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Sweden: Demonstration in Stockholm against Israel in Eurovision! | Around 2000 people protest!

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An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people have gathered at Odenplan in Stockholm for the demonstration, according to a police officer on site. The procession went to Gustav Adolfs Torg where the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has its office.

In the procession, several Palestinian flags were seen and the demonstrators chanted several slogans for Palestine.

Many had pictures of watermelons – a symbol of Palestinian struggle, and from the back of a car the demonstrators were urged to try to coup watermelons into the Melodifestivalen‘s TV broadcasts again, as two activists did last week. Per Hussein, who is involved in arranging the demonstration, says:

“The watermelon is a symbol of freedom and justice. The only people who would oppose such a symbol are those who stand against freedom and justice, and I don’t see why anyone would want to do that.”

Several of the demonstrators carried placards with messages about Israel’s Eurovision participation. Protester Lubna al Sheikhly said:

“Everyone agreed that Russia should not be involved. Now, after the deaths of 30,000 children, Israel is allowed to participate. This is not right.”

EBU: Israel’s public service broadcaster does not break the rules

The Eurovision organizer EBU‘s position is that the music competition is not between countries, but between public service broadcasters and that Israel‘s companies have not violated the contest rules.

There have been calls to ban Israel from Eurovision 2024, like 1000 Swedish musicians that signed today a petition to the EBU against Israel outside NRK right during the first two weeks of MGP. In Iceland, more than 500 artists signed a petition asking RÚV to withdraw from the contest, while Silvia Night signed an open letter to the EBU asking to ban Israel. In Finland, 1300 artists signed a petition asking for Israel to be removed. The British representative Olly Alexander has also shared in public his opinion against Israel. Also just recently Montaigne signed an open letter to the EBU asking the ban of Israel from the contest and Ben Dolic joined her by doing the same.

Source: Aftonbladet
Photo: Peter Wixtröm/Aftonbladet

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Sweden: Edward af Sillén, scriptwriter of Eurovision 2024, inducted into the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame!

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After the success of Eurovision in 2013 and 2016, Edward af Sillén is preparing to once again hold the helm of the contest – as scriptwriters and also as director.

In Saturday‘s competition from Växjö, the director, screenwriter and commentator Edward af Sillén is awarded the Hall of Fame award.

From now on, he is also a member of this well-known group of artists, hits and creators who have all been of great importance to Melodifestivalen over the years. Christer Björkman, chairman of the Hall of Fame committee says:

“Passion, talent and love permeate everything he has done for and in our program. The Eurovision Song Contest is really a part of Edwards’ DNA.”

The motivation reads: When Petra Mede became one of the most popular presenters of all time in 2009, it was with Edward af Sillén‘s direction and script behind her.

After this, Edward has over the years in script and direction combined the love for Mello with a wonderful humor with edge and sharpness.

He has directed unforgettable performances and created magical interludes, such as Danny‘s ”Karl för sin kostym”, Perrelli‘s ”Här står jag” and Sarah Dawn Finer‘s “Lynda Woodruff“. That Edward belongs in the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame is to quote his classic parody with Christine Meltzer as Malena Ernman: – “Inget konstigt alls” (Nothing strange at all).

An emotional Edward af Sillén expresses:

“I’m actually a bit speechless and very humbled by this honor. The fact that the work that I and my talented colleagues did for Melodifestivalen and Eurovision is still mentioned and referred to is flattering enough. This award is a key increase I was not prepared for. Thank you.”

Hall of Fame in brief

The Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame was established in 2020 to celebrate and highlight special achievements and unforgettable Mello memories in the program’s long history. Since the start of Melodifestivalen in 1958, lots of colorful artists and melodies have made an impression on Swedish music and the soul of the people.

In December each year, viewers can nominate their Hall of Fame proposals in the Melodifestivalen app. Based on these proposals, the Hall of Fame Committee will then select five award winners to receive the award in 2024. The inductees receive a statuette, the Gold Star – shaped like part of a star’s ray. The idea behind it is that the combined efforts form a whole.

