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ESC Insight
@escinsight.com
In-depth discussion, commentary, editorial and thoughts on the Eurovision Song Contest. We've a website for words, a podcast for audio, and now we have Bluesky for talking to you all through the year.
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Moldova's TRM put on a selection for the ages this weekend, not just for the Contest, but also for the nation itself. @bensvision.bsky.social attended a transformational National Final to find out why Moldova needs Eurovision as much as Eurovision needs Moldova. escinsight.com/2026/01/20/a...
A Salute To Europe: Moldova Is On Duty
Moldova's National Final and what it means to Moldovan (Photo: Ben Robertson, ESC Insight)
escinsight.com
The Eurovision Tour, (the @ebu.ch supported ten-date journey from London to Stockholm through the summer of 2026), has been cancelled for "unforeseen circumstances". @bensvision.bsky.social assesses what went wrong, and what the #Eurovision community wants from their Song Contest experiences.
The Eurovision Tour Is No More
The sudden cancellation of the EBU’s ten-city summer plan suggests that even the biggest brands can misread their core audience. While interest in the Contest remains on an upwards trajectory, there a...
escinsight.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Smash Into Pieces: Hollow
BPM: 120

A bit speechless. Richly produced, incredibly accessible piece of 'rock'-pop as expected. It's catchy, I'm singing the chorus by the final loop. And made for the stage. But I'm missing the soul.

Sounds like: Smash's traditional 3rd place in #melfest, but no more.
February 17, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Erika Jonsson: Från Landet
BPM: 111

Giggling to myself at the silly Hasse Andersson esque storytelling about how country arrived in Värmland. It's all a bit too 'on-the-nose' for us city slickers.

Sounds like: af Sillen has re-written new lyrics to Dolly Parton's 9-to-5 for a #melfest interval
February 17, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Felix Manu: Hatar att jag älskar dig
BPM: 101

Acoustic guitar in the intro, slick kick-back rhythm by second verse, but this is lyric-focused and incredibly Swedish summertime sing-a-long radio melody.

Sounds like: Something Signe och Hjördis from Edelweiss in #melfest 2023 would release.
February 17, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Meira Omar: Dooset Daram
BPM: 109

Love that this pokes fun at itself, with the Love Is Blind lyric that will go down well with the #melfest public. Strong production for this, particularly with the chorus full of stringer and the key change is grandiose.

Sounds like: 'Hush Hush' has evolved.
February 17, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Timo Räisänen: Ingenting är efter oss
BPM: 151

What a rousing, hopeful, positive, authentic (for #Melfest) bit of arena pop. Karin mentions the songwriters were the same as Maja Ivarsson's Kamikaze Life, Isimilar guitar riff.
Sounds like: Outwith the above, Thomas Di Leva's 2012 entry.
February 17, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Cimberley: Eternity
BPM: 107

Radio disco pop, love the chord shifts in the chorus, but that's the only part that revolutionary. Sassy, bouncy and a great show opener. But sounds unremarkable after three previous #melfest heats.

Sounds like: Jacqline's Woman has been cloned and I'm not complaining
February 17, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Time for #melfest heat 4 song listenings!
February 17, 2026 at 9:00 AM
James Stephenson goes backstage with Fenksta for the first Semi Final of Dora 2026 - as he failed to qualify for the Grand Final. This is what it's really like to dream big at a National Final. come up short, and miss going to #Eurovision. escinsight.com/2026/02/14/w...
What Is It Like to Lose a Eurovision National Final?
Fenksta performs "Memento Mori" at Dora 2026 (Daniel Stridh)
escinsight.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:56 PM
#melfest heat 3 is an interesting race, former finalists Saga and Medina take headlines, but are coming with styles that you already know and love...or is that knew and loved? Patrik Jean's very modern #eurovision sound and Eva Jumatate's ballad excellence may rock the status quo

But not in Vienna
February 10, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Sara Ludvigsson: Ain’t Today
BPM: 115

A touch darker, but still country-pop and full of fun hooks and toe-tapping, sneaky key change goodness. Sara really excels at this genre and it vocally pops and I'm sure will do well on Saturday.

Sounds like: Sara's grown up from last year's #melfest attempt
February 10, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Eva Jumatate: Selfish
BPM: 100

Loving the darker chords, triplets through the chorus and huge notes from Eva as the song builds. Runs out of time, just two choruses, but some lovely songcraft and the dark horse klaxon sounds.

