And so we now have our 28 artists who will be competing in Melodifestivalen 2021. Below you can read all about them, and about the songs that they’ll be competing with.
It’s an eye-wateringly strong line-up that reads like a Melodifestivalen Greatest Hits collection, of sorts. Whether it’s due to it being Christer Björkman’s final year in a producer role, or whether it’s down to the fact that with COVID, this is pretty much the only gig that a lot of artists can hope to get right now, it’s undeniable that Melodifestivalen 2021 – on name alone – looks like it’s going to be the strongest in years. Much-loved veterans stand alongside big fan favourites, and then some established artists that we thought were finished with Melfest, appear alongside some established artists who are taking their very first stab at the contest. And most are backed by impressive teams of top-tier Swedish songwriters.
It’s probably a fair idea to view next year’s contest in a different light to previous ones. Circumstance has packed the line-up with a lot of the most seasoned performers in their field, and many newcomers with huge potential. Some of the best artists are going to be finishing last in their heat with perfectly great songs. So it’s probably wise not to be throwing out opinions about failure or flopping in any way. Next year, more than ever before, artists will be using Melodifestivalen as a showcase for their new music, rather than as a contest. And even the winning song will be heading to a different kind of Eurovision Song Contest – the likes of which we won’t have seen before.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at who is going to be WOWing us with some new music a couple of months from now. Melodifestivalen is back – and it looks bigger than ever!
The Mamas – ‘In The Middle’
(Emily Falvey, Robin Stjernberg, Jimmy Jansson)
I’ve got something in my eye. Without a doubt, the most welcome name to see on this whole list. The Mamas have been offered a slot at Melodifestivalen 2021 after their 2020 winner, ‘Move’, didn’t get the Eurovision airing it was destined for. And they’ve accepted.
Could they go all the way and win it again? The songwriting team behind the song, combined with the tremendous amount of good will towards the group, combined with the vocal talents of the ladies themselves – all add up to ‘In The Middle’ being one of the early favourites to take the prize.
‘In The Middle’. Is it about Ash? It’s a heartwarming love song dedicated to their fans who have supported them through a wild 2020.
Eric Saade – ‘Every Minute’
(Eric Saade, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt)
He’s singing in English again? He’s back to the contest that made him famous, and singing in the language that earned him hoards of fans across Europe.
Both of these things are a pleasant surprise. He’s also keen to stress that for Melodifestivalen, he’s returning to a more pop-orientated sound than what the style of his most recent output was in.
So what’s the song like? He’s called it a sexy and addictive tune – with a little bit of a dark side.
He could be describing himself there? Ok, you need make like the ‘Manboy’ performance and take a cold shower!
Jessica Andersson – ‘Horizon’
(David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Marcus Lidén, Christian Holmström)
Well Thursday is my day. Who knew?! Jessica Andersson is back at Melodifestivalen, and she’s brought with her two of the songwriters who contributed to her ‘Party Voice’.
So what’s on the ‘Horizon’ for 2021? Hopefully a hell of a lot of “dancing like a monther”.
What’s the song like? She describes it as a huge number that’s full of hope and positivity, which is going to be challenging, vocally. She also reveals that she considered a lot of different songs, but it was ‘Horizon’ that she fell in love with, and had to have.
Tusse – ‘Voices’
(Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov)
Who? The reigning champ of Swedish Idol! Well, until tomorrow night anyway, when the 2020 winner is crowned.
Past form? He’s proven that he can bring the epic balladry, with ‘Rain‘, plus the banging synthpop, with ‘Crash‘. The talent. The range. The versatility.
The songwriting team! It screams ‘winner’, doesn’t it? Largely because most of them actually have won Melodifestivalen.
And the song? A motivational number about freedom, the importance of community and having your voice heard, whoever you are. Tusse promises a performance the likes of which viewers won’t have seen before.