Source: SVT
Photo: Jan Danielsson/SVT

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Eurovision 2024: Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman will present Eurovision Song Contest 2024!

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A Hollywood star and Eurovision veteran hosts the world’s biggest entertainment show in May. Malin Åkerman and Petra Mede accompany each other and the audience during the Eurovision Song Contest‘s three television broadcasts, direct from Malmö on May 7, 9 and 11.

Ebba Adielsson, Executive Producer for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, says:

“Malin Åkerman and Petra Mede in combination are nothing but an absolute dream duo. Malin, a wonderful personality and one of our most talented actors in Hollywood. Petra, an icon in the Eurovision context who has also been voted the best Eurovision host ever. I am incredibly proud and happy that these fantastic women will lead us through the Eurovision week in Malmö in May.”

It is the first time that Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman are working together and they are both looking forward to the collaboration.

Petra says:

“Imagine being able to lead Eurovision once again! It’s such an incredible honor. After first leading it alone and then with lovely Måns Zelmerlöw by my side, I am now so looking forward to working with Malin. We don’t know each other from before, but have seen each other a few times and I’m already completely sold. It will be a joy to work with her.”

Malin Åkerman has solid stage and film experience, but the Eurovision Song Contest is a completely new arena for her:

” can’t really describe my feeling about this. I’m so excited and a little nervous, but only in a positive way. I have always liked Eurovision and to be part of this amazing program, and that with Petra, is nothing but a dream. Besides, Petra is one of the funniest women I know.”

Who is Malin Åkerman

Malin Åkerman was born in Stockholm, but grew up in Canada. Nowadays she lives in Los Angeles with her family, but with a father living in Falsterbo, Malmö is still a familiar place . She has a great social commitment and was thinking of becoming a child psychologist. Malin Åkerman’s career as a photo model started as a five-year-old, and she pursued a modeling career as an adult but then switched to the acting profession. Her filmography includes the TV series The Comeback and Entourage and films such as The Heartbreak Kid and Watchmen. She has played opposite actors such as Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock and The Rock. On Swedish screens, we have been able to see Malin Åkerman in the musical film En del av mitt hjärta, where she also got to show her singing talent, and now most recently in the audience hit Ett sista race.

Who is Petra Mede

Petra Mede’s public career took off after participating in an amateur stand-up comedy competition in the spring of 2005. Nowadays, she is one of our most popular presenters and comedians. Petra Mede has hosted the Melodifestivalen, the QX-gala and the Guldbaggegala, participated in numerous television programs and had her own – Petra Mede show, on TV3. She has made the Swedish people laugh in comedy programs such as Morning Sofa, Parlament, Help!, Cirkus Möller and Högklackat. In 2013, Petra Mede led the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, a task for which she was praised internationally. In 2016, she gained renewed confidence and then with Måns Zelmerlöw – together they presented, among other things, the equally humorous as well as bombastic interlude “Love, Love, Peace, Peace”. “They are the best damn Eurovision presenters ever”, wrote the American site Buzzfeed and the duo have also been voted best Eurovision presenters of all time.

Source: SVT Pressrummet
Photo: Photo: Janne Danielsson/SVT

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Lisa Ajax: “I want the audience to feel, if they’re in that situation right now, that they’re not alone and that it gets better!” | Exclusive Interview

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun is accredited by SVT to follow the Melodifestivalen tour for a third year in-a-row. In Malmö we got the chance to meet a few people involved in this year’s Melodifestivalen.

Among those was five-time contestant Lisa Ajax at the press conference of the second noon rehearsal earlier today, in Malmö Arena on an short interview.

Lisa is a veteran at Melodifestivalen, it’s her fifth time. She told us more about how it feels to be back.

“It feels very good. It’s always so fun to be here and for every year that I’m here it gets more… I don’t know, I know what’s gonna happen and I feel more ready when I get here.”

