By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: Saturday 12 March 2022 7pm UK/8pm CET Update: Covid means all shows will now be from Stockholm

WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play

This year’s Melodifestivalen is all set for an exciting conclusion because there is no clear winner and perhaps 4 strong songs – including 1 we think is a potential Eurovision winner – in contention.

• Read on for reasons including where we think these 12 finalists would finish at the 2022 Eurovision

We’re listing this year’s 12 finalists in the order in which we like them. Included is a rating for where we think they might finish in this year’s Eurovision final in Turin in May.

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 songs. We described this entry as a litmus test for MF because it was a co-write by a performer with a strong record of writing hits for others including BTS. Delighted it has deservedly made the finalen but think its chances of winning the Swedish Eurovision ticket are limited.

Cornelia Jakobs Hold Me Closer (Isa Molin, David Zandén, Cornelia Jakobsdotter) ESC PREDICTION: 1st to 5th

Our worst prediction of this Melodifestivalen was forecasting 7th for this in Heat 1 although it’s notoriously difficult to rate a ballad on a clip. The only shot in this selection that Sweden has of winning its 1st Eurovision since 2015. The lyrics remind of Robyn (‘the right 1 at the wrong time’) and there’s an endearing rasp to Cornelia’s vocal. Could classy win Melodifestivalen? Plum running order position of 10th.

LIAMOO Bluffin’ (Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Sami Rekik, Dino Medanhodzic, Ali Jammali) ESC PREDICTION: 6th to 10th

LIAMOO finished 6th and 3rd previously in 2018 and 2019, the latter as part of a duet with Hanna Ferm. We think this is a no-nonsense hit performed with panache. There has been some criticism of the lack of staging and we would expect an attempt to rectify this in the final. An even stronger contender from 9th in the running order.

Anders Bagge Bigger Than The Universe (Anders Bagge, Jimmy Jansson, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

The vocal reminds us of the Olsen Brothers’ winner in 2000, Fly On The Wings Of Love. We suspect Sweden has more love for this than we do because Bagge is well known to the country as a talent show judge on Swedish Idol. The performance is charming if a little Radio 2 against its big competition. A lot of work to do if it is to win from 6th in the running order.

Klara Hammarström Run To The Hills (Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Julie Aagaard, Anderz Wrethov, Klara Hammarström) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

Hammarström’s electro dance music banger is more Radio 1 in comparison and we were just a little unmoved by it in its live incarnation. There was 1 point where we felt the vocal was very off although generally it is well performed. Hammarström’s look in particular is very striking and superhero. The running order’s just been revealed and she’s both the show opener and number 1 on Spotify in Sweden currently. Too early for the win?

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’re delighted she progressed similarly this weekend. 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.

Medina In i dimman (Into the fog) (Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Sami Rekik, Dino Medanhodzic, Ali Jammali) ESC PREDICTION: 11th to 15th

We were surprised this went DTF instead of Anna Bergendahl but it is a contemporary dance sound given a suitably energetic performance. Medanhodzic has written for Dotter previously and we think this would find appreciation at Eurovision even if it stayed in its native Swedish as dance is such a universal language.

Faith Kakembo Freedom (Laurell Barker, Anderz Wrethov, Palle Hammarlund, Faith Kakembo) ESC PREDICTION: 16th to 20th

We’re delighted Kakembo made it to the finalen at her 2nd attempt because we felt she previously deserved to progress in MF. This is anthemic and builds at least in part to its proactive staging. Unsure if there is enough goodwill and momentum behind this however to propel it to the higher echelons of the MF rankings.

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 very much wanted this would-be anthem to have another shot at glory in the finalen.

Robin Bengtsson Innocent Love (David Lindgren Zacharias, Victor Sjöström, Victor Crone, Viktor Broberg, Sebastian Atas) ESC PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

We can’t help but think of 80s megahit Footloose whenever this song appears on our playlist. This is pleasant, lightweight fun and a hit for Bengtsson but we don’t think he’s in danger of winning MF for a 2nd time so soon after his 2017 triumph which saw him place 5th in Kiev, Ukraine, with I Can’t Go On.

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 we didn’t predict it but thought it could sneak through to the finalen.

John Lundvik Änglavakt (Angel guard) (Anderz Wrethov, Elin Wrethov, Benjamin Rosenbohm, Fredrik Sonefors, John Lundvik) ESC PREDICTION: 21st to 26th

Another former winner – Lundvik won in 2019, finishing 5th in that year’s pre-Covid Eurovision – that we think is here more for a domestic hit in his native tongue than for making a competitive bid to triumph again so quickly after his 1st success. This is gentle and intimate and a little understated.

• 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
• Heat 1 preview Heat 2 preview Heat 3 preview Heat 4 preview Heat 1 predictions Heat 2 predictions Heat 3 predictions Heat 4 predictions Semi final predictions
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