After becoming an audience favorite in SVT's Vasalopps venture "Against all odds" and TV4's "Let's dance", it's time for Junior Lerin to step into Melodifestivalen.
It feels like a gift. A gift from God. He has given me this gift and I am here to spread love.
In addition to love, Junior Lerin also wants to spread carnival atmosphere and South American rhythms with his entry "Copacabana boy".
But when it comes to the odds, he is at the very bottom of the competition and he has previously admitted that singing is not his strong suit.
I don't care if I come last. I'm very grateful, and if the Swedish people like me and like my song, anything can happen.
Five debutants
Of the artists in the first round, only two are veterans, Greczula and Jacqline, while the rest are debuting. Noll2 is the name of the duo from Örnsköldsvik, who have received several TikTok hits and encouragement from Gunilla Persson herself.
The duo members were born in 2002 and clearly remember what it was like to watch Melodifestivalen themselves as children.
I think everyone born in the 2000s is a big Mello fan, says Jakob Westerlund.
Wilmer Öberg fills in:
It's crazy to be here. To actually be in the arena when you've seen it on TV so many times.
“Get off me”
Another person who has dreamed of being in Melodifestivalen for several years is Indra, who competed in "Idol" in 2020.
I thought I was going to start crying or screaming when they said I had come. But the stress only came afterwards. And the joy, she says.
Indra's contribution has been described as a dreamy version of a Bond film song. However, during Thursday's rehearsals, it didn't turn out particularly dreamy.
I lost my footing and forgot my lines. Then the stage got so full of smoke that I couldn't see anything, which made me a little nervous. But I actually thought I would feel more nervous than I do.
The song "Beautiful lie" has received good reviews so far and there is speculation that there could be a small upset in the first round, with Indra being voted directly into the final.
I'm set on coming last. So it makes me very happy that people seem to like the song.
Is there anything you want to change until Saturday?
"I'll try not to have such bad posture. I saw myself after rehearsal, completely hunched over," she says, laughing.