Efraim Leo – ‘Best Of Me’
(Efraim Leo, Cornelia Jakobsdotter, Amanda Björkegren, Herman Gardarfve)
Who? He recently released his debut EP, ‘Timing’, featuring the absolute killer pop tune that is ‘When I Wanted You‘.
Jam. Can we expect more of the same from ‘Best Of Me’? Potentially. He promises an energy-filled song that it will be difficult to sit still to.
Will take that, thanks. There’s also some great pop calibre to be found in the songwriting team, too. One of the writers behind the Melodifestivalen 2020 winning song, Herman, former member of Love Generation and Stockholm Syndrome, Cornelia, and the always reliable popstar herself, Amanda (Alexander).
Klara Hammarström? – ‘Beat Of Broken Hearts’
(David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Niklas Carson Mattson, Andreas Wijk)
*squeal* Fan favourite from the 2020 contest, it’s no surprise to see Klara back again and being given another shot.
What with? A song that she likens to something from a Disney film – a beautiful tune with positive message that everyone can relate to.
Written by? A blockbuster team of songwriters, including fellow popstar Andreas Wijk making his Melodifestivalen debut as a songwriter. From Klara’s description, it sounds like a ballad she’s entering with. And the last time Kempe/Kreuger penned a ballad for Melodifestivalen (in 2014), it ended up winning the whole thing and finishing third at Eurovision.
Alvaro Estrella – Baila Baila’
(Anderz Wrethov, Linnea Deb, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt)
You know what? I’m good here. It’s called ‘Baila Baila’. It’s Alvaro Estrella. It has that team of songwriters behind it. I know exactly what it’s going to sound like, I know it’s going to bang hard, and I know I’m going to live for every second of its three minutes. Fair.
Sannex – ‘All Inclusive’
(Greta Svensson, Hans Thorstensson)
LOVE an all inclusive. We get the impression that the song title is about promoting inclusion within humanity in general. Though with this lot, who knows – it could well be about grabbing a hotel bargain.
And who are this lot? A dansband with a difference. A more modern dansband. Dansband 2.0.
And what’s the song like? Ironically, quite traditional. The writers have said that they’ve composed the absolute best kind of dansband-schlager.
Music to my ears. Schlager to my veins.
Clara Klingenström – ‘Behöver Inte Dig Idag’
(Clara Klingenström, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias)
Who? An up-and-comer who has snagged one of the industry’s best as her manager. And now things are about to step up a level via Melodifestivalen 2021.
That’s quite the songwriting team. Melfest legend Bobby, plus the co-writer behind much of Darin’s recent output, David. Without a doubt this is going to be one to watch.
What’s the song like? She describes it as being about picking yourself up when you’ve hit rock bottom. She says that viewers can look forward to a very emotional number.
Past form? We quite enjoyed her most recent single, ‘Så Slut‘.
Julia Alfrida – ‘Rich’
(Julia Alfrida, Jimmy Jansson, Melanie Wehbe)
Who? The first artist announced for Melodifestivalen 2021 a couple of months back, when she earned a place in the line-up via the P4 Nästa contest, on Swedish radio.
Past form? It’s fair to say that her output thus far hasn’t quite been to our taste, but then it’s not been tailored towards our tastes either, with her talent being for writing and producing her own more alternative style of multi-genre music. BUT, given that she’s teamed up with two songwriters that can be considered as modern-day Melodifestivalen royalty, it’s reasonable to assume that ‘Rich’, while not veering too far from her usual sound, will perhaps give it a more commercial edge.
What’s the song like? A positive number that she says is about celebrating diversity and promoting self worth.
Dotter – ‘Little Tot’
(Johanna ‘Dotter’ Jansson, Dino Medanhodzic)
Little what?! Little Tot. Apparently that was her nickname when she was younger.
How does one improve on the majesty of ‘Bulletproof’, however? Well, two points should safely do it, given how she finished runner-up in Melodifestivalen 2020 by only one point.