Sounds like: Why Am I Crying ( #melfest 2012) and Torn ( #melfest 2019)
February 10, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Medina: Viva L’Amor
BPM: 124

Ballad-esque first verse with some big vocal range! Before it becomes into feel-good Medina that brings a smile to your face. Punchy, hooky, but the sound, and key change, isn't as bombastic as their second place was.

sounds like: The end of Medina's #melfest trilogy
February 10, 2026 at 9:19 AM
Emilia Pantić: Ingenting
BPM: 52

Intimate, personal, and I am loving the storytelling verses. Think the chorus, with heavy percussion compared to verses, brings this for Spotify playlists more than emotive performance - needs more space for the tender voice to emote.
Sounds like: A #melfest ballad
February 10, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Korslagda: King of Roll ‘n’ Roll
BPM: 140

Classic driving rock, as anticipated. Lead singer's voice distinctive and character-filled. Long guitar solo. Does what you expect. Attitude, aggression and action.

Sounds like: We've gone back in time 20 #melfest years, and 40 in real music terms.
February 10, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Patrik Jean: Dusk Till Dawn
BPM: 65 (doubles when beat kick in)

Big strings on intro, breathy, airy vocal from Patrik - distinctive - and powerful on chorus falsetto.
Spoken word (bridge backing track) shifts this from orchestral to dark #melfest club

Sounds like: Wasted Love influenced this
February 10, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Fun fact, I (Ben) am pretty certain that I have my own place in #melfest history, as Mellopedia's BPM stats mirror what we post here

The pressure!

Slight delay but starting now
February 10, 2026 at 9:03 AM
20 minutes to go until the #melfest heat 3 songs are played to the press.

Hoping the zoom call holds up this time around for all the songs.
FELICIA: My System
BPM: 139

Eurodance track, picks up quite predictably as it builds to the chorus, before some sort of rave/dubstep post-chorus kicks in and it breaks down like #melfest hasn't seen yet. Zoom call cut out for a bit fyi.

Sounds like: The rave remix of Cascada's Everytime We Touch
February 10, 2026 at 8:42 AM
#melfest heat 2 review.

No complaints on any of these songs competing. Setting itself up as a battle of young vs old already. Will the classic sounds of Laila, Robin Bengtsson and Brandsta win, or will Arwin's funk, FELICIA's rave or Klara's soaring melody dominate? Age groups will be fascinating.
February 3, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Brandsta City Släckers: Rakt in i elden
BPM: 145

The obligatory #melfest nursery rhyme for every preschool party for the next 12 months.

Full of ooo-ooo lyrics and dunk-dunk moments for sing-a-long moments and hand claps.

Sounds like: A official anthem of an Allsvenskan football team
February 3, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Klara Almström: Där hela världen väntar
BPM: 142

Uptempo but ethereal, this song soars over the mountains and skies - would be a great song to run to.
Empowering lyrics and with an empowering performance this could do something magical on stage.

Sounds like: Laleh's En Stund På Jorden
February 3, 2026 at 9:23 AM
FELICIA: My System
BPM: 139

Eurodance track, picks up quite predictably as it builds to the chorus, before some sort of rave/dubstep post-chorus kicks in and it breaks down like #melfest hasn't seen yet. Zoom call cut out for a bit fyi.

Sounds like: The rave remix of Cascada's Everytime We Touch
February 3, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Robin Bengtsson: Honey Honey
BPM: 88

The harmonica returns! As Robin promised, this is a sing-a-long country song that relies on the Hon-eyHon-ey hook. Nothing remarkable, songwriting wise, but feel good and charming which is Robin's strong side.

Sounds like: More real Stockholm cowboys
February 3, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Laila Adèle: Oyxgen
BPM: 55

Promised a powerballad - already by first chorus Laila is already belting this out forte forte! Effective and there's definitely an audience for it. Would like more songcraft and think Oxygen is a weak title. But vocals for days

Sounds like: Not With Me #melfest 2019
February 3, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Arwin: Glitter
BPM: 96

A hip-swingy, Swedish-language funky pop song with the most slick hooks and breakdowns I've heard in #melfest. Proper show number for maybe our next pop star. Brilliant song maybe too slick to charm new voters - but quality.

Sounds like: What's The Pressure (Belgium 2016)
February 3, 2026 at 9:08 AM