Sweden | 2295 Songs Submitted For Melodifestivalen 2019
It was recently revealed that the preparations for Melodifestivalen 2019 were in full swing. SVT had publically announced the dates, and cities for next years national final season. It has also been revealed that the open period for song submissions has also recently been closed.
According to the website Scandipop a figure of 2295 songs have been submitted to SVT for Melodifestivalen 2019. Although not officially confirmed by the national broadcaster, this figure would suggest quite a decreased interest in the show. Europe's biggest national final, seems to have attracted a lot less songs this year.
In 2018 there were 2771 songs submitted which was quite an increased influx of songs, this year has seen that figure decrease by nearly 500, and shows that Melodifestivalen doesn't seem as popular to the song writers this time around. Benjamin Ingrosso won it last year, and despite managing a top ten position at Eurovision 2018, the public of Europe did not seem so keen, and awarded him only 21 points. By no means a disaster, this figure is the lowest in decades, and the bosses at the national broadcaster certainly wouldn't want this repeated again. Maybe this marked response in songs being sent in, is a reflection of this.
Sweden has used the Melodifestivalen to chose its Eurovision representative every year since the Scandinavian nation joined back in 1958. Since then the show has spawned six winners, and despite a decline in the popularity of the show in the 1990's. A revival, and change in format in the 2000's has seen the national final being the most popular of all countries, which has spawned two winners since the turn of the Millennium.
Eurovoxx were there in Lisbon, and fortunate enough to interview Benjamin Ingrosso. Check his interview out below.
Who would you like to see singing in Melodifestivalen 2019? Do you think we will see any more familiar names? Tell us your opinions in the comments below.