What’s ‘Little Tot’ all about? It’s a “modern lullaby” about keeping your ego in check and putting your phone down once in a while.
A cautionary tale. Unless, of course, you’re using said phone to vote for ‘Little Tot’ on SVT’s Melodifestivalen app, because as another cautionary tale goes – those points matter! Though she is quick to point out that she is not really here solely to improve on 2020’s result – and that this is a brand-new song for which she has a brand-new vision.
Anton Ewald – ‘New Religion’
(Jonas Wallin, Joe Killington, Anton Ewald, Maja Strömstedt)
Where on EARTH has he been all this time?! In the US. Working as a model and as a choreographer. However, in the last year or so he has started writing music again. And when he wrote this song, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it is the perfect song for Melodifestivalen. And so here he is!
What’s the song like? It was all built around the (obviously quite impressive) melody of the chorus. And from that, he’s come up with a song with which he promises to bring us a lot of energy, a lot of speed, and a lot of dancing.
What did his most recent single sound like? Well that was actually way back in 2016. So we are officially calling this a long overdue comeback!
Charlotte Perrelli – ‘Still Young’
(Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm, Charlie Gustavsson)
I’ve been burned once in Mitt Liv, I’m not getting excited again. Yeah but looks at those songwriters!
They look great, but I can’t go through the disappointment of 2017 again. She promises, PROMISES, that it’s up-tempo, glamorous, schlager-style pop music that is going to get you dancing. She had no intentions of competing again until she heard this song. And she couldn’t say no. She had to have it.
Well then in that case, Charlotte Perrelli has saved 2021. And, singlehandedly, schlager.
And what a title from the ever-youthful queen. She says it’s all about the fact that if you feel young in your head, everything else comes easy.
Patrik Jean – ‘Tears Run Dry’
(Herman Gardarfve, Patrik Jean, Melanie Wehbe)
As a Mello stan, I recognise that name. The songwriting trio behind ‘Move’ by The Mamas have united once more – and for one of their own! Patrik will now be singing his own song at Melodifestivalen 2021, thank you very much.
What’s Patrik’s music like? Well he’s just released his second EP, ‘Consequence‘, which we heartily recommend. Not one, but two songs from it are currently residing in our Best New Pop playlist.
And what’s ‘Tears Run Dry’ gonna be like? Well according to the man himself, it’s very true to him. The kind of song you don’t know whether to cry to or dance to. We detect an impending sad-banger, and we are so very here for it.
Elisa Lindström – ‘Den Du Är’
(Bobby Ljunggren, Ingela ‘Pling’ Forsman, Elisa Lindström)
The darling of the dansband genre! After winning Dansbandskampen, winning Körslaget and winning Let’s Dance, Elisa is here to battle for the Swedish popstar’s own version of the EGOT. She has entered Melodifestivalen before, in 2014, with ‘Casanova’. This time she’ll be hoping to improve upon the 5th-place finish in her heat that she earned last time.
And how’s she going to do that? She says that her song is a big, timeless ballad about daring to be exactly who you are and who you want to be. She reveals that she cried when she first heard it.
And is that the return of? The almighty Ingela ‘Pling’ Forsman, yes. Who has now had a song in Melodifestivalen in each of the last five decades.
Frida Green – The Silence’
(Anna Bergendahl, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias, Joy Deb)
Who? She made the live shows of Sweden’s Got Talent in 2018, and popped up again in Swedish Idol 2020. Now she makes her debut in Melodifestivalen with ‘The Silence’.
What’s the song like? A grandiose, energetic number that she promises will hit you and make you feel it.
And it’s got Anna Bergendahl as a songwriter! Actually, with that whole songwriting team, one can logically conclude that Anna Bergendahl penned her third Melodifestivalen entry in as many years, before deciding that no, someone else should have a go – and she thus handed it over. Country-pop-banger here we (Kingdom) Come!
Has our Fri’ got any past form herself? Last year she released this cute little ode to everyone’s favourite activist for the planet – ‘What Would Greta Do?‘.
