On we go then, in our countdown of our 50 favourite Melodifestivalen songs of the last ten years, since its change into the four heat, six week format, that we all know and love today. Of the 320 songs eligible, there are actually quite a few more than 50 that we really really loved. So we’ve always wanted to sit down and actually rank them in order, and this year’s ten year anniversary seemed like the perfect excuse for such geekery!
We decided on limiting it to a top 50 though, and for the last week and a half we’ve been counting them down, and can finally present numbers 10 – 1 here and now.
Before that though, here’s a reminder of numbers 50 down to 11. And also a reminder that a song’s relatively low placing doesn’t mean that we don’t actually like it (we’ve had a few exasperated, surprised, and downright angry (!!!) emails from some of you about these results, although we do love to receive all feedback of course!). But it’s just a list of OUR favourites, not of which songs we’re procaliming to be the absolute best above others. Although when pushed on it, we probably would argue the latter too!
50-41
50. Molly Sandén: ’Så Vill Stjärnorna’ (2009)
49. Arja Saijonmaa: ’Vad Du Än Trodde Så Trodde Du Fel’ (2005)
48. Cosmo 4: ’What’s Your Name’ (2007)
47. Pernilla Wahlgren: ‘Jag Vill Om Du Vågar’ (2010)
46. Anniela: ’Elektrisk’ (2011)
45. Verona: ’La Musica’ (2007)
44. Christer Sjögren: ’I Love Europe’ (2008)
43. Jessica Andersson: ’Kalla Nätter’ (2006)
42. Velvet: ’Deja Vu’ (2008)
41. After Dark: ’(Åh) När Ni Tar Saken i Egna Händer’ (2007)
40-31
40. Eric Saade: ‘Manboy‘ (2010)
39. Eric Saade: ‘Popular’ (2011)
38. Sonja Alden: ‘För Att Du Finns’ (2007)
37. NaNa: ‘Wherever You Go’ (2005)
36. Sanna Nielsen: ‘Hela Världen För Mig’ (2003)
35. BWO: ‘Temple Of Love’ (2006)
34. Alcazar: ‘Not A Sinner, Nor A Saint’ (2003)
33. Thorleifs: ‘Sweet Kissin In The Moonlight’ (2009)
32. Jessica Folcker: ‘Om Natten’ (2005)
31. Shirley Clamp: ‘Min Kärlek’ (2004)
30-21
30. E-Type: ’Paradise’ (2004)
29. Malena Ernman: ’La Voix’ (2009)
28. Sanna Nielsen: ‘I’m In Love’ (2011)
27. After Dark: ’La Dolce Vita’ (2004)
26. Sarah Dawn Finer: ’Moving On’ (2009)
25. Lena Philipsson: ’Det Gör Ont’ (2004)
24. Shirley Clamp: ‘Att Älska Dig’ (2005)
23. Sanna Nielsen: ’Våger Du, Våger Ja’ (2007)
22. Da Buzz: ’Stop, Look, Listen’ (2003)
21. Linda Bengtzing: ‘E Det Fel På Mig’ (2011)
20-11
20. Hanson, Carson & Malmqvist: ’C’est La Vie’ (2004)
19. Måns Zelmerlöw: ’Cara Mia’ (2007)
18. Kikki, Bettan & Lotta: ’Vem E Vet Du Vill Ha’ (2002)
17. Kikki Danielsson: ’Idag Och Imorgon’ (2006)
16. Jenny Silver: ’Something In Your Eyes’ (2011)
15. Dilba: ‘Try Again’ (2011)
14. Alcazar: ‘Stay The Night’ (2009)
13. Magnus Carlsson: ‘Live Forever’ (2007)
12. Carola: ‘Evighet’ (2006)
11. BWO: ‘Lay Your Love On Me’ (2008)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
10. Linda Bengtzing: ‘Alla Flickor’ (2005)
Linda Bengtzing’s introduction to Melodifestivalen, and our introduction to Linda Bengtzing. It’ll always be extra special to us. Contains not one, not two, but THREE glory notes in that crucial last minute.
09. Nanne Grönwall: ‘Håll Om Mig’ (2005)
The best example of chanting, rousing, military schlager. And Nanne was clearly the best performer for it. She told us last year that young children learn to sing this in school in Sweden. A-MAZING!
08. Linda Bengtzing: ’Hur Svårt Kan Det Va’ (2008)
An excellent song elevated into even higher levels of excellence by the singer’s passion, aggression, and bonkersness! Altogether now – “Se mig, hör mig, rör mig, Hur svårt kan det va’?”!
07. Anne-Lie Rydé: ’Så Nära’ (2005)
So festive is its sound, you can imagine it soundtracking the unwrapping of your Christmas stocking. Or rather, your Christmas 13 metre long brown feather boa! The vocal delivery on the opening “det händer äntligen idag” lyric, is the kind of thing we live for.
06. Charlotte Perrelli: ‘Hero’ (2008)
Our favourite of the Melodifestivalen winners of the last decade. It’s schlager with a pop heart, and disco heels!
05. Lili & Susie: ’Show Me Heaven’ (2009)
Captivating from those opening bars, hypnotic during that regal middle eight, and absolutely triumphant during that chanting and air punching part before the final chorus. It’s just amazing from start to finish. Every time.
04. Timoteij: ’Kom’ (2010)
Swedes can never understand how a non-Swede can love this so much. We, on the other hand, can’t understand anyone who says that they don’t.
03. Anna Book: ’Samba Sambero’ (2007)
It might be too formulaic to some, but to us it actually takes this well used formula and utterly perfects it. The overused latino cliches only serve to make it even more ridiculous to others, but even more amazing to us!
02. Anne-Lie Rydé: ’Säg Att Du Har Ångrat Dig’ (2004)
Schlager that sounds like Christmas. It’s THAT blissful! Her out of countrol arm waving and leg kicking, on stage during the final chorus, sums up exactly how we feel every time we listen to this song!
01. Linda Bengtzing: ’Jag Ljuger Så Bra’ (2006)
Not just our favourite Melodifestivalen song of the last ten years, but also our favourite song, in general, of all time.
