By Neil Durham

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 2 March 2024

WHERE?: Löfbergs Arena, Karlstad WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Norwegian twins Marcus & Martinus return to Melodifestivalen at the 1st time of asking after finishing as runners up in 2023.

• Read on for reasons including Chelsea Mucco, Jay Smith, Elecktra & Annika Wickihalder

1. Marcus & Martinus Unforgettable (Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Marcus Gunnarsen, Martinus Gunnarsen)

M&M finished 2nd with both the juries and televoters in 2023 with their song Air and we said: ‘These Norwegian twins are probably Loreen’s closest competition and while we think the Jedward comparison is a little unfair this is a song drawing on 90s dance, as Tattoo does, that is both professionally and memorably performed. Their looks might earn them younger voters’ support but their nationality might work against them. Enjoying the slow-motion dancing.’

2. Chelsea Muco Controlla (Control) (Anderz Wrethov, Chelsea Muco, Elsa Carmona Oljelund, Fernand MP, Karl Flyckt, Pa Modou)

Muco won the talent competition Next Level and has collaborated with acts including Jireel and Gee Dixon.

3. Jay Smith Back To My Roots (Jay Smith, Jonas Jurström, Jonathan Keyes, Maria Jane Smith, Victor Thell)

Smith has stayed out of the limelight since his Idol win in 2010, releasing several solo albums and playing with rock bands including Smash Into Pieces who appear in this year’s Heat 1. Rumoured to want to leave rock behind him and re-invent himself as a country music singer.

4. Elecktra Banna Maj (Ban May)(Anderz Wrethov, Elin Wrethov, Jonny Werner, Robin Werner)

Elecktra finished fourth on Drag Race Sweden and we’re expecting something electric.

5. Annika Wickihalder Light (Annika Wickihalder, Herman Gardarfve, Linnea Gawell, Patrik Jean)

2021 semi-finalist from talent show Idol, co-writer Jean failed to qualify from his MF heat in 2021 with Tears Run Dry and we said of it: ‘The rematch between The Mamas and Dotter may not be happening just yet but this entry was written by the team behind last year’s winner Move. Jean is a talented singer/songwriter/producer who we think will benefit from this position in the running order.’

6. Medina Que Sera (Ali Jammali, Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Sami Rekik)

This Swedish hip hop duo with Arabic influences previously finished 3rd in MF in 2022 with In i dimman (Into The Fog). That title and some of MF’s most successful writers onboard indicates to us that this could well go with a bang.

• Keep an eye on monstagigz.com during January as we’ll be previewing 2024’s 30 entries. Heat 1 preview Heat 2 preview Heat 3 preview Heat 4 preview Heat 1 predictions Heat 2 predictions Heat 3 predictions Heat 4 predictions Heat 5 predictions Finalen predictions
• During February this site will predict how each heat will go on the Friday after we’ve heard the songs before the Saturday events. 
• In March we’ll forecast how the finalen will go and how each of the 12 qualifiers would do in May in Malmö at Eurovision.
• Picture via Facebook courtesy Marcus and Martinus, Melodifestivalen and SVT
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this review? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook