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Sweden: New format for Melodifestivalen from 2022?

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In an exclusive interview given by the executive producer of Melodifestivalen, Anette Helenius, to the daily newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, she refers to the decision of the Swedish public broadcaster to hold Melodifestivalen 2021 without an audience and with all its shows in Stockholm, but also with their intention to change the format of the contest, from 2022!

In Stockholm and without audience Melodifestivalen 2021

Anette Helenius reports that the decision not to hold the regular Melodifestivalen tour in various cities in the country was taken a few weeks ago, taking into account the epidemiological situation in Sweden and in cooperation with the competent authorities. All the necessary measures will be taken, while the artists and those who still participate in Melodifestivalen 2021, will undergo a rapid test upon entering the venue where the contest will take place.

Although it was initially put on the table to choose a city other than Stockholm, it was decided that it would be safer but also more functional to choose the capital, since most people live there and thus avoid extra travel.

The absence of the audience is clearly important, but it will enable SVT to make some choices, which with the presence of the public would be impossible. The presenters have not yet been selected, but may be different each week, wanting to give a separate identity to each of the six nights of the show.

New format from 2022

Melodifestivalen has been running steadily since 1959, when Sweden had to choose its second entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1958, in Sweden’s maiden appearance at Eurovision, the internal selection option was used. In 1967 the name Melodifestivalen was introduced.

Since 2000, Melodifestivalen has been the most popular television program of the year, with more than 4 million viewers annually. It has more viewership, even from the Eurovision Song Contest itself.

Until 1998, the winner was chosen solely by the juries. In 1999, televoting was used for the first time. In 2002 the Melodifestivalen, which until then was one night, introduces the system of four semifinals and the second chance, a format that is still used today.

Annete Helenius gave important news in her interview. In particular, she said that in parallel with the changes that will take place this year in Melodifestivalen due to COVID-19, the production team is working on some other changes, which will be permanent and will be implemented from 2022.

This practically means that for the first time since 2002 we will have significant changes in the format of Melodifestivalen. No further explanations or details were given, so we look forward to it.

We remind you of the detailed program of Melodifestivalen 2021:

  • The 1st semifinal on February 6
  • The 2nd semifinal on February 13
  • The 3rd semifinal on February 20
  • The 4th semifinal on February 27
  • The second chance round on March 6
  • The final on March 13

As usual at the end of November we will have the announcement of the 28 contestants!

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all Melodifestivalen 2021 news!

Source: Dagens Nyheter

Sweden: All the shows of Melodifestivalen 2021 in Stockholm

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According to always valid Aftonbladet newspaper’s article, all the competitive shows of Melodifestivalen 2021, the show through which  Sweden selects its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, will be held at the capital city, Stockholm.

Traditionally the shows of Melodifestivalen are held in various cities all around the country with the final taking place in Stockholm. All the same, given the pandemic situation of COVID-19, there will be no Melodifestivalen tour in 2021. Initially this scenario was the back up plan of SVT but it will be implemented eventually, since neither the municipalities are eager to spend millions for shows that might not take place, nor the SVT wants to jeopardise its reputation by imperiling the public health.

Moreover, there are no decisions yet regarding the place of the show, whether it will be held in a studio or in a stadium. Questions arise as far as the tickets issuance is concerned.  Aftonbladet contacted the porject manager of the show Anette Helenius, who commented:

“We have nothing to comment at the moment. We will let you know as soon as we have something to announce”

Last but not least, according to the reputable newspaper, the presenter of the event will be the beloved of Swedish television David Sundin, who will not be alone on stage. Who will accompany him, we will get to know in due course.

Source: Aftonbladet

Sweden: First 14 songs of Melodifestivalen 2021 have been chosen!

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With a photo from the audition process, Swedish Public Television (SVT) informs us that 14 of the 28 songs of Melodifestivalen 2021 have already been selected.

In the four semifinals of the Melodifestivalen 28 songs compete every year. Of these, 14 come from the open application process, 13 are by direct invitation of SVT to established artists and 1 position belongs to the artist selected by the radio competition, “P4 Nästa 2020”.

SVT revealed to us that the 14 songs from the open invitation have been selected, after the committee auditions have been completed. It took a week for the committee to listen to the 2,747 songs submitted for Melodifestivalen 2021!

It is more than six months left before we have a winner in Melodifestivalen 21, but the work is already underway. For one week, our jury has listened through all the entries submitted. The work is now complete and the first 14 contributions have been selected.

