By Aline Mahrud

WHEN?: 7pm UK time 17 February 2024

WHERE?: Vida Arena, Växjö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play

Last week our predictions were 100 per cent correct – can we do the same again this week?

• Read on for reasons including our predictions for who is going straight to the 9 March finalen

1. Jacqline Effortless (Dino Medanhodzic, Jacqline Mossberg Mounkassa, Jimmy Jansson, Moa Carlebecker, Thomas G:son) PREDICTION: Finalen

1 of the co-writers here for this MF debutant is Bosnian-Swedish musician Dino Medanhodžić who is engaged to Dotter who returns to MF in next week’s Heat 4. Tattoo co-writers G:son and Opeia, who also competes in this heat, also contribute. Jacqline makes her MF debut and placed second on Swedish Idol, back in 2021. MF24’s biggest dancefloor banger so far. ‘Call the police!’

2. Clara Klingenström Aldrig mer (Never again) (Bobby Ljunggren, Clara Klingenström, David Lindgren Zacharias) PREDICTION: Run-off

Despite the title of her song Klingenström returns to MF after finishing 5th in 2021 with song Behöver inte dig idag (I do not need you today) which was the contest’s sleeper hit making number 3 on the Swedish chart. It boasts the same writing team and we said: ‘It’s another song which benefits from the extra time afforded it in Andra Chansen and may well perform better than we’re expecting in Melodifestivalen simply because it stands out among those songs surrounding it.’ Aldrig mer is as introspective as its predecessor and again may need time to be appreciated.

3. Kim Cesarion Take My Breath Away (Albin Johnsén, Christoffer Johansson, Kim Cesarion, Mattias Andréasson, William Segerdahl) PREDICTION: Run off

Debutant Cesarion had a hit in 2013 with the song Undressed. It charted across the Nordics as well as Australia, New Zealand and the US. Co-writer Albin Johnsen competed at MF in 2016 and 2020. Take My Breath Away‘s clip is once again heavy on the build but this shows uptempo promise.

LISTEN TO ONE-MINUTE CLIPS OF THESE SONGS

4. Klaudy För dig (For you)(William Schenberg, Åke Olofsson) PREDICTION: 5th

Co-writer and MF debutant Schenberg is from Tolered in Gothenburg and is better known under his stage name as Klaudy. He participated in SVT’s music show Songland and wrote a song alongside Cherrie. För dig is simple, guitar-strummed and heartfelt but lacking in a little spark.

5. Gunilla Persson I Won’t Shake (La La Gunilla) (Fredrik Andersson) PREDICTION: 6th

With a song written especially for her, Persson is a former fashion model and TV personality making her MF debut. In the 80s she had a minor role on TV soap opera Dallas. More recently she has featured in the reality show Swedish Hollywood Wives and for participating in the celebrity version of The Biggest Loser. I Won’t Shake appears to be a bit of a vocal challenge but lots of fun.

6. Cazzi Opeia Give My Heart A Break (Ellen Berg, Jimmy Jansson, Moa Carlebecker, Thomas G:son) PREDICTION: Finalen

Opeia co-wrote Tattoo sung by Loreen which brings Eurovision to Sweden in May and she is joined by 2 of its co-writers for this entry. Cazzi had less success on her 1st appearance in MF 2022 when her co-write I Can’t Get Enough, our favourite of the year, finished 9th. Give My Heart A Break reminds of I Can’t Get Enough with its uptempo strings and beats but with a pleading and despairing lyric.

• Keep an eye on monstagigz.com during January as we’ll be previewing 2024’s 30 entries.
• During February this site will predict how each heat will go on the Friday after we’ve heard the songs before the Saturday events. Heat 1 preview Heat 2 preview Heat 4 preview Heat 5 preview Heat 1 predictions Heat 2 predictions Heat 4 predictions Heat 5 predictions Finalen predictions
• 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 Cazzi Opeia, 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