Melodifestivalen, the national selection that most fans are waiting for, continues in Sweden tonight!
The fourth semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2021 will be broadcast live from Stockholm at 20:00 CET. Below you will find all the necessary information regarding tonight’s semi-final. Hosts, artists, running order, backing vocalists and more!
1. Tess Merkel – “Good Life”
Text & music: Palle Hammarlund, Tony Malm, Tess Merkel, Mats Tärnfors
Alcazar-Tess is back for the 6th time in Melodifestivalen but this is the first time she competes solo. She has 20 years of experience under her belt with Alcazar and she has been quite involved with Melodifestivalen as she has choreographed and served as a backing vocalist for various artists over the years.
Tess about her entry: “If I would describe my song in one sentence, I would say that no matter what happens in life, there is always joy, love and hope to fight for, and above all, life should be celebrated. The song came into being during a very blue and heavy period of my life. I felt weak and started to write to get it out of the system, and it all turned out so blue. So I thought: ‘Dammit, time to make something positive out of this! Good Life, here I come.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Sara Nordenberg
Choreographers and performance creators: Dennis Brøchner, Zain Odelstål, Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren
Dancers: Fatou Bah, Sanna Jansson, Carin Mårtensson Årenäs, Louise Wallentin
2. Lovad – “Allting Är Precis Likadant”
Text & music: Mattias Andréasson, Lova Drevstam, Albin Johnsén, Alexander Nivek
Lovad is debuting in Melodifestivalen 2021. She released her first single in 2018, titled “Min syster sa”. In 2019, Lovad was named as one of the Stockholms Topp 5 by Sveriges Radio. She was also awarded a music and songwriting scholarship in STIM. Her stage name comes from her first name, Lova and the first letter of her last name which is Drevstam.
Lovad about her entry: “If I would describe my song in one sentence, I would say: maybe you have to break to get whole again. It’s going to be fragile, on the breaking-point. I might start crying, I don’t know.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): –
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren
Dancers: Daniel Koivunen
3. Efraim Leo – “Best Of Me”
Text & music: Amanda Björkegren, Herman Gardarfve, Cornelia Jakobsdotter, Efraim Leo
The 23-year-old artist and song writer debuts in this year’s Melodifestivalen. He started playing the guitar at 13 and later he started composing his own songs. His first single came out in 2019, titled “You got me wrong”.
Efraim about his entry: “It’s a song about how hard it is to leave someone that you like. It was born when I, Cornelia, Amanda and Herman were sitting at a Stockholm hotel room in morning wraps and jamming. At the end of the day, the song was there. The viewers can expect a delightful and energetic song which will make it hard to stand still.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Emelie Fjällström, Lars Säfsund
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren, Christoffer Collins, Martin Wallin Andersson
Dancers: Christoffer Collins, Martin Wallin Andersson
4. The Mamas – “In The Middle”
Text & music: Emily Falvey, Jimmy Jansson, Robin Stjernberg
Last year’s winners are back and there’s no surprise here. They missed the chance to represent Sweden because of last year’s cancellation and even though they did represent Sweden in 2019 as backing vocalists of John Lundvik, they’re trying one more time to take the spotlight. The Mamas are consisted of Loulou Lamotte, Ash (Ashley) Haynes and Dinah Yonas Manna.
The Mamas about their entry: “We were in the studio with Robin Stjernberg, finishing our EP. He played the song, and we liked it a lot and wanted to try to record it. When we did, it was a magical moment, like we have to do this. We cried, it was very emotional.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Stran Cetin
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren, Dennis Brøchner, Zain Odelstål
Dancers: –
5. Sannex – “All Inclusive”
Text & music: Greta Svensson, Hans Thorstensson
The well established dansband group was created in 1977 (!) but since then, the group members have changed. Today’s members are Andreas Olsson, Peter Brodin, Patrich Rundström and Micke Norsten. Even though the group is virtually 44 years old, it is the first time we see it in Melodifestivalen’s line-up.
Sannex about their entry: “The parents of our songwriters like dansband and schlager music, and the song was born when they set their mind to write the best goddamn song there is in the dansband/schlager genre. The song suits everybody and speaks straight to the heart and soul of the people.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Lars Säfsund
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren
Dancers: –
6. Clara Klingenström – “Behöver Inte Dig Idag“
Text & music: Clara Klingenström, David Lindgren Zacharias, Bobby Ljunggren
Clara comes from a family of musicians, she is 25 years old and is an artist and song writer. This is the first time she’s participating in Melodifestivalen. She released her first single in 2019, titled “Ensam i en stad”.
Clara about her entry: “If I would describe my song in one sentence, it would be: Goddamn revenge. I wrote the song when I had hit the bottom. But now, it’s time for revenge.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Emelie Fjällström
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren
Dancers: –
7. Eric Saade – “Every Minute”
Text & music: Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Eric Saade, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt
Eric Saade is back, 10 years after his victory with “Popular” with which he finished 3rd in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, this is Eric’s 4th participation as he took part in 2010, 2011 and 2015. In 2019 he was one of the hosts of Melodifestivalen.
Eric about his entry: “My song is a sexy, addictive pop song – with a stroke of darkness in it.”
Backing vocalists of the number (off stage): Greg Curtis
Choreographers and performance creators: Lotta Furebäck, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, Jennie Widegren, Fredrik ”Benke” Rydman
Dancers: Kenny Lantz
The two acts that get the most votes will advance directly to the Final, while those who finish in the third and fourth places will go through to the Second Chance Show, which will take place on the 6th of March. The results of the Semi-Finals and the Second Chance Show will be decided by 100% televoting.
Tonight’s hosts are Christer Björkman, Per Andersson and Pernilla Wahlgren.
You can watch the show live at 20:00 CET HERE or via our Multi-window live feed.
How has the covid-19 pandemic affected Melodifestivalen 2021?
SVT has taken all the necessary measures to protect the artists and employees from the corona virus. More details can be found HERE, though in Swedish. We will mention a couple of changes that will be noticeable on our screens during the live shows.
- Fewer people on stage. A total of six people instead of eight will be allowed on stage this year as EBU requires all countries to submit a filmed live performance of their act, which can be used in Eurovision in the event of illness of the artists.
- Choreography: every competing act and interval act will use adapted choreographies so that the dancers can