Everyone can relate to Lisa’s song, everyone has been there, has been lied to, betrayed, cheated on. What does she say about the song?

“I really feel the lyrics and I’ve been there but I’m not there now, thank God. My life is pretty much perfect, I would say. I love that about music, that you can always go back into a feeling and you can look back at it and feel like, oh my God, I’m so thankful that I’m not there right now. And then I want the audience to feel, if it’s someone that’s in that situation right now, that they’re not alone and that it gets better. Because I’ve been there, so I can really relate to the lyrics.”

How did this collaboration start with Sebastian Atas, Victor Crone, David Lindgren Zacharias and Victor Sjöström and Lisa ended up performing the song at this year’s contest?

“I think it was two years ago, a long time ago, and then I was in the studio with David Lindgren-Zacharias, that has written the song and then there were more people involved as well, but I was in the studio with him and I tried a different song and then he just said that I have another song that I want you to hear. And then he played “Awful Liar”. and I loved it from the very first time I heard it. And I knew that I was like, okay, I need to have this song. And then, two years later, we are here. So it was a little process to get the song and to get everything to work.”

Lisa confessed that they would submit it last year, but they were a bit late. We don’t know what would happen, should Lisa have submitted the song in 2023. What does Lisa expect with this year’s participation? He clarifies:

“I really hope that I get to go to the finals, of course, but you never know. I don’t know what the audience will think. And I can just affect what I do and I will just do my best on the stage and deliver emotions and that the audience really feel what I’m singing. And that’s all I can do. But I really hope that it gets me to the finals, of course.”

Finally she sends a message to her Swedish and international fans that have been following her, but also the new ones that will know her this year for the first time:

“I really hope that you are watching and that you love the song just as much as I do. And yes, see you on Saturday.”

You can watch our exclusive interview with Lisa Ajax at the video down below:

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Elisa Lindström: “Maybe I can meet fans and sing the song along with them! I’m longing to meet you!” | Exclusive Interview

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun is accredited by SVT to follow the Melodifestivalen tour for a third year in-a-row. In Malmö we got the chance to meet a few people involved in this year’s Melodifestivalen. Among those was Elisa Lindström who had us over at Quality View Hotel, the appointed artist hotel in Malmö next to Malmö Arena on an extensive interview.

Εveryone who’s following Melodifestivalen knows who that wonderful lady is, Elisa Lindström. We got the chance to see her perform on stage, yesterday morning. Her song is like a Schlager-bomb, the Schlager-bomb we all need! But what was the thinking behind the song, when Elisa co-wrote this?

“So, Henrik Sethsson, Henric Axelsson, Thomas G:son and Erik Bernholm have written it. And I was just in the finishing of writing it. When I got the song to me, it was almost done. So, it was a super nice experience to listen to the song for the first time. And I was, okay, yeah, the demo, I need to try this. And I just thought, it’s something special here. And then I went up to Stockholm to Henrik and recorded it. Then we did some changes in the end and it felt like it was written to me.”

They did not write the song at a songwriting camp, they did it privately. As she says, the genre is totally Henrik Sethsson and Thomas G:son, it’s their soul. Henrik Sethsson and herself talked about it earlier that it all came from their heart.

“We love this kind of music. And it’s so nice to show it for people. And yeah, we want everybody to dance and sing.”

To my eyes, Elisa is literally doing what Sweden knows to do best. It’s the Schlager song, with that kind of pop diva on stage. So much glitter and glow. Elisa adds on that:

“Yeah, we wanted to create a number that was exactly as we feel for the song. That it’s the glitter and this uplifting feeling. And I think Jennie Widegren and Lotta Furebäck has really worked that out so well. We had a mood board that we sent to them. And some words that were important. We want a modern Schlager party. And we want glitter and feminine energy. And then they came back with an idea.”

The Eurovision fan base, on Twitter mainly, they’ve gone nuts with Elisa’s song. How did she react when I mentioned that?

