Facts: Ready for the Melodifestivalen final so far
Tone Sekelius: “Rhythm of my show”.
Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North featuring Adam Woods: “Where are you (Savezan)”.
Maria Sur: “Never give up”.
Panetoz: “On my way”.
Marcus & Martinus: “Air”.
Paul Rey: “Royals”.
Two entries from the sub-competition in Malmö go directly to the final and the eight entries that came third and fourth respectively in the sub-competitions settle for four final places in the semi-final in Örnsköldsvik on March 4. The final will be decided on March 11.
To the tunes of the duo’s very first hit “Elektrisk” in the speakers, Marcus & Martinus came to the after-party at Stadshotellet in Lidköping after the victory in the third part of the Melodifestivalen.
But the days of child stars are over. The Norwegian duo has come out on the other side of the pandemic with a plan to continue their career as “grown-up” pop stars, and the fact that the more modern sound of the song “Air” went home in Melodifestivalen shows that they are on the right track.
Following the plan
The brothers were very relieved after the final place was secured. Now the duo will prepare for the final in the Friends arena on March 11. But then comes new music. And then there will be a tour all over Europe.
— We have put together a plan and we must follow that plan regardless of how it goes in Melodifestivalen. And so we hope that the people want to come along and listen to that music, says Marcus Gunnarsen.
Marcus & Martinus already works with Swedish producers, has a contract with a Swedish record company and works with a Swedish PR agency. As artists, they are almost more Swedes than Norwegians and they spend a lot of time here. Although they still live in small Trofors, about 1,000 inhabitants, in northern Norway where they also play with the town’s division 3 football team.
— Stockholm is the music capital of Scandinavia and we work with fantastically talented people. So that’s why we work here, says Marcus Gunnarsen.
Marcus & Martinus are keen to grow as artists, but to do it smart. They do not intend to break with their old fans, but hope that the children and young people who liked them in the 2010s want to grow up with them.
— We want to show that it is possible to grow up without making any big mistakes. That we can be Marcus & Martinus, but that we have become more mature, says Marcus Gunnarsen.
Rey releases music
But first awaits a final in Melodifestivalen. Marcus & Martinus were joined from the partial competition in Lidköping by Paul Rey, who is thus ready for his third final in four years.
Paul Rey with his girlfriend Dalia at the after party after the third part of the Melodifestivalen in Lidköping.
It means a lot to him and his career.
— The song has its own life outside the competition, so it doesn’t depend solely on how it goes in Mello, but getting to the final and getting to perform in the Friends arena in the final helps to push the song, he says.
Paul Rey is also planning new music and a tour this summer.
– There will be a few gigs in Sweden this summer and there will be new music so there is more excitement to be had, he says.
Now awaits the last competition in the Melodifestivalen. In Malmö on Saturday, among others, Loreen makes a comeback in the competition. The 2012 Eurovision winner is back in the competition for the first time since then, with the song “Tattoo”.
She is challenged by, among others, Mariette and the Tiktok profile Emil Henrohn.