WORTH A LOOK?: *****
We didn’t watch Italy’s San Remo Festival this year but were aware of the songs and gutted that our favourites could only manage 7th.
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.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: 5 March 2022, Paris
HOW DO I WATCH?: France Télévisions
France’s Barbara Pravi was runner-up at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest with Voila and it’s fair to say that the French Eurovision selection procedure in recent years has really upped its game.
WHEN?: Saturday 26 February 2022 7pm UK/8pm CET Update: Covid means all shows will now be from Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
The 2 big hitters in this final heat appear to be serving up songs slightly different to those they are best known for from the clips and so this might be a result that surprises.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 19 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week’s direct finalists were both previous Melodifestivalen competitors but this week we predict 2 new artists will go direkt till finalen.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN/WHERE?: Saturday 19 February 2022, H3 Arena, Fornebu
HOW DO I WATCH?: NRK
Last year’s Melodi Grand Prix was very much a 2-horse race between TIX and KEIINO but 2022’s line-up is much more open with any number of possible winners.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 12 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week Robin Bengtsson went direkt till finalen but we predicted little else right with the 3 eliminated acts all having MF history and the newcomers doing well at their expense.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: 26 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH? YLE
Finland performed far better than we expected in 2021 when rock group Blind Channel finished 6th and in 2022 they have a diverse 7-song final including The Rasmus who had a worldwide hit in 2003 with In The Shadows.
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 5 February 2022
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
The biggest story in this 1st heat is arguably the return of 2017 winner Robin Bengtsson who has taken part in Melodifestivalen 3 times (2016, 2017 and 2020) always going Direkt Till Finalen.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: Semi finals Thursday and Saturday 3 and 5 February, final Saturday 12 February 2022
HOW DO I WATCH?: Eesti Laul 2022 ETV
Estonia has not 1 but 5 returning former entrants to its Eesti Laul 2022 Eurovision selection show.