“Oh, I’m so happy. You know, it’s crazy. I’ve just been in this little bubble. And I’ve lived with the song. And now it’s like, people they’re going to listen to it. And maybe I can meet the fans and sing this song along with them. And I get goosebumps because that’s what I live for. I’m longing to meet you. And when you’re a bit drunk, you can like… And just scream out. The message is just throw yourself out in love, to be brave and just sing it and dance and be free..”

Her last time at Melodifestivalen was in 2021, so this is her third time. How does she feel she has evolved as an artist? She explains:

“Oh, I think a lot because I’ve worked so much on stage and I’ve worked with so many talented people that has inspired me and helped me grow. And also, I’m 10 years older from when I first did Melodifestivalen here in Malmö and I have the opportunity now again. I also have a little daughter, so she has also taught me so much about myself. So I think I’m much more calm and secure about who I am and what I want to give to people. And I’m a bit touched when I talk about that because she has really shown me that what’s important and that I just want to bring joy through music.”

She wants people to focus on the fact that the song is up-tempo. That it has a lot of energy and it suits her energy very well and she can totally be herself and just throw herself out there.

“So I want them to feel the love and the joy and the power that I feel and that the song has and that power that music has also. Just that the people can feel the joy and the love is what is important in the world and that also maybe this can be a break from all the troubles that we live in. So this can be like a magical little bubble that we can rest in and just be happy and fill up with energy.”

She wants to touch the soul of the viewers to help give themselves that break to also just be happy.

“And I don’t know, it’s a competition and you know, there’s so many great songs. But for me, it’s the most important thing that I reach people and I feel that I’m doing it already. So that’s my goal. And also my goal is to come out there and sing live with you.”

She is also sending a message to all her Swedish and international fans out there:

“The song that I’m going to sing is about to be brave enough to stand in love. And yeah, I hope you will feel that and feel my love to you and to the music.”

You can watch our exclusive interview with Elisa Lindström at the video down below:

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Smash into Pieces: “If people love what we are doing, we think we can win!” | Exclusive Interview

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun is accredited by SVT to follow the Melodifestivalen tour for a third year in-a-row. In Malmö we got the chance to meet a few people involved in this year’s Melodifestivalen. Among those was the group of Smash into Pieces who had us over at Quality View Hotel, the appointed artist hotel in Malmö next to Malmö Arena on an extensive interview.

Benjamin, Pierre and Chris were there but The Apocalypse DJ was missing, so the guys made fun of that by saying that I was Apoc!

“It’s always on a mission. So you never really know where is but I think it’s somewhere in Arcadia. Has the same body shape as you so really maybe it’s you, I think that’s the secret!”

Smash into Pieces have been doing so much, doing tours and even on the dates of Eurovision they’re supposed to be in Canada and the US. In case they win, what are they gonna do? How are they gonna handle it?

“Oh It’s gonna be it’s too big to handle. I mean we have we don’t really go there in our thoughts. And we also thought about just having a laptop in Canada to just live stream our performance straight from Eurovision. (Chris) My girlfriend would love that!”

Chris is gonna have his second kid this summer. So I got the chance to ask who is this song for. Then they said:

“For everyone actually, I mean everyone have this inner superhero hero calling on them. So it’s like follow your dreams and listen to your heart, listen to inner voice. It’s this mentality of Smash into Pieces that anything standing between us and our dreams is smashing to pieces.”

They wrote the song after last year’s entry. They let us in on more info for the song:

“They gave me a call after my session and he was like I really need you this this night. Like it’s gonna be a late session tonight. So I Just went to the next studio and the song came about. We worked with Linnea, Joy, Jimmy… He emailed us We were in Finland on tour and he needed like I need some a high note from Chris Adam for the song. At the end and we just recorded it on our laptop and he put it in and we sent it like a demo to Melodifestivalen. So it was nice.”

A couple of hours after our interview they were supposed to have their first rehearsal on stage. So what should we all expect?

“You should expect more than this last year. I mean this gonna be a cinematic show. You’re gonna follow Apoc on his journey We are part of this in this world and it’s gonna be, yeah, really visual.”

