By Neil Durham

WHEN?: Saturday 1 February 2025 7pm UK time

WHERE?: Coop Norrbotten Arena, Luleå

Melodifestivalen turns 65 this year, in 2024 gave us Unforgettable Norwegian twins Marcus and Martinus as victors and we see them live in London in March, the biggest compliment we can pay an act.

• Read on for reasons including more detail about this opening show’s 6 acts

A brilliant change this year sees all entries released to streaming platforms on the Friday ahead of their Saturday semi which means we no longer have to wait for the top 2 songs in each semi once all heats have taken place.

Each of the 2 heat winners progress to the final with now only the 3rd placed song going forward to a run-off for 2 additional final places at the end of heat 5.

3. John Lundvik Voice Of The Silent (Jimmy Jansson, John Lundvik, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son)

Lundvik finished 5th in the 2019 Eurovision (pictured above) in Tel Aviv with Too Late For Love and we wrote: ‘We’re enjoying that this has gospel elements and love the choir but find the song a little predictable. The rousing backing vocals really lift it though and this could win the whole contest.’ He finished 3rd in the 2018 MF with It’s My Turn and co-wrote 2020’s French Eurovision entry which was Covid cancelled. He also finished 8th in the 2022 MF with Änglavakt (Angel Guard).

1. Albin Johnsén feat. Pa Upp i luften (Up in the air) (Albin Johnsén, Christoffer Balazik, Fernand MP, Mattias Andréasson, Pa Modou)

Johnsén is a Swedish singer, rapper and songwriter who wrote Det rår vi inte för (We are not in favour of that) for Behrang Miri that made andra chansen in 2015. A year later Johnsén competed with Mattias Andréasson performing Rik (Rich) missing out once more in the 2nd chance round. In 2020 Livet börjar nu (Life Begins Now) didn’t make it out of its heat. Pa is a member of group Panetoz which finished 9th with Efter solsken (After sunshine) in 2014. Two years later Håll om mig hårt (Hold Me Tight) finished 8th. Seven years later they made the final once more with On My Way finishing 10th.

6. Linnea Henriksson Den känslan (That feeling) (David Lindgren Zacharias, Linnea Henriksson, Sebastian Atas)

Henriksson is a singer/songwriter who finished 4th in Idol in 2010. She has also been the lead singer of a jazz band called Prylf. In 2012 Henriksson released her first music album, which she co-wrote and co-produced with singer Orup who wrote 2004 MF winner Det gör ont (It hurts) for Lena Philipsson.

5. Adrian Macéus Vår första gång (Our first time) (Adam “Rymdpojken” Englund, Adrian Björklund, Adrian Macéus, Hugo Geijer Persson, William Pärlenskog)

Macéus had the lead role in Elton John musical Billy Elliot in 2018 at Stockholm’s stadsteater n December 2018. He co-wrote his debut single called How Are You Now?

2. Maja Ivarsson Kamikaze Life (Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Maja Ivarsson)

Lead vocalist of the Swedish indie rock band the Sounds. Thörnfeldt co-wrote last year’s MF winner and the previous year’s MF and Eurovision winner. This is the 1st of 5 2025 co-writes.

4. Meira Omar Hush Hush (Anderz Wrethov, Dino Medanhodzic, Laurell Barker, Meira Omar)

Omar was a contestant on the 1st season of Love Is Blind: Sweden.

• Keep an eye on monstagigz.com during January as we’ll be previewing 2025’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 2 preview Heat 3 preview Heat 4 preview Heat 5 preview Heat 1 predictions Heat 2 predictions Heat 3 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 Basle at Eurovision.
• Picture via Facebook courtesy John Lundvik, 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