It was last year when she was asked to perform a medley of her songs at the Melodifestivalen Hall of Fame selection that Sanna Nielsen had an idea. After winning with “Undo” in 2014 and coming in third place in the Eurovision Song Contest, she had said she was done competing in music.
I enjoyed being on that stage and felt so at home somehow. When I got off I said to my manager, "Shouldn't we do this one more time?" She looked at me like I was crazy.
It has been 25 years since she first participated, at the age of sixteen – when she finished in third place. This will be the eighth time Sanna Nielsen has competed in Melodifestivalen.
Tempting with Eurovision
Now she doesn't deny that it would be tempting to represent Sweden again.
I was actually in the commentary booth when Måns won in Vienna. It's a wonderful city and it would have been fantastic, of course. But I also know what kind of competition I'm getting into. Oh my God, you can't tell until you've performed.
During the years she took a break from Melodifestivalen, Sanna Nielsen was the face of Allsång på Skansen, presenting from 2016–2022 before Pernilla Wahlgren took over. She also has a son, Gibson, who is now four years old.
I've been so lucky that he seems to love Melodifestivalen as much as I do. Just this morning we stood in front of the TV for two hours singing along to Korslagda and Medina. He knows all the songs.
“Sees me as a mother”
The fact that his mother will be the last contestant in Sundsvall this weekend is not that impressive, says Sanna Nielsen, laughing.
He doesn't care that much about it, which is great. He sees me as a mother first and foremost, and that's how it should be, I think.
Closing the competition could mean that SVT has a lot of faith in the song. "Waste Your Love" is written by Thomas G:son, who was also behind two of Nielsen's previous entries, together with Peter Boström and Jimmy Jansson.
It's an uptempo song so it's going to be a bit of a struggle for me on stage. I thought I had plenty of time, but now I might regret not sitting on my exercise bike more and singing at the same time. Life got in the way!
"I don't dare say 100%, because I haven't heard the songs in my competition yet – it's funny that I say 'my' competition... I think Felicia came in and put the cabinet where it should be. It was different and a lot of fun."
"There was a lot of buzz about the 'Undo' thing and that we had to change the lyrics for Eurovision. This time I haven't actually double-checked anything, but I trust the songwriters. They know their stuff."
Alexa – "Tongue Tied"
099-908 01 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
Juliett – "Far from Everyone Else"
099-908 02 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
Blade – "Who You Are"
099-908 03 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
Little Al-Fadji – "Delulu"
099-908 04 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
Vilhelm Buchaus – "Hearts Don't Lie"
099-908 05 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
Sanna Nielsen – "Waste Your Love"
099-908 06 (10 SEK per vote, of which 9.13 SEK goes to Radiohjälpen)
