# Melodifestivalen 2006

Melodifestivalen 2006 was the 46th edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen, which was organised by Sveriges Television (SVT) and took place over a five-week period between 18 February and 18 March 2006. The winner of the competition was Carola with the song "Evighet". She represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, with the English version of the song, "Invincible", where she came fifth with 170 points.

## Format

The heats for Melodifestivalen 2006 began on 18 February 2006. Ten songs from these heats qualified for the final on 18 March 2006. This was the fifth year that a heat format had been used for the competition.
On 15 August 2005, SVT confirmed that Leksand, Karlstad, Karlskrona and Gothenburg would host the heats of Melodifestivalen 2006, with the final taking place at the Stockholm Globe Arena for the fifth year running (sixth overall).
Lena Philipsson was a surprise choice as host, as rumors had been spreading that SVT wanted Helena Paparizou to present the Gothenburg heat or the final. The proposed changes to the voting format (caused by the controversy over Nanne Grönvall's defeat in Melodifestivalen 2005) never materialised.
Competition Schedule :
| Show | Date | City | Venue |
| Heat 1 | 18 February 2006 | Leksand | Ejendals Arena |
| Heat 2 | 25 February 2006 | Karlstad | Löfbergs Lila Arena |
| Heat 3 | 4 March 2006 | Karlskrona | Arena Rosenholm |
| Heat 4 | 11 March 2006 | Gothenburg | Scandinavium |
| Second chance | 12 March 2006 | Stockholm | SVT Broadcasting House |
| Final | 18 March 2006 | Stockholm | Stockholm Globe Arena |

### Wildcards

Unlike past years, where all Melodifestivalen participants were chosen by a selection jury, starting in 2004, four out of the 32 participants were selected directly by the contest's producers, in order to increase musical and artistic breadth. Each artist, called "wildcard", participated in a different heat. BWO were unveiled as the first wildcard in a pre-Christmas special. There was much speculation that Eurovision Song Contest 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli would be among the others, but ultimately was not included when the final list was revealed in late January 2006. The wildcards in 2006 were the following:
| Artist | Song | Heat |
| Andreas Johnson | "Sing for Me" | Heat 1 |
| Magnus Carlsson | "Lev livet!" | Heat 2 |
| BWO | "Temple of Love" | Heat 3 |
| Rednex | "Mama, Take Me Home" | Heat 4 |

## Competing entries

| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
| Andreas Johnson | "Sing for Me" | Andreas JohnsonPeter Kvint [sv] |
| Anna Sahlene | "This Woman" | Anna SahlinBobby LjunggrenHenrik Wikström |
| Björn Kjellman | "Älskar du livet" | Calle Kindbom [sv]Dan Fernström [sv] |
| BWO | "Temple of Love" | Alexander BardAnders Hansson [sv] |
| Carola | "Evighet" | Carola HäggkvistThomas G:sonBobby LjunggrenHenrik Wikström |
| Electric Banana Band | "Kameleont" | Lasse ÅbergJanne Schaffer |
| Elysion [sv] | "Golden Star" | Dan Attlerud [sv]Andreas NordqvistMikael Anderfjärd |
| Evan [sv] | "Under Your Spell" | Jonas Sjöström [sv]Malin Eriksson [sv]Pontus Ewan Hagberg |
| Gregor [sv] | "Mi amor" | Henrik Rongedal [sv]Lotta Ahlin [sv]Magnus Rongedal [sv]Tommy Lydell |
| Günter and the Sunshine Girls | "Like Fire Tonight" | Anderz WrethovMats Söderlund |
| Hannah Graaf | "Naughty Boy" | Joacim Dubbelman [sv]Martin LandhSam McCarthy |
| Jessica Andersson | "Kalla nätter" | Johan Fransson [sv]Niklas Edberger [sv]Tim LarssonTobias Lundgren |
| Jessica Folcker | "When Love's Comin' Back Again" | Pontus Assarsson [sv]Thomas G:son |
| Kayo | "Innan natten är över" | Henrik Sethsson [sv]Thomas G:son |
| Kikki Danielsson | "Idag & imorgon" | Thomas G:sonCalle Kindbom |
| Laila Adèle [sv] | "Don't Try To Stop Me" | Henrik Hansson [sv]Anders Hallbäck |
| Linda Bengtzing | "Jag ljuger så bra" | Ingela ForsmanLars DiedricsonMartin Hedström [sv] |
| Magnus Bäcklund | "The Name of Love" | Lina Eriksson [sv]Mårten Eriksson [sv] |
| Magnus Carlsson | "Lev livet!" | Niklas StrömstedtAnders Glenmark |
| Niclas Wahlgren [sv] | "En droppe regn" | Ingela ForsmanBobby LjunggrenHenrik Wikström |
| Östen med Resten | "Ge mig en kaka till kaffet" | Thomas G:son |
| Pablo Cepeda [sv] | "La chica de la copa" | Johan RamströmPablo CepedaPatrik Magnusson |
| Pandang [sv] | "Kuddkrig" | Adam Chiapponi [sv]Stefan WesströmKristofer Stange [sv] |
| Patrik Isaksson | "Faller du så faller jag" | Patrik Isaksson |
| Rednex | "Mama, Take Me Home" | Matthews GreenMichael Clauss |
| Roger Pontare | "Silverland" | Marcos Ubeda [sv]Thomas G:son |
| Sandra Dahlberg | "Jag tar det jag vill ha" | Johan FranssonNiklas EdbergerTim LarssonTobias LundgrenSandra Dahlberg |
| Simone Moreno [sv] | "Aiayeh (The Music of the Samba)" | Anders von HofstenAndreas Unge [sv]Simone MorenoAndreas Kleerup |
| Sonya | "Etymon" | Ingela ForsmanBobby LjunggrenHenrik Wikström |
| The Elephantz [sv] | "Oh Yeah" | Daniel BäckströmEddie BrownFunky Dan Larsson [sv]Jens Patrik DuvsjöMartin Carboo [sv] |
| The Poodles | "Night of Passion" | Sonja AldénJohan Lyander [sv]Matti AlfonzettiRobert Olausson |
| Velvet | "Mi amore" | Joacim PerssonNiclas MolinderPelle Ankarberg [sv] |

