Melodifestivalen 2017 was the 57th edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen, which selected Sweden's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. The competition was organised by (SVT) and took place over a six-week period between 4 February and 11 March 2017.
The format of the competition consisted of 6 shows: 4 heat rounds, a second chance round and a final. An initial 28 entries were selected for the competition through three methods: an open call for song submissions, direct invitations to specific artists and songwriters and a wildcard given to one of the artists that participated in the Svensktoppen nästa competition organised by Sveriges Radio P4. The 28 competing entries were divided into four heats, with seven compositions in each. From each heat, the songs that earn first and second place qualified directly to the final, while the songs that place third and fourth proceeded to the Second Chance round. The bottom three songs in each heat were eliminated from the competition. An additional four entries qualified from the Second Chance round to the final, bringing the total number of competing entries in the final to 12. All 6 shows were hosted by Clara Henry, David Lindgren and Hasse Andersson.
The winning song would compete for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 to be held in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sweden competed in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 on 9 May and had to place within the top 10 out of the 18 in their semi-final in order to qualify and compete in the final on 13 May.
Format Melodifestivalen 2017, organised by (SVT), was the sixteenth consecutive edition of the contest in which the competition took place in different cities across Sweden. The four heats were held at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg (4 February), the Malmö Arena in Malmö (11 February), the Vida Arena in Växjö (18 February) and the Skellefteå Kraft Arena in Skellefteå (25 February). The Second Chance round took place at the Saab Arena in Linköping on 4 March while the final was held at the Friends Arena in Solna on 11 March. An initial 28 entries competed in the heats, with seven entries taking part in each show. The top two entries from each heat advanced directly to the final, while the third and fourth placed entries advanced to the Second Chance round. The bottom three entries in each heat were eliminated. An additional four entries qualified for the final from the Second Chance round, bringing the total number of competing entries in the final to 12.
Christer Björkman was announced as the executive producer of the competition, while Annette Helenius was assigned as the project manager for a second consecutive year.
Competition Schedule Show Date City Venue Heat 1 4 February Gothenburg Scandinavium Heat 2 11 February Malmö Malmö Arena Heat 3 18 February Växjö Vida Arena Heat 4 25 February Skellefteå Skellefteå Kraft Arena Second Chance round 4 March Linköping Saab Arena Final 11 March Stockholm Friends Arena
Entry selection Entries for the 2017 competition were selected through three methods: 14 entries were chosen by a selection panel from submissions received by SVT through an open call for songs. 13 entries were selected by SVT via special invitations to artists and songwriters. 1 entry was provided by the selected artist from the competition Svensktoppen nästa organised by Sveriges Radio P4.
SVT opened two submission contests that accepted entries between 1 and 19 September 2016 for interested artists and songwriters to submit their proposals for the competition. The Regular contest was open for entries that had at least one songwriter that already had a musical work published, while the Public contest accepted entries from songwriters without previously published musical work. Entries submitted for the competition were required to be new compositions which had never been published, between 2–3 minutes in length and with at least one songwriter that holds Swedish citizenship. The choice of language was free, however, SVT aims to have 30% of the contest's places reserved for entries sung mainly in Swedish. SVT also aims to reserve at least 50% of the contest's places for entries written by female composers and lyricists either in a solo or collaborative capacity.
Following the conclusion of the submission periods, SVT received 2,478 entries—an increase of 28 entries from the previous year. 2,116 of the entries were entered into the Regular contest, while 362 entries were entered into the Public contest. SVT created a shortlist of entries from the received submissions and formed a selection panel that was tasked to select fourteen entries for the competition. Only five entries from the Public contest were under consideration with no guarantee that one would be selected to compete in Melodifestivalen.
Presenters
At a press conference on 30 September 2016, Clara Henry, David Lindgren and Hasse Andersson were announced as the hosts for all six shows of Melodifestivalen 2017. Henry previously appeared in comedic skits and hosted pre and post shows during Melodifestivalen 2014. Lindgren and Andersson previously competed as artists in the competition; Lindgren took part in 2012, 2013 and 2016, while Andersson took part in 2015.
