Melodifestivalen: Andra Chansen

The Andra Chansen (second chance) round of Melodifestivalen took place on Saturday. Eight songs were paired into duels, and four winners advanced to the final.

The line-up:
1. "Bring Out The Fire," Andreas Weise VS. "Forever Starts Today," Linus Svenning
2. "Guld och gröna skogar," Hasse Andersson VS. "I See You," Kristin Amparo
3. "Hello Hi," Dolly Style VS. "Make Me (La La La)," Dinah Nah
4. "Det rår vi inte för," Behrang Miri feat. Victor Krone VS. "Groupie," Samir & Viktor

In the first duel, Tiny Woody Harrelson (a.k.a. Andreas Weise) sang and danced his little heart out. He gave the better performance of the two. But Linus Svenning is still riding on the love Swedes have for him from last year's Melodifestivalen debut. Those votes carried Linus to the final, so we will have to look at his face again.

I was sure that Kristin Amparo would take the second duel. But I should never underestimate the voting power of a bunch of old, retired Swedish grandmas and grandpas: they certainly aren't doing anything on a Saturday night. The Olds™ have spoken: Hesse Andersson's "Guld och gröna skogar" (translation: "Gold and Green Forests") is going to the final. 

During the interval act, Loreen, the 2012 winner of Eurovision, was there to premiere her new single, "Paper Light (Higher)." It's been almost two years since we've heard anything new from Loreen, and this new song did not disappoint. Hi Loreen! Watch her performance here.

The third duel was definitely the Sophie's Choice of Andra Chansen. I wanted to see both Dolly Style and Dinah Nah advance to the final. Sure, Dolly Style is ridiculous, but that's why it's great. And Dinah Nah's "Make Me (La La La)" is just good pop music. Swedish voters opted for Dinah Nah, so we will see her next week.

And the fourth duel: two straight guys rap-talking vs. two straight (???) guys sing-talking. Behrang Miri knew it would be an uphill battle for his entry, so he pulled out all the stops and got 2009's Melodifestivalen winner, Malena Ernman, to sing back-up for them. Well, it didn't work, because Malena is kind of a joke in Sweden anyway. And "Groupie" is much more fun. Swedes thought so too, and sent Samir & Viktor to the final.

So now we have all our finalists for this year's Melodifestivalen! The running order for next week's final was announced, and it is very interesting. Just as in Eurovision, the running order can make or break an entry. Even if you have an incredible song, if you get lost somewhere in the middle, you're done.

The final line-up:
1. "Groupie," Samir & Viktor
2. "Building It Up," JTR
3. "Make Me (La La La)," Dinah Nah
4. "Jag är fri (Manne Leam Frijje)," Jon Henrik Fjällgren
5. "Can't Hurt Me Now," Jessica Andersson
6. "Heroes," Måns Zelmerlöw
7. "Forever Starts Today," Linus Svenning
8. "Don't Stop," Isa
9. "Möt mig i Gamla stan," Magnus Carlsson
10. "Sting," Eric Saade
11. "Don't Stop Believing," Mariette
12. "Guld och gröna skogar," Hasse Andersson

Later this week, I will analyze who has the best chance to win, and who would make the best representative for Sweden in Eurovision.