Melodifestivalen 2023: Deltävling One - Gothenburg (1 Viewer)

Så, lite touch av gala, glitter och glamour
Det är l’amour
Ja, vårat mål är sprida glädje – leverans
Det går som en dans


Åh du milde
Vi kanske kan få till det?
Ja för vi är kvällens Queens of the Night
 
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Ben also said that Cornelia wouldn’t qualify from her semi final so I don’t think he’s really a reliable source of opinion.
I don't put much stock in his views, but thought I'd share them anyway
 
Scandipop have also done their reviews too. Much more enthusiastic sounding about Loulou, Ewa & Eva and Victor Crone than the others, a bit tepid on JHF, and quite codedly catty about Tone :D

 
Tone is screaming Kadiatou vibes for me. I’m sure she is a lovely girl but she came off pretty stiff last year so it will be interesting to see if she can manage a full dance routine.

It seems the only DOA is Rejhan. The rest of it is anyone’s game…
 
I suspect Loulou is fifth. That description is giving me under 40s running for the HILLS

(but yes, Tone could totally be about to serve us a Rudberg moment that the over 40s just cannot be arsed with)
 
I think one thing for sure is the winner is not from this semi final. Despite what Ben says.
 
You don’t think Jon Henrik & Co. are in with a chance?
A 2016 Aviici EDM banger feels a bit reductive even for Swedish standards after their great steps last year. Plus it doesn’t help that Jon Henrik has the stage personality of a potato!
 
Melodifestivalklubben reviews
GradeActSong
4.5Victor CroneDiamonds
4JHF, Arc North feat. Adam W.Where are you (Sávežan)
3.5Tone SekeliusRhythm of my show
3RejhanHaunted
3Elov & BenyRaggen går
2.5Loulou LaMotteInga sorger
2Eva & EwaLänge leve livet

1. Rhythm Of My Show – Tone Sekelius
Songwriters: Anderz Wrethov, Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Tone Sekelius

Lars-Kristian: Clubby pop song with rhythms from the oriental side of Europe. Tone sings in a lower register than last year and before long the body settles into a groovy state. The song is more modern than last year. Might as well have been from Greece or Spain because you want to dance and sing along. A perfect song to open this year's Melodifestival with.

Anton: Tone makes a song that is much more modern than the last one. It's a bit mysterious and has a powerful build-up to the chorus. The chorus consists of some parts that are instrumental, while Tone sings other parts of it. It's a clubby song that isn't nearly as happy and punchy as last year. There is room for a lot of dancing and it will be exciting to see how they do this on stage.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 4

Anthony: 3

2. Inga Sorger (No Sorrows) - Loulou LaMotte
Songwriters: Jonas Thander, Loulou LaMotte

Lars-Kristian: Swedish stripped-down mid-tempo song that could have been from a Disney movie and is also typical Swedish pop. Loulou also has an exciting voice. The song feels modern, but the style could also have been a Håkan Hellström song from the 90s as well. There's a possibility for a sing-along atmosphere on stage, but also in some ways a chant suitable for the Olympics or similar.

Anton: Loulou LaMotte has left The Mamas for this time and you can hear it. This is more pop with strings, clear beat throughout the song and she sings with a Skånsk dialect. This song is not unlike Tone Sekelius' "My Way" from last year. The song has a beautiful melody in the chorus and the lyrics are very uplifting. The song increases in intensity throughout the song and is not at all as calm as I expected.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 2

Anthony: 3

3. Haunted – Rejhan
Albin Johnsén, Mattias Andréasson, Pontus Söderman, Tilde RONIA Wrigsell

Lars-Kristian: The song is a stripped down mid-tempo ballad that can surprise on Saturday. If you remember Bishara from a few years back, this is pretty similar. Rejhan's voice is pleasant and beautiful to listen to. The soundtrack is also quite modern and could have been an Ed Sheeran song.

