Tonight Sweden held it’s Second chance heat which was the last heat before the final in Friends Arena on the 8 of March. This was a new chance for the 3rd and 4th placed songs from the four previous heats to qualify to the final.
The previous four heats of Melodifestivalen 2014:
The songs:
1. Ammotrack – Raise Your Hands (Music & Lyrics: Jari Kujansuu, Thomas Johansson, Calle Kindbom, Mikael de Bruin)
Just like in the fourth heat the long-haired guys of Ammotrack starts behind a wall of steel with the bands name in red letters on the front. The walls open up as the intro ends and you can hear he bands lead singer Mikael. Behind and to the sides of Mikael we have the four band members. There are two motorbikes on the stage and the colours of the backdrop goes in blue and black. The only distinct change from the performance in the fourth heat is that light rig that was behind the guys is now raised up in the ceiling. The performance is quite powerful but the fact that there is another metal band coming later in the show will lower the bands chances to reach a desirable place in the final.
2. Linus Svenning – Bröder (Music & Lyrics: Fredrik Kempe)
Linus delivers his moving song about his passed away
brother wher the refrain goes "Dear brothers, what can one
do when your heart is bleeding". Linus starts the song standing on a platform in the crowd, he is
then walking up to the stage singing. He is wearing a black jacket, tank top and black pants. The TV-screens behind Linus are showing pictures of
Linus together with his brother. No significant changes from the performance in the first heat. The singing is not always perfect but Linus could still do really well tonight given it is a song with a message that will touch the viewers hearts.
3. J.E.M. – Love Trigger (Music & Lyrics: Thomas G:son , Peter Boström, Julimar "J-Son" Santos)
The trio J.E.M. performs a modern dance song with male member in the band, Jermaine, doing some rap before the refrain. The performance is looking much the same as in the second heat with the three large steel boxes on stage which Jeremie, Elli and Meg sings both in front of and, later in the song, also are standing on when the boxes have been tipped over. The band looks more relaxed compared to the heat in Linköping and looks to have fun on th stage. With an energetic performance and a powerful beat this should be in the top of the competition when the show is over.
4. State of Drama – All We Are (Music & Lyrics: Göran Werner, Sanken Sandqvist, Emil Gullhamn)
State of Drama made it to the final last year by finishing second in their heat. In the third heat this year the band however failed to take a direct place in the final. When the song begins it is only the singer Emil who can be seen on the stage. As the refrain comes the whole stage s lighted up and the rest of the band members can be seen. A rain of confetti starts falling down as the song approaches the end. The song has an effective sing-a-long refrain but suffers from being a bit repetitive which could be its downfall.
5. Elinore Holmer – En himmelsk sång (Music & Lyrics: Ellinore Holmer, Vanna Rosenberg, Åsa Schmalenbach, Josefina Sanner, Henrik Wikström, Amir Aly)
One of the biggest surprises so far in Melodifestivalen came from Ellinore Holmer who came top 4 in the heat in Örnsköldsvik. She is alone on the stage and performs her fragile ballad in the same blue dress as she wore in the fourth heat. Ellinore is not pitch perfect when she sings but has a song that stands out as from the rest of the competition, will it be enough to surprise again?
6. Martin Stenmarck – När änglarna går hem (Music & Lyrics: Andreas Öhrn, Alexander Bard, Martin Stenmarck, Peter Boström)
Martin, who represented Sweden with the song Las Vegas in Eurovision 2005, has a new outfit for this heat. The black leather jacket and checkered pants are replaced by a silvery jacket, glittery black t-shirt and grey pants. The song is far from his 2005 entry, it’s a dramatic pop songthat starts in low key and then explodes in an effective refrain. Just as in the heat in Linköping there is a big wall with warm pulsing lights behind Martin. Martin is an excellent live performer and he can now only hope for that the song is strong enough to make the viewers vote for him.
7. Helena Paparizou – Survivor (Music & Lyrics: Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Sharon Vaughn)
Many were surprised when the 2005 Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou failed to reach top 2 in the first heat in Malmö. Elena has made some changes since Malmö, she is now wearing black leather pants, a glittery black top and a black jacket with frings. The song begins with Helena alone on the dark stage in a blue spotlight and with a microphone stand. As the refrain starts the stage lights up in a blue colour. Elena drops the microphone stand after the first refrain and for the second refrains she moves towards the stage. At the end of the song the stage is lighted up by yellow spotlights and there is a big golden firework behind Elena. The criticism from the first heat was that the number gave an impression of being rather "cold". Helena now tries to give it some warmth by smiling into the camera at the end of the song. A professional number from Elena and she is a hot favourite tonight to proceed to the final.
8. Outtrigger – Echo (Music & Lyrics: Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad, John Löfgren, Simon Peyron, Timmy Andersson, Joakim Agnemyr, Adam Axelsson)
Last out is the metal band Outtrigger. Just like in the third heat we see the members of the band in metal cages on the stage and the lead singer Simon in a straitjacket and wearing a mask. A bit of dama occurs when Simon drops the mask just before the performance starts. He manages to get it on just as the song starts. He breaks free from the mask as he starts to sing and then removes the straitjacket and comes out of the cage after the first refrain. Towards the end of the song the rest of the band members, except the drummer, comes out of the cages to join Simon. A good powerful performance but the problem for Outtrigger is that they probably will have to race for the same voters as Ammotrack.
The show:
The show tonight took place in the town of Lidköping which is located in the western regions of Sweden. After a quick look back at last Saturdays show the viewers are treated with the opening act that seems to go under the theme of "fire" with a circus-like number featuring fire-eaters and jongleurs performing together to the tunes of rock music.
After the eight performances there’s a quick runthrough of the songs for the TV-viewers. Then it’s time to meet Tiffany Persson, a famous role figure played by the host Anders Jansson, who walks among the performers in the green room talking and pulling jokes.
After presenting the five songs who went through the first round it’s time for the interval act which is none less than the Eurovision 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest who is performing her new single Rainmaker, which also happens to be the theme song for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest. A song that was premiered some weeks ago in the Maltese national final.
The result:
Five songs went through from the first round of voting:
Song 2: Bröder by Linus Svenning
Song 4: All We Are by State of Drama
Song 6: När änglarna går hem by Martin Stenmarck
Song 7: Survivor by Helena Paparizou
Song 8: Echo by Outtrigger
J.E.M. was first announced as going through to the second round but it showed to be a fault in the graphics. After the second round of voting ended the four songs with most votes from the first and second round goes to the next round where they compete in duels. The vote counters are restarted on 0 and the remaining four songs are up against each other in pairs where the winners goes to the final in Stockholm.
The first competing pair is Outtrigger and Helena Paparizou. The second competing pair is Linus Svenning and Martin Stenmarck. The one with the least votes that has to leave the competition is State of Drama. The winner of the first duel and finalist to be announced
was Helena Paparizou. The second finalist was Linus Svenning.
The rest of the results:
6. J.E.M.
7. Ellinor Holmer
8. Ammotrack
(Note: who came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th is not revealed until after the Final).
The line-up for the final in Friends Arena and complete starting order looks like this:
1. Anton Ewald – Natural
2. Ellen Benediktson – Songbird
3. Alcazar – Blame It On the Disco
4. Oscar Zia – Yes We Can
5. Linus Svenning – Bröder
6. Helena Paparizou – Survivor
7. YOHIO – To the End
8. Sanna Nielsen – Undo
9. Panetoz – Efter solsken
10.Ace Wilder – Busy Doin’ Nothin’
