Melodifestivalen 2012 was a Swedish song contest that was held between 4 February and 10 March 2012. It selected the fifty-second Swedish entry to be internationally represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (ESC 2012).
As in the editions between 2009–2011, a maximum of eight people were allowed on stage, while only persons of 16 years or over are eligible. However, in accordance with Eurovision rules, only six people were allowed on stage for the Swedish entry at Eurovision. The main singer(s) were required to perform vocals live on stage. However, other backing vocals could be prerecorded, along with the song's backing track.
On 20 June 2011, (SVT) announced an open call for Melodifestivalen 2012, with some changes in the rules. The first change was that only one web wildcard would be chosen online to compete in Melodifestivalen 2012. The participants could upload audio files instead of video files online.
The second change was that 16 songs were selected by the preliminary jury, with 15 being chosen by inviting specific composers, and another song from the chosen web wildcard, making a total of 32 songs again. The third change involved former Swedish Eurovision representative Christer Björkman being promoted from event producer to the executive producer of Melodifestivalen 2012. However, all songs were presented by SVT from October to December 2011.
For the web competition, authors could upload their audio file on SVT's website between 1–20 September 2011. There were separate categories in the upload for established composers and newcomers. A total of 3,485 songs were uploaded: 570 for the web wildcard and 2,915 for the annual contest.
Helena Paparizou was the guest of honor at the final of the festival. She sang a jazz-dance version of the song by Eric Saade "Popular".
Format The format of the 2012 Melodifestivalen was similar to the previous ten contests, with four heats, a second chance round, and a grand final. The four heats were held in Växjö (4 February), Gothenburg (11 February), Leksand (18 February) and Malmö (25 February). The second chance round was held in Nyköping on 3 March while the final in Stockholm was held on 10 March. SVT will present the competing songs during October–December 2011.
Schedule Date City Venue Heat 4 February Växjö VIDA Arena Heat 1 in Småland 11 February Gothenburg Scandinavium Heat 2 in Västergötland 18 February Leksand Tegera Arena Heat 3 in Dalarna 25 February Malmö Malmö Arena Heat 4 in Scania 3 March Nyköping Rosvalla Eventcenter Second chance (Andra chansen) 10 March Stockholm Globen Final
Changes Source: In the web wildcard contest, it is only the song and not the artist who competes. The entries must be at least two minutes long. Foreign songwriters may submit entries to both the web wildcard contest and Melodifestivalen itself, but the songs must have at least one Swedish writer.
Entries 32 songs competed in Melodifestivalen 2012. 16 of them were selected from a public call for songs, in which public songwriters and artists could send in songs to SVT, until 20 September 2011. The format for the contest remained the same as in 2011; the same format that was introduced in 2002. The 32 songs were first presented over four heats. A public televote was held to select two songs to progress directly to the final, with the third and fourth placed songs progressing to a Second Chance (Andra Chansen) round. The entries were presented on 9 November 2011. On 21 and 28 November 2011, SVT presented the artists for each song.
Web wildcard As in the 2010 and 2011 contests, SVT held a web wildcard contest. SVT chose to do this for the public to directly choose a song in the competition. However, the difference from 2011 is that only one entry was chosen by the public, instead of two. From 1–20 September 2011, musicians with no previous music contract were able to submit songs to the SVT Melodifestivalen website. The contest was due to begin on 3 October and end on 7 November 2011.
Unlike the two previous years, it was only the song and not the artist (in combination with the song) that would compete. In addition, the requirement of having a video for the song was abolished. Since the winning song will not have an artist attached, it was SVT (in consultation with the winning song's writers) who decided which artist or group would present the entry in Melodifestivalen.
On 1 September 2011, SVT announced major changes in the web wildcard contest. A major change is that the public can only vote once in a voting round. The major change is that the contest is divided into a mini version of Melodifestivalen. It will become a contest with heats and a grand final.
Of the total 570 submissions of web wildcard entries, SVT will review them, and then select the 32 entries that will compete in the four heats. The first heat was held on 10 October. However, SVT revealed these entries one week earlier, on 3 October. The voting round was held on 10 October between 12:00 and 13:00 CET. The winning entry and one entry that SVT choose will go to the final. The remaining three heats will be held on 17 October, 24 October and 31 October. However, SVT will reveal the heat entries one week before each heat will begin. On 31 October, a total of eight songs will qualify for the final, which will be held on 7 November. Finals will be determined by telephone voting. It is not decided on the final will be broadcast live on SVT.
On 7 October 2011, SVT announced that four web wildcards were disqualified due to rule violations. All four songs had been published on other websites before the competition began, contrary to SVT's rules. However, on 14 October 2011, SVT disqualified the replaced song "No Games" by Leslie Tay. "No Games" was disqualified due to the writer having released music through a commercial record companies, in violation of the rules. The songs which have been disqualified are:
"Set Me Free" - Trison (was not replaced). "Mary Doesn't Care" - My Niece (replaced by "She Is Love" - Fredrik Sjöstedt). "Stars Might Shine" - Albin Loán (replaced by "No Games" - Chris Mhina). "Fine" - My Niece (replaced by "Kärleken ler" - Ricky och Ronny). "No Games" - Chris Mhina (replaced by "Jag kommer ut" - San Francisco).
Rules Only non-established artists and songwriters can submit entries to the web wildcard contest. Authors who compete must not have had the musical works published previously (prior to 1 October 2011). During the contest, contestants entries only be published on the Melodifestivalen website. Authors must not publish entries to other websites in video format. The exception is that you link the song from SVT Play to other websites. SVT has the right to refuse entry to the competition if the audio file has bad sound quality. SVT has the right to refuse entry to the competition, if the content is considered offensive or violates the regular contest rules.
