Eurovision Eurovision 2014 Sweden

Sweden: Returning artists in Melodifestivalen 2014

Melodifestivalen’s 2014 kick off is really close so it’s a good time to take a look at the returning artists this year. How many times have they entered Melodifestivalen? Veterans or trying their luck for the second time? How far did they go the last time they entered the contest? Let’s see…

Semi-final 1

Yohio enters Melodifestivalen for the second time. Last year he came 2nd in the final with “Heartbreak Hotel“. He actually won the televoting but the juries put a stop to his victory.
Alvaro Estrella is actually entering the contest for the first time but he’s quite familiar with this since he was a dancer and/or a backing vocalist for previous entries. Eg Sweden 2011 and Azerbaijan 2013.
Sylvester Schlegel. The drummer of The Ark is trying his luck solo for the first time. He won with The Ark back in 2007 with “The Worrying Kind” and brought to Sweden the 18th place.

Semi-final 2

Sanna Nielsen is back once again! There is a long mello story behind Sanna. She entered the contest for the first time in 2001 with “IgÃ¥r, Idag” where she finished 3rd in the final. She returned in 2003 with “Hela Världen För Mig” where she finished 5th in the final. Two years later she entered Melodifestivalen again but this time not solo. She sang “Du Och Jag Mot Världen” with Fredrik Kempe and they finished 8th in the final. She took a break for a year and in 2007 she tried her luck again with “VÃ¥gar Du, VÃ¥gar Jag“. She made it to the final through andra chansen and she finished 7th. In 2008 she came back with “Empty Room“. Sanna came first in the televoting but 2nd overall and therefore it wasn’t her that made it to Belgrade. The last time (until this year) she entered the contest was 3 years ago with “I’m In Love” where she finished 4th in the final.
Martin Stenmarck returns to Melodifestivalen for the second time. Last time he entered was in 2005 when he actually won with “Las Vegas” but he actually came second in the televoting! He finished 19th in Eurovision.

Semi-final 3

Oscar Zia enters Melodifestivalen for the second time but it’s his first solo attempt. Last year he joined Behrang Miri and sang “Jalla Dansa Sawa“. They only made it to andra chansen.
Shirley Clamp
returns for the 6th time. In 2003 made her debut with “Mr Memory” where she finished 6th in her semi. 2004 was a good year for her. Her song “Min Kärlek” gave her the 2nd place in Melodifestivalen’s final. Shirley came back again in 2005 with “Att Älska Dig” where she finished 4th in the final. 2009 brought to Shirley her worst result in her mello history. 8th in her semi with “Med Hjärtat Fyllt Av Ljus“. In 2011 she tried something different. She entered Melodifestivalen with Jessica Marbeger and Vera Prada. The three of them were Shirley’s Angel and sang “I Thought It Was Forever” only to make it unti andra chansen. So unfair if you ask me!
Dr. Alban & Jessica Folcker are entering Melodifestivalen for the first time together. It’s the first time ever for Dr. Alban but not for Jessica. She tried her luck back in 2005 with “Om Natten” where she finished 6th in her semi and in 2006 with “When Love’s Comin’ Back” where she finished 7th in her semi. Third time’s the charm?

Semi-final 4

Alcazar are back!! They made their debut in 2003 with “Not A Sinner Nor A Saint“. They made it to the final through “viewers’ choice” and they finished 3rd. In 2005 they entered Melodifestivalen with “Alcastar” finishing 3rd in the final but after going through andra chansen process. After their 2,5-year break the group was back under a different format. They entered Melodifestivalen in 2009 with “Stay The Night” where they finished 5th in the final. They returned the next year with “Headlines” but they only made it to andra chansen.
That’s all about Alcazar as a group. However two of the three members tried their luck as solo artists. Andreas Lundstedt made his Melodifestivalen debut back in 1996 with “Driver Dagg Faller Regn” where he finished 2nd in the final. In 1997 he came back with “Jag Saknar Dig, Jag Saknar Dig” finishing 7th in the final. In 2006 he represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of six4one with the song “If We All Give A Little“. They finished 16th in the final. Since Alcazar were still inactive he entered Melodifestivalen 2007 as a solo artist, 10 years after his last solo attempt. He sang “Move” but he finished 6th in his semi. Alcazar reunited in the end of 2007 but took a break again in the summer of 2011 so Andreas decided to enter Melodifestivalen one more time in 2012 with the song “Aldrig Aldrig“. He only came 7th in his semi.
Lina Hedlund entered Melodifestivalen for the first time in 2002. She performed “Big Time Party” with her sister Hanna. They finished 9th in the final. In 2003 Lina entered the contest solo with “Nothing Can Stop Me“. She moved to viewers’ choice but she didn’t advance to the final.
Janet Leon is back for the second time. Last year she sang “Heartstrings” and finished 5th in her semi.
Linda Bengtzing is also back after 3 years of absence. Her first attempt was in 2005 with “Alla Flickor“. After making it to the final through andra chansen she finished 9th in the final. In 2006 she came back with “Jag Ljuger SÃ¥ Bra” where she finished 7th in the final. She took a mello-break for a year and in 2008 she performed “Hur SvÃ¥rt Kan Det Va’?” which brought to her the best result until now. 5th place in the final. Her last attempt was in 2011 with “E Det Fel PÃ¥ Mej?“. She easily sailed to the final but finished at the 7th place.And finally, Anton Ewald is back for the second time. Last year he made it to the final through andra chansen with “Begging” and finished 4th.

I didn’t mention Helena Paparizou in the list of semi 1 because it’s actually her debut in Melodifestivalen but I’m a Greek, a huge fan of hers and I think she deserves an introduction. Actually it’s more of a reminder coz I’m sure she’s no stranger to the eurofans’ community. Right? So, Helena brought the 3rd place to Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest of 2001 where she performed “Die For You” as part of Antique. She’s also a Eurovision winner. 1st place with “My Number One” in 2005, again, for Greece. She might be a debutant in the competing part of Melodifestivalen but she won’t stand on mello’s stage for the first time. She performed “My Number One” in the interval act of Melodifestivalen 2006 and she also performed a burlesque version of Eric Saade’s “Popular” in the interval act of 2012. So in 9 days from now, she will make her debut in Melodifestivalen 2014!

Will one of the returning artists finally win? (well except for Martin and Sylvester who have already won once) Or will the “new flesh” take the ticket to Copenhagen?

Eurovision

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