By Aline Mahrud

WHEN/WHERE? Saturday 5 March 2022 7pm UK/8pm CET Update: Covid means all shows will now be from Stockholm

HOW DO I WATCH?  SVT Play

This year’s Andra Chansen becomes a semi final with 4 of the 8 competing entries qualifying for the finalen on 12 March.

• Read on for reasons including our predictions how these songs would do at Eurovision 2022

However the 8 entries have been split into 2 semi finals with 4 acts qualifying from each semi. See below for our prediction of how we think each of the 8 songs would do at this year’s Eurovision.

(semi 2) Cazzi Opeia I Can’t Get Enough (Bishat Araya, Jakob Redtzer, Cazzi Opeia, Paul Rey) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Our favourite of this year’s semi final songs. We described this entry as a litmus test for MF because it was a co-write by a performer which a strong record of writing hits for others including BTS. We think it’s in the trickier of the 2 semis but would love to see it progress.

(semi 1) Anna Bergendahl Higher Power (Anna Bergendahl, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Sweden’s least successful Eurovision entrant made the finalen from the Andra Chansen with her comeback Ashes To Ashes in 2019 and we’d be surprised if she doesn’t progress here. We’d dial down the horses on the screens but otherwise Higher Power is a strong entry and it may just be that at her 4th attempt at MF people are tiring of her.

(semi 1) Tone Sekelius My Way (Anderz Wrethov, Tone Sekelius) ESC PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

1 of our worst forecasts this year was that MF’s 1st trans contestant would finish last in Heat 2. My Way is a grower and was far better sung live than we feared and we would very much like this would-be anthem have another shot at glory next week.

(semi 2) Lisa Miskovsky Best To Come (Lisa Miskovsky, David Lindgren Zacharias) ESC PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

Miskovsky is a former finalist and is once again pitted against Opeia. Best To Come is not going to set the world on fire but we have it in our top 4 picks from these semi finals and we think it should make the 12 March finalen.

(semi 1) Alvaro Estrella Suave (Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Alvaro Estrella) ESC PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

Estrella has made the finalen with each of his last 2 entries and, although we think this is probably the most convincing and assured performance and song, we suspect this might just get jostled out by some of the more enteraining female-fronted entries in this semi final.

(semi 2) Theoz Som Du Vill (As you wish) (Tobias Lundgren, Axel Schylström, Tim Larsson, Elize Ryd, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt) ESC PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

Theoz gave us an engaging debut appearance in his native language and we’ve no doubt we’ll see him in Melodifestivalen again in future years. This is fun and could sneak through to the finalen but we’d be surprised.

(semi 1) Danne Stråhed Hallaballoo (Danne Stråhed, Fredrik Andersson, Erik Stenhammar) ESC PREDICTION: non-qualifier

There’s something very relaxed and endearing about this ska-ish entry. Our problem with it is the occasional nonsensical lyric which detracts massively from its credibility.

(semi 2) Lillasyster ‘Til Our Days Are Over (Jimmy Jansson, Palle Hammarlund, Ian-Paolo Lira, Martin Westerstrand) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

We’ve ranked these songs from 1st to last in the order where we would like to see them finish. But we think if 1 song we don’t much like was to outperform our expectations for it, it would be this 1. Likely to perform well at a Eurovision rewarding rock acts. It’s a compelling pop/rock tune, well performed, although not in a style we’re particularly keen on.

• Picture via YouTube courtesy SVT Melodifestivalen
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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