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Sweden, are you ready? One of the most popular national selection events, Melodifestivalen, which annually chooses the Swedish Eurovision representative is about to return to our screens in February! But who will be accompanying us in this 6-week journey around Sweden and Eurovision as its final destination? We now know!
Four hosts in 2019!
Through a press conference taking place in Stockholm, the Swedish national broadcaster SVT disclosed the names of the 4 hosts that will be presenting the 2019 edition of the show; they are Marika Carlsson, Eric Saade, Kodjo Akolor and Sarah Dawn Finer!
The rumours got confirmed! Marika Carlsson, the Swedish comedian who was highly tipped as one of the show’s hosts appeared in the press conference and was announced as the first presenter for Melodifestivalen 2019.
Regarding her role as a Melodifestivalen host, she stated:
Throughout the summer, I was on the Diggiloo tour, forcing the audience to yell “Marika for Mello” in the hope that I would get to compete. Now, I will not be competing, but I may instead have the great honor to host Melodifestivalen, with the Earth’s best people!
There’s no need to introduce Eric Saade to the Eurovision world. He won Melodifestivalen and represented Sweden in Eurovision 2011 and came 3rd with Popular and he has participated in the Swedish competition a few more times in the past:
Hosting Melodifestivalen seems like a good way to close the circle on. Although I don’t usually host it’s always fun to present a programme full of music. It feels natural in any way!
The Swedish comedian and TV personality Kodjo Akolor is also joining the event! Here are his words:
It feels like joy mixed with fear and a dash of humility. I am probably most looking forward to working with my colleagues and to get the launch!
Sarah Dawn Finer is yet another familiar person for the Swedish national selection event. The Swedish singer, songwriter and actress has been involved in Melodifestivalen several times, as a participant in 2007 and 2009 and as a co-host in 2012 and in the 4th semi-final of the 2016 edition.
She says:
It felt right in my gut to accept this year. Our love for hosting is already bouncing and with lot of ideas. That it comes from us and that we can work out this in a whole new way with Hence (producer Henric von Zweigbergk). It’s exciting to be working together in this constellation. All of us complement each other and we have become a bit of a family now. Since I have hosted the event in 2012, I have now the accumulated hosting experience that it feels good to be able to contribute. I yearn!
Melodifestivalen 2019 schedule
A few weeks ago, SVT unveiled also the dates and host cities for Melodifestivalen 2019. As with every year, the event will be consisting of 4 semi-finals, one second-chance round, which all will lead to the Grand Final on 9 March in Stockholm, where the Swedish act for Tel Aviv will be determined.
Here is full schedule of the event’s 2019 edition:
2 February – Semi-final 1 – Gothenborg
9 February – Semi-final 2 – Malmö
16 February – Semi-final 3 – Leksand
23 February – Semi-final 4 – Lidköping
2 March – Second Chance – Nyköping
9 March – Grand Final– Stockholm
As Stockholm, Gothenborg and Malmö become home to the event almost every year, this is going to be the 3rd time for Nyköping, the 2nd for Lidköping and the 4th consecutive time for Leksand to host one of the shows as well.
Following the closure of the submission window, SVT has reportedly received a total of 2,295 songs, but only 28 of them will make it to the live shows. The names and song titles of these acts are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
At the moment, the only known act for Melodifestivalen 2019 are The Lovers of Valdaro, after winning the P4 Nästa 2018 contest with the song Lost forever in August. However, they will appear with another entry, as songs released before 1 September are not allowed to enter the Eurovision Song Contest of the following year.
Sweden in Eurovision 2018
Lisbon’s Eurovision edition saw the Scandinavian country being represented by the young artist Benjamin Ingrosso, right after winning Melodifestivalen 2018 with his pop entry Dance you off, which later managed to hit the charts of many European countries (like France, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom) and finish in high peak positions.
The song was penned by Benjamin himself, as well as MAG, Louis Schoorl and K Nita. Benjamin flew to Lisbon in May, where he placed 2nd in the second semi-final and finally made it to the Grand Final’s Top 10, coming 7th with a total of 274 points from both the national juries and the public.
Here’s his performance at Lisbon’s Altice Arena:
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