Romania: Interview with Aris | Female manipulation, the third attempt for Eurovision and the revamp to come! (Video)

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After the announcement of her participation in this year’s Romanian national final, Selecția Națională 2022, Aris talks exclusively to EurovisionFun and Apostolos Bogiannos and Giorgos Zefteridis.

Aris is one of the artists who will compete for a place in the final of the Romanian national selection for Eurovision 2022, and will try to represent her country with the song “Do svidaniya“.

Last Friday we had the live auditions and I can’t wait for the release of the video and people’s reactions. Many people thought the song was Russian however 90% of the lyrics are in English and it’s about a manipulated woman who at one point stands in front of her abuser and says “Do svidaniya” (goodbye). It is about all women who are afraid to make this change in their lives and stay trapped in such a relationship.

The Russian title in “Do svidaniya” is used metaphorically to refer to a cold and toxic relationship between a couple. Thinking about Eurovision was something that occured after the song had been written:

Although I am a composer, I didn’t write the song. I got in touch with the creators last September and when we wrote it we hadn’t originally discussed the Eurovison scenario. When the applications for the national final opened they asked me if I would like to take part with this song and at that moment I was in the middle of a trip. So somehow I managed to record and send them the vocal part exactly one day before the deadline. I didn’t tell anyone about it until the shortlist was published and a friend asked me if I had submitted a song for the competition.

Regarding her stage presentation in the national final, Aris states that:

It will be a surprise. I have some ideas but I can’t say anything yet. In the first phase of the auditions it will just be me with a microphone. In the semi-final I’ll come with a TV addition if we’re allowed. If I qualify for the final you will see a full show.

She says that she hasn’t listened to any of the rest songs as she prefers to focus on her own performance without being unintentionally influenced by the other competing songs.

Her favourite Romanian entry is that of Luminița Anghel & Sistem (2005) while from the competition in general she singles out many entries including those of Maneskin (Italy 2021), Mahmood (Italy 2019), maNga (Turkey 2010), Elnur & Samir (Azerbaijan 2008) and Chingiz (Azerbaijan 2019).

Since I was a child I was watching the Eurovision phenomenon and it was one of my dreams to be on the stage of this contest and make Romania proud. I don’t know if it will happen this year or any of the next years but I know it will happen at some point. I had tried two other times before. In 2012 as a member of the band T&L after our fourth place in X-Factor Romania , with the song “Twilight” and in 2015 as Lara Lee with the song “Superman“.

Just before the end of the interview, Aris shared with us an acapella part of her entry and revealed that there will be a revamp of her entry that will be released within February.

Watch the full exclusive interview with Aris in the video below:

Listen to “Do Svidaniya“, Aris‘ participation in Selecția Națională 2022!

Moldova: Katy Rain speaks exclusively at Eurovision Fun!

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She is young, she is talented and she is one of the favorites to represent Moldova at Eurovision 2022. Katy Rain with Lele, hopes to be the winner of “Selectia Nationala(Moldova)!” and then travel to Turin. Katy Rain speaks for the first time after the announcement of the candidates for the Moldavian national final at Eurovision Fun and we are really very happy to host her!

-Katy, welcome to Eurovision Fun and thank you very much for this interview! First we would like you to tell us some things about you, so that our readers can get to know you better.

Hello EurovisionFun, Hello Greece. I m Katy Rain, a singer and a songwriter from Moldova and I m so happy and listen to my song Lele and you support me. Thank you so much for that. I wish you good luck and all the best.

-How did you decide to participate in Selectia Nationala (Moldova)?

– I created the song LELE from the bottom of my soul, and I didn’t think I’d take part in this contest with it. But unexpected to me was the fact that the listeners were the ones that wanted me to do it. I appreciate the support they offer me and I really hope, I won’t disappoint them. And these aren’t just pretty words: the way the song was received and loved is very important for me and my team. I can feel their want to hear it and see the show live.

-What is the message you want to convey with Lele?

I created LELE as a manifest for the women that ascent to a new level of power. The woman that, no matter the hardships, she keeps her head up and keeps walking forward. It’s a song with a motivational message.

