# Melodifestivalen 2008

Melodifestivalen 2008 was the 48th edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen, which was organised by Sveriges Television (SVT) and took place over a six-week period between 9 February and 15 March 2008. The winner of the competition was Charlotte Perrelli with the song "Hero", who represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, where she came eighteenth with 47 points.

## Format

Melodifestivalen 2008 included 32 songs split up into four heats with eight participants in each. The heats were held between 9 February and 1 March 2008 and at each, the two top placing songs went to the final, while the third and fourth place songs went to the Andra Chansen (Second Chance Round). At the second chance round, held on 8 March 2008, the eight songs paired off in two rounds with the two winners at the end of the night qualifying for the final. The final was held on 15 March 2008 and included the eight songs from the heats along with the two from the Andra Chansen to make ten songs in all.
Competition Schedule :
| Show | Date | City | Venue |
| Heat 1 | 9 February 2008 | Gothenburg | Scandinavium |
| Heat 2 | 16 February 2008 | Västerås | ABB Arena |
| Heat 3 | 23 February 2008 | Linköping | Cloetta Center |
| Heat 4 | 1 March 2008 | Karlskrona | Telenor Arena |
| Second chance | 8 March 2008 | Kiruna | Arena Arctica |
| Final | 15 March 2008 | Stockholm | Stockholm Globe Arena |
It was hosted by Kristian Luuk, who also hosted the 2007 event. Luuk was assisted by Björn Gustafsson and Nour El-Refai.

### Wildcards

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. The wildcards in 2008 were the following:
| Artist | Song | Heat |
| Amy Diamond | "Thank You" | Heat 1 |
| Johnson & Häggkvist | "One Love" | Heat 2 |
| Eskobar | "Hallelujah New World" | Heat 3 |
| Niklas Strömstedt | "För många ord om kärlek" | Heat 4 |

## Competing entries

| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
| Ainbusk | "Jag saknar dig ibland" | Bobby LjunggrenHenrik WikströmIngela Forsman |
| Alexander Schöld [sv] | "Den första svalan" | Anders WikströmFredrik ThomanderIngela Forsman |
| Amy Diamond | "Thank You" | Mathias VengePeter WennerbergSandra Nordström |
| Andra generationen | "Kebabpizza Slivovitza" | Mats NilssonOtis Sandsjö [sv]Stevan TomulevskiTeddy Paunkoski [sv]Vlatko AncevskiVlatko Gicarevski |
| Brandur | "Lullaby" | Henrik WikströmKristian Lagerström [sv] |
| BWO | "Lay Your Love on Me" | Alexander BardAnders Hansson [sv]Bobby LjunggrenHenrik Wikström |
| Calaisa | "If I Could" | Anna TörnqvistCaisa Troedsson-LundinJörgen Ringqvist [sv]Lisa Troedsson-LundinMalin TörnqvistPontus Assarsson [sv] |
| Caracola | "Smiling in Love" | Angelica ThelinHenrik Bie [sv]Magnus LannerMattias Olsson |
| Charlotte Perrelli | "Hero" | Bobby LjunggrenFredrik Kempe |
| Christer Sjögren | "I Love Europe" | Ingela ForsmanMagnus Johansson [sv]Torgny Söderberg |
| Daniel Mitsogiannis [sv] | "Pame" | Fredrik KempeHenrik Wikström |
| E-Type & The Poodles | "Line of Fire" | Jakob SamuelssonMartin Eriksson |
| Eskobar | "Hallelujah New World" | Daniel Bellqvist [sv]Frederik Zäll [sv]Robert Birming |
| Face-84 [sv] | "Alla gamla X" | Lars DiedricsonMartin Hedström [sv]Wille Crafoord |
| Frida feat. Headline | "Upp o hoppa" | Anderz WrethovFrida MuraniusSam Persson |
| Fronda | "Ingen mår så bra som jag" | Michael ClaussSebastian FrondaThomas Thörnholm [sv] |
| Johnson & Häggkvist | "One Love" | Andreas JohnsonCarola HäggkvistPeter Kvint [sv] |
| Lasse Lindh | "Du behöver aldrig mer vara rädd" | Lasse Lindh |
| Linda Bengtzing | "Hur svårt kan det va?" | Johan Fransson [sv]Tim Larsson [sv]Tobias Lundgren [sv] |
| Michael Michailoff [sv] | "That's Love" | Joakim Övrenius [sv]Michael MichailoffPatric Jonsson |
| Mickey Huskić [sv] | "Izdajice" | Mickey Huskić |
| Niklas Strömstedt | "För många ord om kärlek" | Niklas Strömstedt |
| Nordman | "I lågornas sken" | Lina Eriksson [sv]Mårten Eriksson [sv] |
| Ola | "Love in Stereo" | Mirja BreitholtzTony Nilsson |
| Patrik Isaksson & Bandet | "Under mitt tunna skinn" | Patrik Isaksson |
| Rongedal [sv] | "Just a Minute" | Amir AlyHenrik Rongedal [sv]Henrik WikströmMagnus Rongedal [sv] |
| Sanna Nielsen | "Empty Room" | Aleena GibsonBobby Ljunggren |
| Sibel | "That Is Where I'll Go" | Christian Antblad |
| Suzzie Tapper [sv] | "Visst finns mirakel" | Amir AlyBobby LjunggrenMaciel Numhauser [sv]Robin Abrahamsson [sv]Suzzie Tapper |
| The Nicole [sv] | "Razborka" | Nicole FuentesStefan ÅbergTord Bäckström |
| Thérèse Andersson [sv] | "When You Need Me" | Jonas Sjöström [sv]Malin Eriksson [sv]Pontus Hagberg [sv] |
| Velvet | "Déjà vu" | David JassyFredrik Larsson [sv]Joacim PerssonNiclas MolinderNiko ValsamidisPelle Ankarberg [sv] |

