Our International Jury: The vote for Melodifestivalen from the stars of Eurovision

Juries from six European countries will have a say in the Melodifestivalen final this Saturday, and viewers around Sweden will feverishly vote to select the best entry for Europe. The importance of the international voice is increasing, and who would be better to listen to than the artists from the Eurovision Song Contest itself? Here are the votes from Poplight's special international jury: Mihai (Romania 2006), Safura (Azerbaijan 2010), Roberto (Latvia 2007 and 2008) and Vasyl (Ukraine 2010). [Article in English.]

The jury

Mihai Traistariu – Mihai performed the classic ”Tornerò”, achieving a fourth place in the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. ”Tornerò” made it to the charts in Sweden and many other countries.

Safura Alizadeh – The representative for Azerbaijan in the the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. Safura is right now cooperating with a Swedish team to find the right song for the Contest.

Roberto Meloni – The Italian who ended up in Latvia, representing the country in Eurovision both in 2007 and 2008, with the Swedish-written songs ”Questa Notte” and ”Wolves of the Sea”.

Vasyl Lazarovych – The Ukrainian representative in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, competing with the song "I Love You..." Vasyl participates in the panel vote and by giving an overall comment on the Final.

The entries

1. Darin – "You're Out of My Life"

Mihai: Very sensitive song. I usually like this kind of songs the most. I think this song could get a lot of votes from the fans of Eurovision.

Safura: Super song and a nice singer. A bit pitchy here and there, but I like it.

Roberto: This guy needs to experience more before performing on such a big stage. The melody of the song is kind of annoying. Darin seems to have run 20 km before going on the stage, or to have attended the same singing teacher as Dima Bilan. The usual key change gives more the impression of ... out of breath ... out of tune. Instead of out of my life. For me – out in general.

2. Pernilla Wahlgren – "Jag vill om du vågar"

Mihai: She reminds me of Carola and "Invincible". She has a powerful voice. The song is very strong. I would like to hear it in an English version. The refrain is very catchy.

Safura: Don't like at all.

Roberto: Typical Swedish pop for a typical Swedish aged "Golden Lady". Too young dancers makes it stand out even more that Aunt Pernilla can't allow herself to wear that kind of dress. The choreography is between basic and primitive, but at least is built around what she can do in her age. And when the dancers carry her up on their shoulders, it reminds me of Swedish entry of 2009. But with a positive aspect – her facial expression is not so scary as that of the "La Voix" performer. Quite a banal melody.

3. Andreas Johnsson – "We Can Work It Out"

Mihai: So many ballads in this year's Eurovision national selections. And, also, for Oslo. I like the song, but I like the Darin song more. This is a little bit ... U2.

Safura: I like the song a lot, the performer is a bit dull. Don't think it is a Eurovision song.

Roberto: Swedish "Bono" Andreas Johnson partly achieve in recovering from the disaster-duet with Carola. I was actually expecting more from him – the melody is good, it stays in mind, but there is a lack of emotional vocal part; especially in the last part of the song. Hope for a better performance in the final, and a better colour for his "Zara" leather jacket.

4. Timoteij – "Kom"

Mihai: I love the idea of the four instruments. And one of the four girls has a very good voice. The song is strong enough to win the national final.

Safura: What is this?

Roberto: These girls seem to have decided to perform together just ten minutes before the show, after picking up their boy friends from the gym and giving them some drums. The "kind of" exotic intro brings to a melody which seems to be composed by a four year old child. And they even try to be out of tune. No worries, you girls can definitely be in Oslo – in the audience.

5. Peter Jöback – "Hollow"

Mihai: I like it. The rock voice is great ... I do believe that every year the Swedish national final is much better than the big European contest. Only good songs here.

Safura: Good song. A bit too much of a musical for me. I don't think it is a Eurovision entry.

Roberto: I like it! He definitely knows how to look at the camera and how to dress for an important stage performance. The song is a strong ballad, he sings it with the right feeling of passion and the choir in the refrain gives more strength to this serious candidate for a high place. Bravo!

6. Ola – "Unstoppable"

Mihai: The guy has a nice charisma, even if his voice is not the best. I think he will have a lot of votes from girls. It's interesting that he choose not to have dancers on the stage. Usually, this kind of songs have a show. Nice presence.

Safura: Not a very good song. Like the singer, though.

Roberto: Please someone, stop him! I was wondering, why should I vote for him? 'Cause his song is good ... No way. 'Cause he is a good performer ... No way. 'Cause he has a stylish hair cut ... No way. I know – I should vote for him because of his talent in taking the microphone after throwing it in the air!

7. Jessica Andersson – "I Did It for Love"

Mihai: A classical ballad. I think we can find much better ballads in Oslo, but this song is nice, too. Anyway, it's too much 80's-90's. The people prefer, in 2010, modern ballads. This is more like a ... Barbra Streisand ballad.

Safura: The song is okay, but the singer and her performance is kind of boring. Don't think think it will work.

Roberto: Jessica, he definitely will go away, if you ask him to stay with your singing. The song actually isn't bad, but who wrote those horrible lyrics? Are they taken from a Britney Best of??? They don’t suit the style and the look of the performer ... Maybe if her surname would be changed into Simpson. Watch out on the high notes!!!

8. Salem Al Fakir – "Keep on Walking"

Mihai: Strange song ... but interesting. The guy is very relaxed, and that's ... good. The juries in Oslo could appreciate that he is also a pianist.

Safura: Great song, great performer. Love the track.

Roberto: I actually found myself captured by this magnetic singer. The composition seems to be easy, but this is the key of a good Eurovision song. These three minutes look like ten seconds. The arrangement of the song stays in mind, and it has a very clever bridge before the last refrain. Definitely one of my favourites!

9. Anna Bergendahl – "This Is My Life"

Mihai: Her vibrato voice sounds like the Kelly family. But I like her voice. The song is nice, but I think it's not strong enough to win.

Safura: Good song, but I don't like the way she sings it.

Roberto: Wow! This is something fresh for Eurovision – very good vocal with an excellent French school vibrato! Her eyes are so expressive with this sophisticated country atmosphere. I've found my favourite for Oslo 2010! I think Anna is the right choice, 'cause she could bring a totally different way of performing to Oslo, with her particular voice, her bright eyes and the very good song that she has – she could get a high position in Eurovision! Anna, if this is your life, I adore it! Only one detail ... The wind machine, old and good Swedish ESC friend, is useless here. And please, a different lipstick. Tack, Anna!

10. Eric Saade – "Manboy"

Mihai: The best show. I like it very much. The song is very catchy, the boy has a huge charisma. I can hear it on clubs, and on the radio too. I think – THIS IS THE SONG for 2010!

Safura: Cute singer, but the song is really boring.

Roberto: This guy is going to take the young girl's votes, but even though he is good on the stage, his song shouldn’t be among the top three. For sure, this singer is talented, and he could be a possible choice for a Swedish Eurovision representative someday. Actually, I think that the naming of a song as "Manboy" needs quite a lot of courage from the song writer ...

The voting

A final word from Vasyl Lazarovych: I truly believe that Swedish national final is among the best from all countries participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. Your show is almost as bright as the Final of Eurovision itself, so I'm really pleased that I was addressed to give my comments on your participants. I think all songs are really of a good quality.

The winner: Eric Saade – "Manboy"!