Anton: A song that is, in contrast to LouLou's, very calm is Rejhan's "Haunted". The song opens with vocals right away and continues with Rejhans singing well throughout the song. The question is whether this becomes a sleeping pill making watchers leave the TV to fill up on chips or whether they give Rejhan the attention required to appreciate the song. The song is beautiful, but will probably have a hard time in the competition even if it stands out in this starting field.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 4

Anthony: 2

4. Raggen går (The Ragg Marches On) – Elov & Beny
Songwriters: Johan Werner, Kristian Wejshag, Mattias Elovsson, Oscar Kilenius, Tim Larsson

Lars-Kristian: Here we have a modern Swedish pop song, the kind that have at least one contribution to MF every year. In Norway we would call it a "russe" song or a party song that can go high on the Spotify lists in Sweden. It's both a Swedish pop song and a bit of hip-hop too. These 3 minutes feels like a Formula 1 car going at 200 km/h. The song could even be elevated more when you see this on stage.

Anton: Elov & Beny continue with "Epadunken", which has become hugely popular in Sweden recently. The song is about them meeting a chick from the country who just wants to have fun. She can also go in reverse with a trailer and takes a snus. Sometimes honking sounds appear in the song together with oh-oh-oh loops. The middle eight is extra festive as it involves sausages with bread, ketchup, mustard and roasted onions. This is an earworm that will becom a hit on Spotify.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 3

Anthony: 3

5. Diamonds – Victor Crone
Songwriters: David Lindgren Zacharias, Peter Kvint, Victor Crone

Lars-Kristian: Today's best song according to Lars-Kristian. A very typical song from Victor Crone, poppy and with a modern soundscape. Even so, this is nothing new to Melodifestivalen or Victor Crone. The song's chorus is effective. It will be exciting to see how the stage show will lift this song, because right now it's just a definite radio hit.

Anton: This is very much inspired by Avicii's music. I get vibes of "Hey Brother" in the chorus. The song requires a strong vocalist and it will therefore be interesting to see how Victor handles it, he might need the choir to step in and help out at certain parts. If you have listened to Victor Crone's music before, even outside Melodifestivalen and Eurovision, you will recognize the sound. This is in the same range of sounds, albeit stronger. Smashing to come back to Melodifestivalen with this. I'd be very surprised if this song isn't played non-stop on the radio until New Year's.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 5

Anthony: 4

6. Länge leve livet (Long Live Life) – Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos

Songwriters: Emil Vaker, Henric Pierroff, Kalle Rydberg

Lars-Kristian: Now we go back in time to the 60s jazz era or as one current entrant in Norway, Swingers to the 1920s. Pretty nice jazz song that makes you want to dance and this could be nice on stage too. Swingy soundscape.

Anton: Eva & Ewa do a couplé that is more in the style of "Livet på en pinne" than "Din Dong". This danceable and the ladies will have to dance hard if they want to keep up with the tempo of the song. The song doesn't have the same zing as "Rena rama ding dong", so it will take a very good stage number for this to go through on Saturday. Before the last chorus, there's room in the song for someone on stage to tap dance. I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen.

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 3

Anthony: 1

7. Where You Are (Sávežan) – Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North feat. Adam Woods
Songwriters: Arc North, Calle Hellberg, Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Joy Deb, Oliver Belvelin, Richard Lästh, Tobias Lundgren, William Segerdahl

Lars-Kristian: Jojk is back again in the Melodifestivalen, but it's at a disadvantaged with its heat not being in the northern parts of Sweden. Although Jon Henrik is back, this is a whole new vehicle on the same level as Keiino and the song designed for Eurovision. Even though we are in western Sweden in the first part of the competition, I think this could very well go straight to the final on Saturday because the joik is impressive and so is the modern beat.

Anton: The last song of the week starts with jojk by Jon Henrik. In the rest of the song there will be vocals by Adam Woods mixed with joiking by Jon Henrik. The verses builds intensively towards the chorus which has an EDM beat with joiking in the chorus. Before the last chorus, the beat gets very intense. Keiino in Norway could have done something similar outside of Eurovision, but this is more modern. This will most likely go straight to the final on Saturday!

Grade:

Lars-Kristian: 4

Anthony: 4

Summary
This is a good start to this year's Melodifestival. There are songs that fit the times and feel modern. There are also songs that are timeless. There is a lot of uptempo, which gives Rejhan the advantage of standing out. Eva & Ewa also stand out in a completely different way. In any case, it will be an exciting competition on Saturday and until then you are welcome to follow our reporting here on the website, but also on social media.
 
