In Stockholm tonight at the Friends Arena the Swedish public and international juries will choose this year’s Swedish entry for the 60th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. With a special performance by last year’s winner, Conchita Wurst.
Twelve songs will be competing for the title this year as four, instead of two, songs proceeded to the final from last week’s Andra Chansen (Second Chance) round. The standard of songs this year and the lack of a clear front runner are making the prediction element a difficult one but I’ll give it a go.
Watch it live at SVT Play at 20:00 CET Click Here!
Who will win?
1) Samir & Viktor “Groupie” – Predict 10th place
This song joined the final by winning its duel against Behrang Miri in the Second Chance. This song is still a novelty one and they have added a falling into bed scene at the end but that doesn’t change the song. The public do like this song especially the teens and will do well in the televoting but most of the juries will shun this song.
2) JTR “Building it Up” – Predict 12th Place
This boyband won their place by directly qualifying from the fourth semi-final and are popular with the masses of children screaming for them but the song and performance are still a bit luke warm. Without that showstopper edge and a bad draw in the running order this song will fail to finish well. The juries will have too many songs to choose from which will make some of the entries unmemorable. I believe this will be one of them.
3) Dinah Nah “Make Me (La La La)” – Predict 9th Place
Dinah Nah won her place by beating Dolly Style in her Andra Chansen duel. This typical Europop club hit is popular across many of the international fans of the contest but unfortunately they can’t vote. The voting public won’t back this song as much as some of the others as Loreen has still cast a shadow on all subsequent dance hits from Sweden. It will take awhile for this to pass and believe it is still too early for the Swedish public buy in. The juries will like it but like isn’t good enough to place well.
4) Jon Henrik Fjällgren “Jag är Fri (Manne Leam Frijje)” I am Free – Predict 2nd Place
Jon Henrik won his place in the third semi-final and has been one of the hot favourites. The song hasn’t changed apart Jon Henrik’s wardrobe but it doesn’t matter the atmospheric song will do extremely well with the Swedish public having recently won Sweden’s Got Talent. The main area of contention is the international juries, will they or won’t they go for it? I believe it will do very well and if the juries get behind it will win. I believe it is a two horse race at this point between John Henrik and Måns Zelmerlöw.
5) Jessica Andersson “Can’t Hurt Me Now” – Predict 8th Place
Jessica won her place in the very first semi-final and has been forgotten mostly since then. The song and performance haven’t changed but it is still missing that dramatic build or climatic edge. It is a shame as the song and performance are beautiful but simply forgettable. Ballads always do well but this year with so many songs competing for points it will leave many in the dust and unfortunately this song will fall in that category.
6) Måns Zelmerlöw “Heroes” – Predict Winner
Måns qualified directly to the final from the fourth semi-final and is the odds on favourite to win. The innovative performance and sheer popularity of the song will make the public pick up their phones to vote. The juries will fall for this as well as the feast for the eyes is also met with its Guetta-like styling which stands against club based hits like “Europhia” as something entirely different. It is a refreshing performance that you won’t forget and believe he can only be beaten if the juries fall for Jon Henrik.
7) Linus Svenning “Forever Starts Today” – Predict 7th Place
Linus beat Andreas Weise in the second chance to win his place in the final. His performance and song are solid and a change of direction in styling to last year’s “Bröder”. His main issue again are that there are too many songs competing for those all-important points. The ethnic feel to the song will get the juries backing it and his sincere performance will get the public voting.
8) ISA “Don’t Stop” – Predict 5th Place
ISA won her place in the third semi-final and gained many children followers. Her song is mainstream pop and is very well written. I believe she will pick up votes from the juries and she will certainly have the backing of most children out there. The only issue she will face is that there is crossover appeal from Eric Saade’s entry which means they both could lose out on points to each other. ISA is definitely one to watch and if she participates again she could take the crown.
9) Magnus Carlsson “Möt Mig I Gamla Stan” – Predict 11th Place
Magnus achieved his place in the final directly from the second semi-final and his absolute Schlager hit is extremely popular with the gay audience. This is the type of song that could of won ten years ago but time has moved on since then. The song has lots of appeal but the juries and public will opt for his more contemporary counterparts. This is the sort of song I love and so glad that this style is represented in the final as it means that Schlager isn’t dead just not as mainstream as it once was.
10) Eric Saade “Sting” – Predict 4th Place
Eric qualified for his place way back in the first semi-final and showed that his “Popular” fan base hasn’t diminished. Honestly Saade could enter and do well with almost any type of song due to his popularity. The song is a grower and I have grown to like but for the majority of viewers and juries this will be the first time listening to it which lies part of the problem. The stylised performance with dancing shadows, rising platforms, pyrotechnics and glitter will be hard to forget but will the voters like it enough to pick up the phone to vote, I don’t think so. The majority of his points will come from his dedicated fan base.
11) Mariette “Don’t Stop Believing” – Predict 3rd Place
Mariette won her place in the second semi-final with her atmospheric and mesmerising performance. Nothing has changed here but it also didn’t need to as promotes its dark side feeling very well. The international juries will love the song and performance. The Swedish public who don’t care for the mainstream pop style of Måns, Eric and ISA will go for this and in a big way. With her debut performance in Melodifestivalen, I believe Marietta will be pleased with her placing and in a less competitive year this could win.
12) Hasse Andersson “Guld och Gröna Skogar” Gold and Green Forests – Predict 6th Place
Hasse beat Kristin Amparo in the Second Chance to win his place in the final. His sheer likability of a happy song in the sight of Spring approaching just makes people smile. It is very Swedish and the public love this and will go for it in a big way. The juries will overlook this as filler because it isn’t a style of music that many countries listen to as mainstream. All his points will come from the televote but just how many will decide on his overall placing.
Do you agree?
