On Saturday, the start of the year Melodifestivalturné, and now the artists at the place in Gothenburg to scratch on stage in Scandinavium. And it is unusual for many returner in this year’s Swedish song contest. A total of 22 of the artists have been with in the past, including three previous winners – Martin Stenmarck, the Heirs, and Anna Bergendahl, who compete as early as this week. In the race a is the only group High15 and Zeana who are total newcomers.
Wiktoria have been with twice, 2016 and 2017. Then with countrypopdängor – but this time set her up with a majestic ballad.
” I wrote several songs in the studio with different songwriters and sent in a few contributions. This song was my favorite, so I’m so happy that it came with. But it is also frightening, because it is a ballad, and the people have not seen me do it before. In addition, it is not country, but poppig r’n’b. But I love it and am so proud of it, I am one hundred per cent.
” A peace of mind. I’m not as stressed, not as nervous, I know what will happen next, and takes everything as it comes. Something I take with me from previous years is that I felt every Thursday after the first of the ropes that it has gone so bad – no cameras set, the song was not good – but when you go up on stage on Saturday and it should run, I have always felt that it is sitting. The cause of concern I can let go now.
Arja Saijonmaa is the veteran in the first round. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
the field is Arja Saijonmaa. She has a place in the luggage of 1987, and was, moreover, the with 2005. And so she has competed two times in Finland. But she does not believe that it is to her advantage.
” Absolutely not! It is the song and the performance that is the issue. To be an artist is for me a fresh product. A person is born again and again.
– As an artist, I go step by step forward. I have been with and written text itself, and it is a step forward into something unknown.
Zeana is one of this year’s newcomers on the schlagerscenen – but on the other hand, competes, she along with Anis Don Demina, who last year visited Samir & Viktor with a saxofonriff on the scene.
“I’m very happy that I have the experience, I’m not nervous at all, I know how it feels and is very sure of what I should do on the stage,” says Anis Don Demina.
And perhaps there are also advantages to be newcomers, believe the duo.
– It can also be good to give people something they have not seen before. Many have probably similar numbers as in previous years, we have not, for we have not been with in the past. I think that is to our advantage, ” says Anis Don Demina.
– the Nano! He is solid. His song last time was really powerful, and he sings like a machine. But we’ll see, anything can happen, ” says Zeana.
are old acquaintances, so is the voting system again. This year, you can no longer sms-voting, and also shared apprösterna up in different age groups. When you log into the app, enter their age, and the group you belong to will then award points according to the scale 1-2-4-6-8-10-12.
– In the lower aged people vote much more intensively than what you do in the higher age groups. It has started a discussion about whether children and young people the governing race, and we wanted to do something about, Anette Helenius, project manager for the Eurovision song contest, previously told TT.
Read more: So is changing the Eurovision song contest
