Tim: As with last year, the viewers and international juries disagreed on who should win Melodifestivalen; unlike last year, the viewers’ choice won out, so by 212 points to Ace Wilder’s 210, this is Sweden’s Eurovision entry.
Tom: Crikey, that is close. I maintain that Melodifestivalen has one of the best all-round scoring systems, well, anyway. I’ll be interested to see what it beat.
Tim: Pfft. The somehow runaway favourite that can be safely described as a bit above average.
Tim: A risky option, perhaps, as it takes a good time to go anywhere, but man, when it finally impacts at the second chorus – what an entrance.
Tom: Taking a slow builder to Eurovision isn’t always a good strategy. It is, ultimately, a schlager track and that might not go down well — when was the last time we had a winner with a key change? —
Tim: I’m well aware that was rhetorical, but: Serbia, 2007, which actually came with two.
Tom: — but hell, this has the chance of Big Pop Success.
Tim: It’s possible that the initial verse/chorus didn’t quite resonate with everybody, and while it’s good, three minutes of it really just wouldn’t do at Eurovision, which leaves us with an unusual power ballad, really, almost completely changing direction. It’s much for the better, because the second and final choruses are just glorious.
Tom: It reminds me a bit of Little Mix’s “DNA”, actually: quiet start, big chorus number — they didn’t have the key change, though.
Tim: Far be it from me to suggest cynically that this song was built around the interminable recaps that permeate every live music competition, but blimey, show the viewers that immense return from the middle eight enough times and they’re sure as hell not going to forget this track.
Tom: Could we be going back to Malmö next year? Can the Swedish broadcaster afford it? I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks.
Tim: Two asides: interestingly (or not), this is the second time Sanna’s been the public favourite but not the juries’ – last time was 2008 against Charlotte Perrelli’s Hero, which ultimately won out. And speaking of Charlotte Perrelli, have a look at Saturday’s opening act. Not necessarily for the music, but mainly for the cameras flying around in the middle bit – WHAT AN ARENA.