-What should we expect from you on the stage?

Each artist tries to keep their shows a secret, so I’ll apologize in advance but also we won’t open the books. With all modesty, the song is a powerful one and it’s important that the stage show isn’t exaggerated. For this reason, we’re discussing and deciding every detail.

–As we know you had sent your song to participate in romanian national final and it was rejected. Who do you feel about that?

About participating for Romania, an unexpected but an incredible thing happened. LELE didn’t pass the song selection round, I don’t know the reason, but for sure it didn’t make me, doubt my song. As proof of this fact, was the listeners reactions, who pushed me to try again in my native country. I thought that that’s Gods want and I decided to try it. The Romanian people who tried harder for this song than I did, made me feel so much love, and confirmed once again that everything is for and about the people. And that has a bigger meaning than any competition. So, no matter how events will develop, I dedicate this participation to the people that believe in my song. My team and I will try our hardest!

LELE, 15.01.2022, Chisinau, @lidiadonici @gloriaflamencoo @garbuz.anastasia @meli_pri12ncess By Katy Rain, Facebook Page

-Which is your favorite Romanian or Moldavian entry?

From the artists that represented my native country…I can’t pick a single one, as I’ve morally supported each and every one that took part in the contest.

-Which is your favorite Eurovision entry?

From Eurovision 2021, my favorite songs were Switzerland and Italy. When it comes to previous years, the songs of Jamala (Ukraine) and Loreen (Sweden) remained in my heart.

-Have you ever visited Greece?

I went to Greece 2 times in my life, and I have the most beautiful memories from there. My biggest love is the sea (I even have a song called “Marea-Magnet (the magnet sea)” and you have the most incredible and beautiful one, and I can’t wait to come back and meet many new people there!

-Katy thank you very much! Good luck to you and Lele.

Thank you a lot and I wish you only the best!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding the Moldavian participation in Eurovision 2022!

Interview was taken by Apostolos Bogiannos

Serbia: National final songs to be revealed on February 8!

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The 36 songs competing to represent Serbia in Eurovision Song Contest 2022 will be published on Tuesday, February 8.

Serbia’s public broadcaster, RTS, announced a while ago that the songs that will compete in Pesma za Evroviziju ’22 will be made publicly available in less than two weeks. Thirty-six songs will take part in the competition chosen by the channel’s music editors, from the 150 songs submitted in total.

Pesma za Evroviziju ’22 will be broadcasted in three show the following days:

  • First Semi-Final  –  Thursday, March 3
  • Second Semi-Final – Friday, March 4
  • Grand Final – Saturday, March 5

The competitors of Pesma za Evroviziju ’22 are:

  • Tijana Depčević – Ljubi, ljubi doveka (Love, love forever)
  • Naiva – Skidam (I take off)
  • Biber – Dve godine i šes’ dana (Two years and six days)
  • Marija Mirković – Požuri, požuri (Hurry, hurry)
  • Gift – Haos (Chaos)
  • Boris Subotić – Vrati mi (Give me back)
  • Marko Nikolić – Dođi da te volim (Come, so that I can love you)
  • Vasco – Znaš li (Do you know)
  • Bane Lalić i MVP – Tu gde je ljubav tu ne postoji mrak (Where there is love, there is no darkness)
  • Ivana Vladović and Jovana Stanimirović – Prijaće ti (It’ll be good for you)
  • Marija Mikić – Ljubav me inspiriše (Love inspires me)
  • Julija – Brižna (Caring)
  • Angellina – Origami
  • Vis limunada – Pesma ljubavi (The song of love)
  • Aleksandar Vuksanović Aca Lukas – Oskar
  • Igor Simić – Nisam ja (It wasn’t me)
  • Goca Tražan – Fitilj (Fuse)
  • Sanja Bogosavljević – Priđi mi (Approach me)
  • Dušan Svilar – Samo ne reci da voliš (Just don’t say you love)
  • Srđan Lazić – Tražim te (Searching for you)
  • Julijana Vincan – Istina i laži (Truth and lies)
  • Jelena Pajić – Pogledi (Looks)
  • Bojana Mašković – Dama (Lady)
  • Zoe kida (Ana Radonjić) – Bejbi (Baby)
  • Orkestar Aleksandra Sofronijevića – Anđele moj (My angel)
  • Sara Jo – Muškarčina/Zabranjeno voće (Manly man/Forbidden fruit)
  • Mia – Blanko (Blank)
  • Zejna Murkić – Nema te (You are gone)
  • Gramophonedzie – Počinjem da ludim (I’m going mad)
  • Zorja Pajić – Zorja
  • Lift – Drama
  • Konstrakta – Corpore Sano (In a healthy body)
  • Ivona Pantelić – Znam (I know)
  • Rocher Etno Band – Hajde sad nek svak peva (Let everybody sing)
  • Ana Stanić – Put bez povratka (One way road)
  • Euterpa – Nedostaješ (Missing)

