Melodifestivalen 2021 artists being announced

The artists for Sweden's national final Melodifestivalen were announced over the last three nights by broadcaster SVT.

The schedule saw an artist announced on the hour, every hour between these times:

Tuesday: Nine acts between 7.00am-3.00pm (5:00pm-1:00am AEDT)
Wednesday: Nine acts between 7.00am-3.00pm (5:00pm-1:00am AEDT)
Thursday: Ten acts between 7.00am-4:00pm (5:00pm-2:00am AEDT)

Here is the quick list of next year's competing artists and entries. Check below to read the full bios.

Alvaro Estrella – Baila Baila
Anton Ewald – New Religion
Arvingarna – Tänker inte alls gå hem
Charlotte Perrelli – Still Young
Clara Klingenström – Behöver inte dig idag
Danny Saucedo – Dandi Dansa
Dotter – Little Tot
Efraim Leo – Best of Me
Elisa – Den du är
Emil Assergård – Om allting skiter sig
Eric Saade - Every Minute
Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos – Rena rama ding dong
Frida Green – The Silence
Jessica Andersson – Horizon
Julia Alfrida – Rich
Kadiatou – One Touch
Klara Hammarström – Beat of Broken Hearts
Lillasyster – Pretender
Lovad – Allting är precis likadant
Mustach – Contgious
Nathalie Brydolf – Fingerprints
Patrik Jean – Tears Run Dry
Paul Rey – The Missing Piece
Sannex – All Inclusive
Tess Merkel – Good Life
The Mamas – In the Middle
Tusse – Voices
WAHL featuring SAMI – 90-talet

Thursday announcements:

The Mamas

Song title: In the Middle

Song writers: Emily Falvey, Robin Stjernberg, Jimmy Jansson

The Mamas will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the third time in 2021. That’s right, The Mamas are back! After winning last years Melodifestivalen with ‘Move’, which was unable to compete at the cancelled Eurovision contest, and winning as backing vocalists for John Lundvik’s ‘Too Late for Love’, the third time’s the charm for this trio, fighting for their right to make it to the Eurovision stage again.

Included in their songwriting team is Jimmy Jansson and Robin Stjernberg. Jimmyhad six competing entries last year at Melfest (including 'Brave') and was also in the team behind the Danish entry of 2020 'Yes'. Robin competed for Sweden at Eurovision in 2013 with 'You'.

‘Too Late for Love’ – Melodifestivalen 2019 (as backing vocalists for John Lundvik) (1st)
‘Move’ – Melodifestivalen 2020 (1st)

Jessica Andersson

Song title: Horizon

Songwriters: David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Marcus Lidén, Christian Holmström

Jessica Andersson will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the eighth time in 2021. That’s right – the eighth time! She competed twice as a member of Fame, first in 2003 with the song ‘Give Me Your Love’, which won the competition and went on to place fifth in Riga, and then in 2004 with ‘Vindarna vänder oss’, which came sixth at Melodifestivalen. Jessica then went on as a solo artist competing in 2006 with ‘Kalla nätter’, which failed to qualify from its semifinal, then in 2007 with ‘Kom’, which got left behind in the Andra Chansen round. She has had a bit of luck since then, making it to the final in 2010 (‘I Did It for Love’, eighth), 2015 (‘Can’t Hurt Me Now’, eleventh), and 2018 (‘Party Voice’, also eleventh).

‘Give Me Your Love’ – Melodifestivalen 2003 (as a member of Fame) (1st)
‘Vindarna vänder oss’ – Melodifestivalen 2004 (as a member of Fame) (6th)
‘Kalla nätter’ – Melodifestivalen 2006 (5th in SF3)
‘Kom’ – Melodifestivalen 2007 (Andra Chansen)
‘I Did It for Love’ – Melodifestivalen 2010 (8th)
‘Can’t Hurt Me Now’ – Melodifestivalen 2015 (11th)
‘Party Voice’ – Melodifestivalen 2018 (11th)

Sannex

Song title: All Inclusive

Songwriters: Greta Svensson, Hans Thorstensson

Sannex will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Sannex is a dansband that have been around since the 70s but that have been evolving with an ever-changing lineup since. They won the Swedish Grammis Award for Dansband of the Year in 2017.

Clara Klingenström

Song title: Behöver inte dig idag

Songwriters: Clara Klingenström, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias

A Melodifestivalen debut for Clara. Clara is from Gotland and has released a number of singles including 'Alone in a City' in 2019, 'Summer Memories' came in the summer of 2020 and has now been followed by the single 'SO END', a song she wrote herself.

