Cimberly's disco pop song "Eternity" was voted fourth in the Melodifestivalklubben audience survey conducted after Friday's genre rehearsal.
The bookmakers predicted a third place, but Cimberly turned up the energy in each run-through and she ended up grabbing one of the final places from the semi-final in Malmö. When it became clear, she broke down for the debuting 21-year-old.
"It feels crazy. It was nothing I expected," she said tearfully late Saturday night.
Pain after illness
Critics think Cimberly's brief scream was good for the competition.
Svenska Dagbladet's David Standar thinks the shock was a welcome surprise "after three weeks where odds-on favorites went to the final."
With Robin Bengtsson forced to qualify to reach the final, Standar believes this year's Melodifestivalen has been "so predictable" that "the clocks have stopped."
The Malmö competition, however, was about to take an unexpected turn. Smash Into Pieces singer Chris Adam had been sick with a stomach ache this week and only showed up at Friday's rehearsal, where he looked visibly energized.
He stayed away from all the press conferences and only spoke to the media at the after-party. Chris Adam said he almost fainted on stage on Saturday because he was so "low on energy."
"It was because I was in pain and felt empty. I couldn't eat; I could barely drink either."
But even so, everything went according to expectations. Chris Adam stayed on his feet and Smash Into Pieces received the most votes, as expected.
However, SVT Kulturnyheter's Tali da Silva believes that Cimberly was the best and describes the entry as "a solid disco pop song with a strong voice, high energy and confident stage presence."
"Haven't answered"
According to Cimberly, the song is about not needing anyone else and believing in yourself, a clear reference to an earlier version of herself.
Before the semi-final, Cimberly opened up about doubting herself after winning Idol 2023, saying the song drew inspiration "from that time."
"Did I deserve this?" Those were some of the feelings and thoughts that were swirling around.
Does she still have those thoughts, or does she think she has earned a place in the final?
"God, I don't know, maybe," Cimberly said at the after-party and thought for a moment.
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"I haven't answered that question all evening, but now I do. Yes, I think so. I've fought really hard."
Cornelia Mikaelsson/TT
Facts: The result in Malmö
TT
Directly to the final:
Smash Into Pieces with "Hollow"
Cimberly with "Eternity"
For the final qualifiers:
Meira Omar with "Dooset Daram"
Eliminated:
Timo Räisänen with "Nothing is after us"
Felix Manu with "Hate That I Love You"
Erika Jonsson with "From the Country"