## Contest overview
### Heat 1

The first heat took place on 18 February 2006 at the Ejendals Arena in Leksand. 3,045,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 466,660 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,181,000 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Simone Moreno | "Aiayeh (The Music of the Samba)" | 6,688 | — | 6,688 | 8 | Out |
| 2 | Electric Banana Band | "Kameleont" | 32,192 | 29,037 | 61,229 | 4 | Second Chance |
| 3 | Anna Sahlene | "This Woman" | 22,078 | 25,954 | 48,032 | 5 | Out |
| 4 | Magnus Bäcklund | "The Name of Love" | 39,442 | 45,561 | 85,003 | 3 | Second Chance |
| 5 | Linda Bengtzing | "Jag ljuger så bra" | 49,506 | 56,658 | 106,164 | 2 | Final |
| 6 | Pandang | "Kuddkrig" | 16,611 | — | 16,611 | 6 | Out |
| 7 | Hannah Graaf | "Naughty Boy" | 14,230 | — | 14,230 | 7 | Out |
| 8 | Andreas Johnson | "Sing for Me" | 56,354 | 61,323 | 117,677 | 1 | Final |

### Heat 2

The second heat took place on 25 February 2006 at the Löfbergs Lila Arena in Karlstad. 2,320,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 306,074 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 617,542 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsson | "Lev livet!" | 31,115 | 49,610 | 80,765 | 1 | Final |
| 2 | The Elephantz | "Oh Yeah" | 7,856 | — | 7,856 | 8 | Out |
| 3 | Sonya | "Etymon" | 16,541 | 17,299 | 33,840 | 5 | Out |
| 4 | Östen med Resten | "Ge mig en kaka till kaffet" | 13,617 | — | 13,617 | 6 | Out |
| 5 | Pablo Cepeda | "La chica de la copa" | 12,630 | — | 12,630 | 7 | Out |
| 6 | Kikki Danielsson | "Idag & imorgon" | 35,792 | 35,753 | 71,545 | 2 | Final |
| 7 | Niclas Wahlgren | "En droppe regn" | 17,600 | 23,339 | 40,939 | 4 | Second Chance |
| 8 | Velvet | "Mi amore" | 21,496 | 22,627 | 44,123 | 3 | Second Chance |

### Heat 3

The third heat took place on 4 March 2006 at the Arena Rosenholm in Karlskrona. 3,109,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 411,478 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 810,713 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | BWO | "Temple of Love" | 38,733 | 53,820 | 92,553 | 2 | Final |
| 2 | Jessica Folcker | "When Love's Comin' Back Again" | 14,725 | — | 14,725 | 7 | Out |
| 3 | Gregor | "Mi amor" | 6,801 | — | 6,801 | 8 | Out |
| 4 | Jessica Andersson | "Kalla nätter" | 17,873 | 26,247 | 44,120 | 5 | Out |
| 5 | The Poodles | "Night of Passion" | 45,927 | 56,242 | 102,169 | 1 | Final |
| 6 | Elysion | "Golden Star" | 27,241 | 31,864 | 59,105 | 3 | Second Chance |
| 7 | Patrik Isaksson | "Faller du så faller jag" | 22,985 | 33,080 | 56,065 | 4 | Second Chance |
| 8 | Kayo | "Innan natten är över" | 17,770 | — | 17,770 | 6 | Out |