Efraim Leo

Song title: Best Of Me

Songwriters: Efraim Leo, Cornelia Jakobsdotter, Amanda Björkegren, Herman Gardarfve

Efraim Leo will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Efraim has apparently been attempting to get to the Melodifestivalen stage for years but has never made the cut – until now. He has a number of singles out, including ‘You Got Me Wrong’ with Juliette Claire, and solo single ‘When I Wanted You’.

Tusse

Song title: Voices

Songwriters: Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov

Tusse will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Tusse will be well known to Swedish audiences after having won last year’s “Swedish Idol”. During his time on the show, he caught the attention of Christer Björkman who told him that he was “welcome to Melodifestivalen whenever you want”.

Julia Alfrida

Song title: Rich

Songwriters: Julia Alfrida, Jimmy Jansson, Melanie Wehbe

Julia Alfrida will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Julia won her place in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen by competing radio competition P4 Nästa, an annual contest held to find new artists and music suited to the radio network. Every years, one of the finalists of the contest is offered the chance to compete at Melodifestivalen.

Alvaro Estrella

Song title: Baila Baila

Songwriters: Anderz Wrethov, Linnea Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt

Alvaro Estrella will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the third time in 2021. Alvaro first appeared as a soloist in Melodifesitvalen 2014 when he competed with his song ‘Bedroom’, which came sixth in its semifinal and failed to qualify further. He most recently appeared alongside Méndez earlier this year with the entry ‘Vamos Amigos’, which came eleventh in the final.

Alvaro has also been a backing singer and dancer at Eurovision, dancing in Eric Saade’s ‘Popular’ in 2011, singing in Farid Mammadov’s ‘Hold Me’ in 2013, and walking on treadmills in Robin Bengtsson’s ‘I Can’t Go On’ in 2017.

‘Bedroom’ – Melodifestivalen 2014 (6th in SF1)

‘Vamos Amigos’ – Melodifestivalen 2020 (with Méndez) (11th)

Klara Hammarström

Song title: Beat of Broken Hearts

Songwriters: David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe, Niklas Carson Mattson, Andreas Wijk

Klara Hammarström will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the second time in 2021. Klara debuted at Melodifestivalen earlier this year with ‘Nobody’, which failed to qualify from its semifinal, but made a splash with younger audiences. By returning this year, she hopes to make a more lasting impression on the audience.

‘Nobody’ – Melodifestivalen 2020 (5th in SF2)

Eric Saade

Song title: Every Minute

Songwriters: Eric Saade, Linnea Deb, Joy Deb, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt

Eric Saade will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the fourth time in 2021.

Eric is amongst the most successful Melodifestivalen acts returning to the stage. His debut Melodifestivalen entry ‘Manboy’ came third in 2010, and he then went on to win the next year, coming third in Düsseldorf with ‘Popular’. He has hosted the green room for Eurovision in Malmö in 2013, and even hosted Melodifestivalen alongside Sarah Dawn Finer, Marika Carlsson and Kodjo Akolor last year.

Eric most recently attempted to return in 2015 with ‘Sting’, coming fifth behind eventual Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlow.

‘Manboy’ – Melodifestivalen 2010 (3rd)

‘Popular’ – Melodifestivalen 2011 (1st)

‘Sting’ – Melodifestivalen 2015 (5th)

Wednesday announcements:

Dotter

Song title: Little Tot

Songwriters: Johanna ”Dotter” Jansson, Dino Medanhodzic

Dotter will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the third time in 2021. Dotter first competed in Melodifestivalen in 2018 with the song ‘Cry’, which came sixth in its semifinal, failing to qualify further. Dotter then competed again earlier this year with the song ‘Bulletproof’. The song did incredibly well, coming second in the competition overall, just a single point behind eventual winners The Mamas.

‘Cry’ – Melodifestivalen 2018 (6th in SF3)
‘Bulletproof’ – Melodifestivalen 2020 (2nd)

Elisa

Song title: Den du är

Songwriters: Bobby Ljunggren, Ingela Pling Forsman, Elisa Lindström

Elisa is no stranger to Melodifestivalen after competing in 2014 with the song 'Casanova' finishing 5th in the first semi-final. Since then she has appeared on many TV shows including 'Let's Dance'.

Lillasyster

Song title: Pretender

Songwriters: Isak Hallén, Jakob Redtzer, Martin Westerstrand, Ian Paolo Lira, Palle Hammarlund

Lillasyster will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Lillasyster are a rock band from Gothenburg who have been together for sixteen years and have released five albums. Their last album release was in 2016.

Frida Green

Song title: The Silence

Songwriters: Anna Bergendahl, Bobby Ljunggren, David Lindgren Zacharias, Joy Deb

Frida Green will make her Melodifestivalen debut in 2021.

