The general rehearsal of the 2nd Heat of Melodifestivalen 2024 has just started. We are happy to be watching it live, at Scandinavium in Göteborg, 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 10, at 20:00 CET, when you watch the actual show of the heat, on SVT and SVT Play.
The experts
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 show
The first week of competition arrived really fast. On Saturday, February 10, 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 10th, Melodifestivalen will take place in Göteborg, then Växjö 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 opening act is a band playing in the green room with the crowd dancing along as Carina enters the arena. Then Carina describes how Estonia gained their independence without bloodshed, she then connects it to Eurovision “united by music”.
After the intro, Carina presents this show’s contestants!
The numbers
- “When I’m Gone” – Maria Sur
Totally different than “Never Give Up”. A POP Dance banger with a hint of melancholy! Amazing performance, crystal clear vocals, very much more improved than her rehearsals. The best I’ve seen from her, she totally feels true to herself with this performance. Love seeing this! Hopefully she will directly qualify!
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Norrland”– Engmans Kapell
If you mix Swedish folk with a beat then you got Norrland. I wouldn’t say I am impressed by this kind of song. They’re very much improved and their lead singer definitely did not forget the lyrics this time. He did on one of the rehearsals. But No-No-No-No-No-No-Norrland probably will not qualify.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “The Silence After You” – Dear Sara
A mid tempo song for Dear Sara, sounds familiar. It is sort of a ballad, could listen to it to a roadtrip. Pleasantly. That’s Sara’s best run. The crowd claps throughout her performance which is good to see. Maybe she will remain in the competition? Let’s find out tomorrow.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
Aftobeat vibes are here but in a pop way to do it! C-Joe is not very stable vocally though, he had some vocal issues with his performance during her rehearsals. A feel-good song that the crowd loved though. Would he qualify now? I am not sure, probably not.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
Now imagine LIAMOO’s kind of songs mixed with Imagine Dragons. This is epic. I don’t wanna hear anyone compare this performance to Andrew Lambrou’s last year’s entry with Cyprus. This is so much better. By far his best performance and it is 100% himself. Love to see this! Totally a DTF for me. Also a strong contender for the win. Best song of the contest so far.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
- “Unga & fria” – Fröken Snusk
Now mix a bit of epadunk with Swedish folk, a tiny bit of Käärijä’s “it’s crazy, it’s party” but on a female Swedish version. Too much pink. Louis Vuitton balaclava is removed for the televised program. She is quite good vocally I must admit, the crowd went nuts on her. Either second DTF or goes to second round.
Photo: Andreas Papayiannakis
These were the six numbers of this week, a recap follows to show the voting numbers for the contestants of the heat.
The Intervals
First to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this very special Melodifestivalen and Eurovision year is none other than the host Kristian Luuk, in good company with the artist and presenter Lotta Engberg – and her Fyra bugg och en Coca Cola. During the evening, we will hear the song, which was Sweden‘s entry in Eurovision 1987, in its own version signed by the artist Viktor Norén.
Björn Gustafsson is of course on stage again and explains to the audience that he cannot say what he will say tomorrow at the live show, therefore, he is now doing a 4:30 minute comedy show.
The virtual Direct Qualifiers
First voting round virtual winner: “The Silence After You” – Dear Sara
The first voting round winner moves from the green room onto an intermediate small stage in the middle of the audience and sing their song.
Second voting round virtual winner: “Dragon” – LIAMOO
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: “Ahumma” – C-Joe
Second voting round virtual 3rd place: “Unga & fria” – Fröken Snusk
Second voting round results
Age-band 3-9 years old virtual winner: “When I’m Gone” – Maria Sur
Age-band 10-15 years old virtual winner: “Ahumma” – C-Joe
Age-band 16-29 years old virtual winner: “Norrland”– Engmans Kapell
Age-band 30-44 years old virtual winner: “Dragon” – LIAMOO
Age-band 45-59 years old virtual winner: “Ahumma” – C-Joe
Age-band 60-74 years old virtual winner: “Ahumma” – C-Joe
Age-band 75+ years old virtual winner: “Dragon” – LIAMOO
Televoting virtual winner: “Dragon” – LIAMOO
This week things are more clear for the direct finalists. For me the two direct finalists will be LIAMOO and Maria Sur, then Fröken Snusk and Dear Sara will 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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