Smash into Pieces are already a very successful band. Why did they choose Melodifestivalen as a platform to showcase their music?

“We are a visual band and for us it’s like, as long as we were about to do our thing in this show, I think it’s the best showcase you can have in Sweden. So for us it was like an experiment, of course. But when we did it, we felt like this went the right way, we did what Smash always do on this stage. For us that’s what it is. It’s a great stage to be on and we love big stages and love big LED screens. Almost like we can combine our music videos with our live band experience and yeah it’s a great forum for us.”

They’re gonna have something bigger this year, they promise a lot more than what we saw back in 2023. They are gonna play with everything they got on stage. Are they back for the win?

“Yeah sure. I mean I don’t go there in my thoughts but I mean we if people love what we are doing I think we can win.”

You can watch our exclusive interview with Smash into Pieces at the video down below:

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Adam Woods: “We called the lyrics note of the song ‘the winning song’!” | Exclusive Interview

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun is accredited by SVT to follow the Melodifestivalen tour for a third year in-a-row. Before visiting the city of Malmö, for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Semi-Final allocation draw, Andreas spent a week in Stockholm.

There he got the chance to meet a few people involved in this year’s Melodifestivalen. Among those was Adam Woods who had us over at LoudKult HQ in Stockholm on an extensive interview.

So, we’ve seen Adam last year with Arc North and Jon Henrik Fjällgren, and now he’s coming back solo. Adam feels amazing to be back and he goes on:

“Already, last year, I was thinking about it, I had done this thing, and it felt amazing, and I gave it my all, but ultimately, I was there, I was singing for Jon Henrik, and I was doing a performance which was ultimately not mine. But now I get the chance to be me, and to show who I am, and to show a song that I’ve made, and a performance that I’ve made. So, I’m super excited.”

On the song he literally amazed us by saying that they called the lyrics note of the song “the winning song”! He explains more about this:

“I wrote the song with a dear friend of mine, William Segerdahl, Calle Hellberg, who’s my A&R, actually, at this publishing. So, they jumped in a session with me and Jonna Hall who is also an old friend. I think we called the lyrics note “the winning song“! And it wasn’t because we had already written it. It was literally beforehand. But we just went into the studio, and we just had this vibe, this feeling that, okay, this is really going to be something special. We didn’t know why. I knew I had a story to tell. And William had brought up some chords. And I was like, yes, this is perfect. This is going to work.”

Is he aiming for the win this year? He responds:

“I want to make a mark. I want people to feel something truly special. I want everyone to feel what I felt when I wrote the song. And everything that I’ve done up to this point has been with the idea in mind that I’m going to make something truly special. And with that in mind, to win the contest as well.”

Danny Saucedo‘s songwriters are idols of Adam. He said he is very curious about what Danny‘s song is gonna sound like and he thinks it’s really good. He feels very honoured that SVT chose him to open the whole tour, as he will perform first in the first heat of the tour:

“It’s crazy. I honestly thought that Samira Victor was gonna open, just because they have that fan base and people know who they are. I’m like, nobody knows who I am, why should I open? But I’m super, I’m really just so honored. Because like you said, it’s a star-studded year, it’s full of huge names, and to be able to be the opening firing shot of that is so cool.”

About the staging, initially he didn’t wanna say much but then he let us into more details about it:

“I mentioned to you, I think last time we spoke, that I wanted it to feel immersive, and to make it feel truly immersive I have to be part of that environment, and I have to be part of the performance. I will say that it’s not about props, so I won’t be having any dancers, and the stage is going to be very simple because I want people to feel like this is just me, it’s just the song, and it’s raw, and it’s naked, even though it’s this big bombastic EDM banger, it’s still that close to your heart, you know?”

His big aim is an international career. So by winning the contest he hopes to be seen and loved around the world too:

“I’ve also been planning a lot about what comes next, because I think I’m only going to do this once and I want to make it amazing. And then I want to push it forward and be able to launch an international career. So, this is a stage one, in a long line.” 