## Contest overview
### Heat 1

The first heat took place on 9 February 2008 at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg. 3,241,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 600,804 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,383,453 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | E-Type & The Poodles | "Line of Fire" | 46,333 | 56,105 | 102,438 | 3 | Second chance |
| 2 | Face-84 | "Alla gamla X" | 13,626 | — | 13,626 | 8 | Out |
| 3 | Velvet | "Déjà vu" | 25,451 | 31,047 | 56,498 | 5 | Out |
| 4 | Brandur | "Lullaby" | 18,727 | — | 18,727 | 7 | Out |
| 5 | Michael Michailoff | "That's Love" | 23,198 | — | 23,198 | 6 | Out |
| 6 | Amy Diamond | "Thank You" | 79,075 | 96,508 | 175,583 | 1 | Final |
| 7 | Suzzie Tapper | "Visst finns mirakel" | 24,469 | 32,130 | 56,599 | 4 | Second chance |
| 8 | Christer Sjögren | "I Love Europe" | 71,396 | 81,471 | 152,867 | 2 | Final |

### Heat 2

The second heat took place on 16 February 2008 at the ABB Arena in Västerås. 3,341,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 752,537 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,645,915 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Ola | "Love in Stereo" | 39,972 | 52,615 | 92,587 | 4 | Second chance |
| 2 | Lasse Lindh | "Du behöver aldrig mer vara rädd" | 15,396 | — | 15,396 | 6 | Out |
| 3 | The Nicole | "Razborka" | 6,121 | — | 6,121 | 8 | Out |
| 4 | Alexander Schöld | "Den första svalan" | 13,352 | — | 13,352 | 7 | Out |
| 5 | Rongedal | "Just a Minute" | 68,121 | 94,101 | 162,222 | 2 | Final |
| 6 | Sanna Nielsen | "Empty Room" | 102,390 | 126,356 | 228,746 | 1 | Final |
| 7 | Andra generationen | "Kebabpizza Slivovitza" | 33,011 | 43,509 | 76,520 | 5 | Out |
| 8 | Johnson & Häggkvist | "One Love" | 77,778 | 79,106 | 156,884 | 3 | Second chance |

### Heat 3

The third heat took place on 23 February 2008 at the Cloetta Center in Linköping. 3,110,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 437,744 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,129,905 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 | "Lay Your Love on Me" | 58,136 | 82,381 | 140,517 | 1 | Final |
| 2 | Mickey Huskić | "Izdajice" | 11,721 | — | 11,721 | 7 | Out |
| 3 | Frida feat. Headline | "Upp o hoppa" | 27,675 | 40,852 | 68,527 | 2 | Final |
| 4 | Thérèse Andersson | "When You Need Me" | 25,034 | 33,849 | 58,883 | 4 | Second chance |
| 5 | Patrik Isaksson & Bandet | "Under mitt tunna skinn" | 26,056 | 33,808 | 59,864 | 5 | Out |
| 6 | Caracola | "Smiling in Love" | 31,652 | 35,491 | 67,143 | 3 | Second chance |
| 7 | Ainbusk | "Jag saknar dig ibland" | 18,249 | — | 18,249 | 6 | Out |
| 8 | Eskobar | "Hallelujah New World" | 11,672 | — | 11,672 | 8 | Out |

### Heat 4

The fourth heat took place on 1 March 2008 at the Telenor Arena in Karlskrona. 3,410,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 701,978 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 1,606,560 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Votes | Votes | Place | Result |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total | Place | Result |
| 1 | Niklas Strömstedt | "För många ord om kärlek" | 13,067 | — | 13,067 | 8 | Out |
| 2 | Calaisa | "If I Could" | 30,124 | 47,846 | 77,970 | 5 | Out |
| 3 | Daniel Mitsogiannis | "Pame" | 20,432 | — | 20,432 | 7 | Out |
| 4 | Linda Bengtzing | "Hur svårt kan det va?" | 53,813 | 70,571 | 124,384 | 2 | Final |
| 5 | Nordman | "I lågornas sken" | 39,019 | 58,673 | 97,782 | 4 | Second chance |
| 6 | Sibel | "That Is Where I'll Go" | 46,289 | 59,030 | 105,319 | 3 | Second chance |
| 7 | Fronda | "Ingen mår så bra som jag" | 25,234 | — | 25,234 | 6 | Out |
| 8 | Charlotte Perrelli | "Hero" | 98,666 | 137,738 | 236,404 | 1 | Final |

