Full lineup for Melodifestivalen 2023 confirmed
SVT has revealed the full lineup for the 2023 edition of Melodifestivalen, with the final 14 song titles and acts confirmed.
The first 14 songs and artists, who compete in heats one and two, were shared by SVT on Tuesday, November 29. The remaining 14 acts, competing in heats three and four, you can learn more about right now.
HEAT 3: Lidköping, Saturday 18 February
Marcus & Martinus – Air
Written by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Marcus Gunnarsen, Martinus Gunnarsen
Marcus & Martinus are 20-year-old twins from Norway, who had their big break as 10-year-olds in Norway’s Melody Grand Prix Junior. During their decade in the spotlight, they have sold out their own arena tour in Europe, made an official song for the Swedish crown princess and won a Norwegian Grammy. Their biggest hit, Electrical, still holds the record in Norway as the song that has stayed in the top 10 for the longest time; 66 weeks to be exact. After winning The masked singer Sweden In 2022, they now have their base in Stockholm and have started working with Swedish songwriters and producers.
Melanie Wehbe – For the Show
Written by: David Lindgren Zacharias, Herman Gardarfve, Melanie Wehbe
In addition to being an artist in her own right, Melanie Wehbe is an award-winning songwriter who has written music for both Swedish and international artists. She is now celebrating ten years as a songwriter; a decade in which she has managed to write two Idol-winning singles, one Svensktoppen number one, three Spotify and radio number one, as well as a win in both Melodifestivalen (2020) and Denmark’s Melodi Grand Prix (2019). As an artist, Melanie has recently established herself as a rising star, graces the cover of QX Magazine and has been honored to close Stockholm Pride 2022 on the main stage in Pride Park.
Ida-Lova – Let the Whole Town Watch
Written by: Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Ida-Lova Lind, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb
Ida-Lova took Sweden by storm when, as a 13-year-old, she performed a version of Kent’s Without your breathat The Swedish Hero Gala TV Collection 2017. She has since released eight songs, five of which were on her debut EP Hello World Can You Stay?released in June 2022. Ida-Lova is now 18 years old and lives in Stockholm.
Written by: Dino Medanhodzic, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, LIAMOO, Paul Rey
Paul Rey, 30, is from Lund in southern Sweden. A familiar face to Melodifestivalen fans, he has previously competed twice; year 2020 with Talking in my sleep and 2021 with The missing piece. In 2022 he also competed, as a songwriter this time, and made it to the final again, with Cazzi Opeias I can’t get enough. Paul has written several major hits for other artists, and his own releases have been streamed over 200 million times.
Norwegian – Release All Sorrows
Written by: Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son
The story of Nordman began in 1991, when fiddler, producer and songwriter Mats Wester was looking for a singer for his experimental new project, where folk music is mixed with pop. By chance, Håkan Hemlin was in the same studio as Mats, to record a demo with his rock band. The two liked what they heard from each other, and the duo was formed. They went on to sell over a million albums in the 90s alone. This will be the third time Nordman competes in Melodifestivalen, after their participation in 2005 with Fate was my wayand 2008 with In the light of the flames.
Laurel – Sober
Written by: Anderz Wrethov, Andreas Stone Johansson, Laurell Barker, Thomas Stengaard
Born in Canada but having moved to Malmö for love, Laurell is an established songwriter who has recently started her own career as a solo artist. Her debut single Habit was a huge radio and streaming hit in Sweden 2022, as well as in other parts of Europe. Back in 2019, Laurell became the first female songwriter to have contributed three entries to the Eurovision Song Contest in the same year (Switzerland, Germany and Great Britain). In Melodifestivalen, she has previously written contributions for the likes of Hanna Ferm, Renaida, Faith Kakembo and this heat’s own Paul Rey.
