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The general rehearsal of the first Melodifestivalen 2022 semi-final has just started. We are happy to be watching it live, at the SVT online press centre and we will be covering this rehearsal, describing in detail what is happening during the show, for you to read.

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 5, at 20:00 CET, when you watch the actual semi-final show on SVT and SVT Play.

The show

Oscar Zia is the host of the night and as previously reported, all the shows for the national selection procedure of the Swedish representative for this year’s contest in Turin will take place exclusively in Stockholm and as already announced, semi-finals one to three will take place at the Avicii Arena, while semi-finals four and five as well as the grand final will be held at Friends Arena.

Oscar is at the arena and everything is ready to begin! It’s time to face the music! Opening the show, we’ve got Tusse, performing his last year’s entry “Voices“! Well, Oscar Zia joins him at the end of the song!

The performances

• Malou Prytz – “Bananas”

The introduction video of Malou is on, we’ve got some shots from her rehearsals on her choreography.

Malou is first up on stage, performing her song Bananas. A funky pop song that gives slumber party vibes and she seems to be really comfortable. She’s on a green suit and she is accompanied by a drummer and five dancers. She’s got nice vocals I have to admit. Her song will either make you go “Bananas” with it, or you won’t like it at all. Nothing in the middle.

• Theoz – “Som du vill”

Now there’s Theoz introduction video, before he goes on stage and performs his song. Lot’s of flashbacks on his career and Måns Zelmerlow is also mentioned. We see Theoz rehearsing his moves on the dance studio.

Now he goes on stage, on an purple outfit, sleek hair performing his uptempo and high energy song, entirely in Swedish, as youthful as Theoz is. Dour dancers in yellow outfits around him, he plays with lighting and shading panels. Jumps on the secondary stage and there’s some ledwork on the floor. His vocals are nice. Let’s see if that young and ultra popular influencing artist will make it to the finals.

• Shirley Clamp – “Let There Be Angels”

The introduction video is from her dance rehearsals also showing previous participations at Mello. Linda Bengtzing also storms in the dance hall where the big Swedish artist rehearses her performance and they make fun of each other.

Her song is an emotional ballad, vocals on point. She wears a petrol suit with a cape, and gloves. The song peaks with wind blowing on her hair. She’s playing with the lights, her performance is bold, the enormous stone on her left hand ring can’t take your attention away from her vocals and her eyes, we’ve got lots of close ups emphasising on her eyes. The performance ends up with a ghosting video effect.

• Omar Rudberg – “Moving Like That”

No introduction needed after his massive worldwide success with the Netflix series “Young Royals”, but we’ve got an introduction video for Omar Rudberg too. There’s also Carola in his video, some reference to her 2006 melodifestivalen performance with the Swedish version of her then entry Invincible, probably she is one of his icons in the contest.

Omar starts off backstage and enters the stage, as his song has already started. Long glances on camera, wearing a glowy outfit. The song is uptempo and uplifting, the choreography is intense and nice, it’s him and two dancers. His song gives the essential latin vibes apart from the melody by including a bridge in Spanish. He is probably one of the qualifiers tomorrow, let’s see.

• Danne Stråhed – “Hallabaloo”

Here is Danne with his song Hallaballoo. This is a kind of Melodifestivalen entry that we’ve seen numerous times, however it is difficult for a song like that to stand out. He is throughout the song at the secondary stage and all the lighting is comprised of golden leds. A fun song fully in Swedish by Danne and his six-member band, but we reckon that it might hardly make it to the finals.

• Cornelia Jakobs – “Hold Me Closer”

Well here’s Cornelia’s introduction video, who is at home, really at ease making coffee, describing her entry. The former Love Generation member shows the interviewer around her home, probably some home studio and the living room. Describes her song as a break up song, which is quite emotional.

Well here is Cornelia on stage, radiant, there’s a circular panel behind her. She wears a top with glowing stones. Lot’s of close ups and lightwork. The song is such an explosion of emotions, describes a breakup stage everyone has been through. Her vocals are impeccable and it is unlike what we’ve seen from her from her Love Generation entries. Are an amazing song and great vocals enough to secure her a place at the finals? Let’s see if she will be a shocking qualifier!

