What's your view of Sweden's Melodifestivalen?

Every week, we ask a regular panel of readers to discuss a particular aspect of life in Sweden. This week: Melodifestivalen.

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Graeme Newcomb

Frankly my dear I could not give a toss! The sooner this national embarrassment disappears into the dustbin of tasteless entertainment the better. Or better still...syndicate it to Kazakhstan and have Borat present it!




Emma Chataway

Although I fear being hunted down by crazed, patriotic Swedes for saying this, I'm going to say it anyway. Before this question was put forward I never thought about watching it, I never wanted to and didn't have a clue who or how many were competing. Actually that's not completely true, when my boyfriend (ruler of the remote control) was zapping he stoped at The Melodifestivalen and said, "Hey that Sofia girl is my cousin!" - and continued flicking.

A few days later he read in the paper that she had been one of the people chosen by the International Jury but didn't make the cut by Swedish voters. I just tried looking it up but I'm still confused about it all, still not sure if that means she is in or out or whatever. So if I want anyone to win its Sofia. I haven't listened to any of the others' songs besides hers and it isn't at all ABBA-ish as I feared it might be, go Sofia!

Apart from anything else this show reminds me all too much of a glittery version of Idol, although to be fair I've only seen about five minutes of Melodifestivalen. I guess it's just not my thing, plus I'm abit scarred by all of those singing/dancing shows since mum used to watch Dancing With The Stars back home. That's probably the worst show ever made, I dont want to see a dead beat Neighbours star from the 90s do a come back because they learned how to tango. It's just not right.

So maybe I'm being a little unfair in comparing the two, but I just refuse to watch any of it. I'll let the Swedes take this one; they can watch and enjoy it all they want, just as long as I'm not in the same room, I don't mind one little bit.




Igor Trisic

Last year I followed Melodifestivalen closely because I was in Sweden for the final and because the Eurovision song contest would be hosted in Belgrade, where I come from. I liked a couple of the songs then, specially “One Love” from Andreas Johnson and Carola Häggqvist. The song was knocked off in the Second chance so I guess my taste was not in tune with the average Svensson.

I listened to a couple of songs from this year but my first impression is that songs are a bit worse than the previous year. So right now I don’t have any clear favorite. If you add that to the pretty bad song that won in my country, Serbia, after voter irregularities and the jury deciding the winner at the expense of the voting public (the winning song got less than 4,000 text message votes) it seems that I will not be watching this year’s competition at all.




Thomas Smith

I would like to see Erik Segerstedt win. I was a big fan of Korslaget 2009 and enjoyed his enthusiasm and energy he showed with his group of singers. I also thought that he had the best choice of songs and thought that he should have won.




Daniel Nyström

Well, I don't really like (or follow) Melodifestivalen, but I did see "Andra chansen" a couple of days ago while eating dinner. The only band that had any character was 'Rigo feat. Topaz Sound & Red Fox' with 'I got u', so that would be my pick. The rest was crap.




Mary Uhlin

I have to say that I don’t really have an interest or an association with the Melodifestivalen this year. Oops, I know that it not the right way to be in Sweden but it is just true. I have lived here for four years now and I have tried to watch and “get into” it, but it takes a bit of effort on my part.

Last year I actually voted in a couple of sessions if that counts, but I find it to be nothing more than an adult talent show and am shocked at the outcome of the votes – which are based more on a factor of culture, history, and reputation of the artist than on the song/talent being performed (at least I would hope so). On a more positive note, I do think Medlodifestivalen is much better than the Eurovision Finals – I find that extremely painful to watch.