Sweden: Smash Into Pieces and Lisa Ajax are the two direct finalists of the First Heat of Melodifestivalen 2024!
Ninety minutes ago, the show for the First Heat of Melodifestivalen 2024, started off on SVT and SVT Play. And we are here to share the results of the night with you!
The two numbers that qualify directly to the finals are Smash Into Piecesand Lisa Ajax which we will get to see perform their songs live, on the 9th of March, when the finals will take place at Friends Arena.
The show
The first week of competition arrived really fast. Today, Saturday, February 3, Melodifestivalen 2024 started from this year’s Eurovision city Malmö.
Carina Berg is the host of all the shows of the tour this year! After tonights show, Göteborg follows and finally the final show in Stockholm on the 9th of March.
The show started with an intro, Carina was chilling at home, then it all became like a musical with Carina singing and changing costumes throughout the number.
The experts make an first
New in Melodifestivalen this year is the participation of a couple of really knowledgeable music and Mello-experts – radio and TV profile Tina Mehrafzoon and Mello-oracle Ronny Larsson. During both the races and the final, they analyze the evening’s line-up and give their opinion on how they are doing.
The numbers
- “Supernatural” – Adam Woods
First up on stage Adam Woods. It’s an EDM pop, reminds me of Avicii, Alesso, Swedish House Mafia, in general Swedish dance bangers. Amazing vocals, great production, but everything is there for a reason. It is an immersive experience, Adam plays with the LED throughout his performance, on the floor and in the back LED screen. There are flowing projections on there that make you feel like you’re drowning in love, in combination to the song.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Hela världen väntar” – Samir & Viktor
Typical Samir & Viktor song in Swedish, of course an “oj oj oj” part would be there. This song got the crowds involved a lot. Vocally they seemed a bit off, the chorus part was okay since there were mainly the backing vocals. The staging also reminds me of concepts of Fokas Evangelinos. Large prop with stairs and projections of cities and natures at the back. In the first two rehearsals the colours were a bit more cold, now they kind of changed the tint of the background LED screens to more earthy colours and a more vivid turquoise. By the end, glitter got thrown in the arena and the crowd started cheering manically. Pyro and fireworks also made their appearance.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Min melodi” – Melina Borglowe
It’s a guitar-based pop song with obvious indie elements. I can hear Thomas G:Son contribution to the song. Melina‘s voice is so sweet, but she sounded much more confident in her two first rehearsals, at some point she kind of lost it. It is this kind of Melfest entries, with a girl, a guitar, dark background and lights all around, very emotional and cute. A pleasant song overall. The audience clapped as they should but they didn’t go manic over this performance.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Schlager party is the theme, if you know what I mean. Lots of pink, glitter, light, glow. Elisa shines, so you’d better wear sunglasses during this performance. Elisa does what Sweden knows to do best. High notes and an ear-candy key change! The staging reminds me kind of the one that Andromachihad with Cyprus back in 2022. But make it Swedish and put it 20 levels higher than what you saw. Four silver dancers, two girls and two boys. The audience went crazy, also fireworks made an entrance! Great great great!
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Awful Liar” – Lisa Ajax
A love power-ballad for Lisa this year. Reminds me of a Natalie Imbruglia ballad. Guitar and strings on the plate for a hapily sad song. Beautiful song. Moon behind her, a girl and a boy doing a contemporary dance routine around her. Her vocals are on point and she makes us all get relatable and get all the feels. We’ve all been there, where we have been betrayed, lied to, cheated on. You feel all of this by listening to this song.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Heroes Are Calling” – Smash Into Pieces
Their distinctive sound is there, the song in my opinion is stronger than their entry last year, expectedly with an amazing production to the last touch. Their staging now I think is a bit less than last year, I probably had more expectations since they did that great in 2023. The Apocalypse DJ is behind the led screens and can be seen in parts of their performance. A very cinematic presentation and as the guys said in their interview, the whole idea was that we are following Apoc in his own mission. Red laser beams and strobe lights add to the staging. Chris’ voice always sounds like the studio version, if not better. At the end it’s all about fireworks! Is this song a contender for the win? I think it is. Smash into Pieces make a great impact to the audience. But it is too early to say.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
After the six performances, Carina‘s husband footballer Erik Berg brings this year’s trophy, the Sångfågel, which has pink tiles on it
Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / SVT
These were the six numbers of this week, a recap follows to show the voting numbers for the contestants of the heat.
The Intervals
Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / SVT
Already in this round, the first of five, there is an interval with a capital I when the successful group A-Teens reunites to celebrate their 25th anniversary. For the first time in eighteen years, Marie Serneholt, Sara Lumholdt, Dhani Lennevald and Amit Paul will perform together, and will offer a sparkling medley with both their own and some of ABBA‘s songs. First song is ABBA‘s “Mamma Mia“. “Upside Down“ followed, which was released as first single from their second album, then “Floorfiller” backed by six dancers, lots of lights and laser beams. This is very impressive. Again on ABBA mode, with the song “Gimme, gimme, gimme (A Man After Midnight)“!
The Direct Qualifiers
First voting round winner: Smash Into Pieces
Second voting round winner: Lisa Ajax
Semi-Finalists
Second voting round 2nd place: Elisa Lindström
Second voting round 3rd place: Adam Woods
Second voting round results
Age-band 3-9 years old winner: Adam Woods
Age-band 10-15 years old winner: Lisa Ajax
Age-band 16-29 years old winner: Lisa Ajax
Age-band 30-44 years old winner: Lisa Ajax
Age-band 45-59 years old winner: Lisa Ajax
Age-band 60-74 years old winner: Elisa Lindström
Age-band 75+ years old winner: Elisa Lindström
Televoting winner: Elisa Lindström
See you next Saturday, at the next heat, when you will have the chance to be informed in detail about the show and the next two finalists, as soon as they are announced on TV!
Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2024 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2024!
Source: SVT
Photos: Andreas Papayiannakis / EurovisionFun, Stina Stjernkvist / SVT
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