Heats Voting in each heat will be held between 12:00 to 13:00 CET. Later in the afternoon, around 13:30 to 14:00 CET, SVT announce the winner and their own choice at Melodifestivalen website. However, SVT keep secret which finalists viewers chose and which SVT chose. The remaining songs will be eliminated. However, all songs in each heat will be released on Melodifestivalen website one week before the heat will begin. The heats will take place during these dates:
Monday 10 October 2011 - Heat 1 Monday 17 October 2011 - Heat 2 Monday 24 October 2011 - Heat 3 Monday 31 October 2011 - Heat 4 Monday 7 November 2011 - Final
Heat 1 ArtistSong (English translation)Songwriter(s)PlaceResult 1 Trison "Set Me Free" Tony Andersson, Martin Johansson —Disqualified 2 Billie Dee"Wish You Luck"Christian Lumbana5Eliminated 3 Keylas "How About You?" Oscar Lindstein 7Eliminated 4The Commoneers"Your Majesty"Mark Anthony Woznicki6Eliminated 5Maria Klemetrud"Catch Me"Ditte Lindbom, Maria Klemetrud3Eliminated 6Maria BenHajji"I mina drömmar" (In my dreams)Nanna Sveinsdóttir, Thomas Cars1 Advanced 7 Flying Kite "Seven Years" Moa Rönnåsen, Robin William-Olsson 4 Eliminated 8Grand Slam"All Day All Night"Peter Andersson, Andy Swaniz1 Advanced
Heat 2 ArtistSong (English translation)Songwriter(s)PlaceResult 1 Keylas "For the Win" Oscar Lindstein 6Eliminated 2 Nordic Shine"What If"Stefan Lebrot3Eliminated 3 Elin Jakobsson "I'm Yours" Jozsef Nemeth 5Eliminated 4David Nestander"Beautiful Love"Erik Kohl1 Advanced 5Kajsa Ingemansson"Kitchen Floor"Niclas Malmberg7Eliminated 6Sören Karlsson"Se mig som jag är (om du ser)" (See me as I am (if you see))Sören Karlsson8Eliminated 7Unknown"A Heartbeat Away"Jonas Lundström1 Advanced 8 Greta "Through the Fire" Margreta Sandkvist, Jim Wallenborg 4 Eliminated
Heat 3 ArtistSong (English translation)Songwriter(s)PlaceResult 1Never Alone"Marilyn Monroe"Christofer Erixon, Joakim Björnberg1 Advanced 2 Fredrik Sjöstedt "She Is Love" Fredrik Sjöstedt 4Eliminated 3 Elin Jakobsson "I Didn't Wanna Say Goodbye" Jozsef Nemeth 6 Eliminated 4Caroline Coquard"Ingenting, ingen" (Nothing, no one)Caroline Coquard1 Advanced 5 Olle Andersson"Dance It All Away"Olle Andersson, Stefan Arnberg3Eliminated 6 Vilda "Songbird" Oliver Lundström, Johan Åberg, Robin Öman 7Eliminated 7Madeleine Ericson"On the Top of the Mountain"Madeleine Ericson8Eliminated 8San Francisco"Jag kommer ut" (I'm coming out)Stefan Krakowski5Eliminated
Heat 4 ArtistSong (English translation)Songwriter(s)PlaceResult 1Bowties"Need to Know"Erik Andergren, Erik Källner 1 Advanced 2 Ricky & Ronny "Kärleken ler" (The love laughs) Ronny Andersson 8 Eliminated 3Trison"Forever by Your Side"Tony Andersson, Martin Johansson1 Advanced 4 Felicia Vårnäs "Not Over You" Ditte Lindbom 6Eliminated 5 Jenifer"Letting Go"Sofia Yxklinten5Eliminated 6 Patrick Egemo "Higher" Alexander Östman, Fredrik Langå 3Eliminated 7Vilda"Box of Love"Anton Fahlgren7Eliminated 8Carolina Jakobsson"Believe"Carl Hansson, Emil Valtersson4Eliminated
Web wildcard final The final were held on November 7, 2011. It was broadcast live in the radio show P4 Extra with the host Lotta Bromé. The eight songs will be played in a quick review at approx. 13:20. The voting were held between 13:00 to 14:00. The results were revealed at approx. 14:33. The final draw: ArtistSongPlace 1Maria BenHajji"I mina drömmar"1 2 David Nestander "Beautiful Love"3 3Bowties"Need to Know"2 4 Caroline Coquard "Ingenting, ingen"7 5Trison "Forever by Your Side"8 6 Grand Slam "All Day All Night"5 7Unknown"A Heartbeat Away"6 8Never Alone"Marilyn Monroe"4
Heats The four heats were held in Växjö, Gothenburg, Leksand and Malmö. The jury, which chose the sixteen songs of around 3000 submissions, were selected at the end of September 2011. SVT's fifteen wild cards and the jury's choice were revealed on 9 November 2011. The web wildcard were chosen by viewers on 7 November 2011. SVT will announce the first sixteen artists on 21 November and the remaining sixteen artists on 28 November, during two press conferences. On the first press conference, the entries and artists for the first and second heat were revealed, however, on the second press conference, the entries and artists for the third and fourth heat will be revealed. It is not yet decided when the draw for each heat will be revealed.
On 21 November 2011, the first 16 artists were presented, which featured the return of several former Melodifestivalen artists: Loreen, The Moniker, the 2011 Melodifestivalen host Marie Serneholt, the 2002 Melodifestivalen winner Afro-Dite, Andreas Lundstedt, Sonja Aldén and Timoteij. It was also revealed that the song "Porslin" were replaced by the song "Shout It Out", due to SVT couldn't find the right artist for the song.