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Friday, February 17, 2012

Melodifestivalen 2012: Heat Three - Preliminary Judging

Will this year's winner be in Heat Three of Melodifestivalen? Listening to the clips, probably not -- though my opinions will likely change when I hear the songs in full.

(Listen to clips here)

Youngblood - Youngblood
A lot of folks were saying this had a chance to win, but hearing this clip, I'm not sure. It's basically Manboy, but less catchy. The chorus is actually kind of stupidly repetitive, and not in a good way. Still, I'm willing to give it a chance. 3/5

Maria BenHajji - I mina drömmar (In My Dreams)
If Sonja's ballad didn't get through last week, I don't see how this has a chance. It's the same thing, but worse. Its title is even similar. I can't really drum up any interest in this one. 2/5

Mattias Andréasson - Förlåt mig (Forgive Me)
This clip intrigues me. I'm not sure if I'm going to like this or not, but at least it's a little different. I like the rapid-fire lyrics, but wish that the production had more heft. His high profile should help him out, even if the song isn't perfect. 3.5/5

Love Generation - Just A Little Bit
I was no big fan of their entry last year, but this sounds a little better. I like the rock edge, but I just want a little more ("just a little"? haha) oomph from these girls. They still feel so manufactured. 3.5/5

Carolina Wallin Pérez - Sanningen (The Truth)
Pleasant, but that's about it. I can't make out much of a hook, but oddly I can see this doing alright. It fills that pop/jazz category that voters seem to like so much. I just can't tell much from this clip. 2.5/5

Andreas Johnson - Lovelight
He's never not made it to the final on a solo performance. And unless voters get complacent, I see him getting there again. Based on the clips, this is the best so far this week. It's got a real Robbie Williams feel to it and thank god it's not another ballad! 4/5

Molly Sandén - Why Am I Crying?
Another strong contender, though this preview underwhelms. I expected the song to have more energy. It sounds very much like a Jordin Sparks album track. Ugh. Where's the schlager? 2.5/5

Björn Ranelid ft. Sara Li - Mirakel (Miracle)
What. The. Hell? This is just too weird. Without speaking Swedish, the spoken verses are lost on me and just sound silly. The hook has potential and I like that it's a dance track, but I've got absolutely no idea what's going on here. ?/5

Not a particularly strong heat, I'm afraid. In fact, it's down there with the first week, especially since there's no Loreen. It's also an incredibly hard week to call. That Mirakel song is a total wildcard. Either the novelty of it will catch on or utterly fail. Right now, I'm thinking Andreas is a sure bet for the final, with Youngblood, Mattias, Love Generation, Molly and maybe Carolina biting his heels. But then there's that Mirakel thing. Who knows?

*I'll be live blogging tomorrow throughout the show, so be sure to check back for my thoughts (and to see if my predictions come true)

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