SVT, the Swedish national broadcaster, has revealed the final ten artists that will compete in Melodifestivalen 2021.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional press conference was not used this year to reveal the artists taking part in Melodifestivalen. Instead, SVT revealed the artists over three days; nine on Tuesday, nine yesterday and ten today.
The final ten participants of Melodifestivalen 2021 to be revealed are:
- The Mamas – In The Middle
- Jessica Andersson – Horizon
- Sannex – All Inclusive
- Clara Klingenström – Behöver inte dig idag (Don’t need you today)
- Efraim Leo – Best Of Me
- Tusse – Voices
- Julia Alfrida – Rich
- Alvaro Estrella – Baila Baila (Dance Dance)
- Klara Hammarström – Beat Of Broken Hearts
- Eric Saade – Every Minute
The Mamas were backing singers for John Lundvik at Eurovision 2019. They were due to represent Sweden at Eurovision 2020 with “Move” before the contest was cancelled. One of the co-writers of The Mamas’ entry, Robin Stjernberg, represented Sweden in 2013 with “You”. Jessica Andersson represented Sweden in 2003 as one half of Fame with “Give Me Your Love”. Eric Saade represented Sweden in 2011 with “Popular”. He also was the Swedish spokesperson in 2010 and 2019.
These artists join the following artists that were revealed over the last two days:
- Danny Saucedo – Dandi Dansa
- Lovad – Allting är precis likadant (Everything is exactly the same)
- Kadiatou – One Touch
- Mustasch – Contagious
- Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Rena rama ding dong
- Emil Assergård – Om allting skiter sig (If everything sucks)
- Tess Merkel – Good Life
- Paul Rey – The Missing Piece
- Arvingarna – Tänker inte alls gå hem (Not going to go home at all)
- Dotter – Little Tot
- Elisa – Den du är (Who you are)
- Lillasyster – Pretender
- Frida Green – The Silence
- Charlotte Perrelli – Still Young
- Patrik Jean – Tears Run Dry
- WAHL feat. SAMI – 90-talet (90s)
- Nathalie Brydolf – Fingerprints
- Anton Ewald – New Religion
A total of 2,747 songs were submitted to SVT for Melodifestivalen 2021. The semi-final allocations will be annoucned at a later date.
Melodifestivalen 2021 will commence on February 6. In another break from tradition, Melodifestivalen 2021 will not tour across the country and all six shows will take place in Annexet in Stockholm. The dates for the shows are as follows:
- Heat One – February 6
- Heat Two – February 13
- Heat Three – February 20
- Heat Four – February 27
- Second Chance – March 6
- Final – March 13
Want more reaction? Join James Rowe and Rob Lilley for a special episode of The Euro Trip podcast on Friday. They’ll be joined by former Melfest stars and a Swedish journalist to discuss this year’s line-up. Available on all major streaming services.
Image Source: SVT / Source: SVT
Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest
Sweden debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958 and has gone on to be one of the contest’s most successful countries. The country has won the contest six times, the most recent being in 2015. Sweden’s first victory came in 1974 when ABBA won the contest in Brighton with “Waterloo”. Since missing out on the final in 2010, Sweden has gone on to finish 3rd twice and has won the contest twice, only in 2013 did the country place outside of the top 10 in the final.