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[LexC]

Born as the first month dies, as spring appears as distant as a fire on the horizon, a single light appears in the darkness, declaring a single phrase...Nu kör vi!

I'm presuming that MOST of you will know what Melodifestivalen is but if you don't, last year's introduction is your friend. Truly there can be no better way to celebrate "Brexit Actually Bloody Happening" weekend than by importing all of your Saturday night entertainment from Scandinavia for six weeks *.* Anyway, in terms of the "Grand Narrative" of Melodifestivalen this year it's probably the fact that we've had five straight years of Male winners with what seems to be increasingly diminishing returns (especially in the televote) for Sweden at the main event in May so expect to see a concerted effort on the part of homosexual foreigners to finally get a woman winner after Saint Sanna in 2014.



1. The Mamas - Move

If these three seem familiar to you, it'll be because they are literally 60% of the Swedish performers in Tel Aviv last May (not because they're three of the five Muses from Hercules either, despite there being a tall glamazon and a funny fat one). Their song is supposedly a rousing Gospel number (i.e. Too Late For Love, part ii) which, to your humble narrator at least, is like catnip. And as far as predictions go, this is kind of uncharted territory that last year's backing singers for the winning act become their own entry. Nobody can accuse them of not striking while the iron is hot but will Sweden go for that particular iron?



2. Suzi P - Moves

(Yes I know we've gone from 'Move' to 'Moves' we get it)
Ah, the classic "unknown singer in slot 2 with something contemporary" opening heat staple. But it would be foolish to write this one off as she's just off the back of a pretty big Streaming hit in a genre that's growing in popularity in Sweden (Hip Hop). Suzi P claims she's going with more of a pop/dance influenced sound so there's potentially a dark horse that could surprise you and take out your fave of the week - hey, two years ago a relative unknown was wheeled out as Song 2 in Heat 1 and a year later he won the whole thing!



3. Robin Bengtsson - Take A Chance

Two years on from his starring role as Sweden's most photogenic serial killer and Eurovision entry, Robin Bengtsson is back after...well, lets just say not quite the career you'd like after a fifth place finish at Eurovision itself (hell, maybe Sweden's so much on Autopilot that a 5th place is just at parr for what they expect). So one suspects he's more here to give his career a shot in the arm rather than compete for the crown but still this will be in amongst the main contenders. But can Robin convince Sweden that he's not just a has been?



4. Malou Prytz - Ballerina

Speaking of surprise DTFs, yagirl Malou is back after being the fresh faced newcomer last year and returns as an experienced and wisened...sixteen year old. Her song is delivered by the Holy Trinity of G:son, Bostrom och Jannsson and is described as "modern arena pop" and THIS. IS. WHY. I. CAME. HERE. BITCH! Hook that straight into my veins, oh Melfest, it's been so long!

Miss Prytz has already gone DTF once, can she do it again?


5. OVO - Inga problem

In days of yore I'd have had a whole spiel ready to go about the token nods that they give to "non mainstream pop" music but, as I mentioned with Suzi P, Hip Hop is growing in popularity in Sweden so maybe we shouldn't write off the "deffo sixth placer" just yet.

...seventh place however...


6. Sonja Aldén - Sluta Aldrig Gå

Look, I've always been taught to respect my elders so there will be no disrespect here but, for all that she'll be mentioned in the same breath as the other legacy acts in this year's contest, even when she was at her peak in this thing, Sonja's still always been the B-List Balladess of the Schlager divas. The best she's ever done is Andra Chansen and I don't see her being competitive enough to get as high up as that. So enjoy this for what it is, she'll get some interest in the inevitable follow up album and that's probably all she really wants.


7. Felix Sandman - Boys With Emotions

The most successful member of the most perpetually underachieving boyband (I mostly say this to wind up Jack but there is still yet to be a member of FO&O beat 3rd place in a Melfest heat and other than Oscar is the only one to have even made the top 5 as a solo act) is back after finishing in 2nd place to lil Benji in 2018. So the benefit of writing this once the lyrics are out means that I know that this is going down the line of men being able to talk about their feelings and how toxic masculinity is bad and that's actually a commendable message but jesus christ there's enough drippy "sadboi" ballads in music these days that I don't come to Melfest for versions of songs that are two a penny on any Spotify playlist. IIRC this is the current favourite to win which I can see the reasons for but I don't think a sadboi ballad is going to stand out in what may well be a saturated field of sadbois. So will this be a glorified Felix coronation or might the ball about to be dropped?

-x-

So, the press will hear the tracks for the first time on Wednesday evening so keep your eyes glued to twitter for the live responses. 1 minute clips of the studio versions and 30 second previews of the artists stage rehearsals go live on Thursday, the poll of the audience at the dress rehearsal show on Friday night drops after the rehearsal finishes and the main show begins on Saturday evening and now every week is a week closer to Spring!

Happy Mellofuckingdifestivalen!