Facts: Here are those who compete in Malmö
1. Kiana – “Where did you go”
099-908 01 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 01 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
2. Signe & Hjördis – “Edelweiss”
099-908 02 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 02 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
3. Smash Into Pieces – “Six feet under”
099-908 03 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 03 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
4. Mariette – “One day”
099-908 04 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 04 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
5. Emil Henrohn – “More more more”
099-908 05 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 05 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
6. Axel Schylström – “Gorgeous”
099-908 06 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 06 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
7. Loreen – “Tattoo”
099-908 07 (9:90 kroner per vote, of which 9:20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 07 (SEK 3.60 per vote).
Mariette finally took the stage ramp she had previously experienced a bit of fear of heights. The building is just over three meters high and if she has previously struggled with the height, she now also has the competition to think about.
— It is an incredibly strong competition. Now it’s just a matter of doing your best and hoping you get there, she says afterwards.
TT: Who will like your entry the best?
— I have a fairly broad target group, perhaps 25–30-year-olds and above.
Hope the kids remember
16-year-old Kiana dances in laser light during the uptempo song “Where did you go”, and Axel Schylström rips off the high notes in the ballad “Gorgeous” without an audible tremor in his voice. Neither the debutants nor the veterans report any major mishaps during Friday’s repechage.
Emil Henrohn with the contribution “Mera mera mera” at the genre rope.
In the fourth part of the competition, there is undeniably something for everyone – from ethnopop to evocative rock. The contribution that captures the children’s jubilation during Friday’s rehearsal is Emil Henrohn’s sparkling hit “Mera mera mera”.
— It feels so good, because I hope the children grow up and remember this the way I remember the performances I saw when I was little. I think I went to Melodifestivalen in Malmö four times growing up. I loved it, he says afterwards.
There will possibly be some minor corrections to the number before Saturday, admits the musical artist.
— I’m a bit of a perfectionist and the job never stops being a job. It’s clear there are things to polish, but that will have to be tomorrow.
Want to vote for everyone
Debutantes Signe and Hjördis wow the audience – even though the underperformance of the dreamy song “Edelweiss” also made them forget the occasional camera angle.
Signe & Hjördis, Signe Bornemark and Hjördis Bornemark, with the contribution Edelweiss at the genre rep for the Melodifestivalen 2023 competition 4 at Malmö Arena on Friday.
— When there was an audience – you got so excited! Hjördis exclaims and continues:
– You were so involved with people here that you lost some cameras and things that you should be more aware of.
— The audience is so supportive so it’s easy to get stuck in, Signe adds.
TT: What do you say about the competition?
— Every number we see is just so good. Everyone is so talented, says Hjördis.
— If I was sitting at home, I would have voted for everyone, Signe adds.
“We must have her”
But the big surprise after the contributions are performed is Carola – who makes a kind of comeback in Malmö – the city where she actually won the hearts of the Melodifestival audience with the song “Främling” 40 years ago.
Carola Häggkvist performs in the middle act with “Caught by a storm wind” and “Främling” at the genre rep before the Melodifestivalen 2023 competition 4 at Malmö Arena on Friday.
— It’s so incredibly big, so we couldn’t neglect it. But we have to have her with us, says Melodifestivalen’s project manager Anders Wistbacka.
Debutante Emil Henrohn says that when he saw Carola’s entrance, he understood why he was not met with enthusiasm at the presentation of his number.
— I asked to be celebrated down from the roof. They just said “We’ll take it with us” and tonight I saw that she was the one who had to do it. But I’m very happy as it is, he says.