W as Wiktoria opens Melodifestivalen

Melodifestival veteran Wiktoria Johansson puts a personal touch on her number this time, literally. A bit into the performance, the stage construction transforms into a large gold-sparkling W.

— Quite right, isn’t it? I spell my name that way and I’ve always thought it was fun to play on it. It’s been four years since I joined and this is my way of saying “look, I’m back!”, she says.

The contribution “All my life (where have you been)” is a dance disco song, which she has co-written herself. She says that it is a love tribute to her boyfriend, the hockey player Hugo Alnefelt.

— The lyrics are from the heart and the song means a lot. He loves it, but now when I hum the song to him he tells me to stop. He wants it to feel completely new when he sees the number, she says.

Wiktoria’s song is a love tribute to her boyfriend, she says. “He loves it, but now when I hum the song to him, he tells me to stop,” she says,Press from around

However, the boyfriend has to be content with following the competition on television, because his playing career in the United States prevents him from being there.

— If I go further, I will travel after that. If I go out now, I will travel there next week, says Wiktoria.

But an early trip is not something she hopes for. Wiktoria has participated in the competition three times before and she has reached the final each time. Now she admits that she feels pressure to advance from the sub-competition this time as well.

— This time is probably the most difficult. Everyone around me says I will go on, but you never know in this competition. It feels like people expect that from me and I’m so afraid of disappointing people, she says and continues:

— I’m trying to be prepared for everything, but it’s clear that I’ll be disappointed if I don’t progress. Right now it’s really, I just want to move on.

Makes his debut

Eden Alm, who also skips the surname in his stage name, makes his debut in Melodifestivalen. The 23-year-old doesn’t feel much pressure, she explains.

— It’s going surprisingly well. I’m nervous and stuff, but I had expected it to be more noticeable than it was, she says after her rehearsal.

Eden feels that the competition has welcomed her with open arms.

— Regardless of whether you are a debutante or have participated before, it is very welcoming. This doesn’t really feel like a competition. It feels more like a really big concert where we don’t compete against each other but with each other, and so the Swedish people get to choose.

Eden Alm makes her debut in Melodifestivalen and feels no pressure. “It doesn’t feel like we’re competing against each other,” she says. Company on stage

Eden’s contribution “Comfortable” is a stripped-down ballad where her voice gets a big place of its own. But she is not alone on stage.

— It’s me together with another fantastic person on guitar. Her name is Lovisa Sjöberg Nordahl and she is my girlfriend’s best friend. And I also have strings on stage, she says.

The lyrics have connections to her own life, she says.

— It’s about being in a destructive relationship that you would really have to leave. I think it’s important to write music that deals with things that both yourself and others have experienced so that you never have to feel alone.

Brandelius: Was moved

Uje Brandelius is also in good company on stage. With him is his partner Therese Hörnqvist and his real friends, who play themselves much like in his film “Spring Uje spring”.

— I saw it for the first time today and was actually moved. Mostly because my girl is seen so much. Then it will be like a love ballad to her, he says.

He thinks it’s fun to be in the competition. At the same time, he not unexpectedly feels a bit like an odd bird in the context.

— I have a bit of a hard time living up to this, walking around with a huge smile and saying “God, what fun!”. Now I might sound a little disjointed. I have chosen to participate here and there, but winning is not as important to me as it is to other artists.