### Second chance

The second chance round took place on 8 March 2008 at the Arena Arctica in Kiruna. 3,090,000 viewers watched the show live. A total of 1,464,019 votes were cast.
Round 1 :
| Duel | R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| I | 1 | E-Type & The Poodles | "Line of Fire" | 87,002 | Out |
| I | 2 | Sibel | "That Is Where I'll Go" | 103,077 | Round 2 |
| II | 1 | Ola | "Love in Stereo" | 78,477 | Round 2 |
| II | 2 | Caracola | "Smiling in Love" | 51,038 | Out |
| III | 1 | Johnson & Häggkvist | "One Love" | 202,353 | Out |
| III | 2 | Nordman | "I lågornas sken" | 316,118 | Round 2 |
| IV | 1 | Thérèse Andersson | "When You Need Me" | 57,335 | Out |
| IV | 2 | Suzzie Tapper | "Visst finns mirakel" | 73,120 | Round 2 |
Round 2 :
| Duel | R/O | Artist | Song | Votes | Result |
| I | 1 | Sibel | "That Is Where I'll Go" | 137,065 | Final |
| I | 2 | Ola | "Love in Stereo" | 103,624 | Out |
| II | 1 | Nordman | "I lågornas sken" | 166,735 | Final |
| II | 2 | Suzzie Tapper | "Visst finns mirakel" | 88,075 | Out |

### Final

The final took place on 15 March 2008 at the Stockholm Globe Arena in Stockholm. 4,046,000 viewers watched the heat live. A total of 2,410,220 votes were cast, with a total of SEK 4,521,176 collected for Radiohjälpen.
| R/O | Artist | Song | Juries | Televote | Televote | Total | Place |
| R/O | Artist | Song | Juries | Votes | Points | Total | Place |
| 1 | Charlotte Perrelli | "Hero" | 114 | 397,907 | 110 | 224 | 1 |
| 2 | Sibel | "That Is Where I'll Go" | 39 | 120,587 | 0 | 39 | 7 |
| 3 | Rongedal | "Just a Minute" | 76 | 273,521 | 66 | 142 | 4 |
| 4 | Linda Bengtzing | "Hur svårt kan det va?" | 64 | 115,321 | 0 | 64 | 5 |
| 5 | Christer Sjögren | "I Love Europe" | 1 | 228,674 | 22 | 23 | 9 |
| 6 | Amy Diamond | "Thank You" | 25 | 188,872 | 11 | 36 | 8 |
| 7 | Sanna Nielsen | "Empty Room" | 74 | 449,419 | 132 | 206 | 2 |
| 8 | Nordman | "I lågornas sken" | 4 | 233,467 | 44 | 48 | 6 |
| 9 | Frida feat. Headline | "Upp o hoppa" | 6 | 81,691 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| 10 | BWO | "Lay Your Love on Me" | 70 | 320,741 | 88 | 158 | 3 |
Detailed jury votes :
| R/O | Song | Örebro | Luleå | Falun | Karlstad | Umeå | Norrköping | Gothenburg | Sundsvall | Växjö | Malmö | Stockholm | Total |
| 1 | "Hero" | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 114 |
| 2 | "That Is Where I'll Go" | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 39 |
| 3 | "Just a Minute" | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 2 | | 10 | 76 |
| 4 | "Hur svårt kan det va?" | 6 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 8 | | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 64 |
| 5 | "I Love Europe" | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| 6 | "Thank You" | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 6 | | 2 | 25 |
| 7 | "Empty Room" | 10 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 6 | | 6 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 74 |
| 8 | "I lågornas sken" | | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 1 | | 4 |
| 9 | "Upp o hoppa" | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | 6 |
| 10 | "Lay Your Love on Me" | 4 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 70 |
| Jury spokespersons ||||||||||||||
| Örebro – Yankho Kamwendo Luleå – Claes Elfsberg Falun – Annika Lantz Karlstad – Kristoffer Appelquist [sv] Umeå – Doreen Månsson [sv] Norrköping – André Pops Gothenburg – Hans Rosenfeldt Sundsvall – Petra Mede Växjö – Ola Lindholm Malmö – Kattis Ahlström Stockholm – Peter Settman ||||||||||||||

## Ratings

Viewing figures by show :
| Show | Air date | Viewers (millions) |
| Heat 1 | 9 February 2008 | 3.241 |
| Heat 2 | 16 February 2008 | 3.341 |
| Heat 3 | 23 February 2008 | 3.110 |
| Heat 4 | 1 March 2008 | 3.410 |
| Second chance | 8 March 2008 | 3.090 |
| Final | 15 March 2008 | 4.046 |