Competing entries Information regarding the selected entries and artists were publicised by SVT on 30 November 2016. On 28 August 2016, Les Gordons were selected as the first artists for Melodifestivalen from the competing artists that took part in the Svensktoppen nästa competition organised by Sveriges Radio P4.
Artist Song (English Translation) Songwriter(s) Ace Wilder "Wild Child" Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Ace Wilder Adrijana "Amare" Adrijana Krasniqi, Martin Tjärnberg Alice "Running with Lions" Anderz Wrethov, Andreas "Stone" Johansson, Denniz Jamm, Alice Svensson Allyawan "Vart har du vart" (Where have you been) Masse Salazar, Samuel Nazari Anton Hagman "Kiss You Goodbye" Christian Fast, Tim Schou, Henrik Nordenback Axel Schylström "När ingen ser" (When no one is looking) Behshad Ashnai, Axel Schylström, David Strääf Bella & Filippa "Crucified" Peter Hägerås, Mats Frisell, Jakob Stadell, Filippa Frisell, Isabella Snihs Benjamin Ingrosso "Good Lovin'" Benjamin Ingrosso, Louis Schoorl, Matt Parad, MAG Boris René "Her Kiss" Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren Charlotte Perrelli "Mitt liv" (My life) Charlotte Perrelli, Lars Hägglund De Vet Du "Road Trip" Johan Gunterberg, Christopher Martland Dinah Nah "One More Night" Thomas G:son, Jimmy Jansson, Dinah Nah, Dr. Alban Dismissed "Hearts Align" Ola Salo, Peter Kvint Etzia "Up" Johnny Sanchez, Hanif Sabzevari, Simon Gribbe, Erica Haylett FO&O "Gotta Thing About You" Robert "Mutt" Lange, Tony Nilsson Jasmine Kara "Gravity" Anderz Wrethov, Jasmine Kara Jon Henrik Fjällgren feat. Aninia "En värld full av strider (Eatneme gusnie jeenh dåaroeh)" (A world full of battles) Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Sara Biglert, Christian Schneider, Andreas Hedlund Krista Siegfrids "Snurra min jord" (Spin my world) Krista Siegfrids, Gustaf Svenungsson, Magnus Wallin, Gabriel Alares Les Gordons "Bound to Fall" Jonatan Renström, Albert Björliden, Andreas Persson, Carl Ragnemyr, David Runebjörk, Jimmy Jansson Lisa Ajax "I Don't Give A" Ola Svensson, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad Loreen "Statements" Lorine Talhaoui, Anton Hård af Segerstad, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb Mariette "A Million Years" Thomas G:son, Johanna Jansson, Peter Boström, Mariette Hansson, Jenny Hansson Nano "Hold On" Nano Omar, Gino Yonan, Ayak, Carl Rydén, Christoffer Belaieff, Rikard de Bruin, David Francis Jackson Owe Thörnqvist "Boogieman Blues" Owe Thörnqvist Robin Bengtsson "I Can't Go On" David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One" Pirouzpanah, Robin Stjernberg Roger Pontare "Himmel och hav" (Sky and sea) Thomas G:son, Alexzandra Wickman Sara Varga & Juha Mulari "Du får inte ändra på mig" (You mustn't change me) Sara Varga, Lars Hägglund Wiktoria "As I Lay Me Down" Justin Forrest, Jonas Wallin, Lauren Dyson
Heats As in previous years, Melodifestivalen will commence with four heats, which will determine the eight entries that will advance directly to the final and the eight entries that will qualify to the Second Chance round.
Heat 1 The first heat took place on 4 February 2017 at the Scandinavium arena in Gothenburg. A total of 5,706,113 votes were cast throughout the show.
Artist Song Votes Place Result Total % 1 Boris René "Her Kiss"895,61889,512985,13017,31% 3 Second chance 2 Adrijana "Amare"407,097 —407,0977,15% 6 Out 3 Dinah Nah 693,22042,010735,23012,92% 5 Out 4 De Vet Du "Road Trip"870,399 48,384 918,73816,15% 4 Second chance 5 "Mitt liv"399,536 —399,5367,02% 7 Out 6 Ace Wilder "Wild Child"981,435 84,811 1,066,24618,74% 2 Final 7 Nano "Hold On"1,056,413122,2631,178,67620,71% 1 Final
Heat 2 The second heat took place on 11 February 2017 at Malmö Arena in Malmö. A total of 5,395,695 votes were cast throughout the show.