He neither adjusted the song for Melfest nor for a workout playlist or a festival thing, that’s why Adam says it’s not pure EDM:

“I adjusted for the song. And the song needed to feel intimate. And it needed my voice to be there the entire time. So again, it’s about the song. And it’s about making that. But the instrumentation, the synths, and the drums, they’re all very, very EDM. And please do look at every detail of it. There’s nothing there that doesn’t have to be there. So if you see it, then you can read stuff into it. And I’m really, really excited to hear what you guys think. And let me know, because I’m just a DM away.”

You can watch our exclusive interview with Adam Woods at the video down below:

 

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Sweden: Insight into the Melodifestivalen 2024 1st heat songs! | SVT Pre-Listening Event

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Melodifestivalen 2024 first show is on the forthcoming Saturday, February the 3rd, which will take place at Malmö Arena in Malmö.

What to expect

Already in this competition, the first of five, there will be an interlude with a capital I when the hit 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 are now appearing together, and will offer a cracking medley with both their own songs and some of ABBA‘s songs.

The Pre-listening Process

This year, we are invited to the pre-listening event that SVT holds every Tuesday at 10am CET, before each of the five heats of Melodifestivalen 2024, or as it is called “Förhandslyssningen“. Approximately 50 people, carefully selected by SVT are invited to listen the entire songs of each heat in the pre-listening events. So, we had the chance to listen to the entire running order of this week’s heat twice.

But how do the songs of this heat sound like?

    • “Supernatural” – Adam Woods
      Writers: Jonna Hall, Calle Hellberg, William Segerdahl and Adam Woods.

    It’s an EDM pop, reminds me of Avicii bangers. Amazing vocals, great production, but everything is there for a reason. When it gets staged it will sure be an immersive experience. Feels like you’re drowning in love. Would love to see him as a DTF!

    • “Hela världen väntar” – Samir & Viktor
      Writers:David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Niklas Carson Mattsson

    Typical Samir & Viktor song in Swedish, of course an “oj oj oj” part would be there. This song will surely involve the crowds a lot. I secretly danced to it while listening. Low-key reminds me of “Ay Mamá“ by Rigoberta Bandini, Benidorm 2022.

    • “Min melodi” – Melina Borglowe
      Writers:Andreas Mattsson, Melina Borglowe, Thomas G:son

    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 ethereal. Would this qualify directly to the finals though? Not sure, but a pleasant song overall.

    • “Forever Yours” – Elisa Lindström
      Writers:Elisa Lindström, Erik Bernholm, Henric Axelsson, Henrik Sethsson, Thomas G:son

    Schlager party is the theme, if you know what I mean. I can picture it with lots of light. Elisa does what Sweden knows to do best. High notes and an ear-candy key change! Hope this works on stage too!

    • “Awful Liar” – Lisa Ajax
      Writers:David Lindgren Zacharias, Sebastian Atas, Victor Crone, Victor Sjöström

    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.

    • “Heroes Are Calling” – Smash Into Pieces
      Writers:Andreas ”Giri” Lindbergh, Benjamin Jennebo, Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Per Bergquist

    Their distinctive sound is there, stronger than their entry last year in my opinion. Low BPM but amazing production to the last touch. Is this song a contender for the win? Let’s find out. I think it is.

Our thoughts

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 second listen, I would expect Adam Woods or Elisa Lindström and Smash into Pieces to be the DTF acts and Adam Woods or Elisa Lindström along with Lisa Ajax to remain in the competition.

Their staging remains to be seen so that we can have a clear picture of the finalists of this Heat. We will have a clear view tomorrow morning, when their first rehearsals start on stage, at Malmö Arena.

The show

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.

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 the above artists do you think will be the direct qualifiers to the finals? Let us know in the comments section below.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2024 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2024!

