Sweden Heat 4 - Alex White

Melodifestivalen Heat 4 – Malmo

The fourth and final heat of the 2023 edition of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen arrived in Malmo with a great dose of anticipation. The so-called “Queen of Eurovision,” Loreen, was back to avenge her 2017 disappointment in Melfest and return to her glory days of 2012. That being said, success wasn’t guaranteed as this fourth heat brought a slew of strong newcomers and established Melfest veterans into the fray.

First up in the heat was the teenager Kiana with “Where Did You Go?” A strong singer considering her age, Kiana showed off tremendous stage presence with her radio-friendly banger. While the overall package wasn’t quite strong enough to advance directly to the final this time, Kiana is surely a contender to win Melodifestivalen in the future. Result: Advanced to Semifinal

Second up were newcomers, Signe & Hjordis. A song that would have fit very well into the Danish or Icelandic finals this year, this effort was objectively sub-par. A calm song isn’t always a recipe for doom at Melfest but these ladies seemed like they wanted to get off the stage as soon as they began. Sadly, the audience wanted them off the stage too. Result: Eliminated

The third act of the night brought millennium-era rock into the Melfest world with band Smash Into Pieces. With one of the most impressive stage shows in this year’s contest and an accessible song that sounded familiar to so many, the Swedish rockers were destined for success. The band easily advanced to the final and avoided the semifinal that the press had expected them to fall into. Result: Direct to Final

Longtime Melfest queen Mariette returned to the contest in the fourth slot in this heat. Competent, enjoyable and well-performed is Mariette’s game and this entry didn’t disappoint. Nothing super remarkable here but a pleasant upbeat song pleased the crowd JUST enough to survive for another round. Result: Advanced to Semifinal

Fifth up was Emil Henrohn. Filled with an energetic persona, Emil was hoping his bright personality would get him over the line. Unfortunately, voice issues in rehearsals and a song that felt almost 20 years too late didn’t do him any favors. This entry was dead on arrival. Result: Eliminated

Coming into the contest with a tragic yet powerful backstory, the sixth act Axel Schylstrom tried to carry a ballad into the further rounds of Melfest. Strongly performed and fairly simply staged, Axel did his best to accomplish exactly that. Unfortunately, the public didn’t quite give him the love he needed and the unlucky singer fell just one point short of survival. Result: Eliminated