Casanova’s – Then the Feelings Come Back
Written by: Henrik Sethsson, Mikael Karlsson
One of Sweden’s most popular dance bands, Casanovas formed in 1989. Since then, their success has seen them top the charts on a number of occasions, get their Guldklavar Awards wins in double figures, and they’ve even been nominated for the Swedish Grammy Award five times. Band member Henrik Sethsson has previously won Melodifestivalen as a songwriter, with Listen to your heartbeat by Friends in 2001. He also co-wrote the Melodifestivalen’s hit Something in your eyes by Jenny Silver, which was recently recorded and released as a single by British band Steps.
HEAT 4: Malmö, Saturday 25 February
Signe & Hjördis – Edelweiss
Written by: Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy Jansson, Myra Granberg
Signe and Hjördis Bornemark, 16 and 18 years old from Kullabygden in Skåne, have had music around them all their lives, the two have appeared on records by both grandmother Gullan and father Dan. These days, the sisters enjoy doing everything from singing, working with choirs and writing their own songs, to being involved in several theater and musical productions. They love everything from jazz to prog rock, but would best describe their Melodifestivalen song as folk-pop.
Axel Schylström – Wonderful
Written by: Axel Schylström, Herman Gardarfve, Jonas Thander, Malin Halvardsson
Axel Schylström got his big break on Idol 2015 and quickly followed it up with his debut in Melodifestivalen 2017, with When no one sees. More recently, in 2022, he competed as a songwriter and made it to the Melodifestivalen final with THEOZ and As you wish. In recent years, Axel has published his autobiography and established himself as one of the country’s most popular motivational speakers.
Emil Henrohn – More More More
Written by: Emil Henrohn, Jakob Redtzer, Ji Nilsson, Marlene Strand
When the pandemic hit, the musical theater Emil Henrohn was without a job. He started filming humorous videos of himself at home and quickly became a hit on TikTok as the character “mamma” (mother). In 2022, he received even greater acclaim on TiTok with the song I Am Mom, and today he has gained over 500,000 followers on the platform and has been named Sweden’s most powerful TikToker. Now that the music theater has reopened, Emil has recently participated in productions of Annie and Hair.
Written by: Jimmy Jansson, Thomas G:son, Mariette
Mariette participated for the first time in Melodifestivalen back in 2015 with the song Do not stop believing. Since then, she has competed three more times, in 2017, 2018 and 2020, reaching the final in all four attempts. Outside of music, Mariette has recently moved from Stockholm to Sweden’s south-west coast and started a family with his wife. This year she released the song Only youdedicated to their son who was born in 2021.
Smash to pieces – Six feet under
Written by: Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Benjamin Jennebo, Chris Adam, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Per Bergquist
Internationally, Swedish rock exports Smash Into Pieces are perhaps best known for their cinematic, apocalyptic image and sound, thanks in large part to their fabled masked drummer, leader and mascot, APOC. With over half a billion streams to their name and nearly 600,000 followers on social media, the band has completed multiple arena tours in both Europe and the US. The electronic rock act is also popular for its chronological film series, in which each song on the group’s two previous concept albums is linked together in a series of episodes dealing with a parallel reality, Arcadia World.
Loreen – Tattoo
Written by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Loreen, Moa “Cazzi Opeia” Carlebecker, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son
2022 is ten years since Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden with Euphoria. The song became a hit across Europe and beyond, reaching number one in 21 countries, and has since become one of the most celebrated and well-known entries in the competition’s history. Post-EuphoriaLoreen has released two albums, and she has made her acting debut in the new film adaptation of Winter Baywhich was released in 2021. Loreen’s last music release was the single Neon lightswhich came out during the summer.
Kiana – Where did you go
Written by: Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb
Kiana Blanckert started singing and dancing at an early age, and one of her most vivid childhood memories is performing Britney Spears’ …Baby one more time on a cruise ship as a four-year-old. Her mother is a professional dancer and Kiana has been taking dance classes since she was three years old. Now almost 16, she has recently risen to fame on the show Talent (Sweden’s Got Talent), finished second in the 2021 series.
The Melodifestivalen starts on Saturday 4 February – you will be able to see it on SVT’s website.
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