The winners of the 2020 national final were Hurricane with the song “Hasta la Vista“. Due to the cancellation of the contest, they represented Serbia in 2021 with the song “Loco Loco” ending up in 15th place in the Grand Final.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1lkpIqf7a4

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding the Serbian participation in Eurovision 2022!

Source: RTS/ eurovoix.com

EBU: Rule of song release after the 1st of September toughens!

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EBU toughens the rule that states that songs should not have been released before the 1st of September, starting Eurovision Song Contest 2022, said the Ukrainian public TV broadcaster, earlier today.

A representative of the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, announced that the rule, that already exists, and limits the release of the candidate songs of each year’s contest to a release date after the 1st of September of the previous year, now toughens, closing any loopholes that might existed.

There had been a restriction regarding commercial releases, but starting from 2022 this clause had changed: release is not implied as commercial anymore, so as to emphasise on the release in any sense, excluding any release prior to 01/09/2021, which is not allowed. According to the rules of the contest, the national selection is implemented by each of the participating broadcasters and they are responsible to ensure that the rules of the contest are applied.

Thus, ANY RELEASE of songs prior to the 1st of September of the previous year is strictly forbidden. If this rule was to be applied in older contests, for example, neither Jamala with 1944 nor Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro with Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente could have participated with their countries.

Source: KP

Latvia: The running order of the Supernova 2022 semi-final!

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This morning the Latvian broadcaster LTV announced the running order of the artists in the semifinal of Supernova 2022! We remind you that this is the first time that Supernova only has one semifinal!

The running order is as follows:

  1. Citi Zēni – “Eat Your Salad“
  2. Miks Dukurs – “First Love“
  3. Linda Rušeniece – “Pay My Own Bills“
  4. Elīna Gluzunova – “Es pabiju tur“
  5. Raum – “Plans“
  6. Patriks Peterson – “Can’t Get You Outta My Head“
  7. Mēs Jūs Mīlam – “Rich Itch“
  8. Katō – “Promises“
  9. Miks Galvanovskis – “I’m Just a Sinner“
  10. Markus Riva – “If You’re Gonna Love Me“
  11. The Coco’nuts – “In and Out of the Dark“
  12. Aminata – “I’m Letting You Go“
  13. Bermudu Divstūris – “Bad“
  14. Beatrise Heislere – “On the Way Home“
  15. Zelma – “How“
  16. Bujāns – “He, She, You & Me“
  17. Inspo – “A Happy Place“

The semifinal of Supernova will take place on February 5 at 20:05 CET on LTV1 and REplay.lv, where the 10 songs with the highest rating by judges and audience will advance to the grand final that will take place on February 12!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding the Latvian participation in Eurovision 2022!

Austria: Two Acts claim the ticket for Turin!

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The newspaper Kleine Zeitung reports that now only two acts are still in the process of the Austrian representation at the upcoming Eurovision 2022. The alleged two acts are DJ Lumix from Upper Austria and the duo Anger from South Tyrol, Italy.

DJ Lumix, who emerged with the hit “Monster” is becoming one of the most successful download artists with more than one billion streams.

The duo Anger consists of Julian Angerer and Nora Pider and have settled in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

ORF is expected to announce their final decision during next week. Programming director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz and her team are going to choose the artist who will claim a ticket for the Grand Final, performing on 10th of May 2020 in the first semi-final.

