Deltävling 3 of Melodifestivalen 2023 is happening this week, and Rosie and Tim had a chance to watch some of the rehearsals for the third heat of the competition. These are their opinions and predictions for Saturday’s show.
Paul Rey – “Royals”
The performance opens with a pulsing yellow light on the back of the stage near the ground, as white scribbled squares and shapes appear on a black backdrop. The yellow lights continue to pulse to the beat of the music, as yellow drawn shapes also appear alongside the white ones. The entire backdrop then begins to flash yellow as Paul is stood centre stage, mostly shown in close-up and mid shots.
As the chorus kicks in, the yellow LED narrows to a rectangle, illuminating Paul and leaving the stage in darkness. When it expands to fill the backdrop, six dancers have joined Paul on stage – three either side. Their movements start slow and deliberate, and become more energised as the beat of the chorus picks up. The words “Royals” and “Rebels” are shown in the same scribbled style on the LED. Some strobe effects (similar to the ones used in SloMo) are used on the dancers at the end of the chorus, before they vanish for the start of the second verse.
The dancers join Paul again as the second verse goes on, with the LEDs continuing to show white sketched patterns. During the second chorus, smoke jets at the front of the stage are also used, which continue through the break and final chorus. Flashes of red are added towards the end, and Paul joins his dancers moving to the music for a triumphant ending.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| What an energetic performance from Paul Rey! It’s a wonderfully uplifting, anthemic song with a great beat and a show that puts a smile on your face. It’s a bit of a change from his previous entries, but I think a change has done him good here. | This is completely different to what Paul would usually send to the competition. It is very anthemic, a lot of beat, so I personally think that it could get the crowd going. Could this be the key to Paul directlty qualifying to the final? |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| Direkt Til Finalen | Direkt Til Finalen |
Casanovas – “Så kommer känslorna tillbaka”
The band are arranged on stage wearing matching burgundy jackets, and a Vegas-style sign on the back LED spells out the band’s name. The base of the stage twinkles with lights, with the camera panning over the band in multiple directions. As we approach the chorus, the letters in the LED of their name begin to flash. The platforms each band member is stood on also light up in time to the music.
When we reach the break, the music slows, the back LEDs fade and we are left with blue lighting and the warm white platform lights only. Pyro jets at the front of the stage begin to flare when the final chorus hits, the LED neon sign returns, and we pan round with the lead singer before the song ends.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| This performance is a lot of fun, with a staging that feels classic and not too over-complicated. It’s a very enjoyable three minutes, but I fear it may end up getting lost in the wider crowd of songs in this heat. | It’s nice to see Casnovas trying to keep the legacy of Schlager in Mello. It is something different on what we have this week, and I’m gutted that there won’t be much support for this. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| 7th | 6th |
Melanie Wehbe – “For The Show”
Melanie is stood centre-stage in front of a large prop – a cylindrical tower with lines cut out to create hexagon shapes, through which a warm light can be seen filtering. We pan out from this into a close-up on Melanie as she begins singing. As the chorus begins, the same hexagonal shapes are showing in the LED, and we start to see wider shots of Melanie and the stage.
During the second verse, Melanie moves around the stage and the prop more, with the same warm light showing in the lights around the stage as she walks. In the second chorus, a more solid light appears behind the prop on the LED, and we also see Melanie with her back to the audience, where lights twinkle and flash behind her. The prop then splits in half and opens up to reveal the warm light, which Melanie walks backwards into as it turns red. The lights fade to black before bursting brightly as the final chorus hits.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| It’s a deceptively simple performance from Melanie, and this is a stage show that creates some really beautiful moments. I enjoyed the song, but again, I worry it might not stand out enough to stick in voters’ minds when the lines open. | For a debut, Melanie does give us a very covincing performance and such killer vocals, I am worrying about this not sticking as much but I hope to be proven very wrong. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| Semi-Final | Semi-Final |
Nordman – “Släpp alla sorger”
The performance starts off with a mystical figure (which turns out to be an eagle?) in the LED screen with Green Lighting., which then pans to the Mats on the violin, the camera then glides down where we see both Hakan and Mats in frame, with Hakan walking towards the microphone. We then move on to a lot of Zoomed panning shots.
As we get to the chorus, the lights then turn on, with a lot of black birds appearing in the LED screen, a lot of panning shots are then used, whilst Hakan and Mats stay put in their position. The beat then drops, where we see the LED background changing to the clouds, with panning shots and birds eye view being used. This is repeated in the respective choruses where Hakan walks towards Mats.
Once we get to the second verse, the LED background changes to dark green, we see the eye of the eagle on the LED screen, where we see the Eagle’s movement within its eyes, in this part of the song, with Zoom and panning shots are used.
In the final chorus, the LED backrground changes once last time to a flock of birds in the air, with the focus on one bird flying through in the LED background, with Hakan and Mats staying in the middle of the stage until the performance finished.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| This is the epic folk music I need from the Nordics! Three minutes of sweeping grandness, and it’s even got a Nyckelharpa! I could see this making a push for the semi-finals, especially after Drängarna did so well a few years ago – I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t shock me. It won’t be for everybody, but it is for me. | This is a great epic folk track, it is unique. However, my main concern would be is that the spark still there given its been a long time since they participated. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| Semi-Final | 5th |
Laurell – “Sober”
We start of the performance with a long shot of the stage in pink and purple lighting being lit up on the screens, with Laurell standing in the middle of the stage with two backing dancers on each side, which then turns into a medium shot as soon as Laurell starts to sing. As the beat drops, the choreography from Laurell and the dancers commence, as we progress, a lot of medium and panning shots were used in the lead up to the chorus.
