Deltävling 4 of Melodifestivalen 2023 is happening this week, and Ben and Janek had a chance to watch some of the rehearsals for the fourth heat of the competition. These are their opinions and predictions for Saturday’s show.
Kiana – “Where Did You Go”
Kiana begins by walking to centre stage with two LED panels parted that are illuminated pink. She is wearing a white asymmetrical outfit with a ‘taped’ effect all over. As she reaches up, there’s use of some white dust visual effects. As we reach the chorus, she is joined by 6 backing dancers who all have white LED bars that produce the same white dust visual effect. The stage has turned darker with Kiana being the main focus. The stage is illuminated in a pink/purple and for the dance break the whole stage and LED’s are the same pink/purple colour while everyone on stage does some energetic choreography.
At the second verse, the focus returns back to Kiana. Behind her, the dancers have assembled a line with the LED bars. The pink/purple LED returns while the dancers have removed the LED bars. At the very end, the focus finally returns again to Kiana as he sings her final words and fades to black.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| Nice song, upbeat, cheerful and uplifting. Kiana looks amazing, love her and her dancer’s styling. Not a big fan of some of the visual effects. It kind of makes the performance look cheap but overall it was a really well produced song and Kiana killed it! | A very solid female pop banger! I have been missing a song like that in the selection. Kiana has a few dancers joining her, six of them! They have the same glowsticks as Alessandra Mele’s dancers have. There is a really cool moment where Kiana interracts with the glowsticks. Overall solid, wish she moved more! |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| 5th place | Semi Final |
Signe & Hjördis – “Edelweiss”
The girls begin surrounded by warm halogen lights. Signe is in a light blue dress while Hjördis is wearing a white shorter dress while playing the violin. There’s a bit of mist on stage and the background is of petals or leaves I believe. By the chorus, Hjördis has stopped playing the violin. Into the second verse and little has changed.
At the bridge, both girls are back to back with their heads on each others shoulders as they sing. The background and stage has fade to black. At the final chorus the stage has come alive again and the back of the stage has opened up to reveal a grid of warm coloured lights.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| First of all, I really love this staging! The warm atmosphere and the Scandi-country vibes go really well together! I really love Hjördis’ dress, it goes perfectly with the song and staging. This could get lost but I hope it does well on the night. | Really cute song! The performance and song itself are very cozy. Love the nordic vibes. There is a lot of lights on stage. Unfortunately I think it will be lost easily in this already strong heat |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| 6th place | 7th place |
Smash Into Pieces – “Six Feet Under”
A person with an LED mask on appears and zooms out to show the rest of the band. The drummer/LED masked person is on a platform while the other three members are below. The background is of a futuristic neon city skyline with colours of blue, purple and pink being the most noticeable. There are also LED screens coming down from above to the left of the stage. The pre-chorus background turns red and the two guitarists join the lead vocalist towards the front of the stage. At the chorus we return to the neon skyline.
The lead vocalist interacts with one of the guitarists and then becomes a trio at centre stage during the second verse. At the bridge, the background becomes dimmer and a spotlight is placed on the lead vocalist. At the last chorus, we return once again to the neon skyline but with the addition of some mist.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| Rock isn’t my favourite genre but it was interesting. Loved the staging again, very futuristic and I really liked the use of the LED panels on the side of the stage. This definitely stands out and I can see this doing well. | Oh this is a very great rock song. Song wise it remembers me a lot of „Normandie”, especially the chorus. The staging is very futuristic. Alot of screens are lowered down that have futuristic elements turned on them. Colour wise is very blue and a bit of pink and purple’ish. My first thought was „Arcadia”’s staging but they differ a lot. |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| Semi Final | Direkt till Final (2nd place) |
Mariette – “One Day”
Mariette is centre, in front of a curved wall/step structure. One of her backing dancers is standing on the structure while two supporting vocalists are on either side of her. The stage is lit in a warm light. Mariette and her dancers are wearing cream/nude/brown coloured outfits with Mariette wearing a light float cape. At the pre-chorus/chorus, the dancer previously on the structure has been substituted for two male dancers.