SVT for Melodifestivalen 2021

Now the production team of Melodifestivalen will get in touch with popular names of the Swedish music scene to propose one of the 13 wildcards of this year’s competition. We remind you that Julia Alfrida has already secured a place in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen 2021, through “P4 Nästa 2020”.

Stay with us because the nomenclature for Melodifestivalen 2021 is just beginning!

 

Sweden: Julia Alfrida is the first artist for Melodifestivalen 2021!

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We now know the first candidate of Melodifestivalen 2021. This is Julia Alfrida, who was selected by the jury of “P4 Nästa 2020” which ended a while ago, to compete in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen next year.

Every year, Swedish Public Broadcaster selects one of the finalists of the P4 Nästa radio competition, which involves young artists and creators. The one selected for the Melodifestivalen is not necessarily the winner of the competition. This happened again this year, after the “P4 Nästa 2020” was won by Hilde & Erik.

Julia Alfrida will compete in Melodifestivalen 2021 with a different song than she did in P4 Nästa 2020. So far no candidate from P4 Nästa has qualified for the Melodifestivalen final, not even in the second round.

Below you can listen to the winning song of P4 Nästa 2020:

Sweden: Submissions for Melodifestivalen 2021 have been opened!

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Sweden’s public broadcaster, SVT, has started accepting entries for Melodifestivalen 2021. The country’s national final through which Sweden’s representative and participation for Eurovision 2021 will emerge.

The interested creators have until September 16 to submit their entries electronically, to claim one of the 14 places in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen 2021. Another 13 participants result from the invitations sent by the producers of the show, to various well-known artists. creators and one candidate comes from the radio competition “P4 Nästa 2020”.

The contestants of Melodifestivalen 2021 are expected to be announced as every year, within November, with the semifinals, the second chance round and the final taking place from the beginning of February until the middle of March.

Non-Swedish citizens can also participate. To submit your song, click HERE.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

Sweden this year would be represented by the Mamas with the song Move:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EpSBDPlZn4

Sweden: “P4 Nästa 2020” finalists were revealed | One of them will participate in Melodifestivalen 2021!

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The eight finalists of “P4 Nästa 2020” have been announced. One of the finalists of the radio competition will be selected by the producers of Melodifestivalen in order to compete in the semifinals of the country’s national final for Eurovision 2021.

The finalists were selected from the 25 local winners of Swedish Radio P4. The final of the P4 Nästa will take place on September 12, much later than usual.

The eight finalists and their songs are:

  1. Alicia Jern – Friendzone
  2. Sanna ft. Re:Bond – Aldrig det
  3. Amskøld – Standby
  4. Nina Bring – Nära
  5. Northlight – Equally different
  6. Hilde & Erik – Som det är
  7. Julia Alfrida – Dark doom
  8. Agnes Rehn – Goodbye

The final of the P4 Nästa 2020 will take place on September 12 from the Väster Concert Hall, where Josefin Johansson and Titti Schultz will be in charge of presenting the gala, which will be broadcast live on Swedish radio station P4.

From today until a few minutes before the final, tele voting will remain open to the public, who can vote for their favorite candidates via SMS to 72250.

It is worth noting that so far no artist who participated in the Melodifestivalen through P4 Nästa, even managed to qualify for the second chance round. It is not necessary to select the winner of the P4 Nästa for Melodifestivalen, since the producers of the Swedish national final, choose according to their own criteria.

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all the news related to Eurovision 2021!

Sweden: Melodifestivalen to be held normally in 2021

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Brainstorm on developments…. By tweeting on its official Twitter account, Melodifestivalen announced that it would run smoothly in 2021. This means that the choice of Swedish participation for 2021 will once again be based on this format. Thus, The Mamas will not be able to represent their country at the Rotterdam competition. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that they will participate in Melodifestivalen 2021 claiming their sects!

As Christer Björkman, Head of the Swedish Delegation, said in his statements:

“It is a very unfortunate situation for all artists. I feel really bad for all the artists and especially for the Mamas, who will not be given the opportunity to sing on the Eurovision stage. It is also very unfortunate that a 64-year-old tradition will break”

So the winner of Melodifestivalen 2021 is expected to represent Sweden at next year’s Eurovision contest!

Below you can remember the song “Move” with which The Mamas were to compete in Rotterdam in May!

https://youtu.be/7EpSBDPlZn4