Once we get to the chorus, Laurell is then in the middle of the stage, with two backing dancers side by side doing their choreogrpahy, while Laurell sings the chorus of the song, and doing some of the choreography as well whenever possible.
When we get to the second part of the song, we see that the backdrop has now split into three parts, and Laurell goes towards the right part, where we see green screen effects starting to appear, and this appeared once again, when laurell moved to the next set of green backdrops. As we get back to the chrous, two of her backing dancers appeared once again, while Laurell makes her way to the front of the stage.
As we get to the second chorus, Laurell is in the middle of the stage, two of her bakcing dancers are behind her, whilst the other two are standing on top of boxes on each end of the stage, with the dancers doing choreo, while joining along where she can. This is repeated in the final chorus of the song
When we get to the bridge, Laurell walks towards the front of the stage, gets down on one knee, the lights go dark, with the dancers dancing and we see the pink and purple lighting being shown in the dancers. In the lead up to the final chorus, Laurell is seen standing in the middle of the stage towards the front where she does the high note.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| It’s a colourful and memorable performance from Laurell – this certainly won’t be forgotten any time soon! I’m not sure how much broad appeal this song has – I could see this making the semi finals, or possibly ending up just missing out. Those who like it will vote for it! | Very colourful, very fun and very memorable. Personally, I think there is enough there for the staging to appeal to all of the age groups for it to hopefully make it past to the semi-final. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| 5th | Semi-Final |
Ida-Lova – “Låt hela stan se på”
We see Ida on the left side of the stage where she is sitting on the steps on top of a large drape that spans the length of the steps and the stage, with warm lighting in the background. Ida stays sitting on the steps until the end of the first chorus, where she then walks to the middle of the stage.
In the second part of the songs, Ida sings the whole verse, with no changes. However, as we get to the second chorus, the ligthing becomes cooler, and the wind machine kicks in, with a lot of close up shots and panning shots in this part of the performance.
Towards the end of the song, Ida leaves the stand and walkstowards the front of the stage, where she finishes off the performance, with a spotlight being pointed towards her.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| It’s a beautiful performance from Ida-Lova, who keeps it simple in the staging and lets her lovely voice be the main selling point of this song. I love how atmospheric this is with the cello, and I’m rather taken by the whole thing. Which means it’ll almost certainly NQ, knowing my luck. If the performance is able to connect with people at home, I could see this making it to the semi-finals. | Very simplistic, very emotional, very beautiful. My slight issue would be is it too simplistic that there won’t be a connection to all of the age groups voting. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| 6th | 7th |
Marcus & Martinus – “Air”
We begin the performance with Marcus and Martinus standing on top of a platform with a blue spotlight pointing towards both of them, we then see one of them singing the first verse of the song, whislt the other in the bakcground dancing as the lights fill the stage.
The chorus kicks in, and we see both of them align on the platform as laser lights go into full action in the background, the lights then pick up pace as the beat increases and when it drops, the lights go dark, excpet for the blue lights in the background while both of them dance along to the instrumentation.
In the second part of the song, we see them staying in the middle of the platform, which then quickly leads you to the second chorus, where they are standing side by side with the lasers creating a circular motion around them.
In the final chorus, we see them both dancing around the platform, as the laser lights flashing like crazy in the backrgound, with the performance finishing off with them standing in the middle of the platform.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Rosie | Tim |
| About the only prediction I’m certain of in this heat is this going DTF! Songs like this can be really hard to stage, but this performance creates a memorable and an incredibly effective atmosphere. It’s fun, and the song is great too. | I don’t need to say much, this stood out so much, and you cannot deny their stage presence. |
| Rosie’s Prediction | Tim’s Prediction |
| Dirket Til Finalen | Dirket Til Finalen |
The third heat of Melodifestivalen 2023 is set to take place on the 18th February at 20:00CET. Don’t forget to follow That Eurovision Site to keep up to date with the latest coverage of Melodifestivalen 2023.
What we know about Melodifestivalen 2023
Melodirestivalen 2023 will be hosted by Farah Abadi & Jesper Rönndahl, with the shows for next year’s comeptition taking place as follows:
- Heat 1 – February 4 – Gothenburg – Scandinavium (RESULTS)
- Heat 2 – February 11 – Linköping – Saab Arena (RESULTS)
- Heat 3 – February 18 – Lidköping – Sparbanken Arena
- Heat 4 – February 25 – Malmö – Malmö Arena
- Semi-Final – March 4 – Örnsköldsvik – Hägglunds Arena
- Final – March 11 – Stockholm – Friends Arena
The running order for this year’s shows can be found right here. Tickets for the Melodifestivalen 2023 shows are now available to purchase.
Sweden’s Eurovision Journey
In 1958, Sweden made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest, with Alice Babs representing them with the song “Lilla stjärna” which placed fourth. Since its debut, the Scandinavian nation has managed to win six times (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, and 2015).
In 2022, Sweden was represented by Cornelia Jakobs, who won the 61st edition of the competition and competed with the song “Hold Me Closer”, which managed to qualify for the Grand Final and placed 4th with 438 points from the jury and televoters.
Are you excited for Melodifestivalen 2023? Who are you hoping to see represent Sweden at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments or on social media. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik-Tok as we prepare for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: SVT
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson, SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
