Morten Thomassen looks again at the 5th semi final in Sweden to select their Eurovision 2024 entry. ESC Covers have google translated it from Norwegian to English.

This is a blog entry and represents only writer Morten Thomassen’s own views.

We are approaching the end of the 6-week race to find the artist or artists who will sing at home in Malmö in May, in addition to directly qualifying 2 songs for the final, the 10 songs that have made it to the 3rd and 4th place has their own fight for the last 2 final places and today is exciting with two Norwegian boys in the fight for the final place.

Melody 1 – Marcus & Martinus –

The biggest favorites to win the whole thing actually and only it’s a bit sensational all the time they are Norwegian and in the Mello context the Swedes are quite nationalistic. Not unexpectedly, we get served is a very nice number and since it is delivered quite well vocally, there is basically little to complain about, but probably have to pull the strings and pull for a lack of charm and quite simply a boring song. This one was very forgettable actually.

Melody 2 – Chelsea Muco –

The charm that was missing in the previous issue, we get in buckets in this performance. It is simply festive and catchy to watch this performance and mostly there is good control over the vocals as well. If one has to complain about something here, it might have to be that the song may not ooze originality, we’ve heard this song before and it sails straight into the category, slightly exotic songs that should always be part of the Mello cake.

Melody 3 – Jay Smith –

Then we’ll move on to some guitar-driven rock-pop with a guy who has a bit of a rasp in his voice, but all in all actually sings very well. Bands on stage in our beloved competition only work so depressingly rarely on TV and this performance is no exception. The song also doesn’t manage to take off completely and then there is very little to actually hang on to a peg that makes the song to be remembered further.

Melody 4 – Elektra –

In the aforementioned Mello cake, a drag artist must also be mixed in, and the person who performs that song rarely claims to have a text with deep content. We get served is quite a typical hit song and not surprisingly we get sumptuous costumes which are of course taken off and even more glitter is displayed. It’s actually sung quite well and the song is livable, what I miss most is that the artist could have had a little more charm.

Melody 5 – Annika Wickihalder –

Then it was probably time that we calmed down a bit and the artist with what is probably the saddest costume of the evening luckily has the best vocals of the evening I would say. I would probably call this a big uplifting ballad that demands a lot from the vocal cords and when it is delivered with such intensity as we see here, a spark is lit in me. The lady sings the braid off most of them actually and I can’t say anything other than that she delivered the goods, so she gets to give her stylist a thumbs up from me.

Melody 6 – Medina –

Some boys never quite grow up and I would definitely place these two boys in that category. But why be boring when you can be a playful adult? I think it is delivered well vocally and the energy that is in the song is brought out on stage and then a lot is done, if you ask me. Add a very colorful show and I’m basically pretty happy, this song put a smile on my face.

Not surprisingly, it was the two boy duos who made it to the final, while Jay and Annika got the last chance to fight for a place in the final. And to the great annoyance and frustration of many fans, it was the two who performed their song today who made it to the final. Many fans spread their frustration that favorites from previous semi-finals who took 3rd and 4th place did not make it to the final, asking whether SVT will not have to change this for next year.

Anyway, our Norwegian friends Marcus and Martinus are leading the odds before the final next weekend, but in most of the finals the favorite on the odds has not actually won, so the chance of them being cheated for a trip to Malmö is actually very present, I think now.

Featured image – Eurovision world