Melodifestivalen Semi Final 3 Preview
Looking back at last week, I managed to land the correct top 3 in order with John Lundvik beating Alvaro Estrella into 2nd. Perhaps I should have been more confident in this given the emphatic outcome- Sweden just love them some Lundvik. The remaining 4 was however something I rightly didn't feel strongly about with last place pick Tone getting through to the semi. Anyway, on to this week…
Cazzi Opeia- ‘I can't Get Enough’
Cazzi not really helped opening the show and whilst much more modern, Linda is a bit of a concern later for the female up tempo votes and has the edge on name recognition. This is a better song but will that be the most important factor?
Lancelot - ‘Lycklingt Slut’
Lancelot has a look of a young Robin Bengtsson and sells this really well. Usually your stripped back Swedish entry in position 2 is the fav for last but not this time. Lancelot should do well on all demographics and its fair he's the second favourite here.
Lisa Miskovsky - ‘Best to Come’
From what I've seen, Lisa does a good job with this and the song isn't bad either. Left behind by the younger demographics too much to threaten a direkt spot I feel, but it may not be the last we see of this.
Tribe Friday - ‘Shut Me Up’
Not a fan of this and its one of Melfest's weakest ‘rock song in for the sake of variety’ for some time. With the rest of the field all at least average efforts this could be towards the bottom of every demographic. Rightly odds on for last place.
Faith Kakembo - ‘Freedom’
I wasn't much of a fan of Tusse's entry last year, but this is staged like that but cheaper with that damn backdrop and singers appearing for the crescendo it does look like an earlier draft of that rather than something original which is a problem so many melfest songs have. It's going for the big powerful moment and message but it's all a bit of a half done job. The song is fine and is one of the better ones in the semi and with a better platform may be threatening a direct spot. As is, it's fighting to get to the semi.
Linda Bengtzing - ‘Fyrfaldigt Hurra!’
Schlager always has it's place at Melfest but that market is growing smaller and smaller and I'm not even convinced this wins in the older vote groups it's targeting giving it a really hard job to do anything here. Baring Tribe Friday, I can make a good case for every other act stronger than I can here.
Anders Bagge - ‘Universe’
Instead of a song, it would have been easier for SVT to just put up a graphic saying ‘hey Sweden, do you like Anders?’ and let him qualify that way. Incredibly trite lyrics and backdrop remind me of Jacques Houdek but without a bit of the self awareness. Likely winning the semi but I expect juries to stop this quite quickly in the final.
It's neither the best or the worst Melodifestivalen semi and one again where the odds look pretty spot on. I feel happier with this week’s order so I'll be dissapointed and out of pocket to land too far out:
Anders Bagge
Lancelot
Lisa
Faith Kakembo
Cazzi Opeia
Linda Bengtzig
Tribe Friday