Sweden’s Melodifestivalen is facing criticism from some of the country’s biggest names in music. Veteran producer Bert Karlsson didn’t hold back, calling this year’s competition a “disaster,” and taking issue with everything from the songwriting to the hosting.
Karlsson, a former record label executive, was particularly blunt about the quality of the songs. “They’re destroying the whole Melodifestivalen,” he said. “There are no songs at all that you remember, except for Brandsta City Släckers. Don’t they understand they need to get back to the melodies? There are no melodies.” He did, but, express optimism about A-teens’ entry, predicting they would win.
Bert Karlsson thinks Melodifestivalen is getting worse each year.
Photo: SVEN LINDWALL
Photo: SVEN LINDWALL
Tommy Körberg.
Photo: Karin Törnblom / IBL
Karlsson too criticized the show’s humor, calling the jokes “very boring” and suggesting that Edward af Sillén, a previous writer for the show, be brought back. He also believes Christer Björkman should return.
Veteran artist Tommy Körberg echoed Karlsson’s concerns about the music. “The music is deteriorating, but they know how to dress up,” he said. “Very few people know what melody is these days. But it’s not the artists’ fault, it’s the composers’.”
Photo: Pontus Höök
“A Lot of Pajamas”
This year’s show is hosted by comedian and artist Gina Dirawi and actor and comedian Hampus Nessvold, alongside Sofia Nordin, Andreas T Olsson, Christer Svensson and Stefan Wiik, who collectively wrote the script.
But the jokes aren’t landing, according to Karlsson.
Melodifestivalen, a cornerstone of Swedish pop culture, has long been a launching pad for musical talent and a source of national conversation. Ann-Louise Hansson, a frequent competitor on the show with 14 appearances, offered a more measured critique. “It was so fantastic when everything was live. It was the songs that mattered, not how big a show you had or how much pyrotechnics and pajamas there were. There’s a lot of that now, I think. But there are good and poor songs, and they have to retain up with the times, as they do.”
Ann-Louise Hansson last competed in Melodifestivalen in 2020.
Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / TT NYHETSBYRÅN
Veteran’s Praise: “Fantastic”
Lars-Åke Wilhelmsson, known as Babsan, a Melodifestivalen veteran, offered a more positive assessment, praising the production and the hosts. He did, however, express concern about the sound quality.
“I think Gina and Hampus are fantastic. I like Gina’s humor and delivery. The production is completely fantastic, but the voices don’t really come through. It becomes like a pretty high sound and music mat. The sound is under criticism.”
SVT has been contacted for comment but declined to respond.
Babsan at the QX Gala 2022.
Photo: CHRISTINE OLSSON / TT NYHETSBYRÅN
