The Newcomer: "I Hope for a Surprise"

Will it be Dolly Style who rides off with a "Yihaa" to a final spot or Greczula who sails to the final battle with her "Believe me"? The audience and betting companies are divided about the outcome of the third qualifying round in Melodifestivalen.

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The Newcomer: "I Hope for a Surprise"
Photo: Viktoria Bank/TT

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While the betting companies place Dolly Style in fourth place, the group received the most votes when the Melodifestival club conducted a public survey after Friday's rehearsals and asked 754 people about their favorite.

Sister in place

The odds show that Malou Prytz will join Greczula at Friends Arena, while the audience on site would rather see Annika Wickihalder there.

Both, however, agree on who will likely end up in last place tomorrow: debutant Björn Holmgren, who is still in good spirits.

I hope for a surprise. Which doesn't just mean I hope it goes better for me than people think, but I hope I can get my message across and what I'm trying to convey, he says and continues:

Of course, you want to win. I think it's really fun to compete.

Does it feel extra nervous that only three will advance this year?

When I heard that, I thought, shit, I have a 50 percent chance! But of course, I'm singing in Swedish, and that's not usually an advantage. At the same time, I actually have something to tell, so maybe that increases my chances.

Björn Holmgren's song "Rädda mig" is about when his sister became seriously ill with TBE after a tick bite. His sister, who suffered brain damage, is now wheelchair-bound and will be present to cheer him on in Västerås.

She hasn't been outside Stockholm in almost five years. So it's nerve-wracking, how it will go and how she'll cope with everything, and if I'll get so emotional when I see her that I start crying. But it's going to be really fun!

Angelino in three countries

Angelino's contribution "Teardrops" has not landed high on the odds lists, but as a songwriter, he has the chance to still make it to Eurovision: with one song each in the Polish and Estonian equivalents of Melodifestivalen.

It's a win in itself to have three songs competing in this way. It's a magical feeling, I must say.

Will you still be disappointed if you don't advance tonight?

No, it's a very even semi-final, I think we all feel. It can go either way.

Greczula, who has been the big favorite since the start, doesn't want to think too much about what it means for the outcome.

I don't know how much it affects and how well-informed the betting companies usually are. I don't know that world at all, he says.

1. Greczula – "Believe me"

099-908 01 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 01 (3.60 kronor per vote)

2. Malou Prytz – "24 k gold"

099-908 02 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 02 (3.60 kronor per vote)

3. Björn Holmgren "Rädda mig"

099-908 03 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 03 (3.60 kronor per vote)

4. Dolly Style – "Yihaa"

099-908 04 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 04 (3.60 kronor per vote)

5. Angelino – "Teardrops"

099-908 05 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 05 (3.60 kronor per vote)

6. Annika Wickihalder – “Life again”

099-908 06 (9.90 kronor per vote, of which 9.20 kronor goes to Radiohjälpen) 099-208 06 (3.60 kronor per vote)

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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