Sweden: This is the final list of participants for Melodifestivalen 2023!
After the SVT announcement for the 14 initial names that will participate in Melodifestivalen 2023, the time has come for the remaining names to be revealed. So, now we know the 28 names that are going to claim the Swedish victory and representation in Eurovision 2023. Are you ready?
You can read the first 14 names here.
Heat 3: Linköping, 18/02/2023
Marcus & Martinus – Air
Created by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Marcus Gunnarsen, Martinus Gunnarsen
Marcus and Martinus are 20-year-old twins from Norway that became famous when they were aged 10 at the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix Junior. In their 10 years at the foreground, they have had sold out concerts in Europe, they performed the official song for the Swedish heir of the throne and won a Norwegian Grammy. Their greatest hit Elektrisk, holds a record in Norway as the song that managed to stay for the longest period of time at the Top 10 charts, 66 weeks to be exact. After winning The Masked Singer Sweden in 2022 now their base is in Stockholm and have started to collab with Swedish songwriters and producers.
Melanie Wehbe – For the Show
Created by: David Lindgren Zacharias, Herman Gardarfve, Melanie Wehbe
In addition to being a performer, Melanie Wehbe is an award-winning songwriter who has written music for both Swedish and international artists. She is now celebrating ten years as a songwriter; a decade in which she has managed to write two Idol winning singles, a number one on Svensktoppen, three on Spotify and number one on radio, as well as a win at both Melodifestivalen (2020) and Melodi Grand Prix Denmark (2019). As an artist, Melanie recently established herself as a rising star, gracing the cover of QX magazine and was given the honour of closing Stockholm Pride 2022 on the main stage at Pride Park.
Ida-Lova – Låt Hela Stan Se På
Created by: Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Ida-Lova Lind, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb
Ida-Lova came to Sweden’s attention when, as a 13-year-old, she performed a version of Kent’s Utan Dina Andetag, at the 2017 Svenska Hjältargalan TV fundraiser. Since then she has released eight songs, five of which were included in her debut album on the EP Hallå Världen Kan Du Stanna; , released in June 2022. Ida-Lova is now 18 years old and lives in Stockholm.
Paul Rey – Royals
Created by: Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, LIAMOO, Paul Rey
Paul Rey, 30 years old, hails from Lund in southern Sweden. A familiar face to Melodifestivalen fans, he has previously competed twice. In 2020 with Talking In Your Sleep and in 2021 with The Missing Piece. In 2022 he also competed, this time as a songwriter, and reached the final once again, with Cazzi Opeia’s I Can’t Get Enough. Paul has written many big hits for other artists and his own releases have been streamed over 200 million times.
Nordman – Släpp Alla Sorger
Created by: Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son
Nordman’s story began in 1991, when violinist, producer and songwriter Mats Wester was looking for a singer for his experimental new project, mixing folk music with pop. By chance, Håkan Hemlin found himself in the same studio as Mats, to record a demo with his rock band. They both liked what they heard from each other and the duo was formed. They sold over a million albums in the 90s alone. This will be Nordman’s third time competing at Melodifestivalen, after participating in 2005 with Ödet Var Min Väg and in 2008 with I Lågornas Sken.
Laurell – Sober
Created by: Anderz Wrethov, Andreas Stone Johansson, Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard
Born in Canada but having moved to Malmö for love, Laurell is an established singer-songwriter who has recently embarked on her own career as a solo artist. Her debut single Habit was a big hit on radio and streaming in Sweden in 2022, as well as in other parts of Europe. In 2019, Laurell became the first female songwriter to contribute to three Eurovision Song Contest entries in the same year (Switzerland, Germany and the UK). At Melodifestivalen, she has previously written entries for Hanna Ferm, Renaida, Faith Kakembo and Paul Rey.
Casanovas – Så Kommer Känslorna Tillbaka
Created by: Henrik Sethsson, Mikael Karlsson
One of Sweden’s most popular dansband, the Casanovas were formed in 1989. Since then, their rise to success has led them to the top of the charts on many occasions. They have been nominated five times for the Swedish Grammy Award. Band member Henrik Sethsson has previously won the Melodifestivalen as a songwriter, with Listen To Your Heartbeat by Friends in 2001. He also wrote the Melodifestivalen hit Something In Your Eyes by Jenny Silver.
