The first heat of the Swedish national pre-selection took place tonight at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm. As announced on Friday, the Avicii Area is hosting the first three and Friends Arena hosting the remaining shows.
Tonight’s host was Oscar Zia, who has participated in the competition three times, while also co-hosting one of the semi-finals last year alongside Anis Don Demina.
Seven artists took part, with two qualifying directly to the final. The first finalist was chosen from receiving the highest number of votes, while the second finalist was chosen from receiving the highest total score from the various age-based voting blocks.
The second and third-placed acts from the second round of voting secured themselves a place in the second chance semi-final.
The results of tonight’s heat are:
- Malou Prytz - Bananas – 7th
- THEOZ – Som du vill – Advanced to the Semi-Final
- Shirley Clamp – Let there be Angels – 6th
- Omar Rudberg – Moving Like That – 5th
- Danne Stråhed – Hallabaloo – Advanced to the Semi-Final
- Cornelia Jakobs – Hold Me Closer – First finalist based on the first round of voting
- Robin Bengtsson - Innocent Love – Second finalist based on the second round of voting
The dates of the remaining Melodifestivalen shows are as follows:
- Heat 2: Avicii Arena (Feburary 12)
- Heat 3: Avicii Arena (February 19)
- Heat 4: Friends Arena (February 26)
- Semi-Final: Friends Arena (March 5)
- Final: Friends Arena (March 12)
The winner of the Final on March 12 will go on to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.
Source: SVT | Image source: SVT
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.
