag
Written by: Clara Klingenström, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias
Clara Klingenström is a newcomer artist at Melodifestivalen. The singer/songwriter became very popular when her hit “Sommarminnen” was playing on the Swedish radio and crossed the 300K streamings on Spotify.
Calra brings to the stage also her talent as a songwriter. She wrote the song together with the Swedish Eurovision maestro Bobby Ljunggren and David Lindgren Zacharias. Bobby Ljunggren wrote so many entries through the years such as Anna Bergendahl‘s “Ashes to Ashes”, “Kingdom Come“ and “Invincible” for Carola. this is song No. 5 of Bobby in Melodiofestivalen 2021 as he already confirmed with two entries in the grand final (Arvingarna “Tänker inte alls gå hem”, and Charlotte Perrelli “Still Young”). David Lindgren Zacharias worked with Bobby also for Frida Green 2021 act ”The Silence” and in the past he wrote “Sluta aldrig gå” for Sonja Aldén in 2020 and the year before “Kärleken finns kvar” for Ann-Louise Hanson.
LYRICS
Har inte visat
Inte vågat att se
Att va nån annan
Inte vilja vara med
Vågar du släppa taget
Fast du lever för nån annanAtt vara älskad och få ge nånting tillbaks
Fast alla andra säger du finns inte kvar
Vågar du släppa taget
Jag behöver inte dig idag
Behöver inte dig idagOch nu
Letar jag mig tillbaks
Struntar i alla svar
Vill inte va nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagStyrkan som finns i mig
Gör att jag kan bli fri från dig
Du fick mig att bli nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagVisst gör det ont att börja om och se tillbaks
Att nu va ensam i den kärleksdröm som var
Men vi två var aldrig sanna
Jag behöver inte dig idag
Behöver inte dig idagOch nu
Letar jag mig tillbaks
Struntar i alla svar
Vill inte va nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagStyrkan som finns i mig
Gör att jag kan bli fri från dig
Du fick mig att bli nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagBehöver inte dig idag
Och nu
Letar jag mig tillbaks
Struntar i alla svar
Vill inte va nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagStyrkan som finns i mig
Gör att jag kan bli fri från dig
Du fick mig att bli nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idagNu letar jag mig tillbaks
Struntar i alla svar
Vill inte va nån annan
Jag behöver inte dig idag
Song #7: Eric Saade – Every Minute
Written by: Eric Saade, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt
Eurovision legend Eric Saade is back in da house! Eric began his road in Melodifestivalen when he was only 19 and ranked in the 3rd place with “Manboy“. the following year he won the competition and almost won the Eurovision in Düsseldorf finished 3rd with his “Popular” entry. his last performance as a singer was in 2015 when his entry “Sting” came 5th. in 2019 Eric hosted all six shows of Melodifestivalen alongside Sarah Dawn Finer, Marika Carlsson and Kodjo Akolor and how can you forget this:
Eric’s 2021 “Every Minute” co-wrote his entry with the trio Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt Jimmy ”Joker” Thörnfeldt who wrote are Love Generation entry in 2011 “Dance Alone” and Linnea Deb and Joy Deb who wrote Eurovision 2015 wining song for Måns Zelmerlöw “Heroes” and 2013 Melfest winner hit “You” by Robin Stjernberg. The trio have three songs together in 2021 competition: ”One Touch” by Kadiatou, and the finalist Tusse ”Voices”)
LYRICS:
We wake up
Together
We messed up
Memories from last night
Can’t find them,
they’re gone.
Laughing at our problems
like crazy,
we can’t stop.
You don’t wanna leave
wanna leaveOh baby
We couldn’t sleep, so we were up all night
Making each other blush, and that’s all right
I got a feeling
You got a feelingI love it in the morning
Oh nanananana
I love it in the evening
Oh nananana
I love it every weekend
Oh nananana
I want it all
Every minute!I love it in the morning
Oh nanananana
I love it in the evening
Oh nananana
I love it every weekend
Oh nananana
I want it all
Every minute!I want it all
Every minute!We don’t speak
We’re sweating
You know that
We might be too loud and
my windows wide open
and all of my neighbors are sleeping
We don’t care
We just wanna stay,
wanna stay!Oh baby
We couldn’t sleep, so we were up all night
Making each other blush, and that’s all right
I got a feeling
You got a feelingI love it in the morning
Oh nanananana
I love it in the evening
Oh nanananana
I love it every weekend
Oh nanananana
I want it all
Every minute!I love it in the morning
Oh nanananana
I love it in the evening
Oh nanananana
I love it every weekend
Oh nanananana
I want it all
Every minute!I want it all
Every minute!I love it every weekend
Oh nananananaEvery morning
You light up my dark
Every minute!
To the finale night will qualify the Top2 ranked song of the evening, there they will join the previous shows winners:
- Arvingarna– Tänker Inte Alls Gå Hem
- Danny Saucedo – Dandi Dansa
- Anton Ewald – New Religion
- Dotter – Little Tot
- Charlotte Perrelli – Still Young
- Tusse – Voices
Next week the road to Rotterdam will continue with the second chance round where places 3-4 of this semi will battle with these entries for the last Two spots in the lineup of Melodifestivalen 2021 grand final.
- Lillasyster – Pretender
- Paul Rey – The Missing Piece
- Frida Green – The silence
- Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Rena Rama Ding Dong
- Klara Hammarström – Beat Of Broken Hearts
- Alvaro Estrella – Baila Baila
Sweden is allocated to perform on the 2nd half of semi final 1 that will take place on May 18th, 2021
You can find all the relevant information at our Eurovision 2021 homepage:
