Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
On Saturday 12th February, the second heat of Melodifestivalen kicks off and we’ll get to see the next seven acts who will be hoping to win the biggest musician show in Sweden. Again, we’ve been following the rehearsals of this week’s performances and we’re here to tell you what to expect from what we’ve seen so far.
LIAMOO – Bluffin
LIAMOO will be opening the show with a dark pop number – think The Weeknd meets Eric Saade – ‘Every Minute’. His staging is dark with purple tones as he’s dressed in leather. He’s alone on the stage, and that’s not an issue for the now third time Mello artist, as he commands the stage brilliantly. A great start to the heat and a big favourite to go direct to the final.
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Niello & Lisa Ajax – Tror du att jag bryr mig
Our third Swedish language song of this year’s Melodifestivalen is a duet between Niello & Lisa Ajax. The two artists are on separate sides of the stage with Niello’s featuring blue colours whereas Lisa’s is lilac. They are joined by dancers who almost act as their cheerleaders and actors on stage, recreating a hairdresser salon at one point!
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Samira Manners – I Want To Be Loved
Samira’s staging is dark with pops of light that resemble hanging candles in the background. She is sitting on a chair playing the guitar with her all-girl bandmates supporting her. As the song progresses, she gets off a seat and moves around the stage as the camera just focuses on her. Her vocal tone is unlike anything else in the competition – it sounds very British!, which may divide the audience.Â
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Alvaro Estrella – Suave
This is exactly what you would expect from an Alvero Estrella song, pure classic pop with a Latino flair. The staging features him with four other dances dressed in red suits and with fire at the front of the stage which burns throughout the whole song. It’s a high energy number that fans of his will love!
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Browsing Collection – Face in the Crowd
Our first rock song of Melodifestivalen 2022, and this is staged how you’d expect really. The band are having the time of their life on stage as they rock out in front of strobe lights and empowering messaging posters in the background. The song itself has a looping guitar riff and a shout-along chorus and bridge.
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
John Lundvik – Änglavakt
The former Melodifestivalen winner is back! This time he is singing a Swedish-language ballad. He is dressed in a full cream outfit to pop out from the dark staging. John makes lots of eye-contact to the camera and showcases his powerful vocals and the lightning gets brighter as the song builds.
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Tone Sekelius – My Way
No matter what happens on Saturday, Tone has made already made history as the first transgender artist in Melodifestivalen. Tone starts the song in a big trench coat with a long tail all the way to the back of the stage, she is joined on stage with contemporary dancers and string musicians. During the second chorus, the trench coat is ripped off her to reveal Tone in a stunning black dress. The song is empowering Schlager-inspired pop number.
Image Credit: SVT // Melodifestivalen // Annika Berglund
Overview and Ones to Watch
This heat definitely feels like a slower pace than last week, although the up-tempo songs are really something to look out for. LIAMOO and Alvaro Estrella will be sure to get you paying attention to Saturday night. However, if you love John Lundvik‘s voice you’ll be loving his Swedish language ballad, and it’s something we can see the local national audience going for too.
Melodifestivalen Heat Two will be streamed live at 8pm CET/ 7pm GMT on SVT, Saturday 12th February.
