This weekend is the Grand Final of Sweden's Melodifestivalen, where the nation will decide its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Hosted by Carina Berg from Friends Arena in Stockholm, twelve artists will battle it out to see who will win the ticket to represent Sweden in Malmö.
The songs competing - ranked by the Aussievision team
Thirteen members of the Aussievision team have weighed in on who they want to see win, using Eurovision-style scoring to rank their top 10 acts from 12 points down to one.
12. Jay Smith - 'Back To My Roots' (12 points)
Highs: 6 points from Craig
Lows: 0 points from Mark, John Christian, Sam, Cooper, Hayley, Tim, Emma, Kiel and Hugo, 1 point from Liv, 2 points from Dale
11. Lisa Ajax - 'Awful Liar' (39 points)
Highs: 8 points from Tim and Emma
Lows: 0 points from Mark, Hayley and Dale, 1 point from Kiel and Hugo, 2 points from Cooper, Craig and Fleur.
"This is by far and away her best Melfest song she’s competed with. The ballad hits all the emotions and I feel genuinely connected to the song and the emotions within the lyrics. Lisa is singing the pants off this song. It has a really catchy hook throughout it. I think this would be a great choice for Sweden come the final in May." ~ Tim
10. Smash Into Pieces - 'Heroes Are Calling' (40 points)
Highs: 10 points from Kiel
Lows: 0 points from Cooper, Craig and Emma, 1 point from Mark, Fleur and Dale, 2 points from John Christian
"This is such a step up from their efforts last year, which sounded like a poor-man's Linkin Park cut. A really well-constructed track with a solid chorus especially those 'CALLING OUT, CALLING OUT, CALLING OOOWWW-TTT's and the hand-clap segment towards the end. While I have a feeling Sweden again will play it safe and go for another poppier offering, Smash Into Pieces can be proud of what they've done here, and they'll challenge for a potential shock win. And let's face it, more rock in Eurovision is NEVER a bad thing." ~ Kiel
9. Annika Wickihalder - 'Light' (41 points)
Highs: 10 points from Emma
Lows: 0 points from Sam, Fleur, Kiel and Dale, 2 points from Mark and Liv
"Annika has done an amazing job making the Melfest final on her first attempt. Something about this song really resonates with me. It's got a great hook that you can sing along to and her voice really soars especially when she hits the key change towards at the end of the song. I think I like it because it's not your typical Melfest song which makes it stand out so much from the pack. Could be a dark horse to do better then people expect." ~ Emma
8. Danny Saucedo - 'Happy That You Found Me' (44 points)
Highs: 10 points from Dale
Lows: 0 points from Craig, 1 point from John Christian, Sam and Emma, 2 points from Kiel and Hugo
7. Cazzi Opeia - 'Give My Heart A Break' (53 points)
Highs: 10 points from Sam
Lows: 0 points from Tim, Liv and Hugo, 1 point from Cooper, 2 points from Emma
"Cazzi is back doing what she does best – channelling childish pop with charm. Like most of her songs, this tune has an absolutely infectious hook in the chorus. I also adore her pink, sparkly, puffy Melfest outfit. With the sea animal background, Cazzi almost looks like a funky, Scandinavian Disney princess." ~ Sam
6. Medina - 'Que Sera' (61 points)
Highs: 12 points from Mark, 8 points from Kiel and Dale
Lows: 0 points from Fleur, 1 point from Hayley, 2 points from Sam and Tim
"Douz points for sheer joy alone. The anthemic chorus is the most fun on offer at Melfest this year. While other acts might be slicker or look more modern, Medina remembers to bring the audience in the room along for the ride." ~ Mark
5. Liamoo - 'Dragon' (77 points)
Highs: 10 points from Craig, Fleur and Liv
Lows: 0 points from John Christian
"I didn't love this on first listen, but it's now sufficiently wedged in my head that I keep having intrusive thoughts where LIAMOO yells "NANA MY ENEMIES" at me. The guy is hot, the song is catchy, the staging is good - I shan't complain." ~ Craig
"This I thought was one of the better songs this year. LIAMOO has changed his music direction and this showcases his voice better. There are some moments in this song. Honestly though, its called 'Dragon' and I just want to see how it is staged at Eurovision." ~ Fleur
"Liamoo is always a favourite of mine - I love his smooth vocal and stage presence. The song is fairly generic but he can elevate it." ~ Liv
4. Dotter - 'It's Not Easy to Write A Love Song' (78 points)
Highs: 12 points from John Christian, 10 points from Tim and Hugo, 8 points from Cooper and Liv
Lows: 1 point from Craig, 2 points from Hayley