Nathalie Brydolf – ‘Fingerprints’
(Andreas Stone Johansson, Etta Zelmani, Laurell Barker, Anna-Klara Folin)
Who? Another Idol graduate. This time from Idol 2018. And Nathalie then took the unusual next step of appearing on The Bachelor in 2019. But it’s back to music now.
What’s the song like? An elegant ballad with which she intends on shooting straight for your heart.
Any past form? None – this will be her debut single. Performance-wise, though, you can watch her command the stage in a duet with Benjamin Ingrosso – on her Idol performance of Maroon 5’s ‘Sugar’.
Lillasyster – ‘Pretender’
(Isak Hallén, Jakob Redtzer, Martin Westerstrand, Ian Paolo Lira, Palle Hammarlund)
Rock? But not just any rock. Rock co-penned by the man behind all of Dolly Style’s hits.
That sounds, amazing? Though the band themselves are quick to put us back on track. This is hard rock, REAL hard rock, they insist.
Oh. Well, you know that old saying. The difference between a rock song and a schlager song is about five pints of beer, despite initial protestations to the contrary.
WAHL feat. SAMI – ’90-talet
(Sami Rekik, Christopher Vahlberg, Josefin Glenmark, Jesper Welander, Andreas Larsson)
Who? Sami ‘SAMI’ Rekik was a member of the hip-hop duo Medina, and Christopher ‘WAHL’ Vahlberg is a member of another hip-hop duo – SödraSidan. They’re getting together now to deliver us a song about that glorious decade like no other – the nineties!
What’s the song like? They promise a colourful number with plenty of energy. Something for us to dance to.
Danny Saucedo – ‘Dandi Dansa’
(Danny Saucedo, Karl-Johan Råsmark)
This is – a surprise, actually? Quite. But in recent months Danny has been very vocal in the press about his frustrations over his gigs and shows being cancelled – due to the current pandemic. He says that he’s here for the ability to channel his creativity into something.
And to win, of course? Actually, he’s also said that he’s not particularly here to win, either. He wants to show Sweden who he is as an artist right now. And hopes they like it. He’ll be performing a song in Swedish. He was originally asked to host one of the heats, and initially said yes. But then decided to go one further – with a song that he says has good vibes and a great message, something he really believes in.
Current form? In truth, his most recent two singles have not been to our taste at all. And were the first of his we’ve not featured on the site. But he’s Danny Saucedo – he’s got it in him. And then some.
Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – ‘Rena Rama Ding Dong’
(Göran Sparrdahl, Kalle Rydberg, Ari Lehtonen)
I’m sorry, did you just say Ding Dong? Ja Ja!
Things are looking up. And even more so when you look at the songwriters on board. Göran, who was behind Arja Saijonmaa’s most recent Melodifestivalen entry – the iconic ‘Mina Fyra Årstider’ in 2019. And Ari Lehtonen, who has been behind a whole host of cheesy Eurodance in the ’90s and ’00s, and who was most recently involved in the criminally short-lived A*Base.
And the ladies themselves? Life-long friends Eva and Ewa – the former of whom is most famous as a comedian/entertainer, and the latter of which is a singer/actress/entertainer.
And the song? A humourous parody of social media influencers. Naturally.
Tess Merkel – ‘Good Life’
(Tony Malm, Tess Merkel, Palle Hammarlund, Mats Tärnfors)
An Alcastar?! We’re actually surprised it’s taken her this long. But now Tess ‘The Goddess of Success’ Merkel makes her solo debut in Melodifestivalen.
What’s the song about? A self-reflective number about looking at where you are in life, and taking a positive step forward into the ‘Good Life’.
And what’s it like? It’s been described as “a Studio 54-flavoured, glittering, luxury, dancefloor filler with Donna Summer vibes”.
Dead. Dead.
