Sweden: Ellen Benediktson and YOHIO qualify directly to the final!

The first semi final of Melodifestivalen has concluded where Ellen Benediktson and YOHIO qualified directly to the grand final. My favourite, Helena, is still in the race however as she's qualified to Andra Chansen (the second change round). At-least she didn't do a Charlotte Perrelli! Here are tonight's results:

Qualified to the final:

• YOHIO - To the end
• Ellen Benediktson – Songbird

Qualified to Andra Chansen:

• Linus Svenning – Bröder
• Helena Paparizou – Survivor

Stay tuned for results from Latvia, Finland, Iceland, Switzerland, Hungary too... :-)

Sweden: Melodifestivalen rehearsals underway!

I am super excited for Saturday night! Melodifestivalen is back!!! And it already promises to be a fantastic event. The first semi-final will take place and two of the big favourites will fight for a place in the grand final - YOHIO and Helena Paparizou!

SVT has released photographs from the rehearsals, which have started today. Helena is looking fantastic and I'm confident her song will be awesome! Her entry "Survivor" is about heartbreak after a disastrous relationship and it promises to be an extravagant performance. There are pyrotechnics, wind machines... Saturday night will be extremely hectic. There are two national finals, Finland and Switzerland, and there are also four semi finals/heats too from Iceland, Latvia, Hungary and of course Sverige!!

Photograph from SVT. 

Sweden: Melodifestivalen 2014 running order revealed!

The running order for Melodifestivalen 2014 has been revealed. The producers have decided that YOHIO will kick off the first semi final, and the lovely Helena Paparizou will close it.

Anton Ewald will close the final semi final... and Alcazar will kick it off. I reckon it'll be between those four participants - but we haven't heard the songs yet so I guess anything could happen. Here is the running order, my friends:

Semi final 1: Malmö

1. “To the End” – Yohio
2. “Aleo” – Mahan Moin
3. “Bröder” – Linus Svenning
4. “Casanova” – Elisa Lindström
5. “Bedroom” – Alvaro Estrella
6. “Songbird” – Ellen Benediktson
7. “Bygdens son” – Sylvester Schlegel
8. “Survivor” – Helena Paparizou

Semi final 2: Linköping

1. “Love Trigger” – JEM
2. “Hallelujah” – The Refreshments
3. “Glow” – Manda
4. “Efter solsken” – Panetoz
5. “I Am Somebody” – Pink Pistols
6. “Undo” – Sanna Nielsen
7. “Set Yourself Free” – Little Great Things
8. “När änglarna går hem” – Martin Stenmarck

Semi final 3: Göteborg

1. “Echo” – Outtrigger
2. “Red” – EKO
3. “Yes We Can” – Oscar Zia
4. “Burning Alive” – Shirley Clamp
5. “All We Are” – State of Drama
6. “En enkel sång” – CajsaStina Åkerström
7. “Busy Doin’ Nothin’ ” – Ace Wilder
8. “Around the World” – Dr. Alban & Jessica 

Semi final 4: Örnsköldsvik

1. "Blame It On The Disco” – Alcazar
2. “Fight Me If You Dare” – I.D.A
3. “Hollow” – Janet Leon
4. “Raise Your Hands” – Ammotrack
5. "Hela natten” – Josef Johansson
6. "Ta mig” – Linda Bengtzing
7. “En himmelsk sång” – Ellinore Holmer
8. “Natural” – Anton Ewald