Some of the (off-stage)backing vocalists though are past MF participants. :D

2. Loulou LaMotte
Entry: "Inga sorger"
Choir (Off stage): Frida Green

3. Rejhan
Entry: "Haunted"
Choir (Off stage): Mattias Andréasson

I assume they are there on their own will and/or trying to get an invite next year? :D Otherwise the Swedish equivalent of the glue factory sure is mean. :(
 
Some of the (off-stage)backing vocalists though are past MF participants. :D

2. Loulou LaMotte
Entry: "Inga sorger"
Choir (Off stage): Frida Green

3. Rejhan
Entry: "Haunted"
Choir (Off stage): Mattias Andréasson

I assume they are there on their own will and/or trying to get an invite next year? :D Otherwise the Swedish equivalent of the glue factory sure is mean. :(
This is a quite common phenomena in Sweden and it's usually because
(1) they're one of the song-writers so they're gonna be there anyways (Mattias),
(2) they're friends with the artist in question (Erik Segerstedt for Robin B) or
(3) their career is stagnant (Frida, or Alvaro Estrella and Erik Segerstedt for Sergey Lazarev).

It's incredibly rare for a current backstage backing singer to get the chance next year because they've been in the choir the year before. However it's quite common if you're also the songwriter (John Lundvik, Melanie Wehbe) or an on stage choir (Alvaro, The Mamas).
 
This is a quite common phenomena in Sweden and it's usually because
(1) they're one of the song-writers so they're gonna be there anyways (Mattias),
(2) they're friends with the artist in question (Erik Segerstedt for Robin B) or
(3) their career is stagnant (Frida, or Alvaro Estrella and Erik Segerstedt for Sergey Lazarev).

It's incredibly rare for a current backstage backing singer to get the chance next year because they've been in the choir the year before. However it's quite common if you're also the songwriter (John Lundvik, Melanie Wehbe) or an on stage choir (Alvaro, The Mamas).
or if your Jessica Folcker's backing singer, in which case it looks like you'll get your big moment only for her TO CLAW AND STRUGGLE her way onto the stage. :disco:
 
Much more excited for Tone now I've read these reviews. The twink sounds like he'll be up my street only.
 
sorry if this is a stupid question but is it possible to watch this with English subtitles somewhere?
 
Tone - Okay, but not a massively compelling comeback. I think the song has a place in the contest, but Tone is entirely the wrong choice to sing it. Fingers crossed the performance proves me wrong.

LouLou - Yep, this deserves to do well. I can see this building splendidly.

The shitty-arsed child - This is fucking shit. Even the minute clip feels like it outstays its welcome by 58 seconds.

Elov & Beny - This needs to GO OFF, but I like what I'm hearing so far.

Victor Crone - Fuck you, I like it. It sounds EXACTLY the way I thought it would, but this sort of Tweed-wearing dependability is an overlooked quality in pop music.

Eva & Ewa - This is going to be a delight on stage and I'm here for them winning MF twice in three years.

Jon Henrik and some people I don't know - YES. YES PLEASE.
 
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Tone - the perfect next step following her debut. This would immediately be a fan favourite if from Cyprus/Greece. Definitely AC, and then into the final.

LouLou - I am lying on the floor. Could LouLou win Melfest THREE times? What she certainly has is a HIT on her hands.

Reyhan - serviceable. It might build to be more interesting, but I don’t really care. Don’t want this twink obliterated, just quietly removed.

The LADS - oi oi fella. Love this. Like a night out with Buttertart and Soldi

Victor Crone- oh you know what, this is just pathetic really. Someone said this was to 2023 what David Lindgren - Skyline was to 2013. The sound is an AI version of what gets played on Spotify. I don’t hate it, I just don’t think it should do well on principle.

Eva & Ewa - odd chord loop. Can’t work out what it sounds like. I’m jarred. This is so strange. Sounds so much…younger than them. What a waste of a title like Länge Leve Livet. I’m just completely baffled everybody.

The LADS featuring Jon Henrik - once again this Sami man DEVOID of any emotion returns to - oh no wait. Once again this beautiful Sami man returns and my heart melt. Never has he failed to capture me emotionally, and this beefy dance number featuring Jon is sure to be the sound of the summer* :disco:


*in my flat
 

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