This is the one most fans have been waiting for, the final of Melodifestivalen. After four semi-finals and a ‘second chance’ round, ten acts will compete for the honour of representing Sweden in Belgrade.
21:35:11In order of appearance tonight, the finalists are;
Charlotte Perelli – Hero
Sibel – That is Where I’ll Go
Rongedal – Just a Minute
Linda Bengtzing – Hur Svårt Kan det Va
Christer Sjögren – I Love Europe
Amy Diamond – Thank You
Sanna Nielsen – Empty Room
Nordman – I Lågornas Sken
Frida feat. Headline – Upp o Hoppa
BWO – Lay Your Love on Me
19:06:22 The finalists are being introduced to the audience and they are all wearing what appears to be blue dressing gowns.
Now that the introductions have taken place, it is time for the songs.
19:13:39 Charlotte Perilli – Hero. The 1999 winer enters the stage alone in a shiny if short dress and is soon joined by her backing dancers. This is one of the favourites and was well received by the enthusiastic audience.
19:22:19 Sibel – That is Where I’ll Go. The first ballad of the night was well performed by a nervous looking Sibel in a salmon coloured dress.
19:26:39 Rongedal – Just a Minute. Looking like the twin brothers of Matt Lucas and sounding like Mika, the chaps who backed the Electric Banana Band a couple of years ago could surprise a few people. They performed very confidently.
19:31:22 Linda Bengtzing – Hur Svårt Kan det Va. Sporting an outfit which includes bits of tartan (one of her male backing dancers is even wearing a skirt, sorry, kilt) and red gloves which matched the earlier dressing gown very well, she is her usual confident self. Well recieved by the audience.
19:38:52 Christer Sjögren – I Love Europe. This is perhaps one of the surprise finalists. Christer is backed by four female dancers clad in small blue dresses and waving blue feathers. At the end of the song, the dancers opened their dresses to reveal the flags of Europe. In a year of ‘nonsense’ songs, don’t rule this one out.
19:42:35 Amy Diamond – Thank You. Another of the surprise finalists. Amy looks and sounds like a Junior Eurovision entrant.
19:48:39 Sanna Nielsen – Empty Room. This is another of the favourites. Sanna gave a faultless performance of this strong ballad and the audience certainly appreciated it.
19:52:20 Nordman – I Lågornas Sken. Nordman had to qulaify via the second chance round last week. The lead singer looks like the type of person you would buy a pint for if he asked you to.
It’s obvious from all the flags in the Globen audience that there are many different nationalities present. Not many national finals can boast this, and it proves the huge appeal of Melodifestivalen.
19:57:50 Frida feat. Headline – Upp o Hoppa. The penultimate song could have come from a school playground but it the audience are bouncing around enjoying it.
20:04:49 BWO – Lay Your Love on Me. Yet another of the favourites, both with fans and bookies. This being the last song in a Scandinavian final, it must have a great chance of winning. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it and everything was the same as in the semi-final.
There now follows various forms of entertainment while the Swedish public vote for the winner. Join us in about 45 minutes to find out who they voted for.
21:31:02 – Charlotte has recieved the maximum 12 points from all five juries – this bring her clear in the lead with 60 points. Sanna has 38 points and BWO 34. It looks like Charlotte is back in Eurovision.
21:33:38 – the 6th jury only awarded 4 points to Charlotte while BWO got the 12 points… now it is time for Gothenburg to vote.
21:35:20 – 6 points to Charlotte, but only 8 for BWO. Rongedal got 12 points. Charlotte is still leading though.
21:37:13 – Charlotte recieved another 12 points and has now 82 points. Rongedal has 64, BWO 56 and Sanna has 50 points.
21:39:23 – After the points from Malmø all songs has now got points as Frida feat. headline finally got some points. Sibel got 12 points. Stockholm to vote now.
21:41:28 – Charlotte wins the jury vote with a total of 114 points. Rongedal: 76 points. Now the public will vote.
21:44:16 – Another preview runs over the screen while the public is asked to vote. This is their chance to show if they agree with the jury. In case jury and public have each their winner with the same amount of points the public votes will count more.
21:53:49 – The voting lines are now closed. Soon we’ll see if the TV viewers agree with the jury and sends Charlotte to Belgrade.
22:00:56 – public vote: 11 points to Amy Diamond. 22 to Christer’s I love Europe. 44 to Nordman…
22:02:5166 points to Rongedal. 88 points to BWO…
22:03:57 – and the winner is…. Charlotte!! Will she be a hero and win the Eurovision Song Contest again?
22:09:03 – Charlotte has just performed her winning song again. The last song for Belgrade has been chosen and time will tell if Charlotte will join Johnny Logan on the list of singers who win twice…. EuroVisionary says thank you and goodbye for now – but we’ll be back soon! All songs are chosen and now it is time for videos, promotion, preview shows etc before we go to Belgrade.