In 2021, Vincent Bueno with his ballad “Amen” represented Austria in Rotterdam, but failed to reach the final since he finished 12th with 66 points in the second semi-final.

With the current available information, which of the two aforementioned artists could bring the nation of central Europe back to the final? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Eurovoix 

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun.com for all the news regarding the Austrian participation at the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy.

Spain: Second semi-final of Benidorm 2022 tonight!

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Second night tonight for the Benidorm Festival which is reviving after more than fifteen years and whose edition this year will determine the representative of Spain in Eurovision 2022.

Format

The system of Benidorm Fest 2022 consists of two semifinals, in which 7 songs take part respectively. Four artists from each semifinal advance to the Benidorm Grand Final.

The big winner and representative of Spain in Eurovision 2022 will be selected 50% by two juries and 50% by the Spanish viewers. Both juries are composed of professionals in the field, with one consisting only of natives and the other being an international one.

The Benidorm Fest jury members are the following:

National jury:

Natalia Calderón – Vocal coach
Miryam Benedited – Director and Choreographer
Estefanía García – Singer, mezzo-soprano of the RTVE choir

International jury:

Marvin Dietmann – Director of serveral entries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Felix Bergsson – Head of the Icelandic Eurovision delegation

The other 50% of the voting will come 25% from the televote and from 25% from a sample of the Spanish population selected on the basis of statistics and demographics (demoscopic jury). This is used in both the Sanremo Festival (Italy) and Melodifestivalen (Sweden).

Second Semifinal

Seven artists will compete in tonight’s second semifinal of Benidorm Fest 2022, with four of them advancing to Saturday’s grand final.

Unfortunately, the spread of the Omicron mutation did not leave the Spanish national final unaffected. Thus, Gonzalo Hermida, who tested positive a few days ago, will not be performing live on tonight’s show. Instead, he will be competing with the music video of his song.

The seven artists and songs of tonight’s second Benidorm semi-final are the following:

  1. Xeinn – “Eco“
  2. Marta Sango – “Sigues en mi mente“
  3. Javiera Mena – “Culpa”
  4. Gonzalo Hermida – “Quién lo diría“
  5. Rigoberta Bandini – “Ay Mama“
  6. Rayden – “Calle de la llorería”
  7. Sara Deop – “Make you say“

Finalists

We remind you the four artists that already advanced to the grand final of Benidorm from last night’s first semi-final:

  1. Chanel – “SloMo“
  2. Tanxugueiras – “Terra”
  3. Blanca Paloma – “Secreto de agua”
  4. Varry Brava – “Raffaella“

Benidorm Fest 2022 is held at the Palacio de Deportes L’Illa in Alicante and is presented by Alaska, Inés Hernand and Máximo Huerta.

You can watch the second semifinal of the Spanish music festival at 22:40 CET by clicking HERE.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding Spain’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Spain: The results of the first semi-final of Benidorm Fest 2022!

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Benidorm Fest, the festival which will determine the representative of Spain in Eurovision 2022 has started tonight with the first semifinal, live from the spanish state channel RTVE.

A total of six candidates (instead of seven, after the withdrawal of Luna Ki) competed in the first semifinal, claiming four places for Saturday’s grand final.

Presenters of the evening were Alaska, Inés Hernard and Máxim Huerta.

The candidates

The six candidates of the night were the following:

  1. Varry Brava – “Raffaella“
  2. Azúcar Moreno – “Postureo“
  3. Blanca Paloma – “Secreto del agua”
  4. Unique – “Mejores“
  5. Tanxugueiras – “Terra”
  6. Chanel – “SloMo“

The voting

50% of the results in all three shows (two semifinals and a final) comes from the jury, while the other 50% from the audience. The jury is divided into spanish and international, while 50% of the audience is divided into televoting and a sample of the spanish population selected on the basis of statistics and demographics (demoscopic jury). This is used in both the Sanremo Festival (Italy) and the Melodifestivalen (Sweden).

