ESC – part I

imageToday the fun begins with the first qualification round out of two to select the contestants for the finale on Saturday. Stockholm is really presenting itself in the best possible way – with lots of activities and fun things to do all around the city not to mention the fantastic weather.

After work I went down to Kungsträdgården and went up the 81 meters in the Sky Liner attraction. It was really worth it! The view of our city was spectacular.

wer_vertritt_unser_land_in_stockholm_span12The countries participating in the first semi final are: Finland, Greece, Moldavia, Hungary, Croatia, The Netherlands, Armenia, San Marino, Russia, Czechia, Cyprus, Austria, Estonia, Azerbajdzjan, Montenegro, Iceland, Bosnia Herzegovina and Malta.

Mello – finale

Time to pick the winner to represent Sweden in the Eurovision melodifesitvalen16in May. m. Slightly tricky this year. No obvious winner – last year was easier.

Tonight they are here in Stockholm in the Friends Arena. Never been there. Maybe we should go sometime – either for a concert or a soccer game. It is a huge stadium – one of the largest in Sweden.image

1.    Panetoz – ”Håll om mig hårt”
2.    Lisa Ajax – ”My Heart Wants Me Dead” image
3.    David Lindgren – “We are Your Tomorrow”
4.    SaRaha – “Kizunguzungu”
5.    Oscar Zia – “Human”
6.    Ace Wilder – “Don’t Worry”
7.    Robin Bengtsson – “      Constellation Prize”
8.    Molly Sandén – “Youniverse”
9.    Boris René – “Put Your Love on Me”
10. Frans – “If I Were Sorry”
11. Wiktoria – “Save Me”
12. Samir & Viktor – “Bada nakna”

And the winner is: Fransimage

(couldn’t resist taking this photo – but I do think it is a good song and I don’t think it is a mistake to let him represent Sweden)

2. Oscar Zia, 3. Ace Wilder, 4. Wiktoria, 5. Robin Bengtsson, 6. Molly Zandén, 7. Lisa Ajax, 8. Panetoz, 9. Saraha, 10. Boris René, 11. David Lindgren, 12. Samir & Viktor

Second chance

A busy day today – first an early start to get my oldest to his English test in town in time. The buses don’t go so often maxresdefaultin the weekends so we had to get there early otherwise we would have been late. The test took about 5 hrs. I met up with him again when he was done and we went for a nice lunch together. Great to spend some quality time – just the two of us.

Tonight it is time for the last qualification round to the Melodifestivalen finale – in Halmstad this time – all the second chance contestants are dueling tonight;

Duel 1: Panetoz and Molly Pettersson Hammar
Duel 2: Albin & Mattias and Boris René
Duel 3: Isa and Saraha
Duel 4: Dolly Style and Samir & Viktor

And the four last finalists are:
Panetoz, Saraha, Boris René and Samir & Viktor

Mello – 4

What a gorgeous day – the sun is shining from a clear blue sky. Need to make good use of it and gather as much vitamin D as possible and take a long walk.
It is time maxresdefaultfor the last qualification round – this weekend it takes place in Gävle. And we will watch it together with my sister w/ family at our place. The winter break started today and our other friends are enjoying it in their cabin. Next weekend we will be even fewer – then 5 more of us are away skiing so then we are down to just me, my oldest and my sister – and her oldest when she gets back from her ski-trip. But hopefully we will be together all of us again the weekend after that when it is time for the grand finale!

The contestants tonight are:

  1. Martin Stenmarck
  2. Panetoz
  3. Frans
  4. Linda Bengtzing
  5. Dolly Style
  6. Eclipse
  7. Molly Sandén

Straight to the finale: Molly Sandén and Frans
Second chance: Dolly Style and Panetoz

Mello – 3

maxresdefaultAnother week has gone by and this time it is our turn to host the Melodifestivalen-evening with our friends. Unfortunately one family is not able to make it so we will not be all of us tonight.

The competition is held in Norrköping this time and the contestants are:

  1. Oscar Zia
  2. SaRaha
  3. After Dark
  4. Lisa Ajax
  5. Boris René
  6. SMILO
  7. Swingfly feat. Helena Gutarra

Straight to the finale: Oscar Zia and Lisa Ajax
Second chance: Saraha and Boris René

Mello – 2

Time for the second part of the song contest and anothmaxresdefaulter great evening with our co-watchers. Last weekend we had a start-up dinner but the next couple of weeks we will just meet up for drinks and snacks and then have dinner for the grand finale.

Tonight they are in Malmö and the contestants are:

  1. Victor och Natten
  2. Krista Siegfrids
  3. Molly Pettersson Hammar
  4. Patrik Isaksson, Tommy Nilsson & Uno Svenningsson
  5. Isa
  6. Wiktoria
  7. David Lindgren

Straight to the finale: David Lindgren & Wiktoria
Second chance: Isa & Molly Pettersson Hammar

Mello – 1

The day has come to start this party! Since we wmelodifesitvalen16on the whole Eurovision Song Contest last year, the finale will be held here in Stockholm, Sweden this year. But, before that, we need to have our national Song Contest with the selection steps to elect our contribution to the ESC.