"Dotter was completely robbed of her shot at Eurovision glory, I hope she will do it for the third time. As far as I am concerned, this is the closest that Sweden will get, and I hope that Sweden won't do the same mistake Finland, Denmark, and Norway did. Her song is not just raw, it is perfect for those who are not just heartbroken in a relationship, but also those who struggle to think of the perfect words to write a love song." ~ John Christian
"I’ve always have a soft spot for Dotter and I’ve loved all her Melfest bangers. This ballad though is exceptional and I think just shows her incredible vocal range and her song writing ability. Some of the lyrics are really well put together. I’d love for this to win because I think Dotter has the capacity to not only attract international public votes in May but also appeal to the juries which can help Sweden come the final." ~ Tim
"I don’t think this is my second favourite song out of this lineup, but it’s my second choice to go to Eurovision, simply because it brings something different than produced, perhaps plastic Swedish pop. Dotter wrote this song with her partner and she really means what she sings; this is an impactful ballad and I love it. I dearly hope she gets her chance on the Eurovision stage one day!" ~ Hugo
3. Jacqline - 'Effotless' (92 points)
Highs: 12 points from Tim and Dale, 10 points from Hayley, 8 points from Mark and Fleur
Lows: 3 points from John Christian
"There is something incredibly strong and catchy about this song. It sounds very Dua Lipa esque and has this driving beat behind it. Jacqline’s vocals are scintillating and definitely help elevate the song. The lyrics, whilst being a tad tacky, are still really well put together and help make the song engaging. I really enjoy this song and I think this is what is missing from Eurovision this year. Sweden may even have an 8th winner here. Catchy, cool and memorable." ~ Tim
"This is clearly the pop song of this line up. This sounds like something that could be a commercial radio hit with just enough Melfest magic dust without being cliche. Jacqline is a great performer and the staging is slick. I worry it may not have enough live stage impact for a shot at the title, but it's god damn it's a killer track." ~ Dale
2. Marcus & Martinus - 'Unforgettable' (107 points)
Highs: 12 points from Sam, Cooper, Craig, Liv and Hugo, 10 points from Mark, 8 points from John Christian and Hayley
Lows: 1 point from Tim
"A likely winner, this package is a technical marvel. The way the production team have transformed the space is chef’s kiss. The song is sticky too. But where’s the personality? Where’s the heart? Where’s the connection with the audience? Big ‘Nickelodeon does The Matrix’ energy." ~ Mark
"To be honest I did not want to like this act. The thought of Norwegians representing Sweden at Eurovision, a country with so many talented musicians, especially during their host year, doesn’t sit well with me. This is coupled with the fact these two look like Scandinavian Justin Bieber clones from a pop music factory. However, the staging for this is absolutely incredible and could be the best ever seen at Melfest. It is striking, futuristic and riveting. The song itself, whilst not as good as the staging, channels this energy well. If this wins Melfest I actually think Sweden could have a solid chance of having back-to-back Eurovision victories." ~ Sam
"In my eyes this is actual perfection for a Eurovision entry. The song is contemporary, catchy and an absolute banger. Where this really comes alive is with the staging, god damn! I'd describe it as if they perfected the staging concept of 'Dance You Off' back from 2018. The Light walls creating space and a full surrounding visual feast works incredibly well with the LED and camera cuts. Truly some of the best staging I've ever seen. This will give Sweden another top ten with ease, probably top five even." ~ Cooper
"Let's get my one criticism of this out upfront: the lyrics of this song make me wish I didn't understand English. Otherwise, this is easily my favourite song in this lineup, with a well-executed build, catchy drop and some truly next-level stagecraft that really lifts this. Please translate it into Swedish (or Norwegian, I don't mind), but otherwise I'm keen to see this in Malmö." ~ Craig
"Staging of the selection for me - there is something captivating about this odd-ball twin duo. 'Unforgettable' sounds like a video game, final boss battle score but in the best way possible." ~ Liv
"Just the most slick pop package that Sweden has ever Swedened (even though the boys are Norwegian!). This feels like the darker, edgier version of ‘Air’, but equally as catchy and that bass and beat throughout. Staging is futuristic and just plain cool. In quite an even year of Melfest, this feels like the right pick for Eurovision." ~ Hugo
