Tonight Sweden picked their first two finalists to Globen in Stockholm as the first heat of Melodifestivalen took place in the city of Växjö.
Eight acts were competing for two direct places to Globen while two other songs were given a second chance by qualifying to the fifth heat where two more finalists will be chosen.
The songs: (You can read more about these participants in our Get to know article).
Song 1: Sean Banan – Sean Den Förste Banan
Sean starts the number in the middle of the crowd rolling/gliding in on a carpet to the repeated words of "Here comes the king gliding in". He is doing the crazy up-tempo number that he is expected to deliver and does it with a big smile on his face throughout the song. The number features a lot of dancing, several cloth changes and the LED walls in the background are showing bananas among many other things. The lyrics are a celebration to the land of Sweden and they are also on a quite low level (at one part mocking with Carola). The song itself is of the type that it won’t, like it or not, leave your head after you heard it.
Song 2: Abalone Dots – På väg
Abalone Dots number is in sharp contrast to Sean Banan. It’s a very soft and gentle song that is well sung. There isn’t much going on around the three girls on stage. A wind machine is used on stage during the performance to create the effect of three big flags moving in the wind behind the girls.
Song 3: The Moniker – I Want To Be Chris Isaak (This Is Just the Beginning)
The Moniker is accompanied by a band on stage. Both song and stage appearance are quite different from last year, there is not that much going on on stage this time and the song has a slower tempo than Oh my god!.
Song 4: Afro-Dite – The Boy Can Dance
Afro Dite are singing a 70’s disco inspired song. The girls are accompanied on stage by three male dancers. It’s professionally performed by three girls with a lot of experience.
Song 5: Dead by April – Mystery
Dead by Aprils does a rock song that uses growling vocals in the verses from one of the band members which is something that never has been heard in Melodifestivalen before. The rerfrain itself is sung by the lead singer. There is a big cage on the stage where the drummer sits.
Song 6: Marie Serneholt – Salt & Pepper
Marie is performing an uptempo number dressed in a golden catsuit which looks similar to the one that Agnes used some years ago. Marie is accompanied on stage by no less than six female dancers in black catsuits. A wind machine is also in use during the song in front of Marie.
Song 7: Thorsten Flinck & Revolutionsorkestern – Jag reser mig igen
Thorsten starts the song sitting on a stool. As the chorus "Jag reser mig igen" starts he stands up. Thorsten performs the number walking around, barefoot, on stage.
Song 8: Loreen – Euphoria
Loreen is performing her number on a stage covered in theatrical fog. She dances barefoot and alone on the stage during the song until the last minute where she is joined by a male dancer who is dressed like a ninja. This is a fast song and the dance beat resembles of the late 90’s dance music.
The show: The show begins with a quick look back on last years Melodifestival and Eurovision. The viewers are then welcomed by a choir from inside the arena and it soon transforms into a disco dance number. The three hosts Sarah Dawn Finer, Gina Dirawi and Helena Bergström takes over with a short presentation about the rules for this years competition.
Before the songs start each performer is walking on a catwalk through the arena accompanied by a song chosen by the performer.
After the eight songs being performed there was an interval act featuring a show number by the three hosts.
After showing a pre-recorded sketch number where the host Helena Bergström plays different kind of tv-viewers it’s time for the second interval act with the band Soundtrack Of Our Lives performing their own version of Dilbas song from 2011 Try Again.
The results:
Five songs went through from the first round of voting:
Song 1. Sean den förste banan by Sean Banan
Song 4: The boy can dance by Afro-Dite
Song 5: Mystery by Dead by April
Song 7: Jag reser mig igen by Thorsten Flinck & Revolutionsorkestern
Song 8: Euphoria by Loreen
After the second round of voting ended the first finalist to be announced was Loreen.
The second finalist was Dead by April.
Thorsten Flinck & Revolutionsorkestern and Sean Banan were 3rd and 4th and goes to the second chance heat
The rest of the results:
5. Afro-Dite
6. Marie Serneholt
7. Abalone Dots
8. The Moniker
(Note: who came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th is not revealed).