### Heat 4

The fourth heat took place on 11 March 2006 at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg. 3,645,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 653,991 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,475,132 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Roger Pontare | "Silverland" | 29,939 | 37,645 | 67,584 | 4 | Second Chance |
| 2 | Laila Adèle | "Don't Try To Stop Me" | 17,851 | — | 17,851 | 7 | Out |
| 3 | Günter and the Sunshine Girls | "Like Fire Tonight" | 20,767 | — | 20,767 | 6 | Out |
| 4 | Sandra Dahlberg | "Jag tar det jag vill ha" | 26,462 | 34,769 | 61,231 | 5 | Out |
| 5 | Evan | "Under Your Spell" | 13,600 | — | 13,600 | 8 | Out |
| 6 | Rednex | "Mama, Take Me Home" | 37,104 | 50,418 | 87,522 | 3 | Second Chance |
| 7 | Björn Kjellman | "Älskar du livet" | 40,574 | 53,000 | 93,574 | 2 | Final |
| 8 | Carola | "Evighet" | 139,952 | 151,021 | 290,973 | 1 | Final |

### Second chance

The second chance round took place on 12 March 2006 at the SVT Broadcasting House in Stockholm. 2,140,000 viewers watched the show live. A total of 480,449 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 721,990 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Electric Banana Band | "Kameleont" | 14,961 | — | 14,961 | 6 | Out |
| 2 | Magnus Bäcklund | "The Name of Love" | 35,823 | 53,582 | 89,405 | 2 | Final |
| 3 | Niclas Wahlgren | "En droppe regn" | 10,584 | — | 10,584 | 8 | Out |
| 4 | Velvet | "Mi amore" | 12,076 | — | 12,076 | 7 | Out |
| 5 | Elysion | "Golden Star" | 25,947 | 33,583 | 59,530 | 5 | Out |
| 6 | Patrik Isaksson | "Faller du så faller jag" | 36,613 | 51,270 | 87,883 | 3 | Out |
| 7 | Roger Pontare | "Silverland" | 36,180 | 45,188 | 81,298 | 4 | Out |
| 8 | Rednex | "Mama, Take Me Home" | 53,635 | 68,670 | 122,305 | 1 | Final |

### Final

The final took place on 18 March 2006 at the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm. 4,242,000 viewers watched the show live. A total of 1,913,152 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 3,271,259 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Juries | Televote | Televote | Total | Place |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Juries | Votes | Points | Total | Place |
| 1 | Andreas Johnson | "Sing for Me" | 112 | 350,938 | 88 | 200 | 3 |
| 2 | Björn Kjellman | "Älskar du livet" | 6 | 83,917 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 3 | Linda Bengtzing | "Jag ljuger så bra" | 34 | 138,249 | 22 | 56 | 7 |
| 4 | The Poodles | "Night of Passion" | 32 | 180,784 | 66 | 98 | 4 |
| 5 | Magnus Carlsson | "Lev livet!" | 19 | 44,825 | 0 | 19 | 8 |
| 6 | Rednex | "Mama, Take Me Home" | 17 | 154,115 | 44 | 61 | 6 |
| 7 | Carola | "Evighet" | 102 | 437,876 | 132 | 234 | 1 |
| 8 | Magnus Bäcklund | "The Name of Love" | 57 | 101,799 | 11 | 68 | 5 |
| 9 | Kikki Danielsson | "Idag & imorgon" | 2 | 51,742 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 10 | BWO | "Temple of Love" | 92 | 368,907 | 110 | 202 | 2 |
Detailed jury votes :
| R/O | Song | Örebro | Luleå | Falun | Karlstad | Umeå | Norrköping | Gothenburg | Sundsvall | Växjö | Malmö | Stockholm | Total |
| 1 | "Sing for Me" | 8 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 112 |
| 2 | "Älskar du livet" | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | 6 |
| 3 | "Jag ljuger så bra" | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 34 |
| 4 | "Night of Passion" | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 32 |
| 5 | "Lev livet!" | | | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | 1 | | 8 | 19 |
| 6 | "Mama, Take Me Home" | 4 | 4 | | | | | | 8 | | 1 | | 17 |
| 7 | "Evighet" | 2 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 102 |
| 8 | "The Name of Love" | 10 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | 57 |
| 9 | "Idag & imorgon" | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | "Temple of Love" | 12 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 92 |
| Jury spokesperson ||||||||||||||
| Fredrik Lindström ||||||||||||||

## Ratings

Viewing figures by show :
| Show | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
| Heat 1 | 18 February 2006 | 3.045 |
| Heat 2 | 25 February 2006 | 2.320 |
| Heat 3 | 4 March 2006 | 3.109 |
| Heat 4 | 11 March 2006 | 3.645 |
| Second chance | 12 March 2006 | 2.140 |
| Final | 18 March 2006 | 4.242 |