Zelmerlöw was with the contribution "Revolution" a top tip and no one was surprised when he was announced as the first to advance to the final in Strawberry arena in two weeks.
"Afraid of messing up abroad"
Zelmerlöw's contribution is professionally polished, writes Dagens Nyheter's Matilda Källén. At the same time, she thinks it felt tired to send a jury-wooing contribution already when Loreen won with "Tattoo" two years ago.
Aftonbladet's Markus Larsson writes that we are the "professional, proper and slightly dull big brother" who is "more afraid of messing up abroad than taking a chance on something new".
"Tired of Sweden"
In Eurovision circles, Sweden has been criticized for avoiding risks for several years. The criticism resurfaced when a clip from Zelmerlöw's genre rehearsal was spread illegally earlier in the week, writes the newspaper.
Zelmerlöw is not unfamiliar with the criticism and has himself said that he does not believe Sweden will win Eurovision this year.
I think very many Eurovision fans can be tired of Sweden, and it was only recently that Sweden won, he said to TT after Thursday's rehearsal.
Not as confident
When he was asked again, after securing a win together with the humor group KAJ from Österbotten in Finland, he did not answer as confidently.
I don't know, I don't think that far ahead, but KAJ would have been top-notch in Eurovision.
The humor group has been praised in Swedish press for being a fresh breeze with their sketch number "Bara bada bastu".
"Need for a revolution"
When they left the stage in Malmö arena, a group of children remained in the stands and chanted: "KAJ, KAJ, KAJ". Moreover, they got the party started properly at Melodifestivalen's after-party in Malmö.
But they are still far from Zelmerlöw's popularity. Hufvudstadsbladet's Malin Slotte believes, however, that KAJ can climb up the betting lists, where they are currently predicted to finish fifth.
She thinks it's time for Sweden to start taking risks, that "Melodifestivalen is in need of a revolution, and that it's not Måns".
From the qualifying round in Luleå:
Maja Ivarsson – "Kamikaze life"
John Lundvik – "Voice of the silent"
From the qualifying round in Göteborg:
Erik Segerstedt – "Show me what love is"
Klara Hammarström – "On and on and on"
From the qualifying round in Västerås:
Greczula – "Believe me"
Annika Wickihalder – "Life again"
From the qualifying round in Malmö:
Måns Zelmerlöw – "Revolution"
KAJ – "Bara bada bastu"
