Swedish newspapers gave some names of the four artists who have obtained a wildcard to participate in the Swedish preselection of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, Melodifestivalen. The songs of these artists were, if we may believe several Swedish newspapers, not judged by the selection committee of SVT, they are automatically placed in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen 2004.
The four artists are said to be:
Lena Philipsson
E-Type
Niklas Andersson
Siw Malmkvist, Towa Carson & Ann-Louise Hanson
Lena Philipsson participated three times in the Swedish preselection before. In 1986 and 1988 she finished second with Kärleken är evig and Om igen respectively. In 1987 she sang Dansa i neon, which finished 5th. In 1999 she co-wrote the song Det svär jag på for Arvingarna, that song obtained 3rd place.
E-Type doesn't have any connections wit the Eurovision Song Contest history so far. He was responsible for the Euro 2000-hymne Campione 2000, which is well-known throughout Europe.
Niklas Andersson participated in Melodifestivalen once before. In 2002 he obtained 8th place in the 4th semifinal with the song I want you.
The female trio Siw Malmkvist, Towa Carson & Ann-Louise Hanson has much Eurovision-experience.
Siw Malmkvist participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1960 she represented Sweden with the song Alla andra får varann (4th place) and in 1969 she sang Primaballerina (9th place) for Germany in Madrid. In 1959 she won the Swedish national final as well but it was already decided that the winning song, Augustin, would be performed by Brita Borg at the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1961 she won the Swedish national final again but she was replaced for the Eurovision Song Contest by Lill-Babs because Siw couldn't stop laughing during the reprise of the winning song April April. She also participated in the German preselection in 1962 and the Swedish preselection in 1988.
Towa Carson participated in two Swedish preselections. In 1967 she sang two songs, Alla har glömt (3rd) and Vem frågar vinden (5th), and in 1968 she obtained 3rd place again with the song Du vet var jag finns. Ann-Louise Hanson has sung many songs in Swedish preselections: Säg varför (3rd) and Zum zum zum lilla summarbi (11th) in 1963, En ballad om för langesen (4th) in 1966, Christina dansar (7th) and Sjungas till sömns (10th) in 1967, Svenska flicka (4th) in 1969,
I annorlunda lang (8th) in 1974, Kärleken lever (5th) in 1982, Bara en enda gång (5th, with John Ballard) and Sluta (6th in the semifinal, with Molle Holmberg).
Earlier today we wrote that the Swedish broadcaster SVT confirmed the four names for the wildcards. It appeared that this is NOT true and that SVT has not yet confirmed any of the four names yet. After we spoke with SVT it became clear that an official announcement will be made by the end of the month. We apologise for the possible inconvenience.