Frida came to fame in Sweden when she competed in the 2018 edition of “Sweden’s Got Talent”, where she made it all the way to the grand final.

The song is co-written by Anna Bergendahl, a previous Melodifestivalen winner and the winner of the OGAE Second Chance Contest in 2020.

Charlotte Perrelli

Song title: Still Young

Songwriters: Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren, Erik Bernholm, Charlie Gustavsson

Charlotte Perrelli will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the fifth time in 2021.

Charlotte Perrelli first competed at Melodifestivalen in 1999 under the name of Charlotte Nilsson with the entry ‘Take Me To Your Heaven’, which won. Charlotte then went on to win Eurovision in Jerusalem that year, bringing the competition home to Stockholm in 2000.

Charlotte then competed in Melodifestivalen again in 2008, winning the competition for the second time with the song ‘Hero’. Despite being one of the favourites to win in Belgrade, she came eighteenth out of twenty-five entries in the final.

Charlotte then went on to compete in Melodifestivalen for a third time in 2012 with the entry ‘The Girl’, which failed to qualify from its semifinal. She then entered in 2017 with the song ‘Mitt liv’, which again also failed to qualify from its semifinal.

‘Take Me To Your Heaven’ – Melodifestivalen 1999 (1st)
‘Hero’ – Melodifestivalen 2008 (1st)
‘The Girl’ – Melodifestivalen 2012 (5th in SF4)
‘Mitt liv’ – Melodifestivalen 2017 (7th in SF1)

Patrik Jean

Song title: Tears Run Dry

Songwriters: Herman Gardarfve, Patrik Jean, and Melanie Wehbe.

Patrik Jean will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Patrik recently released a new EP called 'Consequence' that has been described as a "rich and dynamic release that matches his sweeping vocals with a bold and driven production".

Patrik is also an established songwriter within Melodifestivalen, and alongside Gardafve and Wehbe, made up the team of songwriters behind this year's winning entry 'Move'. The trio have reunited to write Patrik's entry for 2021.

WAHL featuring SAMI

Song title: 90-talet

Songwriters: Sami Rekik, Christopher Wahlberg, Josefin Glenmark, Jesper Welander, Andreas Larsson

WAHL and SAMI will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Both of these rappers have been in separate duo, but neither SAMI nor WAHL have ever appeared at Melodifestivalen before. Christopher Vahlberg (WAHL) used to be a part of the duo SödraSidan, while Sami Rekik (SAMI) used to be a part of the hip hop duo Medina.

Nathalie Brydolf

Song title: Fingerprints

Songwriters: Andreas Stone Johansson, Etta Zelmani, Laurell Barker, and Anna-Klara Folin

Nathalie Brydolf will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Nathalie would be known to Swedish audiences due to her competing in “Swedish Idol” in 2018, where she placed sixth overall. Nathalie has apparently taken place in Melodifestivalen songwriting camps both this year and last year.

Anton Ewald

Song title: New Religion

Songwriters: Jonas Wallin, Joe Killington, Anton Ewald, Maja Strömstedt

Anton Ewald will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the third time in 2021. Anton had a previous history as a dancer and choreographer at Melodifestivalen before he decided to enter as an artist in 2013. His song ‘Begging’ came fourth in the grand final. He then returned the following year with the song ‘Natural’, which place tenth.

Tuesday announcements:

Danny Saucedo

Song: Dandi Dansa

Songwriters: Danny Saucedo, Karl-Johan Råsmark

Danny Saucedo will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the fourth time in 2021.

Danny Saucedo first competed in Melodifestivalen in 2009 as a member of the group EMD with the entry ‘Baby Goodbye’, which came third behind Malena Ernman’s ‘La voix’. He then competed as a soloist in 2011 with the entry ‘In the Club’, which came second behind Eric Saade’s ‘Popular’. He then tried his luck again the next year with the song ‘Amazing’, which again came second, this time behind Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’.

‘Baby Goodbye’ – Melodifestivalen 2009 (as a member of EMD) (3rd)
‘In the Club’ – Melodifestivalen 2011 (2nd)
‘Amazing’ – Melodifestivalen 2012 (2nd)

Lovad

Song: Allting är precis likadant

Songwriters: Mattias Andréasson, Alexander Nivek, Lova Drevstam, Albin Johnsén

Lovad will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Lova Drevstam, by the stage name Lovad, has some success on the charts earlier this year with the single ‘Vi gjorde vårt bästa’, a duet with previous Melodifestivalen act Albin Johnsén.

Kadiatou

Song title: One Touch

Songwriter: Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov

Kadiatou will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Kaditou debut won’t come as a surprise to Swedish fans, who saw her make it all the way to the grand final of 'Swedish Idol' in 2018. Her soulful ballads in her covers of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Say Something’ and holiday classic ‘White Christmas’ are inspiring.