Artist Song Votes Place Result Total % 1 Mariette "A Million Years" 997,489 93,211 1,090,70020,25% 1 Final 2 Roger Pontare "Himmel och hav" 681,661 61,404 743,06513,8% 5 Out 3 Etzia "Up" 363,025 — 363,0256,74% 6 Out 4 Allyawan "Vart har du vart" 346,299 — 346,2996,43% 7 Out 5 Dismissed "Hearts Align" 668,878 76,880 745,75813,85% 4 Second chance 6 Lisa Ajax "I Don't Give A" 969,355 67,178 1,036,53319,25% 3 Second chance 7 Benjamin Ingrosso "Good Lovin'" 966,140 93,588 1,059,72819,68% 2 Final
Heat 3 The third heat took place on 18 February 2017 at Vida Arena in Växjö. A total of 5,756,071 votes were cast throughout the show.
Artist Song Votes Place Result Total % 1 Robin Bengtsson "I Can't Go On" 945,977 85,502 1,031,47917,99% 1 Final 2 Krista Siegfrids "Snurra min jord" 407,769— 407,7697,11% 7 Out 3 Anton Hagman "Kiss You Goodbye" 811,844 68,796 880,64015,36% 4 Second chance 4 Jasmine Kara "Gravity" 672,565— 672,56511,73% 6 Out 5 Owe Thörnqvist "Boogieman Blues" 803,452 158,074 961,52616,77% 2 Final 6 Bella & Filippa "Crucified" 783,759 83,582 867,34115,13% 5 Out 7 FO&O "Gotta Thing About You" 825,454 87,576 913,03015,92% 3 Second chance
Heat 4 The fourth heat took place on 25 February 2017 at Skellefteå Kraft Arena in Skellefteå. A total of 4,951,648 votes were cast throughout the show.
Artist Song Votes Place Result Total % 1 Jon Henrik Fjällgren feat. Aninia "En värld full av strider(Eatneme gusnie jeenh dåaroeh)" 815,030 101,324 916,35418,57% 2 Final 2 Alice "Running with Lions" 673,153 49,243 722,39614,64% 5Out 3 Les Gordons "Bound to Fall" 400,845 — 400,8458,12% 6 Out 4 Wiktoria "As I Lay Me Down" 987,935 84,445 1,072,38021,73% 1 Final 5 Axel Schylström "När ingen ser" 671,044 59,683 730,72714,81% 4Second chance 6 Sara Varga & Juha Mulari "Du får inte ändra på mig" 219,558 — 219,5584,45% 7 Out 7 Loreen "Statements" 768,421 104,230 872,65117,68% 3 Second chance
Second Chance round Second Chance round took place on 4 March 2017 at Cloetta Center in Linköping. The duels were revealed following the fourth heat on 25 February 2017. A total of 7,223,709 votes were cast throughout the show.
Duel Artist Song Votes % Result I 1 FO&O "Gotta Thing About You" 970,831 53,02% Final 2 De Vet Du "Road Trip" 860,18246,98% Out II 1 Axel Schylström "När ingen ser" 926,61049,85% Out 2 Lisa Ajax "I Don't Give A" 932,362 50,15% Final III 1 Boris René "Her Kiss" 1,061,289 63,71% Final 2 Dismissed "Hearts Align" 607,01536,29% Out IV 1 Anton Hagman "Kiss You Goodbye" 975,547 52,30% Final 2 Loreen "Statements" 889,87347,70% Out
Final The Final took place on 11 March 2017 at Friends Arena in Stockholm. A record-breaking total of 13,566,778 votes were cast. Zara Larsson performed a medley of her singles "I Would Like" and "Ain't My Fault" during the interval act, whilst Melodifestivalen 2016 winner Frans performed his winning entry "If I Were Sorry" before the announcement of the International Jury votes.