1. Cimberly – “Eternity”
songwriter: David Lindgren Zacharias, Dino Medanhodzic, Cimberly-Malaika Wanyonyi, Melanie Wehbe
Background: Cimberly-Malaika Wanyonyi was born in Skellefteå in 2005. Her breakthrough came when she won “Idol” in 2023, an achievement that paved the way for a Diggiloo tour, multiple TV appearances and other musical creations. Has previously said that she is inspired by Olivia Dean and Seinabo Sey, among others. Makes his debut at Melodifestivalen.
The artist about the post: “The message is that there is freedom and strength in having the courage to be yourself.”
Telephone voting: 099-90801
Matilda thinks like this: The competition in Malmö is described as the night of debutants, and of the four Mellonovisers in the starting field, Cimberly is the most impressive. That she can sing became clear when she won “Idol,” and the power of her voice hasn’t diminished since. “Eternity” is a classic pop song with a disco pulse that initially seems a bit anonymous. It jumps straight into the plot, the text’s emancipation project (“I don’t need anyone to be free”) sniffs out clichés, and the climax is missing. But both the song and the number, inspired by the dance floors of the 70s and a Cimberly who doesn’t skimp on energy, soon grew considerably.
Evaluation: 4
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: Four
2. Timo Räisänen – “Nothing is behind us”
songwriter: Joy Deb, Linnea Deb, Andreas “Giri” Lindbergh, Lina Räisänen, Timo Räisänen, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt
Background: Born in 1979. Grew up in Gothenburg. Began his career as a guitarist in Håkan Hellström’s backing band. His breakthrough as a solo artist came in 2005 with the debut album “Lovers are lonely” and the hit “Fear no Darkness, Promised Child”. Participated in the Melodifestivalen aftershow in 2010 and is now debuting as a competing artist.
The artist about the post: “That’s a Timo smoker, a Timo guy.”
Telephone voting: 099-90802
Matilda thinks like this: I talk about how indie artists from the 2000s Gothenburg scene “sold out” and were no longer relevant around Håkan’s 51st Ullevispektakel. And with Timo Räisänen’s documented love of pompous pop ballads and Melodifestivalen as a concept, his participation doesn’t even feel special. Here is a pop-rock base, here are turned-in knees and Krunegård flair, yes, a whole range of ingredients to be enchanted by. It’s just a shame that the sauce gets cut when even Schlager and some sort of West Coast twist on Coldplay goes down the drain. In the end, Timo is more sold out than sold out, absolutely, but I was hoping for something, hoping for something…
Evaluation: 3
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: Third
3. Meira Omar – “Dooset daram”
songwriter: Laurell Barker, Meira Omar, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Anderz Wrethov
Background: Born in Kabul in 1993. Grew up in Stockholm. Started his career as an artist in Bollywood, gained attention with online dance videos and made a big splash in the dating show “Love is blind Sweden” in 2024. Competed last year with the entry “Hush hush”, which came eighth in the final and landed at the top of Swedish Spotify.
The artist about the post: “The whole song is like a burning declaration of love to Oskar, who is my husband.”
Telephone voting: 099-90803
Matilda thinks like this: If someone had expressed their eternal love for me with a fiery desert number at Melodifestivalen, I would have turned into Homer in the hedge meme and slowly backed away, but hopefully Meira’s type and I are different. After all, they got married on TV, and “Dooset daram” (“I love you” in Farsi) can also be considered sweet and just right confused Gesture of love. The song is also suitable for belly dancing and swinging, even if it doesn’t invite you to sing along like last year’s “Hush hush”. Meira’s biggest challenge, besides the sand in her eyes, will be capturing the song. She can’t do that on the ropes.
Evaluation: 2
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: Second
4. Felix Manu – “Hate That I Love You”
songwriter: Fernand MP, Karl Flyckt, Felix Manu, Axel Schylström
Background: Felix Manu Irankunda was born in Burundi in 2001. He grew up in Bollnäs. Applied for “Idol” in 2017, but didn’t start writing, producing and performing his own songs until 2019. Early music focuses more on hip-hop and Afrobeat than pop. Worked with young people in the Studienförbundet Vuksenskolan. Makes his debut at Melodifestivalen.
The artist about the post: “Personal, vulnerable, beautiful and intimate.”
