Earlier this year, it was revealed that a total of 2450 songs were submitted to the Swedish national broadcaster, SVT, and only 28 would move forward to the Melodifestivalen semi-finals which will take place in February.

The 2016 Melodifestivalen participants are as follows:

Semi-final 1

• Mimi Werner – Ain’t no good (Mimi Werner, Göran Werner, Marcus Svedin, Jason Saenz)
• Samir & Viktor – Bada nakna (Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Anderz Wrethov)
• Robin Bengtsson – Constellation price (Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström, Mark Hole, Martin Eriksson)
• Ace Wilder – Don’t worry (Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad, Ace Wilder )
• Anna Book – Himmel för två (Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson, Larry Forsberg, Camilla Läckberg)
• Pernilla Andersson – Mitt guld (Pernilla Andersson, Fredrik Rönnqvist )
• Albin & Mattias Andréasson – Rik (Albin Johnsén, Mattias Andréasson)

Semi-final 2

• Victor & Natten – 100% (Dag Lundberg, Melker, Jesper Lundh)
• Krista Siegfrids – Faller (Krista Siegfrids, Gabriel Alares, Magnus Wallin, Gustaf Svenungsson)
• Molly Pettersson Hammar – Hunger (Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad, Molly Pettersson Hammar)
• Patrik Isaksson, Tommy Nilsson & Uno Sveningsson – Håll mitt hjärta (Patrik Isaksson, Tommy Nilsson, Uno Svenningsson)
• Isa – I will wait (Anton Hård af Segerstad, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Nikki Flores)
• Wiktoria – Save me (Jens Siverstedt, Lauren Dyson, Jonas Wallin)
• David Lindgren – We are your tomorrow (Anderz Wrethov, Sharon Vaughn, Gustav Efraimsson)

Semi-final 3

• Oscar Zia – Human (Oscar Zia, Victor Thell, Maria Smith)
• Saraha – Kizunguzungu (Anderz Wrethov, Sara ”SaRaha” Larsson, Arash Labaf)
• After Dark – Kom ut som en stjärna (Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson, Larry Forsberg, Lina Eriksson, Kent Olsson, Calle Kindbom)
• Lisa Ajax – My heart wants me dead (Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Anton Hård af Segerstad)
• Boris René – Put your love on me (Boris René, Tobias Lundgren, Tim Larsson)
• Smilo – Weight of the world (Arvid Ångström, Dennis Babic, Oscar Berglund Juhola, Anton Göransson, Robin Danielsson)
• Swingfly feat. Helena Gutarra – You carved your name (Jocke Åhlund, Andreas Kleerup)

Semi-final 4

• Martin Stenmarck – Du tar mig tillbaks (David Stenmarck)
• Panetoz – Håll om mig hart (Jimmy Jansson, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Jakke Erixson, Pa Modou Badjie, Njol Badjie, Nebeyu Baheru)
• Frans – If I were sorry (Oscar Fogelström, Michael Saxell, Fredrik Andersson, Frans Jeppsson Wall)
• Linda Bengtzing – Killer girl (Mattias Kallenberger, Andreas Berlin, Linda Bengtzing, Dag Öhrlund)
• Dolly Style – Rollercoaster (Thomas G:son, Peter Boström, Alexandra Salomonsson)
• Eclipse – Runaways (Erik Mårtensson)
• Molly Sandén – Youniverse (Molly Sandén, Danny Saucedo, John Alexis)

Almost immediately after SVT presented the 28 acts competing in Melodifestivalen 2016, UNIBET revealed its first set of odds to win the whole contest. UNIBET believes that Molly Sandén will represent Sweden in Stockholm with “YOUniverse”. Her initial odds stand at 3/1. Not far behind is Ace Wilder with odds of 7/2 with her number “Don’t Worry”. Tied in third place are Idol winner Lisa Ajax and Melfest 2015 star Isa.

Molly Sandén represented Sweden at Junior Eurovision in 2006 with her song “Det finaste någon kan få”.

She also competed in Melodifestivalen in 2009 with “Så vill stjärnorna” where she placed last in the final, and again in 2012 with “Why Am I Crying?”, which placed fifth. Molly has since focused on her pop career, with her latest single being “Like No One’s Watching“. The song is written by Molly herself together with Danny Saucedo and John Alexis.

Out of the 28 participants, 18 are returning artists. As with last year, Melodifestivalen 2016 will consist of 6 live shows; 4 semi-finals, the second chance round and the grand final.

Each of the 4 semi-finals will include 7 participants; the top 2 from each semi-final will qualify to the grand final whilst the acts in 3rd and 4th place will move forward to the second chance round.

Four artists from the second chance round will qualify to the grand final, meaning that a total of 12 artists will be competing to represent the host nation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.

Melodifestivalen 2016 dates

• 06/02: Semi-final 1 (Gothenburg, Scandinavium)
• 13/02: Semi-final 2 (Malmö, Malmö Arena)
• 20/02: Semi-final 3 (Norrköping, Himmelstalundshallen)
• 27/02: Semi-final 4 (Gävle, Gavlerinken Arena)
• 05/03: Second chance round (Halmstad, Halmstad Arena)
• 12/03: Grand final (Stockholm, Friends Arena)

The 2016 Melodifesitvalen selection will be hosted by Gina Dirawi

SOURCE: esctoday.com

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