As we enter the next verse, an eclipse like LED is shown behind the structure as the two male dancers have left and Mariette and her singers are now on the bottom of the structure. All 5 backing singers/dancers join Mariette on the structure and the LED has turned into a sun. Mariette is the only one left on the structure and at the bridge she begins to walk up the steps towards the top of the structure in front of some warm lights from the back of the stage. After the bridge, everyone throws a white cloth into the air. The backing singers join her first while the backing dancers leap on and off and by the end of the song, everyone is on top of the structure together.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| Oh, this is beautiful! I really like the song, the message of the song is communicated really well through the staging. A very typical Mello song but I can’t get enough of them! I can see the juries liking this so I’m pretty sure she’ll do well | Mariette is joined by two backing vocalists that Mariette interracts with (they start with mic stands and later they take the mics off the stands and sit on the big white prop). There are also three dancers that are joined with them during choruses . They don’t leave after the 2nd chorus. Very anthemic. Not my favorite Mariette entry but still solid. |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| Direkt Till Final | Semi Final |
Emil Henrohn – “Mera mera mera”
Emil wears a holographic silver outfit. His dancers wear white with hints of silver holo on them. Emil starts the performance with two male dancers. The dancers mostly do the choreo around Emil. After the 1st chorus two female dancers join. As I mentioned, most of the choreo is being done by the dancers, Emil is very static. Vocally he is perfectly fine. The staging itself is very neon and colourful. There is a lot of pink, light blue and purple lights. The main prop is a big star that appears as a filter as well. Overall a solid performance and staging from Emil
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| Now this is camp! I’m obsessed. It’s catchy and danceable. Love the voguing in the performance and the styling is on point for the song. May be considered a guilty pleasure but I’m really loving the songs in this heat! | Oh he reminds me of Benjamin from Finland a bit at the beginning. Very camp ngl. He is joined by two male dancers but after the 1st chorus two female dancers join in. They are doing a choreo with Emil during the chorus but during the verses they are on the sides doing it. Emil is mostly static. Stage is very pink and blue. It’s vibey but sometimes it feels too weak minus the „mera mera mera” he sings in the chorus. |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| Semi Final | 6th place |
Axel Schylström – “Gorgeous”
A massive mood change from the previous song. The stage is dark at the beginning. Axel wears green like suit? First chorus is only him on the stage in almost complete darkness. When the chorus hits, images of Axel start to appear. He is shirtless in them, showing off his burn scars. As the song progresses, the stage keeps getting lighter and lighter and lighter. He is joined by four backing vocalists who he joins in a circle up until the end. The song contains a few high notes at the end but Axel does not sing them. The ending the spotlight is on him, the stage is very bright and the backing singers circle around Axel.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| Another beautiful and meaningful song. Very anthemic towards the end. The staging is impactful and touching. His outfit is stunning as well but I’m also worried this will get lost amongst the other songs. | This is not what I was expecting from him. Whoever said it reminded them of Masterpiece and I can agree to the extend of the staging. On the LED screens you can see Axel’s upper body. During the 2nd chorus you can see four backing vocalists. The backing vocalists are interracting with him similarly to Monika Linkyte and hers. The song is nothing spectacular and I don’t think his voice elevates it. |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| 7th place | 5th place |
Loreen – “Tattoo”
Loreen spends all the performance between two LED screens. She wears a nude coloured like bodysuit? At the beginning she is crushed between both of them and performs the first minute laying down. The LEDs have very sandy/smoke like visuals happening on them. The background LED has smoke like visuals going on it.
When the first chorus ends, the screen that was crushing her starts to rise. She does a motion of pushing it up. The sand like visual is more visible on the bottom LED. The colours change from the gold we saw at the beginning to greyish and later to almost green like. At the end Loreen pushes the screen up again and the colours change to the previously mentioned green again. There are several symbols on the screen she pushed. She goes out vocally and performs the crap out of it.
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2023
What did we think of the rehearsal?
| Ben | Janek |
| I’m speechless… oh my god this is insane. You have your Swedish Eurovision Grand Finalist right here. The staging is unbelievable. The camera angles are perfect. Her voice is just… oh my god, it’s too good!!!! | Oh this is everything. The beginning is Loreen laying between two LED screens. The song, holy crap the song is amazing. It’s very her early 10’s entry but it doesn’t feel outdated at all (Thank you Cazzi Opeia!). A lot of smoke and sand/dust play with it. The staging is very very artistic. A lot of close ups on Loreen but also the zoom outs for the whole prop. After the third chorus the screen is higher and higher, you can see a lot of symbols appearing. If this doesn’t win Melodifestivalen I will be highly disappointed and shocked. Loreen ends the performance with a sigh because she broke her nail. |
| Ben’s Prediction | Janek’s Prediction |
| Direkt Till Final | Direkt till final (1st place) |
The fourth heat of Melodifestivalen 2023 is set to take place on the 25th 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 (RESULTS)
- 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