Telephone voting: 099-90804
Matilda thinks like this: Felix Manu sits on stage, surrounded by what look like ordinary moving boxes, perhaps from Clas Ohlson. I imagine a relationship ended, he couldn’t unpack, but they probably could have put more love/dancers/money into the act. Felix Manu compensates for this with the song, but only approximately. It seems a bit uncomfortable in the context, but essentially “Hate that I love you” is a really beautiful, fragile pop ballad. The chances are good that it will be a bottom, and I suspect it will be, but that could also be in jeopardy. Guys who show emotions are like catnip to the Tiktok crowd.
Evaluation: 3
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: Six
5. Erika Jonsson – “From the Country”
songwriter: Amir Aly, Erika Jonsson, Mikael Karlsson
Background: Born in Värmland in 1991. Breakthrough in 2015 with “Sången om Värmland”, which was followed by five albums, most recently “Värmländsk twang” in 2025. In the same year she achieved over 25 million streams on Spotify and took part in the show “Countrylandet Sweden”. Works as a professional driver. Makes his debut at Melodifestivalen.
The artist about the post: “I don’t just sing about country, I am country.”
Telephone voting: 099-90805
Matilda thinks like this: I hold back: No, the Mellocountry is not dead. Despite my strenuous attempts to manifest the opposite, it is healthy and happytonight in the form of Erika Jonsson’s tribute to growing up in the country in boots and flannel. “Please don’t tone down my style,” she sings, and I don’t want that. With a full band on stage (we’re happy!), she comes across as both charming and authentic, meaning she even wears a cowboy hat on a daily basis. However, the song seems less authentic and more like a shallow parody of the genre. “What you see is what you get,” Jonsson sings, but that’s not entirely true.
Evaluation: 2
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: Fifth
6. Smashed into pieces – “Hollow”
songwriter: Per Bergquist, Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, Benjamin Jennebo, Philip Strand
Background: Rock band from Örebro founded in 2008, consisting of Per Bergquist, Chris Adam Hedman Sörbye, Benjamin Jennebo and The Apocalypse DJ. The debut album from 2013 was followed by numerous albums and international tours. Has already taken part in Melodifestivalen in 2023 and 2024 and reached the final each time.
The artist about the post: “It’s about how we lose ourselves in a digitalized world.”
Telephone voting: 099-90806
Matilda thinks like this: Smash Into Pieces doesn’t like change. Evidence 1: They still look like small-town rock dudes in 2008. Evidence 2: All of their songs merge into a dough of easy-to-chew metal. Assuming the band’s ailing singer recovers, “Hollow” will suffer the same fate: beloved by kids and dads who were small-town rock boys in 2008, all the way to the finale thanks to a stage show so maxed out it bumps my rating from a 2nd to second place – and then straight to the pub. Proof 3: They just discovered “algorithms” and were gradually adapted. I hear you, but I was hoping that the revolution against the machines would have a better soundtrack. And outfits.
Evaluation: 3
The article piece by piece:
Matilda suspects: One
Melodifestivalen airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. on SVT 1/SVT Play.
Facts.This is how voting works
Viewers vote in the Melodifestivalen app or by calling the Radiohjälpen number. App voting will be divided into seven different viewer groups based on age, while phone voting will form an eighth group.
In the sub-competitions Voting takes place in two rounds. After round 1, the entry with the most votes goes straight to the final. After round 2, a second participant advances to the final based on the results of the spectator groups. A third entry will advance to the final round based on the number of votes.
For each Viewers can vote ten times via the app and ten times on the Radiohjälpen number, divided into five votes per round.
Facts.They are also taking part in Melodifestivalen 2026
Sub-competition 5, Sundsvall, February 28th
Alexa – “tongue tied”
Juliett – “Far away from everyone else”
Bladë – “Who you are”
Little Al-Fadji – “Delulu”
Vilhelm Buchaus – “Hearts don’t lie”
Sanna Nielsen – “Waste your love”
Made it to the final
Greczula – “Half of me”
A-Teens – “Iconic”
Felicia – “My System”
Brandsta City Släckers – “Straight into the fire”
Medina – “Viva l’amor”
Saga Ludvigsson – “Ain’t today”
Made it to the final
Jacqline – “woman”
Robin Bengtsson – “Honey, Sweetheart”
Eva Jumatate – “Selfish”
From everyone In the sub-competition, two entries go straight to the final, while one goes to the final qualification. Two entries from the final qualification, which will be broadcast directly after the fifth part of the competition, will make it to the final. The final will take place on March 7th in Stockholm. The winner will represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna from May 12th to 16th.
Read more:
Timo Räisänen: “When I lost, a lot of things went wrong”
More about Melodifestivalen 2026
