Melodifestivalen has arrived to Linköping this week. Yesterday was the first day of rehearsals of the eight songs. Among the artists we find former Melodifestivalen participants like Patrik Isaksson and Bodies Without Organs.
Song 1: Lay your love on me – BWO
Bodies Without Organs, or BWO for short, is back in Melidifestival for a third round. Last time they came on second place with Temple of love, after Carolas Evighet in 2006. The new song Lay your love on me is something between Boney M, Abba and Madonna´s Hung up. It´s a dance floor anthem. The stage performance begins with the cam coming running around the corner at the little box on the stage that Amy Diamond used for her performance. There are all three members of BWO standing up, just like a living painting. Then the show number starts, the singer is everywhere on the stage, running around. Finally the singer Martin is lifted 8 meters up in the air in a metal construction and pyrotechnicsare all around .
Song 2 : Izdadje – Mickey Huskic
Mickey Huskicis performing his song Izdadje in Bosnian. Its a Balkan ballad. On stage he has a woman on cello, her name is Annie Oliv, famous for coming fourth place in the Miss World contest. After a while he throws away the microphone stand, to show the strong emotions in the song. Under the rehearsals he seems to have some problems with his ear-plugs.
Song 3: Upp o hoppa – Frida featuring Headline
After Mickey's ballad, here comes a positive uptempo song from last year's newcomer Frida. It’s a popsong with big sing-along chorus and rap in the verses.
Song 4: When you need me – Thérèse Andersson
The song, asdescribed by some, is a mixture Nanne Grönwall and Sarah Brightman. On the stage we will see flags in the wind in a style resembling Carola's 2006 performance. She stands alone on stage, the choir behind.
Song 5: Under mitt tunna skinn – Patrik Isaksson
Patrik has is own band on stage this time around. The song is a classic guitar pop, the style Isaksson is famous for in Sweden. But for the Melodifestival, he has added some schlager feeling to his pop song. The choir and the guitarists goes behind a hips moving Patrik in a Magnus Carlsson style. The stage floor is in black and white and his microphone has a long red cable.
Song 6: Smiling in love – Caracola
The girls look very happy on the stage. They work much with the camera,to ensure the show looks good on theTV screen. Smiles, poses. The three girls have had some success on the single chart before, and maybe this will be their big break. It´s a happy and uplifting song with summer feeling. They also using pyro in this number.
Song 7: Jag saknar dig ibland – Ainbusk
Ainbusk performs a love ballad. The song was writtenby Henrik Wikstrom, the demo was recorded by Sonja Aldén, but in Melodifestivalen it is Ainbush singers who sings this strong love song. In the beginning of the song the girls are away from each other, and in the end they are all together in the middle of the stage.
Song 8: Hallelujah New World – Eskobar
This week’s wild card is the popgroup Eskobar who had a huge hit called Someone new, a duet with Heather Nova. Now they rare eady to take over the pop rock wild card place from The Ark. Accoring to reports it is far from a schlager song. It’s a radio song. On the stage they have flatscreens with happy faces. On the first rehearsals the singer’s voice drowned in the music. But got better the second time around.