• Robin Bengtsson – “Innocent Love”

Robin’s introduction video is from his new home at his home studio, he is describing his entry this year. Oh there’s also Victor Crone in the green room!

Here is Robin on stage. There are some technical difficulties in the beginning. His outfit is simple, minimal moves and a fun 90s vibes song. Robin is gonna have a second take, on an attempt to fix the technical issues that occurred during his performance.

This time he is competing with an easy listening pop song, which is uptempo at the same time, maybe a bit close to the songs we usually get to listen by Ed Sheeran or Coldplay! He will most probably qualify but it is unknown if we’re gonna see him in Turin this year!

As usual, we’ve got a recap of all seven contestants, showing the phone numbers that the public will get the chance to vote.

Following the recap, we get to listen to Oscar Zia performing a song mentioning previous Melodifestivalen artists in the lyrics, the instrumental is power-ballad style. Oscar storms on the second stage and goes on performing the song. Now there are four dancers waving the Swedish-speaking Finns flag (red flag, yellow cross). After the songs ends, Måns Zelmerlow appears on screen and Oscar goes nuts!

The first voting round

We remind you that all the results that will be announced in this general rehearsal are virtual, so as to emulate the whole televised show.

Now it’s the time that the winner of the first voting round will be announced! Oscar keeps us thrilled, typical voting music theme plays at the background!

The first virtual direct qualifier, determined by the first voting round is Danne Stråhed with his song “Hallabaloo”!

The rest of the six artists move on to the second voting round. Following the announcement, we’ve got a second recap of all the six remaining songs. The viewers will get five votes in total, once more in order to vote for their favourite artists. At the second voting round, the votes received during the first voting round also count against the total of votes received.

Oscar appears in the green room, showing pics of previous Melodifestivalen artists. Starts off with Måns Zelmerlow and ends with Anton Ewald.

Eric Saade on stage!

Shockingly enough, Eric Saade is on stage ready to perform “Manboy” on the piano, wearing a black suit! An amazing piano version, as a countdown for the end of the voting process. He moves on performing a slightly different version of “Popular” with lots of wind instruments. Next up is his song “Sting“! It would be a surprise if he didn’t perform his last year’s Melodifestivalen entry, “Every Minute”. He never fails to amaze us with his stage presence and his moves. Oscar interviews Eric for a while, then Eric takes place as an interviewer in the green room, interviewing the virtual direct qualifier Danne Stråhed!

The second voting round

Before the end of the second voting round and the announcement of the virtual second direct qualifier and the two qualifiers of the fifth semi-final, we’ve got a break that shows older contestants of Sweden in Eurovision, such as ABBA and also other contestants of Melodifestivalen. The two spokespersons are two, Muppet Show style cartoon figures.

Now it is the time Oscar announces the time that the revelation of the second voting results will be announced per viewer age-band. Within this voting round, SVT displays the distribution of the votes within the different viewer age-bands in real-time, which practically keeps the viewers engaged throughout the show and up until the final results are announced.

• Virtual winner of the age-band 3-9 years old is: Cornelia Jakobs!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 10-15 years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 16-29 years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 30-44 years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 45-59 years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 60-74 years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the age-band 75+ years old is: Shirley Clamp!
• Virtual winner of the televoting is: Malou Prytz!

Virtual direct qualifiers

• First voting round winner (absolute votes): Danne Stråhed
• Second voting round winner (age-band votes): Shirley Clamp

Virtual qualifiers at the fifth semi-final (age-band votes)

• First qualifier: Cornelia Jakobs
• Second qualifier: Theoz

My prediction is that we will get to see Robin Bengtsson in the finals. Second direct qualifier could be either of Malou Prytz, Omar Rudberg, or maybe Cornelia Jakobs which would be a nice surprise to see her qualify!

Let’s see what is going to happen, tomorrow 20:00 CET we will get to watch the actual semi final live, on SVT or SVT Play and of course EurovisionFun, where you will have the chance to be informed about the results, as soon as they are announced on TV!

Which two of today’s competing artists do you think will be the direct qualifiers to the finals, on the 12th of March?

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun, for all the latest developments regarding Melodifestivalen 2022 and the Swedish entry for Eurovision 2022!

Source: SVT
Photo: Annika Berglund/SVT