Sweden- Melodifestivalen Andra Chansen Preview
The MF semi season ended on a downer here with the first losing week as Tess Merkel failed to reach Andra Chansen and Lovad dodged the last place (I'm still not sure how on the latter).
Anyhow we move on to the second chance round this week where once again this year none of these entries are expected to challenge at the very top in the final.
Let's take a quick look now at each head to head:
Klara Hammarstrom vs Efraim Leo
Efraim appears to have been in 3rd place last week and is comfortably ahead on Spotify. Both are incredibly plastic performances and appeal to the younger ages more but Efraim might be a bit less trashy. Its no secret the guys tend to have a bit of an advantage in recent Melfest editions so with both having a fairly similar quality entry, you have to give the edge to Efraim overall. Andra Chansen is not somewhere I like to invest much, but some of the early prices are more than fair here.
Verdict: Efraim Leo
Lillasyster vs Alvaro Estrella
This one is a coin toss for me and I don't have any interest in getting involved either way. By process of elimination, Lillasyster are more likely to have been the 4th place vs Alvaro's 3rd. Lilasyster had some decent momentum on YouTube but on a per day basis, there's not much in it between them and Alvaro, who sits a few spots above them in the Spotify charts. Coupled with him being ‘safer’, I just give him the edge if forced to pick. If he does make it through, I have him pencilled in for last place.
Verdict: Alvaro Estrella
Eva Rydberg and Ewa Roos vs Clara Klingenstrom
Again the bookies seem to be a few steps behind with Eva and Ewa with the early prices much in favour of Clara and as high as 2.55 for Eva and Ewa. That has since been backed into evens in most places.
Clara obviously leads the chart data, but then that is to be expected against a novelty entry like Rena Rama Ding Dong, which is the sort of entry you vote for or watch on YouTube but are not going to go and stream in the same numbers. Even saying that however, they are out charting the likes of Paul Rey and Klara Hammarstrom and they almost certainly were a narrow third in their semi.
There is a case for Clara who I'm keen not to underestimate again, but pick ’em is generous, with her main hope being that the Swedes have tired of the more light hearted entries, which could be the case with Sannex coming last in their semi last week.
Verdict: Eva Rydberg and Ewa Roos
Paul Rey vs Frida Green
The weakest duel without a doubt is this final one, and I might even fancy any of the previous six against either of these.
As hinted at above, Paul Rey is under performing in some of the data and neither of these are setting the charts alight anywhere. Again, by going down the rabbit hole trying to work out who finished where, Paul was likely the 3rd place and I do give him the edge in this one too. The early 1.5 on him is too short however so I'm staying clear of this one for now.
Verdict: Paul Rey
It's possible the ground shifts over the week in terms of streaming figures etc and I'll update this preview if so.