Quick comments and scores about the Melfest songs Semi 1:
1. "Rhythm Of My Show" Tone Sekelius 7/10
Very latin meets 00s pop. Reminds a lot of "Slo-mo". Tones darker voice fits quite well to the melody. Glad she gets a more contemporary sound this time, but I am not totally convinced. Still a decent song in the line up.
2. "Inga Sorger" Loulou Lamotte 5/10
A quite generic swedish popsong. Not that modern though, feels more like the ones from the 00s. Her Skånska makes the song stand out a little more, but overall, this is nothing new and nothing special.
3. "Haunted" Rejhan 8/10
The Talent-finalist from a couple of years back sings quite a beautiful ballad here. It is very tender and despite that it isn't creating something new really, it gives me a nice calmness. It has a bit of a christmas vibe in it, but can't explain how. Completly decent and if Rejhan has improved even more on stage since last we saw him on TV, then I can see him do rather well.
4. "Raggen Går" Elov & Beny 2/10
So this is Melfests try to involve the newly named genre "EPA-dunk" in the contest (named after the type of bikes and cars that youths between 14-17 can be allowed to drive and often have that kind of music on high volume while driving). I don't know though, this doesn't sound anything like it though. It makes me remind of a former Melfest song, but can't come up with which yet though. But overall, I just feel a bit meh...but I am probably not the group that this song is meant for.
5. "Diamonds" Victor Crone 1/10
I have always seen Victor as a bit too generic for become one of the faves of mine. And this might be the most generic he had in Melfest or ESC. I just want to go to bed and sleep when I hear this, so boring....
6. "Länge Leve Livet" Eva & Ewa 3/10
First of all, this isn't as fun as "Rena Rama Ding Dong". The thing with that song was that the two old buddies were almost arguing on stage the whole time but still performed together. Now, this song doesn't have that humour, at least not in the clip. This feels just like two old women having dress up and sing. Which could be fun in the end, but songwise, I am a bit disappointed.
7. "Where You Are (Sávezan)" Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc North & Adam Woods 8/10
This song has potential. Feels like a true dance song, quite similar to the stuff Arc North has been known of. JHFs jojking might be among his best parts ever in Melfest. The only things I am worried about are two things. Is Adam Woods really good enough of a singer to sing this song or will he fade into the background? And is the Melfest audience ready for a song like this to do well in the contest? Sure, people love Avicii and Swedish House Mafia here, but Melfest and ESC do have a hard time getting these kind of songs work live. But for now, the potential outshines the worries.
Overall an okay first semi. We have seen better, but we have also seen far worse than this.
My ranking so far would be:
1. JHF, Arc North & Adam Woods
2. Rejhan
3. Tone Sekelius
(BIIIG JUMP)
4. Loulou Lamotte
5. Eva & Ewa
6. Elov & Beny
7. Victor Crone
My prediction is for now:
F JHF, Arc North & Adam Woods
F Tone Sekelius
SF Victor Crone
SF Eva & Ewa
5. Rejhan
6. Loulou Lamotte
7. Elov & Beny