Introduction

• Participant(s): Robin Bengtsson
• Song: "I Can't Go On"
  
• Writer(s): David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One" Pirouzpanah & Robin Stjernberg
• Composer(s): David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One" Pirouzpanah & Robin Stjernberg
• Broadcaster: SVT
• Social media: 
• Team review: 

The Swedish national final called “Melodifestivalen” is very popular in Sweden and even in other countries. Nowadays everybody is able to watch the highly entertaining show via internet. Altogether there are six shows, four Semi Finals, one second chance show and a Grand Final. The viewing figures are enormously high and there is a special atmosphere in Sweden during the Melodifestivalen time. This year Robin Bengtsson could win the national final. Interesting to see is that the international juries like him the most, while the Swedish public wanted Nano with “Hold On” to win.

For Robin Bengtsson it’s the second time to appear at the Melodifestivalen. Last year he came fifth with “Constellation Prize”. But this year Robin could win the whole thing with a song, co-written by the former Swedish representative Robin Stjernberg and “You”, who made a 14th place in Malmö 2013. Now Robin Bengtsson is going to represent Sweden in Kiev at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Robin Bengtsson was born in a small town called Svenljunga in Western Sweden in 1990. Robin studied the guitar and the trumpet. Now he lives in Stockholm. With his participation in 2016 and the song “Constellation Prize” he received double platinum and went #2 in the Swedish charts. His first album “Under My Skin” was a success, in the meantime he released nine singles. He has toured with his band, written music, released a couple of singles and gained a lot of experiences. Robin is mainly interested in music, travelling, family, cars and motorcycles.

The Swedish entry “I Can’t Go On” is another strong song, with good chances of winning. The lyrics had to be changed, as the original version was about “fucking beautiful”, which is now changed to “freaking beautiful”. The most striking fact of this entry is the unusual choreography. And this won’t be changed for Kiev, that’s for sure. At the beginning the singers will be at the rear room and then entering the stage. There is the usage of treadmills. The dancers, all dressed in suits do really make a great show. If this show is transferred to the Kiev stage, it will guarantee a top placing. The mature and soulful voice of Robin is a big surplus. The overall impression is close to perfect. Maybe it is too designing?

History

• Debut: 1958
• Participations: 57
• Victories: 6
• Finals: 55 (12 since 2004)
• Top 10: 38
• Chances for Top 10: 68 %
• Chances for Final: 92 %

Sweden had its debut in 1958 with “Lilla Stjärna” sung by Alice Babs, which made a fabulous 4th rank in Hilversum. But the first victory took a while, in 1974 ABBA could surprise the Europeans with the very contemporary song for that decade “Waterloo”. Unfortunately, the ABBA hype did not start immediately, but some years later in Sweden and Scandinavia and even beyond. ABBA made a world career, they have had many #1 songs even in the USA and Australia. The style of ABBA music has often been copied and many Swedish songs sounded like ABBA and not only Swedish entries. Not many people know that ABBA have even tried to enter the ESC with “Ring Ring” , which only came 3rd in the Melodifestivalen 1973.

After that big success the popular Swedish music, called “Swedish Schlager” has captured the entire world. Especially in Sweden there are “Schlagerkvälls” in discotheques and bars everywhere and many ESC songs and “Melodifestivalen”- songs are played and sung with great enthusiasm of the crowd, really worth to experience.

Over the years, Sweden has become one of the most successful countries in Eurovision. Not even the six winning songs became hits, also the lower ranked songs made it into European charts. Last year Frans could make a fabulous 5th place in his home country. His song “If I Were Sorry” became a real radio hit throughout Europe. The Swedish music industry is one of the most successful in the world and the Melodifestivalen is now showing contemporary music which could be heard everywhere in the world.