In the Final: These singers have their final spot all wrapped up. They will be joined by two artists from Semi 4 and two from the Second Chance round. The final 10 will duke it out to represent Sweden in Eurovision 2013.
Yohio - A 17-year-old Swede who is a superstar in Japan with scores of teen groupies following his every move. He sings in a style called
Visual Kei in Japan where visuals, costume, and make-up are just as important as the music. In Mello, he has decided to perform a song with a more Western sound. His entry, "Heartbreak Hotel" is reminiscent of 80s rock a la Bon Jovi. His live performance includes heavy use of fire, confetti and pyrotechnics, creating a memorable performance for both the live audience and TV viewers.
David Lindgren - A showman, singer, break dancer and family man who was relatively unknown until last year's program. His breakthrough came last year with his performance of "Shout It Out" in Gothenburg. He opened the contest this year with "Skyline", a dance number similar to last year's entry. David was a favorite to go straight to the final and he stamped his ticket in early February.
Sean Banan - Another artist who debuted in the 2012 program. Sean Banan is your typical class clown, using corny visuals and no-so veiled euphemisms in interviews. This year's entry, "Copacabanana" is full of puns, inside jokes, cultural critiques, and light celebrity roasting. Last year he made it to the second chance round with a song poking fun at himself and Sweden, but was knocked out during a duel. This year, he went directly to GO and has a secured place in the final. His song number is a spectacle complete with fireworks, confetti, and a rigged harness to hold up his angel wings.
Louise Hoffsten - A well-established adult contemporary artist with jazzy undertones. Louise was close to declining her invitation to the contest when she had difficulty deciding on a song title. A few days before the deadline, she walked down the street and saw graffiti scrawled on a wall, "Only the Dead Fish Follow the Stream". She took it as a sign and used it as the title for her song entry in MF 2013. Critics did not expect her to advance to the final, but she is ready to perform her song for the big prize in Stockholm.
Ravaillacz -This band was put together just for the contest. The members are well known singers from different groups and constellations. One member, Tommy Körberg, has won Melodifestivalen and competed in Eurovision twice. This group of guys stunned the country yesterday when they were voted into the final. Their song makes fun of
schlager music, which is how Melodifestivalen got its start. They took a risk with the song, as it could have alienated many listeners, considering it both makes fun of the contest and contains a swear word in the title. Their bet paid off and they're straight into the running for Eurovision.
State of Drama - This West Coast rock band came in second in a national radio contest in 2009. Since then, they've been honing their craft throughout the country. They sent in an entry for the 2013 edition and won a ticket to Stockholm after voters sent their song "Falling" directly into the final during the third semi in the northern city of Skellefteå.
*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.