Written by? Palle has been behind pretty much every Dolly Style song you’ve ever heard, Mats penned ‘Out Of Air’ for the Solli-Tangen brothers in last year’s Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix, and Tony was partly responsible for Jon Henrik Fjällgren almost winning Melodifestivalen in 2015.
Arvingarna – ‘Tänker Inte Alls Gå Hem’
(Stefan Brunzell, Nanne Grönvall, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren)
Dansband royalty! We bow before thee.
How nice to see them back. And how just, too. After a very successful comeback in 2019, which saw them reach (and close) the final with ‘I Do’, the four gents are back to have another stab at things.
Please don’t be a ballad. Please don’t be a ballad. Please don’t be a ballad. On the contrary, Arvingarna have promised a song that will stir up plenty of movement in your body (mercy me!), and spread happiness to the whole of Sweden, just when they need it the most.
And us everywhere else too, please. There’s plenty of Arvingarna to go around, we’re sure.
And they aren’t the only exciting names in this song? The cast of Taylor Swift’s ‘Bad Blood’ video is shaking. Arvingarna are bringing with them to the contest three names that need no introduction – Nanne Grönvall, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren – plus Stefan Brunzell, who co-wrote ‘Listen To Your Heartbeat’ for Friends to win Melodifestivalen with in 2001.
Paul Rey – ‘The Missing Piece’
(Fredrik Sonefors, Laurell Barker, Paul Rey)
Back for more? After scoring one of the biggest streaming hits from the 2020 contest with ‘Talking In Your Sleep’, Paul Rey is indeed back for another bite of the Globen-shaped apple.
What’s he back with? A whole new perspective on life – in the last couple of week’s he’s become a Daddy!
What can we expect from the song? Paul likens the song to a journey. It starts intimate, but continues to build throughout.
Kadiatou – ‘One Touch’
(Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov)
Who? Runner-up in Swedish Idol in 2018. We recently raved about her on these very pages thanks to her gorgeous single ‘Best I’ve Had‘.
What’s her Melodifestivalen song like? She describes it as something quite lovely, very positive, and undeniably happy. Something which is going to put the whole family into the mood for dancing.
And OMG at them songwriters? Right?! Kadiatou actually has already released a song with the first three names in that list – the festive schlager banger ‘Christmas Night With You‘.
Mustasch – ‘Contagious’
(Ralf Gyllenhammar, David Johannesson)
This ain’t no Scandirock dot co dot uk! Look. We see the token rock entry as precisely that too – a token. But Mustasch singer Ralf Gyllenhammar does have past form in this contest. His song ‘Bed Of Fire’ ended up being the best in the line-up that was the final of Melodifestivalen 2013, after all.
Fair. What’s ‘Contagious’ gonna be like? Well according to Ralf, it’s not just rock, it’s HARD rock. And he boasts that the song comes with an extremely infectious chorus – hence the song title!
Lovad – ‘Allting Är Precis Likadant’
(Mattias Andréasson, Alexander Nivek, Lova Drevstam, Albin Johnsén)
Who? Lovad recently enjoyed big streaming success on a duet with one of the writers on this song, Albin Johnsén, on their duet ‘Vi Gjorde Vårt Bästa’. Now, the indie-pop darling is taking the Melodifestivalen route to elevate her name that bit higher.
With what? A song that she says is so emotional to her, that she fears she may even end up shedding a few tears on stage. It’s about often needing to be broken before you can truly feel whole again.
Emil Assergård – ‘Om Allting Skiter Sig’
(Emil Assergård, Jimmy Jansson, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov, Johanna Wrethov)
Another debut? New to Melodifestivalen, but he’s actually been releasing music for most of the last decade. His addition to the list of this year’s artists will be quite the coup for SVT, given that his most recent album – released only last year – was his most successful to date, with over 70 million streams thus far.
And what’s he got planned for Melodifestivalen? A lot! He’s already planned out an extra special performance which he believes is going to surprise a lot of people. And Emil is certainly no stranger to performing live to a big crowd.
