SWEDEN DECIDES 2012:
MELODIFESTIVALEN SEMIFINAL 3
Molly Sandén and Björn Ranelid feat. Sara Li to the final. Andreas Johnson and Youngblood to ‘second chance’. This is the result from the third semifinal in Melodifestivalen after a thrilling show hosted by the lady-duo Sarah Dawn Finer and Gina Dirawi. Molly Sandén did an outstanding, emotional modern ballad and she is a well deserved finalist. During the whole week the Swedish media have put the focus on Björn Ranelid feat Sara Li. Ranelid is an established author and he has also participated in Let’s Dance and several other commercial TV-productions. He wrote the lyrics to the song “Mirakel”. How he ended up on stage reciting the song is unclear. But so he did while Sara Li sang the eurodisco chorus. It was odd enough to convince the viewers who voted the entry directly to the final.
The five entries which qualified to the super final were:
Andreas Johnson => second chance
Mattias Andréasson => eliminated
Molly Sandén => to final
Youngblood => second chance
Björn Ranelid feat. Sara Li => to final
The positions for the eliminated songs were:
6. Love Generation
7. Carolina Wallin Pérez
8. Maria BenHajji
Here is a personal review of the performances, per running order:
1. Youngblood – “Youngblood”
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger. The boyband Youngblood is the latest Fredrik Kempe project. Kempe is one of the most successful composers in MF and he wrote the last year’s winner Eric Saade. This song is in the same music genre and it seems to attract the Swedish viewers. The song is effective and monotonous and the five boys are singing well.
2. Maria BenHajji – “I mina drömmar”
Composers: Nanna Sveinsdóttir, Thomas Cars. This year’s web wildcard and the best so far. It’s the third year for this concept. Beautiful Maria is an experienced backing vocalist behind many MF-artists but this is her solo debute. The staging was the most stylish tonight with loads of candles. Maria has a great voice but she was very nervous in the beginning of the song. Nice tune but a bit too anonymous.
3. Mattias Andréasson – “Förlåt mig”
Composers: Mattias Andréasson. Modern, contemporary Swedish pop with some electro beats. Mattias is one of the members in E.M.D which came third 2009. Mattias looks very confident and professional on stage.
4. Love Generation – “Just A Little Bit”
Composers: RedOne, John Mamann, Jean-Claude Sindres, Teddy Sky, Yohanne Simon, Bilal “The Chef” Hajji Love Generation debuted last year and qualified to second chance. Also by a song from RedOne & team. One of the members left the group and they are now a trio, which seems to be smart. The singing is far more better than last year and the girls have gain confident. The most spectacular choreography and dresses of tonight. A disappointment they didn’t qualify.
5. Carolina Wallin Pérez – “Sanningen”
Composers: Martin Bjelke, Michael Clauss, Carolina Wallin Pérez A song in the singer-songwriter tradition. Caroline voice is a bit childish and the tune is similar to the popular Swedish singer Laleh.
6. Andreas Johnson – “Lovelight”
Composers: Andreas Johnson, Peter Kvint It’s the fifth MF for Andreas Johnson during seven years. He can add a third and a second place to his record. “Lovelight” is a typical Andreas-song in medium-pop-rock-style with Beatles influences. A deja vu to his previous “Sing For Me” and “A Little Bit of Love”.
7. Molly Sandén – “Why Am I Crying”
Composers: Aleena Gibson, Molly Sandén, Windy Wagner Molly sings in a very emotional way. A modern ballad and Molly’s voice has improved a lot since her previous appearance in MF 2009. She seems to be the natural successor of Sanna Nielsen. The lyrics are about broken relations. Maybe because she broke up with Eric Saade late last year.
8. Björn Ranelid feat. Sara Li – “Mirakel”
Composers: Fredrik Andersson, Björn Ranelid Eurodisco and Lili&Susie mid-1980 meet pretentious talk-rap. Melodifestivalen has never experienced something similar before. Odd and indescribable. I can’t put any words on it – I’m speechless but the chorus is very catchy. Is this the beginning of a new Melodifestivalen-era?
In the interval act the show group Sirqus Alfons did a special version of Roger Pontare’s “Silverland” from MF 2006. Pontare represented Sweden in ESC 2000. The show was broadcasted from Leksand and until tomorrow evening it is possible to watch it on again www.svtplay.se
Photo: courtesy Olle Kirchmeier/SVT