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Christer Björkman: “We will be effective and we will be able to shorten the show!” | Exclusive Interview

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Andreas Papayiannakis and EurovisionFun was invited along with a limited number of media by SVT, to attend the official hand-over ceremony of the contest hosting, from the City of Liverpool to the City of Malmö and the Eurovision Allocation Draw which was broadcast live on eurovision.tv and Ertflix tonight.

There we had the chance to meet several of the people involved in the production of the contest, the Mayor of the City of Malmö Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, the Program Executive of the City of Malmö Karin Karlsson, Eurovision Executive Producer Ebba Adielsson, and Show Producer Christer Björkman.

Christer Björkman spoke exclusively to us about his comeback and more. Christer has been a show producer for five times, now he’s coming back for the sixth time. But how does it feel to be back? Was he planning on his return? Christer said:

“No, I mean to me it was something that I have left behind me and I felt I was done with it. But then when they called and said, you know, we want you, we need you, it’s very hard to say no to Eurovision. You know that, we all know that, we’re fans, you know, in the back of our bones we’re fans. And I’m very proud to be back.”

SVT has always been a trendsetter throughout the years and now with the help of Christer, they are planning on cutting down on the show for up to one hour this year. Christer clarifies:

“Well, we’re trying to be effective. We set up a goal for ourselves to have a show that is 3.30, which is roughly what it was in Malmo last time. That’s sort of the national ego that makes us do that and having done this in Sweden quite recently, you know, in 2016 and we did 2013, so we don’t have to do all that over and over again. So we will be effective and we will be able to shorten it. Maybe not all the way to 3.30, but not far from it.”

Christer has done so many great shows in the past, so his opinion on competing songs and staging matters a lot. So we asked him what he thinks of the Cypriot entry “Liar” and Silia Kapsis! Christer admitted he has listened to the song of Cyprus and got really enthusiastic about telling us his opinion about it:

“Oh my God, I have. I think it’s a very good song. I have not seen Silia live, so I cannot judge the artist’s ability when it comes to a live performance. But the recording is great and I love the song. And it will definitely be one of the songs that I will be very keen on to work with because I think it can be a really good stage performance as well. So that one is good.”

The last time there has been a comment like this about a Greek or Cypriot entry, was back in 2018 with the participation of Cyprus with Eleni Foureira and the song “Fuego“.

You can watch our exclusive interview with Christer Björkman at the video down below:

Special thanks to SVT for inviting us and the City of Malmö for the great hosting at this lovely ceremony, but also many many more that are about to come.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun and don’t miss out on anything regarding our most loved contest!

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Eurovision 2024: Eurovisionfun attending the Semi-Final allocation draw, on-site in Malmö!

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For the first time, a Greek media outlet will be on-site, in the process of the Semi-Final allocation draw of Eurovision. It is with great pleasure and honour that we have been invited by SVT along a limited number of media to cover the event and we will be live in Malmö, tomorrow Tuesday 30/1 and we will be serving you with rich content in all our platforms about the entire process and what is going on at the city of Malmö, a bit less than four months before the contest takes place.

Among a limited number of media, Eurovisionfun is present in the draw

Eurovisionfun, confirming the excellent relations it maintains with SVT, which is this year’s host broadcaster of the Eurovision Song Contest, will be one of limited number of media that will attend the process of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw of the countries participating in Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and the only Greek media outlet of the bunch!

The above is a great recognition for our website, which is now among the largest of its kind, thanks to your love and support!

So tune in both to our website and to all our social media on Tuesday 30/1, right before 19:00 CET, to watch in every detail this important event for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

What is the Semi-Final Allocation Draw?

This is an established event, during when the host city of the previous year hands-over the reins of the event to the next city to host the contest.

At the same time, the draw takes place and determines in which of the two semi-finals, as well as in which of the first or second half of them, the participating countries will compete. Finally, it is determined in which semi-final the countries that qualify directly for the final, namely the so-called “Big 5” (France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom), as well as the host country Sweden, will vote.

We remind you that you will be able to watch the draw through the official Eurovision Song Contest channel on YouTube.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding Eurovision 2024!