Eric Saade is flattered that viewers see him as their favourite, Sanna Nielsen is celebrateing 15 years as an artist and Linda Bengtzing has a bad temper in the morning. EuroVisionary met three of this year’s finalists to take their pulse before the final.
Eric Saade
Last year when you participated in Melodifestivalen you were quite unknown to the viewers, this year you were tipped as a favourite from start, how does that feel?
It’s really flattering that people have those expectations, but at the same time it’s a pity because you want the viewers to have zero expectations and not expect too much. But of course it’s fun and flattering, but I don’t think about it so much.
Are there any differences between your preparations last year and this year?
Yes…or, maybe a little bit during the time between the semi final and the final. This year I just have been writing songs all the time, and tried not to think about Melodifestivalen at all. Last year I was training like a madman all the time. So that’s the big difference.
I read an interview that you said that you don’t want to participate in Melodifestivalen again, how come?
I’ve done this two years in a row now and after last year I felt that it was a really great breakthrough for me and it was really fun. But also felt that I could do this one more time and invest more in it and do an international performance and show growth. If I don’t go the whole way…. I can’t do this every other year. I just want to release music and try to build a career abroad.
What are your expectations for the final on Saturday?
My only expectation is that it will be so great atmosphere in the arena on Saturday so that all of the artists will do the performance of their life.
What are your plans for the future?
I will release an album in the summer and I will go out on a summer tour in Sweden. And I hope, we have also talked a little bit about trying to build a career abroad.
What question would you like to be asked, and what would the answer be?
Question: I would like people to ask me about my music, about how my next album is going to sound like. I like music questions.
And the answer is: It will be a little bit more electro, club and pop music.
Sanna Nielsen
This is the sixth time you are participating in Melodifestivalen, what motivates you to do this over and over again?
You can see Melodifestivalen from so many different angles. I celebrate 15 years as an artist this year. As soon as Melodifestivalen is over I will go on a big anniversary tour. I had decided not to participate this year, I felt that now it’s enough. But because I celebrate 15 years as an artist and got a song like this I thought that is was perfect to start the anniversary with Melodifestivalen.
What was your first thought when you realized that you was the artist getting the highest amount of votes in semi final?
I couldn’t believe it. I think it shows on TV, I was so nervous in greenroom. I can’t even talk about it, I start to stutter and stuff. I was really nervous in greenroom; I don’t like to sit there at all. When I was called up on stage because I was the one getting the highest amount of votes I was ecstatic of course.
What is your expectation for the final on Saturday?
You can’t really expect that you know what’s going to happen; there are always a lot of surprises. I think that is kind of fun, it’s kind of a fun dilemma. You never know what will happen and you can just hope that people will vote for what they like. And so far they have proved that is what they do.
What question would you like to be asked, and what would the answer be?
Question: Sanna, what do you think about your chances in Düsseldorf?
The answer is: I think they are really good.
Linda Bengtzing
You have participated three times before, what motivates you to do this over and over again?
The record company thinks this is a good opportunity to market myself. On a personal level I think this is the world’s greatest party. And with party I don’t mean that I like to drink alcohol. Its happiness, great people surrounding you and you get treated like a princess. But on the other hand you are a princess that gets judged and beaten in the media, people forget that sometimes. But I love my songs and as long as I do that and feel this happy I could do this a hundred times.
Tell me about the first time you heard your song?
The first time I heard it I only heard 10 seconds and it was so stressful and hysterical and I just felt no, no, no! But then they did a whole new production and a new lyric and after that I immediately felt that this is the song!
What was your first though when you realized that you were the one getting the highest amount of votes in your semi final?
First thought was if I heard the hosts correctly. At first I was afraid that I had done like Camilla in Swedish Idol when she misunderstood the host, thinking she was the one going through to the next round. But then I saw my composers cheering and then I was so happy and I felt like I had won everything, everything.
How has the time between the semi final and the final been for you?
I have only done ordinary stuff, like leavening my daughter at day-care and picking her up at the end of the day.
What question would you like to be asked, and what would the answer be?
Question: Linda, are you that happy when you wake up in the morning.
The answer is: No, I’m not, I don’t like mornings. In the mornings you don’t recognize me as a person.
EuroVisionary would like to thank Eric Saade, Sanna Nielsen and Linda Bengtzing for their time.
