Swedish evening newspaper Aftonbladet is reporting that Melodifestivalen 2022 will change the format of the “Andra Chansen” (Second Chance) round, replacing the knock-out duels which have been a mainstay of the process since 2004.
The number of competing acts, 28, and the number in each of the four heats, seven, will remain the same, as will the top two songs from each heat advancing “direkt till final”.
However, the third and fourth-place songs from the first 4 shows will then be split into two groups of 4, perform again in the fifth show, and the top two from each group will qualify for the final.
The name “Andra Chansen” will also be a thing of the past, and this show, scheduled to be held at Hägglunds Arena, Örnsköldsvik, on Saturday 5th March 2022, will simply be named “Semifinal”.
Anette Brattström, Project Manager at SVT in charge of Melodifestivalen, stated that the decision has been made because artists and music labels were becoming increasingly apprehensive to the format of only losing to one song, even if fans have relished in the excitement and unpredictability over the years.
The purpose of Andra Chansen from the beginning was that the artist would have the opportunity to redo their number from the Deltävling [heats] if they felt that there was something to do differently. But today everything is almost performed to perfection so there are no major changes being made. Almost no one wants to make changes and then the idea of “Second Chance” fails. That is what we have experienced that there has not really been an uplift for the final, but rather that it may have been performed slightly worse.
(SVT source in Afontbladet, 17 October 2021)
This point is also visible in the viewing figures. While the final of Melodifestivalen 2021 was watched by 3.6 million in Sweden, Andra Chansen only pulled in 2.7 million, exactly a quarter fewer.
This is not the first time apprehension to the format from within SVT has been revealed. In August, MelFest boss and living Euro-deity Christ(er) Björkman told the Eurovision Legends podcast that he “deeply regretted” putting Loreen in a duel with Anton Hagman in Andra Chansen 2017, which Hagman would go on to win in a huge upset.
Melodifestivalen 2022 tickets will go on sale on 8th November 2021, and the series will feature the following six shows:
5th February 2022: Heat 1 (Malmö Arena, Malmö)
12th February 2022: Heat 2 (Scandinavium, Gothenburg)
19th February 2022: Heat 3 (Saab Arena, Linköping)
26th February 2022: Heat 4 (Sparbanken Arena, Lidköping)
5th March 2022: Semi-Final (Hägglunds Arena, Örnsköldsvik)
12th March 2022: Grand Final (Friends Arena, Stockholm)
The reigning champion is 19-year-old Congolese-Swedish singer Tusse, who romped to victory with his song Voices, receiving the maximum 96 points from the public, and going on to finish 14th at Eurovision 2021.
Would you give Andra Chansen a second chance or dump it like Loreen’s Statements? Let us know in the comments and on our various social media platforms.