The Benidorm Fest jury, which determines 50% of the vote, consists of the following:

National jury:

Natalia Calderón – Professor of Vocals
Miryam Benedited – Director and Choreographer
Estefanía García – Singer, mezzo-soprano of the RTVE choir

International jury:

Marvin Dietmann – Director of many entries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Felix Bergsson – Head of the Icelandic delegation to Eurovision
Results

The results

JURY

  1. Chanel – 55 points
  2. Blanca Paloma – 41 points
  3. Varry Brava – 39 points
  4. Azucar Moreno – 39 points
  5. Tanxuqueiras – 38 points
  6. Unique – 28 points

DEMOSCOPIC JURY

  1. Chanel – 30 points
  2. Tanxugueiras – 25 points
  3. Blanca Paloma – 20 points
  4. Azucar Moreno – 18 points
  5. Varry Brava -15 points
  6. Unique -12 points

TELEVOTE

  1. Tanxugeiras – 30 points
  2. Chanel -25 points
  3. Varry Brava – 20 points
  4. Blanca Paloma – 18 points
  5. Unique – 15 points
  6. Azucar Moreno – 12 points

OVERALL

  1. Chanel – 110 points
  2. Tanxugueiras – 93 points
  3. Blanca Paloma – 79 points
  4. Varry Brava -74 points
  5. Azucar Moreno – 69 points
  6. Unique -55

As a result, the four artists that qualify to the final of Benidorm Fest this Saturday are:

  1. Chanel – “SloMo“
  2. Tanxugueiras – “Terra”
  3. Blanca Paloma – “Secreto de agua”
  4. Varry Brava – “Raffaella“

Chanel with the song “SloMo” managed to win the first semi final. You can watch her full perfomance here:

What are your thoughts on today’s results? Tell us your opinion on the comments below!

Albania: Listen to a snippet of the revamp of “Sekret”!

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A few hours ago, Ronela Hajati, Albania’s representative for Eurovision 2022, shared a small part of the revamp of her song “Sekret“.

Since Festivali i Këngës 60 in late December, Ronela Hajati works on the revamped version of her song for Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The singer posted a video and said that it will be the only snippet of the revamp that we are going to listen. As of now, we don’t know the exact date that the new version of “Sekret” will be published.

Ronela said in the past that she wanted the revamped version of her song to be done in London with the producer Diztortion, who has work with big names like: Shakira, David Guetta and Rita Ora. It is not confirmed, whether Ronela worked with him in the end. She has also not confirmed if the revamp of the song is completed.

In early January, the singer said that she wanted to keep the song’s lyrics both in Albanian and English and especially the phrase «1,2,3 ta marsha» to stay in Albanian. The clip that she published tonight had Albanian as well as English lyrics.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news regarding Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Source: Eurovoix

Sweden: SVT announces radical changes in the voting system, at Melodifestivalen 2022!

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In less than two weeks from now, we will have the first Semi-Final of Melodifestivalen 2022 and the Swedish broadcaster SVT, literally, changes everything! Up to now, the most complicated voting system was the one of Sanremo. But not anymore! Melodifestivalen dethrones Sanremo, in terms of voting system complexity.

Anette Brattström came up with the idea of how the system could change and she reveals at Aftonbladet how the whole procedure will be from now on. The changes will entirely affect all the four semi-finals, the fifth second chance semi-final and the final show.

You can see below, in the simplest way possible, all the changes that will be implemented by SVT in the next shows of Melodifestivalen:

