After five weeks of the travelling Mello circus having toured the country far and wide, the time has come for Stockholm and the Grand Finale, where the last 12 artists standing will fight it out over the glorious victory, which brings along not just honour, but also the legendary Sångfågel trophy and a spot at Eurovision.
Let’s have a look at who has made their way through to the Grand Finale at Strawberry Arena, and what they bring to the table!
1) A-Teens – Iconic
Song vibe: Very sparkly and nostalgic pop, which comes wearing frosted lip gloss and full-on early-2000s confidence. The inner 12-year-old of every Millenial is already making a choreography in their head.
Fun fact: Nothing will make Swedes feel older than realising the A-Teens are now the somewhat-more-grown-up ABBA tribute band for people struggling to make their mortgage payments.
2) Meira Omar – Dooset Daram
Song vibe: A flirty and fiery ethno-banger with just enough attitude to make eye contact feel dangerous. Sort of like the musical equivalent of someone smiling at you on the Tunnelbana and you overthinking it for three days.
Fun fact: The song title means pretty much “I like you” or “I love you”, but as it is in Persian, it is of course said in a more poetic way, something like “I’ve got you babe”. But the Swedes be like, do you like us enough not to get stuck in our heads like the most persistent earworm ever?
3) Lilla Al-Fadji – Delulu
Song vibe: Comedic chaos with a wink so obvious it should be marked with hazard lights. You may be here to hear the music, but you feel compelled to stay because you are ever so slightly confused but immensely entertained.
Fun fact: The only finalist who could turn the green room into a comedy roast rivalling hostess Gina Dirawi. But he would still somehow manage to get plenty of televotes because of his chaotic energy that people can’t resist.
4) Saga Ludvigsson – Ain’t Today
Song vibe: Very slick and polished country-pop with big feelings, big hair and big choruses. The perfect soundtrack for dramatically staring out of a bus window, even if you are just heading out to get some groceries from ICA.
Fun fact: With a Nordic fairytale name like Saga she was legally required to either become a pop star or a Nordic Noir actress. And we are very happy she chose the glitter.
5) Smash Into Pieces – Hollow
Song vibe: Arena-sized rock that sounds just like it was engineered to be played over slow-motion action scenes. This could be the final boss level of your workout playlist if you’re so inclined.
Fun fact: Their stage outfits look a bit like they have arrived from 2126 to warn us about an imminent danger. But something happened to their programming along the way and they decided to do Mello instead.
6) Cimberly – Eternity
Song vibe: Modern and somewhat anthemic radio pop with a glossy production and main character energy. This is the song that will make you walk slightly faster for no reason, if you have it in your headphones when out in public.
Fun fact: Somewhere someone is still making a very convincing argument about how her name was spelled with a C totally on purpose just to make people remember her name. Fame!
7) Medina – Viva L’Amor
Song vibe: As always, rhytmic party pop that politely but still firmly invites your hips to do the fandango. Resistance is futile at any Mello after party.
Fun fact: If the song doesn’t make at least one Maghrebi uncle start grooving in front of the living room TV, the party police might need to intervene.
8) Greczula – Half of Me
Song vibe: A little bit artsy but plenty familiar ABBAesque pop with a bit of indie rock vibes thrown in. Of course in a sharp-dressed package ready for the grandest of the Grande Finales.
Fun fact: Commentators everywhere are rehearsing quietly in their mind how to pronounce the name without sounding like they sneezed in mid-sentence. And they might still get it wrong.
9) Robin Bengtsson – Honey Honey
Song vibe: Radio-friendly, country-tinged pop built with frightening Swedish songwriting efficiency… which means, you know you’ve definitely heard it before. But you might still find your head nodding along involuntarily.
Fun fact: At this point Robin entering Melfest again feels less like a surprise and more like your gym membership auto-renewing. And him making the final feels like no surprise either, even though there were plenty of actually interesting alternatives in the Kvalfinalen.
10) Felicia – My System
Song vibe: Confessions of strong emotions on the dancefloor, obviously with an EDM beat that drops just when you most expect it. Remember to stay well hydrated.
Fun fact: Right at this very moment, some place else in Sweden, at least three different Felicias are answering text messages meant for her.
11) Sanna Nielsen – Waste Your Love
Song vibe: Big and glittery Mello banger energy aiming directly at the jury’s soft spot with those vocal skills. Somewhere a wind machine is already getting warmed up.
Fun fact: Sanna has done Mello so many times already, the stage crew most likely have a preset they call the “Sanna Mode” all set and ready to be deployed.
12) Brandsta City Släckers – Rakt in i elden
Song vibe: Unapolegetic schlager party vibes with dad dancing choreo thrown in for good measure. Most likely to start a conga line in your living room.
Fun fact: The only act in Melfest, where you can never be 100% certain if they’re there to perform or to check the venue’s fire exits.
Artist photos: Nina Uddin – except Smash Into Pieces by Jesper Malmberg
Featured photo of Felicia: Stina Stjernkvist