This year they have 8 hosts – Gina Dirawi, Petra Mede, Charlotte Perrelli, Henrik Schyffert, Sarah Dawn Finer, Ola Salo, Peter Jöback and William Spetz.

First city out is Göteborg and the contestants are;

  1. Mimi Werner
  2. Samir & Viktor
  3. Robin Bengtsson
  4. Ace Wilder
  5. Anna Book – disqualified prior to the competition
  6. Pernilla Andersson
  7. Albin & Mattias

Straight to the finale: Ace Wilder and Robin Bengtsson
Second chance: Samir & Viktor and Albin & Mattias

Eurovision Song Contest – grand final

Here we go again – the grand final in the ESC contest – this year held in Wienna, Austria and eurovision-song-contest-2015-austriasince it is the 60th anniversary Australia has been specially invited.

We are having our friends over tonight for dinner to watch it together.

Go Måns Zelmerlöw – may “Heroes” win!

  1. Flag of Republika e ShqipërisëAlbania
  2. Flag of Hayastani Hanrapetut’yunArmenia
  3. Flag of Australia
  4. Flag of Republik ÖsterreichAustria
  5. Flag of Azərbaycan RespublikasıAzerbaija
  6. Flag of Koninkrijk België/Royaume de Belgique/Königreich BelgienBelgium
  7. Flag of Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία (Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía)Cyprus
  8. Flag of Eesti VabariikEstonia
  9. Flag of République françaiseFrance
  10. Flag of SakartveloGeorgia
  11. Flag of Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGermany
  12. Flag of Ελληνική Δημοκρατία (Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía)Greece
  13. Flag of Magyar KöztársaságHungary
  14. Flag of Medīnat Yisrā'elIsrael
  15. Flag of Repubblica ItalianaItaly
  16. Flag of Latvijas RepublikaLatvia
  17. Flag of Lietuvos RespublikaLithuania
  18. Flag of Crna GoraMontenegro
  19. Flag of Kongeriket NorgeNorway
  20. Flag of Rzeczpospolita PolskaPoland
  21. Flag of RomâniaRomania
  22. Flag of Rossiyskaya FederatsiyaRussia
  23. Flag of Republika SrbijaSerbia
  24. Flag of Republika SlovenijaSlovenia
  25. Flag of Reino de EspañaSpain
  26. Flag of Konungariket SverigeSweden
  27. Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandUnited Kingdom

And the winner is; S W E D E N !!!
Second : Russia
Third : Italy

imageMy sister made this amazing challenge prize for our own competition – and the first winner to get their names written on the prize was J & M E. Congratulations!

Thank you for a fantastic day!

ESC – part II

Teurovision-song-contest-2015-austriaonight it is the second part of the qualification round in the ESC. 10 new songs will be going through to the finale on Saturday.

The first part was shown when we were at the opera, so I didn’t get to see that one.

Automatically qualified ; France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany and last years winner; Austria. Special invitation; Australia

To the finale from the first round; Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Serbia

imageAnd from the second round; Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Montenegro, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Latvia and Israel

“We are the heroes of our time, but we’re dancing with the demons in our minds.. “

Mello – finale

mello15A real spring-like day – very sunny but still quite cold – with some flowers in bloom.

This weekend our mid-teenagers are away on a leader-training-camp and won’t be with us tonight. But the rest of the members from our three families will join up and vote for our candidate to the Eurovision Song Contest in May – and the finalists to choose from is;

  1. Samir & Viktor
  2. JTR
  3. Dinah Nah
  4. Jon Henrik Fjällgren
  5. Jessica Andersson
  6. Måns Zelmerlöw
  7. Linus Svenning
  8. Isa
  9. Magnus Carlsson
  10. Eric Saade
  11. Mariette
  12. Hasse Andersson

image

And the winner is;
Måns Zelmerlöw !!! I am sure he will make us proud!

Thank you for a great evening with excellent food, a spectacular drink and a fun game of cards before it was time to return home!

 

1. Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes (288p)
2. Jon Henrik Fjällgren – Jag är fri (Manne leam frijje) (139p)
3. Mariette – Don’t Stop Believing (102p)

4. Hasse Andersson – Guld och gröna skogar (78p)
5. Eric Saade – Sting (77p)
6. Linus Svenning – Forever Starts Today (59p)

7. Isa – Don’t Stop (56p)
8. Samir & Viktor – Groupie (49p)
9. Magnus Carlsson – Möt mig i Gamla stan (28p)

10. JTR – Building It Up (25p)
11. Jessica Andersson – Can’t Hurt Me Now (23p)
12. Dinah Nah – Make Me (La La La) (22p)