At the Semi-Finals

  • All seven contestants of each semi-final will perform their songs. The viewers can then vote by phone but also through the dedicated Melodifestivalen app for smart phones. Each viewer is able to give each song five hearts (votes) at the most or none.
  • After all seven performances, SVT will announce the artist that received the most votes (through the app and by phone), in total, irrespective of the viewer age-bands.
  • The remaining six contestants, move on to the second voting round. The voters can then give each of the remaining songs five hearts at the most, same way like the first voting round. At the second voting round, the votes received during the first voting round also count against the total of votes received.
  • The results of the second voting round are determined by the system of the eight age-bands: 3–9 years old, 10–15years old, 16–29years old, 30–44years old, 45–59years old, 60–74years old, 75 and above, as well as the televotes.
  • For the first time in the history of Melodifestivalen, we will know exactly how many votes each song has received (within the second voting round only) and SVT will display the results per age-band on screen, keeping the viewers engaged and thrilled throughout the show.
  • This practically means that the viewers will be able to see in realtime, the distribution of the votes and know who will come third, fourth and will advance to the second chance (fifth) semi-final and who will place fifth, sixth and seventh in the semi finals and will get disqualified.
  • The finalists are therefore determined with two ways: The one that will get most votes in total at the first voting round and the one that will get most votes within the different age-bands at the second voting round.
  • This means that nobody but SVT will know what were the actual results of the age-bands within the first voting round, because as we’ve mentioned above, at the first voting round the absolute number of votes counts and determines the winner and not how these votes are distributed within the different age-bands.
  • This means that now the winning performance of the two finalists will get deprecated, as the TV time now fills up with the announcement of the results.

Second Chance Semi-Final

  • The duels that took place the previous years also get deprecated.
  • On the 1st of March, an allocation draw will be broadcast, determining the two groups of four artists each (eight artists in total) that will compete at the second chance semi-final.
  • The two songs of each of the two groups that will receive the highest number of votes (based on the viewer age-bands) will advance to the finals.
  • In order to save up time, there will be no announcement of the voting results, during the second chance semi-final, but just an announcement of the artists that will advance to the finals.

Final

  • In the final show, the voting will be determined by the distribution of the votes in the viewer age-band system once more.
  • Each voter will have an allowance of five votes per song.
  • After the announcement of the results of the international jury votes, each viewer will be able to vote once more and again will be allocated with five votes per song.
  • The announcement of the viewers’ votes will be the same as the previous years and will be revealed in total, in all the viewer age-bands.
  • Following the show, the results will be announced by the Swedish broadcaster, in detail.

The Show

Oscar Zia will host Melodifestivalen 2022 and as previously reported, all the shows for the national selection procedure of the Swedish representative for this year’s contest in Turin will take place exclusively in Stockholm.

About a month ago, the contestants and running order of your favourite Swedish music festival were revealed by SVT. Despite the cancellation of the tour in five cities of the Scandinavian country this year, due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, the schedule of all the shows (semi-finals and final) remains unchanged.

1st Semi-Final – February 5

  1. Malou Prytz – Bananas
  2. THEOZ – Som du vill
  3. Shirley Clamp – Let There Be Angels
  4. Omar Rudberg – Moving Like That
  5. Danne Stråhed – Hallaballoo
  6. Cornelia Jacobs – Hold Me Closer
  7. Robin Bengtsson – Innocent Love

2nd Semi-Final – February 12

  1. LIAMOO – Bluffin
  2. Niello & Lisa Ajax – Tror du att jag bryr mig
  3. Samira Manners – I Want To Be Loved
  4. Alvaro Estrella – Suave
  5. Browsing Collection – Face In The Crowd
  6. John Lundvik – Änglavakt
  7. Tone Sekelius – My Way

3rd Semi-Final – February 19 

  1. Cazzi Opeia – I Can’t Get Enough
  2. Lancelot – Lyckligt slut
  3. Lisa Miskovsky – Best To come
  4. Tribe Friday – Shut Me Up
  5. Faith Kakembo – Freedom
  6. Linda Bengtzing – Fyrfaldigt hurra!
  7. Anders Bagge – Bigger Than The Universe

4th Semi-Final – February 26

  1. Anna Bergendahl – Higher Power
  2. Lillasyster – Till Our Days Are Over
  3. Malin Christin – Synd om dig
  4. Tenori – La Stella
  5. MEDINA – In i dimman
  6. Angelino – The End
  7. Klara Hammarström – Run To The Hills

Τhe detailed program of Melodifestivalen 2022 is:

  • 1st Semi-Final – February 5
  • 2nd Semi-Final – February 12
  • 3rd Semi-Final – February 19
  • 4th Semi-Final – February 26
  • 5th Semi-Final – March 5
  • Final – March 12

What do you think of the new changes that SVT will implement, from this year and on, at Melodifestivalen? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Aftonbladet