Heat 4: Malmö, 25/2/2023
Signe & Hjördis – Edelweiss
Created by: Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy Jansson, Myra Granberg
Signe and Hjördis Bornemark, 16 and 18 years old from Kullabygden in Skåne, are siblings. These days, the sisters enjoy doing everything from singing, working with choirs and writing their own songs to participating in many theatre and music productions. They like everything from jazz to rock, but would better describe their singing at Melodifestivalen as folk-pop.
Axel Schylström – Gorgeous
Created by: Axel Schylström, Herman Gardarfve, Jonas Thander, Malin Halvardsson
Axel Schylström became known through his participation in Idol in 2015, quickly followed by his recording debut at Melodifestivalen in 2017 with När Ingen Ser. More recently, in 2022, he competed as a songwriter and reached the final of Melodifestivalen with THEOZ and Som Du Vill. Axel has published his autobiography in recent years and established himself as one of the most popular spoken word artists.
Emil Henrohn – Mera Mera Mera
Created by: Emil Henrohn, Jakob Redtzer, Ji Nilsson, Marlene Strand
When the pandemic struck, musical theatre artist Emil Henrohn was left without a job. He began making humorous videos of himself at home and quickly became a hit on TikTok as the character “Mama” (the mother). In 2022, he gained even more recognition on TikTok with the song Jag Är Mamma and today he has gained over 500,000 followers on the platform and has been named Sweden’s most powerful TikToker. Now that the music theatre has reopened, Emil has recently starred in productions of Annie and Hair.
Mariette – One Day
Created by: Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son, Mariette
Mariette first participated in Melodifestivalen in 2015 with the song Don’t Stop Believing. Since then, she has competed three more times, in 2017, 2018 and 2020, reaching the final in all four attempts. Outside of music, Mariette recently moved from Stockholm to the southwest coast of Sweden and started a family with her wife. This year she released the song Just Du, dedicated to their son born in 2021.
Smash Into Pieces – Six Feet Under
Created by: Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Benjamin Jennebo, Chris Adam, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Per Bergquist
Internationally, Swedish rock exports Smash Into Pieces are perhaps best known for their cinematic, apocalyptic image and sound, thanks in large part to their legendary masked drummer, leader and mascot, APOC. With over half a billion streams to their name and nearly 600,000 followers on social media, the band has completed several tours in both Europe and the US.
Loreen – Tattoo
Created by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Loreen, Moa “Cazzi Opeia” Carlebecker, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son
In 2022 it will be ten years since Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden with Euphoria. The song became a big hit across Europe and beyond, reaching number one in 21 countries and has since become one of the most recognized and well-known entries in the history of the contest. Post-Euphoria, Loreen released two albums and made her debut as an actress in the new film adaptation of Vinterviken, which was released in 2021. Loreen’s most recent musical release was the single Neon Lights, which was released during the summer.
Kiana – Where did you go
Created by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb
Kiana Blanckert began singing and dancing at an early age, and one of her most vivid memories of her childhood is when she performed Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time on a cruise ship as a four-year-old. Her mother is a professional dancer and Kiana has been taking dance classes since she was three years old. Now almost 16, she recently rose to fame on the show Talang (Sweden’s Got Talent), finishing second in the 2021 series.
The detailed programme of Melodifestivalen 2023
Heat 1: Gothenburg, 4 February 2023 (Scandinavium)
Heat 2: Linköping, 11 February 2023 (Saab Arena)
Heat 3: Lidköping, 18 February 2023 (Sparbanken Arena)
Heat 4: Malmö, 25 February 2023 (Sparbanken Arena)
Heat 5: Örnsköldsvik, 4 March 2023 (Hägglunds Arena)
Grand Final: Stockholm, 11 March 2023 (Friends Arena)
As a reminder, Melodifestivalen 2023 is scheduled to take place from 4 February to 11 March with hosts Jesper Rönndahl and Farah Abadi.
Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all the news regarding Sweden’s participation in Eurovision 2023!
Source: Eurovision.tv