1. Maria Sur - 'When I'm Gone' (110 points)
Highs: 12 points from Hayley, Fleur, Emma and Kiel, 10 points from John Christian and Cooper, 8 points from Sam, Craig and Hugo
Lows: 0 points from Liv
"If Dotter won't win, this might be the alternative. If she wins, I can tell you that she is coming for another finish in the Eurovision Top 3 this year." ` John Christian
"I really enjoyed this package. The light show in this is spectacular. The track itself is reminiscent of the dance anthems from the early 2010s. It is the sort of music that would really set the mood in the laser tag arenas I used to frequent in primary school – and therefore makes me very nostalgic. It won’t win from the opening slot, but I hope this does well." ~ Sam
"Dark dance-pop with really cool staging? Yes please! Maria Sur absolutely blew me away with this entry on first viewing. The hook is memorable and the production remains punchy and in your face the whole 3 minutes. This would fly straight to the top of my Eurovision rankings if Sweden were to send her this year." ~ Cooper
"I think this is a great bop for the host nation. It is very Scandi-pop with its big moments. The song suits Maria's vocals well. I quite like the electro beats in the background. It isn't the most amazing song but it can go reasonably well at Eurovision." ~ Fleur
"I love seeing Maria back at Melfest with a song that is so different to her ballad in 2023. Showing her versatility as a performer we see that Maria has got all the moves. This is a slick package and the light show is amazing although the song stands up as a studio track without all the bells and whistles. It's not going to be easy for her to take the win being the show opener but I think she'd be an amazing choice for Sweden to send to their home contest." ~ Emma
"Eye candy in droves, incredible staging and a really accessible song - its going to be hard to top Maria Sur winning MelFest this year. Good luck trying to get those 'oh-oh-ohs' out of your head from the chorus. Like Smash Into Pieces, her offering is such a step up from last year - and her story of escaping war-torn Ukraine is sure to also appeal to fans. If she wins, its a quality choice for Sweden in their bid for back-to-back titles, and probably the country's best chance of achieving just that." ~ Kiel
Melodifestivalen Final running order
The running order for the Final is as follows:
Maria Sur - 'When I'm Gone'
Jay Smith - 'Back to My Roots'
Lisa Ajax - 'Awful Liar'
Smash Into Pieces - 'Heroes Are Calling'
Cazzi Opeia - 'Give My Heart a Break'
Annika Wickihalder - 'Light'
Marcus & Martinus - 'Unforgettable'
Dotter - 'It's Not Easy to Write a Love Song'
Medina - 'Que Sera'
LIAMOO - 'Dragon'
Jacqline - 'Effortless'
Danny Saucedo - 'Happy That You Found Me'
Voting
The international juries will determine 50% of the result at the Melodifestivalen 2024 Final.
Juries from eight countries will be voting including Australia!! Australia has previously been part of the Melodifestivalen jury in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
The other international juries will be from Serbia, Iceland, Belgium, Malta, Ireland, Cyprus and Germany.
The remaining 50% of the vote will be determined by the public.
Voting by the public is via the official Melodifestivalen app or phone with a maximum of five votes per person. After all 12 songs have been performed and the results of the international jury announced, voters will be given a chance to vote one more time (one vote per person).
As in the heats and semi-final the public voting results via the app will be determined using the age group system.
3-9 years old, Green group
10-15 years old, Turquoise group
16-29 years old, Blue group
30-44 years old, Purple group
45-59 years old, Pink group
60-74 years old, Red group
75 years old and above, Orange group
Each age group's vote will carry a score of 12, 10, 8–1. Public votes received via phone become the eighth category and together with the app votes make up the other 50% of the result.
How To Watch
The Final of Melodifestivalen 2024 will take place on the morning of Sunday March 10 (Australian time) and can be watched via the SVT Play website.
English commentary will also be available through the SVT Play app.
The show will begin at:
8:00pm, Saturday March 9 Central European Time
3:00am Sunday March 10, WA
4:30am Sunday March 10, NT
5:00am Sunday March 10, QLD
5:30am Sunday March 10, SA
6:00am Sunday March 10, ACT, NSW, TAS, VIC
For continued updates on all the Eurovision Song Contest news follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. All links at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet