All opinions expressed in this article are those of the person quoted and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the other team members or That Eurovision Site as a whole.
With less than 48 hours to go until Deltävling 5 of Melodifestivalen 2025 is due to commence, Kittens & Angus had a chance to watch some of the rehearsals for the second semi-final of the competition, where they gave their opinions and predictions for Saturday’s show.
Arvingarna – “Ring Baby Ring”
Photo credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
The boys of Arvingarna stand on a set of stairs wearing shiny blue jackets. The camera cuts between the different members throughout the opening of the song. We get a wide shot for the pre-chorus and four dancers start dancing in front of and on the lower part of the stairs. The background graphics are dominated by bright blue and pink colours, and every time the song title is sung the words appear one by one on the screen behind the group. Towards the end we get a small amount of fireworks and Arvingarna switch positions with the dancers.
| Kittens | Angus |
| Arvingarna weren’t going to be bringing big surprises to the contest, and I mean that absolutely affectionately. This is a group who know how to deliver consistently, and while the song isn’t going to set the world on fire, you will somehow be singing it for about 6 weeks afterwards. It has that dansband familiarity to it where you can just pick up on it straight away. | This feels like a song that is in a musical being performed at a theatre awards show. It’s fun, energetic, but also almost a bit twee. Overall it is just a very sweet and enjoyable performance that happily surprised me, and that chorus is stuck in my head already. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Direkt Till Finalen | Direkt Till Finalen |
Arwin – “This Dream Of Mine”
Photo Credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
Arvin sits on the stage in a set of light up frame boxes, with graphics like water splaying out across the floor in front of him. Wearing a white top with silver embellishments and silver trousers, in the second verse the back screen flashes up further boxes giving a movement effect. As the camera pulls out, it shows a series of boxes on the graphics and the music speeds up. He kicks and dances excitedly as the song reaches the bridge, where it pulls back before exploding out again with more lights.
| Kittens | Angus |
| Yes I think this is more or less what I expected from Arwin, and it’s a noble Mello-debut for the young star, but it does feel like there’s something missing here. Something doesn’t quite hit where it should do, and while it’s a very slick production musically and visually, I don’t think this makes the most of what he can do. Just needs a bit more oomph. | He is doing his best, I will give Arvin that. Something just feels slightly off about this entire performance however. The song and the staging are competent but lack any impact. If you pay close attention you can tell Arvin has a nice voice, but this song doesn’t do that any justice either. As Kittens says, everything about this just needs a bit more oomph. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Out | Out |
Saga Ludvigsson – Hate You So Much
Photo Credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
Saga is dressed in an eyecatching green glitter bodysuit, while a neon American-style diner is on show on the back screen. She sits on a bar complete with beverages and she’s joined by dancers, and she rebuffs the male ones at various points in the song to match the lyrics. Moving to bar stools at the side of the stage, the women sit and kick and push the male dancers away. The whole group move back into the center and dance together for the end.
| Kittens | Angus |
| The FOURTH country tinged entry this year, and with a risky title like this? I’m not really sure I needed this, although this is certainly offering something a bit different from the other country entries. Saga is at least a powerful and engaging performer, and while the staging is a bit heavy handed, it’s at least attention grabbing – the only problem is if it can grab attention enough. It feels like it’s between her and Victoria for finalkval, and it’s very close, but I feel like Saga is just that bit punchier. | This song is fun and cute, and definitely one of the better country-tinged efforts so far this year. It’s nothing too special but Saga has the kind of voice that demands attention. There isn’t quite enough happening on camera to keep that attention however, and it could be that the Mello viewers are a bit tired of country considering how many songs with such a sound have already appeared this year. That being said, I expect Saga’s performance to just about get her to the final. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Finalkval | Direkt Till Finalen |
Victoria Silvstedt – “Love it”
Photo Credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
Flickering white lights and fog on stage give way to a spotlight revealing Victoria Silvstedt standing in a box in a silver dress with frilly white sleeves. Four dancers in white, loose-fitting outfits flank her on either side, dancing in front of LED poles that light up in a variety of colours. Most of the shots are zoom ins on Victoria or pans across the stage. The background graphics consist of pulsating white lines.
