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Eurovision 2024: Visitors from Over 80 Countries Coming to Malmo for Eurovision!

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The Eurovision Song Contest traditionally celebrates as a unifying force, bringing nations and cultures together through the power of music. This year, the diversity and excitement of fans are more apparent than ever as the city of Malmo prepares to welcome visitors from every corner of the globe.

Leading the way in international ticket sales is the United Kingdom, demonstrating an impressive level of enthusiasm as it captures more than half of the same percentage as the host country, Sweden.

However, the excitement extends far beyond European borders, with high ticket sales numbers coming from many continents. From Europe to Asia, from America to Australia and beyond, fans from every corner of the world are eagerly anticipating taking part in the festivities in Malmo in May.

Particularly, the United States and Australia stand out among the top ticket buyers, underscoring the event’s impact on a global scale.

The most remote travelers are coming from New Zealand! That’s what dedication means!

The Eurovision Song Contest of 2024 in Malmo is poised to set a historic milestone with the impressive influx of global visitors, highlighting its enduring popularity and global orientation. Nearly half of the world’s nations are represented among ticket buyers, proclaiming the event as a truly global celebration of music and unity.

Karin Carlsson, Director of the event for the city of Malmo, expressed her excitement about the diversity of participation:

“The reception of fans and visitors of Eurovision from such a wide and varied range of countries in Malmo is truly fantastic. It vividly reflects the charm of the event and its power to unite people through the common language of music, cultural heritage, and diversity.”

With citizens from 186 countries residing in the city and attendance from the rest of Europe, Malmo is not only Sweden’s gateway to the world but also the international gateway to Sweden.

Karin Carlsson continues:

“We see Malmo as a place where people, cultural expressions, and traditions meet and get to know each other. This is what our event should reflect. When people from over 80 countries are welcomed by the residents of Malmo, with backgrounds from over 180 nationalities, it can be incredibly exciting.”

Below you can listen to the 37 entries for this year’s Eurovision contest!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments about the 68th Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2024: City of Malmö working hard for a safe Eurovision!

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Malmö is currently evaluating the current situation caused by the ongoing Middle-Eastern conflict, hence, is discussing the ways of making the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest as safe as possible.

Israel‘s confirmed participation in Eurovision is stirring emotional protests around Europe. Intensive work is being done on security for the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden. Ulf Nilsson, the Head of Security and Preparedness at the city of Malmö., said on an interview with P4 Malmöhus:

“Many people are contributing to make this a reputation-proof event. We’re broadly working with many different scenarios. We’re working very closely with the police, SVT, Region Skåne, the Traffic Department.”

Last weekend, a Eurovision sign outside Malmö Live was vandalized and has now been protected with wax. The vandalism was discovered in the early hours of the morning. On the base of the sign, someone has written “Free Gaza” and smeared it with red paint. Even on the digital sign that says “United by music” and “We are one“, someone has thrown paint.

Several individuals have already applied for permission from the police to demonstrate during Eurovision in protest against Israel and their Eurovision Song Contest participation.

“We see that many have opinions about Israel’s participation and we understand that. We’re closely monitoring the situation. Of course, this will be taken into account in our work.”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held next May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: Sveriges Radio/P4 Malmöhus/Sofie Dahlstedt

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Eurovision 2024: Details on Eurovision Village, Euroclub and Eurovision Street!

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Details of the Eurovision Village, the EuroClub, and for the first time Eurovision Street were revealed today by the Eurovision 2024 host city, Malmö.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö Arena (next to Hyllie train station), but alongside the telecasts there will be a whole host of activities across the city from 4 to 11 May.

Eurovision Village

The well-known Eurovision Village will be located in Folkets Park, while EuroClub will be hosted in Malmö Live Congress and Concert Hall. Everything is easily accessible by public transport, by bike or on foot, aiming to offer something for all fans, visitors and residents.

“We in Malmö hope to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to our city and we organize this collective celebration together. Now it’s time to show our creative and brave city,” says Karin Karlsson, CEO of City Host Event.

“We are really looking forward to Eurovision week in Malmö. All the events in the city perfectly complement the event in the arena,” says Ebba Adielsson, Executive Producer Eurovision Song Contest 2024 at SVT.

Full details will be revealed at the end of March on Malmö’s website and Eurovision.tv.

Eurovision Village

Sweden’s oldest “people’s park” and one of the busiest places in Malmö, will be transformed into the Eurovision village from 4 to 11 May.

There will be two stages, the big and the small stage, which will offer a varied program for all fans.

Eurovision Street

Friisgatan, a popular car-free street in Malmö that is full of restaurants and cafes, turns into Eurovision Street – the busy area between Triangeln station and the Eurovision village.

On your walk down the street you will have the opportunity to meet musical surprises and food from all over the city and the world.

Eurovision Street will not only be a path in the City of Malmö, but also a place to stop and live and socialize during the enjoyable days in the contest period. It is the first time that the Eurovision Road has been established.

Malmo Live – Euroclub

Malmö Live Congress and Concert Hall will be a full party club during the Eurovision Song Contest.

Malmö Live will also host the Turquoise carpet.

Malmö Live’s location, a stone’s throw from Malmö Central Station, offers a quick train ride to and from Malmö Arena and Eurovision Village.

The Swedish organizers are once again expected to surprise us all with everything they are preparing and give us an unforgettable competition for the seventh time.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Eurovision.tv

 

The Netherlands: Joost Klein’s song “Europapa” will be released on February 29th!

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About an hour ago, Joost Klein in collaboration with the Dutch public broadcaster, AVROTROS, and the Eurovision official Instagram account, published a new Reel revealing that his Eurovision song is called “Europapa” and will be released on Thursday, February the 29th!

 

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A post shared by Eurovision Song Contest (@eurovision)

Joost is an eccentric and controversial Dutch artist who recently stirred the pot with his discography, which includes a song that embodies his love for Russia. The song in question is named “Jackass”, and it was published on March 11, 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was recorded in cooperation with Russian musician CMH.

AVTROTROS has already responded to the allegations and stated that, Joost Klein has never made any political remarks that support Russia.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Dutch entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 to be held in Malmö, Sweden.

Source: eurovision.tv, AVROTROS, Joost Klein

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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

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the latest news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest!

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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

Do you like the host of Eurovision Song Contest 2024? Let us know in the comments section below!

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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:

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun and don’t miss out on anything regarding this year’s Melodifestivalen!

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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:

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun and don’t miss out on anything regarding this year’s Melodifestivalen!

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