Her entry has a great songwriting team behind it including Joy Deb and Linnea Deb who were behind 'Heroes' (Eurovision 2015), 'Monsters' from Saara Aalto (Eurovision 2018) and 'You' (Eurovision 2013).

Mustasch

Song title: Contagious

Songwriters: Ralf Gyllenhammar, David Johannesson

Mustasch are a heavy metal band from Gothenburg. They were established in 1998 and have released 11 albums with six making the Top 5 on the Swedish charts. They have also charted very well in neighbouring Finland. They have also taken part in mental health campaigns highlight issues of suicide rates among young men.

Eva Rydberg & Ewa Roos

Song title: Rena rama ding dong

Songwriters: Göran Sparrdahl, Kalle Rydberg, Ari Lehtonen

Eva Rydberg & Ewa Ross will be debuting as a duo on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Eva Rydberg participated in Melodifestivalen 1977 and both have long history as stars in Sweden. They’re also due to start in a Swedish theatrical adaptation of the British comedy 'Fawlty Towers'.

Emil Assergård

Song title: Om allting skiter sig

Songwriters: Emil Assergård, Jimmy Jansson, Jimmy ”Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov, Johanna Wrethov

Emil Assergård will be debuting on the Melodifestivalen stage in 2021. Emil has apparently been attempting to get into Melodifestivalen for years, and has finally made the cut. This singer-songwriter has released three albums, and was nominated for Male Live Performer of the Year at the Rockbjörnen Awards last year.

Included in his songwriting team is Jimmy Jansson who had six competing entries last year at Melfest (including 'Brave') and was also in the team behind the Danish entry of 2020 'Yes'.

Tess Merkel

Song title: Good life

Songwriters: Tony Malm, Tess Merkel, Palle Hammarlund, Mats Tärnfors

Tess Merkle will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the sixth time in 2021, though for the first time as a solo artist.

All of Tess’s previous Melodifestivalen appearances have been a part of the disco-tastic trio Alcazar. The group came third in 2003 with ‘Not a Sinner, Nor a Saint’, and then third again in 2005 with the song ‘Alcastar’.

The group tried again in 2009, coming a respectable fifth with the entry ‘Stay the Night’, but failed to survive the Andra Chansen round the next year with the song ‘Headlines’. Alcazar’s most recent attempt at Melodifestivalen had them come third with ‘Blame It on the Disco’. Tess Merkel’s solo debut on the Melodifestivalen stage might just bring her some better luck.

‘Not a Sinner, Nor a Saint’ – Melodifestivalen 2003 (as a member of Alcazar) (3rd)
‘Alcastar’ – Melodifestivalen 2005 (as a member of Alcazar) (3rd)
‘Stay the Night’ – Melodifestivalen 2009 (as a member of Alcazar) (5th)
‘Headlines’ – Melodifestivalen 2010 (as a member of Alcazar) (Andra Chansen)
‘Blame It on the Disco’ – Melodifestivalen 2014 (as a member of Alcazar) (3rd)

Paul Rey

Song title: The Missing Piece

Songwriters: Fredrik Sonefors, Laurell Barker, Paul Rey

Paul Rey will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the second time in 2021. Paul debuted at Melodifestivalen earlier this year with his entry ‘Talking in My Sleep’, which came a respectable sixth place.

Paul is also known for the 2017 remix of his song ‘California Dreaming’, featuring a rap from Snoop Dogg.

In the songwriting team is Laurell Barker who has behind these Eurovision entries: 'She Got Me' (Switzerland 2019), 'Sister' (Germany 2019), 'Bigger Than Us' (UK 2019), 'Empires' (Poland 2020), 'Stones' (Switzerland 2018) and this year's entrant for Cyprus 'El Diablo' (yet to be released).

‘Talking in My Sleep’ – Melodifestivalen 2020 (6th)

Arvingarna

Song title: Tänker inte alls gå hem

Songwriters: Stefan Brunzell, Nanne Grönvall, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren

Arvingarna will be returning to the Melodifestivalen stage for the sixth time in 2021. Arvingarna first appeared in Melodifestivalen in 1993, where they took out the competition and went on to compete at Eurovision in Millstreet. The song came seventh at Eurovision. Arvingarna went on to compete at Melodifestivalen again in 1995 with ‘Bo Diddley’, which failed to make it into the top five. They competed again in 1999 with ‘Det svär jag på’, where they came third. They also competed in 2002 – the first year with the semifinal system – with ‘Ingenting är större än vi’, but failed to qualify from their semifinal. Arvingarna’s most recent appearance came in 2019 with the song ‘I Do’, which came seventh in the grand final.