| Kittens | Angus |
| It’s just so incredibly cliche. The song is nothing particularly special, and it feels like a song written for a lipsync in drag race. The spoken word bit is not delivered particularly well and it needs more punch and attitude to work. However, it’s very well staged and very catchy, and I think this might hit a specific type of audience – it’s just for me very borderline. | Victoria sounds good and I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong about this, but this song and performance feel very bland. She gives it her all, but there just isn’t all that much material to work with. Then again, I can absolutely see people enjoying this instantly familiar feeling track, which should be just, but only just, enough to get it into the Finalkval. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Out | Finalkval |
Vilhelm Buchaus – “I’m Yours”
The stage is transformed into a loft for this performance, with a tall prop window to Vilhelm’s left and a moving curtain behind him. Through the prop window you can see the LED wall, displaying a cityscape. The stage features multiple table and standing lights, a TV displaying static, and a desk. Vilhelm starts with his guitar in hand, abandoning it half way through as he starts walking around. He picks it up again for the end, with him being filmed from behind so we also see the audience and the white lights that shine brightly on Vilhelm Buchaus.
| Kittens | Angus |
| It’s a guitar mid-tempo song that feels like it should just have so much more. It feels so close to being the kinda song you’d hear chanted by 20 rugby lads, but never quite gets going, just plodding along at it’s own little pace. While he’s a good vocalist, it feels like he’s moving around too much on screen, and there’s so much going on in the staging, it’s a little overwhelming. | This song has a lot I usually like or defend, but it just doesn’t quite click for me. The part of the song built for you to chant along is not anthemic enough, while the rest of it doesn’t feel sincere or intimate enough to sell it either. I do really like the staging concept and this is the kind of song I wouldn’t mind hearing again, but overall this feels tailor-made to NQ in Melfest. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Out | Out |
SCARLET – “Sweet N’Psycho”
Photo Credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
The two artists are on stage in their distinctive makeup and PVC outfits, surrounded by a series of chains on top of a tiered ‘cake’ style stage. Dancers writhe on the layers of the cake as desolate abandoned building scenery is in the background. As the chorus kicks in, the dancers crawl out onto the stage in full black body suits with spikes and hoods and they are joined by the artists on the floor of the stage. They reclimb the stage for the end as two of the dancers are lifted into the air, flailing hopelessly.
| Kittens | Angus |
| It feels like a definite qualifier – the song is just edgy enough to delight their fans while still being accessible for a casual Saturday night family viewer. However, it doesn’t quite have the strength of last years entry for me. It feels a little disjointed, with the transition between the chorus and the verse a little jarring, but this is certainly the most well realised staging this week by far. | Where last year Scarlet seemed to have fun while performing, it now feels like all that energy and attitude is missing in favour of checking off some perceived requirements for an “edgy” Mello entry. For all my issues, I do think this has the clearest and best executed staging concept of the heat. If this comes together on the night itself, I can imagine Scarlet making it once again to the Finalkval, but based on the rehearsals I think they will barely miss out. |
| Kittens’ Prediction | Angus’ Prediction |
| Direkt Till Finalen | Out |
The fourth semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2025 will air on the 22nd of February at 20:00 CET. Don’t forget to follow That Eurovision Site to keep up to date with the latest coverage of this year’s selection.
What we know about Melodifestivalen 2025
As we earlier reported 30 songs will participate in Melodifestivalen 2025, two songs will directly qualify for the final from each semi-final, (which will consist of ten entries for the final)
The entry that placed third in each semi-final will still have a chance to make it to the final (which will be made up of five entries). Out of the five participants who placed third in each semi-final, the act with the highest score across all of the Semi-Finals will automatically be given a place in the final, with the remaining four acts fighting it out for the remaining spot. The act with the highest points from the vote will then be awarded the last spot in the final.
As usual, Sweden’s Eurovision 2025 representative will be selected via a mixture of televoting and an international jury.
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 their debut, the Scandinavian nation has managed to win seven times (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015 and 2023).
In 2024, Marcus and Martinus represented Sweden on home soil. As the host entry, their song “Unforgettable” did not need to compete in the semi-finals. At the close of voting in the grand final, they had received 174 points. 125 points were received by the juries, while the twins received 49 points by televoters.
What are your thoughts on this week’s entries? Who would you like to see represent Sweden at Eurovision in 2025? 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 2025!
News Source: SVT
Photo Credit: Stina Stjernkvist/SVT for Melodifestivalen 2025
Tim J