Live: National final in Sweden

The final of Melodifestivalen 2009, the Swedish national selection for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest is about to be held. Eleven acts will compete for the ticket to Moscow.

Webcast

A webcast will be made available on SVT's official website hereat 20:00 CET.

Webradio

Listen to Sverige Radio 4 herefrom 19:30 CET.

Participants

LIVE

The show has started. Tonight's participants were introduced and it appears that Alcazar and EMD got the biggest applause.

1. Måns Zelmerlöw – Hope & glory

Current poll result: 12.2% (3rd)

Måns Zelmerlöw opens the field of competitors with his customary Europop entry Hope & glory.Despite a flashy choreography, the overall performance is rather predictable. The performance is very charmingand the singer obviously enjoyshis time on stage. However, it has to be mentioned that the most typical Europop entries did notvery well in the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB6W7V2Rhc8&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

2. Caroline af Ugglas – Snälla, snälla

Current poll result: 6.1% (6th)

This song is seen as a dark horse to do well in the televoting tonight. The very unusual style for a Melodifestival show works very well on stage and Caroline delivers a very emotional performance that foes perfectly with the song. This song would probably lose some of its magic if it was performed in English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wKSkGXvPBA&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

3. Agnes – Love, love, love

Current poll result: 4.5% (8th)

Another classic Europop song. The skyline in the background and the catwalk on stage work very well with this song and the vocal performance is rather strong, even if not perfect. Generally, this entry is probably not outstanding enough to do well in Moscow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Sxy-mlitM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

4. H.E.A.T – 1000 miles

Current poll result: 3.0% (11th)

This is the most rockish song tonight, although it still has a very Swedish feeling (especially in the chorus) reminding of the band Europe. The performance works with the song although it may be asked if taking the audience 25 years back in time would work for the Eurovision televoters and the juries especially.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2hPPHmLjX0&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

5. Emilia – You're my world

Current poll result: 4.3% (9th)

Emilia presents a strong and very catchy guitar pop song. The performance is very charming and work well with the song, although it could be more eye-catching. Generally it is a strong effort but probably not a dark horse tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsoMp76M10&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

6. Alcazar – Stay the night

Current poll result: 22.5% (1st)

With a different line-up than in 2003 and 2005, Alcazar are back in the Melodifestival final.It's disco time in Sweden. The group presents a very catchy up-tempo song and the obviously ironically old-fashioned style works well on stage. The groupgives a very passionate performance and the audience obviously lovesthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUkak_izEdA&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

7. Sarah Dawn Finer – Moving on

Current poll result: 9.2% (4th)

Sarah Dawn Finer delivers another dramatic, emotional and vocally flawless performance of her ballad. The melody is very strong and memorable. This song might have good chances of doing well in the Eurovision Song Contest, but it probably is not an outright favourite tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rel1YvjCSXk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

8. E.M.D. – Baby goodbye

Current poll result: 3.9% (10th)

Of course, the handsome boy group is the top favourite to win the televoting tonight as they are the current #1 in the Swedish single charts. The song is catchy and does not take itself too serious, whichshould bea very good sign. The performance is charming and the vocals are strong. However, it should be mentioned that this sort of cabaret/stage music brought Sweden one its worst placings in recent yearsback in Kyiv.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmQ2UzaT85M&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

9. Sofia – Alla

Current poll result: 8.9% (5th)

Sofia was got the wildcard from the international jury. Although both song and performance are a bit chaotic, it is a very strong entry with a catchy melody and a contemporary appeal. However, havingnot even reached the top five of the semi final, Sofia might not be a top favourite tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oluTgHmCywM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

10. Molly Sandén – Så vill stjärnorna

Current poll result: 5.4% (7th)

Former JESC participant Molly Sandén is up next. The melody of her song is rather catchy, although it might sound a bit too much like most other Swedish ballads composed by Bobby Ljuggren. The performance is very emotional and vocals are almost flawless. Generally, this is probably one of the entries whose popularity is caused more by the singer than by the song itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5EjFk0Vhlk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

11. Malena Ernman – La voix

Current poll result: 20.1% (2nd)

Malena Ernman gets another chance to present her song last. While the mix of classic Europop and operatic elements is very interesting, it also seems very forced and a bit synthetic in many parts of the song. As expected, the vocal performance is rather strong. However, despite being the top favourite to win tonight, it is by far not best welcomed one tonight by the audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvcal0BRNXw&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

The results of the international jury:

1. Moving on – 12 points
2. Snälla, snälla – 10 points
3. Alla – 8 points
4. Hope & glory – 6 points
5. You're my world – 4 points
6. Så vill stjärnorna – 2 points
7. La voix – 1 point

Remarkably, the top three were the three wildcard entries.

Jury results

Luleå jury:

1. Song #1 – 1 points
2. #4 – 2 points
3. #7 – 4 points
4. #8 – 6 points
5. #11 – 8 points
6. #1 – 10 points
7. #2- 12 points

Umeåjury:

1. #7 – 1
2. #11 – 2
3. #3 – 4
4. #4 – 6
5. #2 – 8
6. #6 – 10
7. #1 – 12

Sundsvall jury:

1. #11 – 1
2. #4 – 2
3. #7 – 4
4. #1 – 6
5. #3 – 8
6. #8 – 10
7. #6 – 12

Falun jury:

1. #4 – 1
2. #3 – 2
3. #2 – 4
4. #7 – 6
5. #8 – 8
6. #10 – 10
7. #5 – 12

Karlstad jury:

1. #3 – 1
2. #1 – 2
3. #11 – 4
4. #7 – 6
5. #8 – 8
6. #6 – 10
7. #4 – 12

Örebro jury:

1. #6 – 1
2. #4 – 2
3. #1 – 4
4. #11 – 6
5. #5 – 8
6. #7 – 10
7. #8 – 12

Norrköping jury:

1. #8 – 1
2. #1 – 2
3. #4 – 4
4. #2 – 6
5. #7 – 8
6. #6 – 10
7. #11 – 12

Göteborg jury:

1. #4 – 1
2. #7 – 2
3. #2 – 4
4. #8 – 6
5. #3 – 8
6. #6 – 10
7. #1 – 12

Växjö jury:

1. #6 – 1
2. #11 – 2
3. #5 – 4
4. #2 – 6
5. #4 – 8
6. #1- 10
7. #7 – 12

Malmö jury:

1. #6 – 1
2. #11 – 2
3. #9 – 4
4. #3 – 6
5. #7 – 8
6. #1 – 10
7. #4 – 12

Stockholm jury:

1. #2 – 1
2. #7 – 2
3. #8 – 4
4. #6 – 6
5. #4 – 8
6. #3 – 10
7. #1 – 12

Hope & glory is the jury favourite.

Televoting results:

1. Moving on – 12 points
2. 1000 miles – 24 points
3. Hope & glory – 48 points
4. Stay the night – 72 points
5. Baby goodbye – 96 points
6. Snälla, snälly – 120 points
7. La voix – 144 points

La voix has won the national final.