The second chance round of Melodifestivalen 2010, Sweden's pre-selection to determine their representative at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, is about to be held. Eight acts will compete for the two remaining spots in the national final, to be held on March 13th.
How to watch?
A webcast will be made available for international viewers on the official website here. The link will appear shortly before the show starts.
Participants
(Composers/lyricists in brackets)
- Alcazar – Headlines
(Peter Boström, Tony Nilsson) - Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän – Underbart
(Lina Eriksson, Johan Moraeus) - Jessica Andersson – I did it for love
(Kristian Wejshag, Lars "Dille" Diedricson) - Pauline – Sucker for love
(Fredrik "Fredro" Ödesjö, Andreas Levander, Johan "Jones" Wetterberg, Pauline Kamusewue) - Pain of Salvation – Road salt
(Daniel Gildenlöw) - Pernilla Wahlgren – Jag vill om du vågar
(Pontus Assarsson, Jörgen Ringqvist, Daniel Barkman) - Neo – Human frontier
(Tobias Jonsson, Anneli Axelsson) - Crucified Barbara – Heaven or hell
(Håkan Larsson, Björn Lönnroos, Jörgen Svensson)
Your opinion
- You can vote for your favourite song in our poll here.
LIVE
Tonight's hosts Måns Zelmerlöw and Christine Meltzer welcome the audience and explain tonight's procedure of Andra chansen, which sees eight acts competing for the two remaining places in next week's national final.
They emphasize that acts competing at the second chance round still can make it far in the final, like Shirley Clamp in 2004 and Caroline Af Ugglas in 2009.
DUEL 1
1. Pain of Salvation – Road salt
Current esctoday.com poll result: 2nd (12.1%)
Progressive-metal band Pain of Salvation, formed by Daniel Gildenlöw, are the first of tonight's performers. They are up against Pernilla Wahlgren, who couldn't be more different. The performance of their ballad Road salt is focussing solely on the song's message and the lead singer does a great job in creating an intimate atmosphere on stage and manages to touch the audience. It will be very interesting to see who is stronger: A meanigful ballad by a well-established band or the millionth version of one and the same Schlager.
2. Pernilla Wahlgren – Jag vill om du vågar
Current esctoday.com poll result: 5th (10.0%)
Pernilla's last participation in Melodifestivalen was in 2003 with Let your spirit fly, a duet with Jan Johansen, resulting in 2nd place. She is representing the typical style of this festival with her old-fasioned Schlager Jag vill om du vågar. A lot of glitter is involved in the performance to appeal to the lovers of Pernilla's kind of music and get them to vote for her. However, this kind of Schlager doesn't stand a chance at the Eurovision Song Contest anymore.
Pernilla Wahlgren qualified for the second round!
DUEL 2
1. Pauline – Sucker for love
Current esctoday.com poll result: 3rd (11.8%)
Soul and R'n'B artist Pauline's genre is very unusual for an entry in Melodifestivalen. Just like in her semi final performance, she is wearing a pink dress and stockings. Her bone- shaped hairdo makes her look a bit like one of the Flinstones, which suits her really well. She is being supported by six dancers and the whole act seems to be working well on stage. Pauline is quite confident, yet something seems to be missing in her song.
2. Crucified Barbara – Heaven or hell
Current esctoday.com poll result: 7th (5.3%)
The girl- band Crucified Barbara offers are delievering solid vocal performances of their guitar- dominated rock song Heaven or hell. They are experienced performers but their song is rather unspectacular, rather uninspired, therefore, they probably are not the best choice to go to Eurovision.
Crucified Barbara qualified for the second round!
DUEL 3
1. Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän – Underbart
Currenst esctoday.com poll result: 8th (3.7%)
Underbart is a folksy ballad in Swedish language. Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän's song has got a melancholic feel to it and is being delievered rather well on stage. A nice song and that might exactly be its problem. It's just nice thus fails to leave a bigger impression and remaining quite forgettable.
2. Neo – Human frontier
Current esctoday.com poll result: 4th (10.6%)
NEO is debuting at Melodifestivalen with the song Human frontier. He is being upported by four female dancers and his vocals are good. Human is quite typical a tune for Melodifestivalen, therefore, he might have the better cards to make it through to the next round against Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän, although it's not a strong song.
Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän qualified for the second round!
DUEL 4
1. Alcazar – Headlines
Current esctoday.com poll result: 1st (36.8%)
After their previous participations in 2003, 2005 and 2009, Alcazar are back at Melodifestivalen yet again and it seems that their songs are getting more bland and less original every time. Comparing it with their song from last year, Stay the night, Headlines is a lot weaker and it seems not very likely for the group to finally win the pre-selection this time either. Their performance features some pink clothing and a larger-than-life version of their name.
2. Jessica Andersson – I did it for love
Current esctoday.com poll result: 6th (9.7%)
Jessica Andersson already represented Sweden in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest as part of the group Fame. She returns to Melodifestivalen with the ballad I did it for love. Suitably for the staging of a ballad, the background is all blue and Jessica is standing alone on stage, wearing a black evening dress. Her song is nothing outstanding – nice but bland. Her vocals are faultless.
Jessica Andersson qualified for the second round!
The second round is taking place now.
Pernilla Wahlgren to the final! Jessic Andersson to the final!