The general rehearsal of the 1st Heat of Melodifestivalen 2024 has just started. We are happy to be watching it live, at Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden. We will be covering this rehearsal, describing in detail what is happening during the show, for you to follow the entire process.
This article is being updated in real-time, all you need to do is hit the refresh button on your browser and all the rest is on us!
We will keep you up to date with all the latest information and images off this semi-final rehearsal, allowing you to get a glimpse of what you will get to see tomorrow February 3, at 20:00 CET, when you watch the actual show of the heat, on SVT and SVT Play.
The show
The first week of competition arrived really fast. On Saturday, February 3, Melodifestivalen 2024 starts and it starts from this year’s Eurovision city Malmö.
Carina Berg is the host of all the shows of the tour this year! With the next show of the contest on Saturday February the 3rd, Melodifestivalen will take place in Malmö, then Göteborg follows and finally the final show in Stockholm on the 9th of March.
Carina is now at the arena and everything is ready to begin! It’s time to face the music!
The show starts with an intro, Carina is chilling at home, then it all becomes like a musical with Carina singing and changing costumes throughout the number.
After the intro, Carina presents this show’s contestants!
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. Would love to see him as a DTF!
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. But would this be a worthy direct qualifier, to the finals though? Not sure, but a pleasant song overall. The audience clapped as they should but they didn’t go manic over this performance.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
We are halfway through this heat’s numbers. Coming up, we have a Schlager diva, an emotional ballad and an aggressive rock song. Let’s move on to numbers 4, 5 and 6.
- “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 Andromachi had 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! This one at least remains in the competition!
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
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. Not sure if she will qualify directly to the finals or remain in the competition. Either of the two, I think she’s not getting disqualified.
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: Jimmy Wixtröm / Aftonbladet
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 virtual Direct Qualifiers
First voting round virtual winner: “Hela världen väntar” – Samir & Viktor
The first voting round winner move from the green room onto an intermediate small stage in the middle of the audience and sing their song. At the moment Samir & Viktor are performing and on the LED screen of the main stage the word “FINALIST” is displayed. By the end of their performance they just rush onto the main stage and wrap up with their performance.
Second voting round virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
The second voting round winner does exactly what the first voting round winner did. Green room, intermediate stage, main stage.
Those who virtually remain at the contest
Second voting round virtual 2nd place: “Supernatural” – Adam Woods
Second voting round virtual 3rd place: “Min melodi” – Melina Borglowe
Second voting round results
Age-band 3-9 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 10-15 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 16-29 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 30-44 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 45-59 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 60-74 years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Age-band 75+ years old virtual winner: “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
Televoting virtual winner: “Min melodi” – Melina Borglowe
A prediction
It is hard to decide, the victory of Loreen has stepped up the game and everyone has done a great job this year. After the general rehearsal, I would expect Adam Woods and Smash into Pieces to be the DTF acts and Elisa Lindström along with Samir & Viktor or Lisa Ajax to remain in the competition.
The schedule for the six shows of the Melodifestivalen 2024 tour
- Heat 1: Saturday 3 February 2024, Malmö Arena, Malmö
- Heat 2: Saturday 10 February 2024, Scandinavium, Göteborg
- Heat 3: Saturday 17 February 2024, Vida Arena, Växjö
- Heat 4: Saturday 24 February 2024, Stiga Sports Arena, Eskilstuna
- Heat 5: Saturday 2 March 2024, Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad
- Final: Saturday 9 March 2024, Friends Arena, Stockholm – Solna
Which two of today’s competing artists do you think will be the direct qualifiers to the finals, on the 9th of March?
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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