The Artists - Second Chance

Second Chance: Eight artists will compete. Two will make it out. These artists want the last two spots in Stockholm. They are prepared to fight hard for it.

Eric Gadd - An R&B guy with success both in and outside Sweden's borders. He's been asked many times to compete in the contest, but this year everything fell into place and he said yes. He describes his song, "Vi Kommer Aldrig att Forlora" as a fighting song for dreamers and those who live with heart in the logical and rational time we live in. He says the contest is something he watches every year from home.

Cookies 'N' Beans - A group composed of three women who sing and play their own instruments. They competed in 2009 and remember the huge stage, the audience and their signs. "Burning Flags" is described as a dramatic and powerful number with a warning in the lyrics. They don't call their style country music and don't want to set a stamp on their sound because they are influenced by many different styles.

Anton Ewald - An accomplished artist within the Mello world already at 19 years of age. He was a dancer, choreographer and backing vocalist in previous contests. This is his first competition where he is front and center. He is a little nervous but excited. His song, "Begging" is an electro-pop number with a memorable chorus.

Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli - A duet between Norway and Sweden. Erik has been in the contest before with boy band EMD and Tone started her career in Norway's Idol when she was 16. She has released 5 albums already. The two first met last winter and have already grabbed a place in the second chance round with their ballad, "Hello Goodbye".

Martin Rolinski - A native of Gothenburg and former lead singer of BWO, a group with considerable success in other European nations and previous experience in Mello. BWO was formed by Alexander Bard, a part of Army of Lovers. Rolinski has Polish roots and can speak the language fluently. He received his ticket to Karlstad with his performance of "In and Out of Love" which featured glass cages and colored yogurt.

Caroline af Ugglas - A woman who marches to her own beat who sings a bit like Janis Joplin. Caroline took part last year with a well-received ballad. This year, she is competing with "Hon Har Inte", a ballad with a slightly faster pace written by her and her husband. The song reflects the differences between an established long-term relationship and a new relationship, "She has not had the chance to fight, to say things she shouldn't"..."She hasn't cared for you like I have, so what does she have that I don't?" Caroline says the listener will either love the lyrics or think they are too upfront.

*Clips can be found on YouTube, but broadcaster SVT works hard to have those videos taken down in accordance with contest rules which says advancing songs cannot be played on the radio, TV,or internet. This rule is meant to level the playing field for the artists still involved.

Photos:  SVT