Facts: They compete in Lidköping
1. “Royals” – Paul Rey.
099-908 01 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 01 (3.60 kroner per vote).
2. “Then the feelings come back” – Casanovas.
099-908 02 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 02 (3.60 kroner per vote).
3. “For the show” – Melanie Wehbe.
099-908 03 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 03 (3.60 kroner per vote).
4. “Let go of all sorrows” – Nordman.
099-908 04 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 04 (3.60 kroner per vote).
5. “Sober” – Laurell.
099-908 05 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 05 (3.60 kroner per vote).
6. “Let the whole town watch” – Ida-Lova.
099-908 06 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 06 (3.60 kroner per vote).
7. “Air” – Marcus & Martinus.
099-908 07 (9.90 kroner per vote, of which 9.20 kroner goes to Radiohjälpen).
099-208 07 (3.60 kroner per vote).
The Melodifestivalen enters the second half of the starting field tonight when part three of four is decided in Lidköping. As expected, Marcus & Martinus got the biggest cheers when they performed at Friday night’s rehearsal in front of the audience.
The Norwegians also top the audience survey by far The Melodifestival Club traditionally made on the rep audience. The duo received a whopping 45.5 percent of the vote for their song “Air.”
The other big advance favorite has been Nordman, not least because of the group’s long and successful career. But Mats Wester and Håkan Hemlin only end up in third place with 10.7 percent of the votes.
Fragmentation
Instead, Paul Rey sails forward like something of a banger. The Malmö artist’s contribution “Royals” is preferred by 19.4 percent of those who have voted.
— There is a big split in the votes between Nordman and (the dance band) Casanovas. They attract the same demographic, but in the real vote you can vote for several artists, so maybe that means that Nordman has a chance, Ben Robertson in Melodifestivalklubben analyzes the results of the public vote.
Marcus & Martinus are big favorites in Lidköping.
Melodifestivalklubben asked 692 randomly selected spectators in Lidköping, so the result is not statistically certain and must be taken with a pinch of salt. Before the competition in Linköping last week, for example, Theoz received by far the most votes, but missed the final.
Thrives in the shade
However, the audience poll was “right” and scored both finalists in the first part of the competition in Gothenburg, Tone Sekelius and Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North featuring Adam Woods.
Despite the fact that he is participating for the third time in four years and has been in the final both times he has competed before, Paul Rey has not been mentioned among the advance favourites, next to Nordman and Marcus & Martinus.
It suits him.
— I have nothing against being in the shadow of their participation. It’s good that they take the pressure and all the expectations. It works fine, he says.
But Paul Rey has come sixth in Melodifestivalen as the best, three years ago. So he has an audience and his song “Royals” shouldn’t be counted out.
— I’m honestly just happy to be involved. Then it’s crazy fun to be able to perform with a song that is different compared to my other songs. It’s more energetically grand and I like that more.
– Then we’ll see how it goes, it’s out of my control.
Svenne & Lotta in Melodifestivalen 1975. Tonight they are celebrated and elected to the Hall of fame. Afro-dite celebrates
Alongside the competition, the classic schlager duo Svenne & Lotta will be celebrated and inducted into Melodifestivalen’s Hall of Fame, a few months after Svenne Hedlund’s death last year.
Afro-dite will sing their version of Svenne & Lotta’s song “Bang, en boomerang” which came third in Melodifestivalen 1975. The connection to Afro-dite is that group member Blossom Tainton Lindquist’s father Graham did the choreography for the original performance 48 years ago.
Petra Mede is also elected to Melodifestivalen’s Hall of Fame. She has led the competition twice and also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.
In addition, presenter Farah Abadi will perform on stage with Dolly Style, the group that has competed in Melodifestivalen three times and will perform the evening’s opening number.
Melodifestivalen is broadcast at 20:00 on SVT1.