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Tonight was the first Melodifestivalen round. It was coming live from Linköping and the auditorium was packed with the usual crowd of loud, crazy-mad Eurovision fans. It was to be my first time watching the early rounds before the big finale in March. I was ready for a late night. For me, I mean. Most people don’t go to bed as early as I do. These days, anyway.
I was prepared. My phone rang just before 19:00. It was Mirinda. I figured an hour would be fine, giving me a chance to chat before the music started. I was wrong. And not just because we were still chatting. Emma also determined that I would miss the start by heading under the deck for a scrabble.
Eventually, I made it back to the lounge where Mello had started. I was still on the phone but, at least I could see the contestants. By the time we finished on the phone, I was down to the second last performer.
At the same time, over in Woop-Woop, KSP was also watching and texting (and listening). She had already picked a favourite (Noll2) and was enjoying the show. We exchanged texts for the rest of the round.
I made her laugh when I suggested that Junior Lerin looked like a sequined chicken though I wasn’t being funny, just accurate.
I didn’t get to hear his whole performance, just the snippets they show during the reminders, but I think he was singing about a cabana boy from Brazil. I could be completely wrong. I think it was supposed to be the quirky entry for this round. Given the votes, I’m thinking it didn’t work.
The eventual winner, voted for by the listeners, was a metal encased person who went by the name of Greczula. Again, I didn’t hear all of his song but, as I suggested to KSP, I thought the bits I did hear, sounded like a bad Elton John rip-off. She agreed, adding that a bit of bad ABBA had also been included.
His song was called Half of me. This might be a reference to the amount of jewellery he wears. Maybe if he wore all of it, he wouldn’t be able to move at all.
Not the biggest shock of the night had to be the act that went through in second place. I thought it was too obvious and the four singers looked a bit past their prime and covered in fake tan. Of course, that may have been the intention. Mind you, KSP described them as “A Mello song type A” and predicted them for second place.
They were called A*Teens, singing Iconic. The asterisk is their idea at being cool and not a cover-up for something less savoury.
They were, originally, a group from 1998, when they were somewhat younger. They were originally called ABBA Teens and did ABBA covers. At some point they dropped the BBA and inserted the asterisk. They disbanded in 2004 only to get together again in 2024. Apparently they are very big in Mexico.
It was a bit ‘meh’ as far as I was concerned though, KSP claimed that, along with Mirinda and me, she’ll be singing Iconic in the car. She might be right. It is pretty catchy and, as I said to her over SMS, I do know the chorus now: “Iconic! I-Iconic!“
I’m not saying they weren’t any good. No, I’m saying they are no longer teens and, maybe, should have reformed as something a little more age appropriate. 4*Tees, perhaps?
Because I was watching the broadcast on SVT Play, I also managed to see the vote for the ‘second chance’ qualifier. This went to Jacqline with her song, Woman. Though, in all fairness, her outfit reminded me more of a black swan than of anything human. I liked her song though and, look forward to seeing it again and, hopefully, hearing it as well.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it though I do have one big question for KSP if she reads this. Why was there a woman talking over the hosts all the way through it? Was she being sarcastic? Was it like Terry Wogan then Graeme Norton did now do in the UK? I found it very confusing.
Best of all, of course, is it gave me something to write about because, otherwise, today was as depressingly dull as can be.
Now, roll on next Saturday night,
