The people of Sweden have spoken and, to my great surprise, they agreed with the eleven international juries and Sweden sends Eric Saade off to Düsseldorf.
Eric Saade - Popular (Sweden 2011)
Popular is something Sweden has failed to be lately and has not made top ten since 2006. Last year, Anna Bergendahl was a few points short of reaching the final.
Eric Saade is a much better choice for a number of reasons. He is young, he is handsome, he can dance and he can sing reasonably well during his über-choreographed number.
He is also determined to do well and make an impression internationally, which is way better than most Swedish performers who just say it is fun to take part.
The song is OK, not revolutionary. But like Hungary, a simple pop song, easy to grasp and get a hold on, could work wonders in a year where many countries have sent slightly more complicated songs. Or soothing midtempo numbers.
The things that could really work against this entry is the composer Fredrik Kempe, who until now has been cursed in the ESC, getting dismal placings three years in a row.
When we get the final versions of all songs, it is easier to guess how far Eric Saade will get in the end. But I almost dare promising that Sweden will at least make it out of the semi this time.
