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About Sweden...
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2005 Result
Points in Semi Final: N/A
Position in Semi Final: N/A
Points in Final: 30
Position in Final: 19th
2006 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2004)
Sweden's previous appearances: 44 year(s) out of 49
Years participated: 1958-1963; 1965-1969; 1971-1975; 1977-
Best result: 1st (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999)
Sweden is one of Eurovision's most successful and consistent performers. Making its first appearance in 1958, the country had to wait quite a while for its first victory. When Sweden did win, in 1974, it did so in style. The song 'Waterloo' launched ABBA to international stardom, and remains probably the most well-known Eurovision winner. Since then, Sweden's record of success has been second only to Ireland, notching up further winners in 1984 (Herreys with 'Diggi Loo Diggi Ley'), 1991 (Carola) and 1999 (Charlotte Nilsson's 'Take me to your heaven'). All were irritatingly bouncy pop songs, though none have come close to matching the enduring appeal of 'Waterloo'. In recent years, Sweden has seemed an excellent judge of televoters' taste, managing to avoid relegation on every occasion, and boasting a run of top ten finishes stretching back to 1998 - 6th in 2004, 5th in 2003, 8th in 2002, 5th in 2001, 7th in 2000, 1st in 1999 and 10th in 1998. With a record this consistent, Sweden is always regarded as a serious contender at Eurovision, and 2004's strong finish by Lena Philipsson has secured the country a direct place in the Final.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: N/A
Position in Final draw: 14
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Horrible, horrible, horrible! I'm afraid I just don't get this kind of song at all. I don't understand what possesses a Swede to sing a song about Las Vegas, and I don't understand what could have possessed the Swedish regional juries to vote for it - against the wlll of the televoters, who overwhelmingly preferred the lovely Nanne. Surely I can't be alone in being completely turned off by this pseudo-American dirge? Its fair to say that Martin Stenmarck has a strong voice, but to me, there's just something really forced and fake about the song and its performance. Indeed, listening to 'Las Vegas', I immediately recalled the last time a Scandinavian sang about an American city - Norway's Tor Endresen with 'San Francisco' in 1997 - which scored nothing at all. This song may not do quite so badly, but it is difficult not to see Sweden's 7-year run of top ten finishes coming to a juddering halt in 2005."
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: N/A
My prediction for Final: 22nd to 24th
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Sweden's record at Eurovision is so impressive it can be never be dismissed as a contender, though I'm far from convinced that Europe will appreciate 'Las Vegas' any more than I do. The song's 28th place out of 39 in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll 2005 seems a reasonable reflection of its prospects, while its chances are surely flattered by Coral's odds of 20-1. 'Nul points' is not out of the question, and I suspect that Sweden may well end up floundering near the foot of the Final table with France, Germany and Russia."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 39 ()
(Updated 22 May 2005; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, 27,998 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll (up from 5,000 in 2004!)
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What actually happened...
I take an instinctive dislike to songs that feature fingerclicking, perhaps because fingerclicking is something I've never been able to do myself. That aside, Martin's performance of 'Las Vegas', surrounded by his "dancing girls", was competent but strangely passionless, and never looked likely to give Sweden its normally customary placing in the top ten. Impressively, I predicted that "Sweden may well end up floundering near the foot of the Final table with France, Germany and Russia", and look what happened - they finished 19th, 23rd, 24th and 15th respectively! As far as my predictions are concerned, a rare instance of accuracy among a sea of incompetency. Sweden, however, now faces the relative indignity of taking part in next year's Semi Final.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Sweden to win: | 21/05/05 (prior to Final) | 25-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (after Semi Final) | 25-1 |
| | 19/05/05 (prior to Semi Final) | 25-1 |
| | 16/05/05 | 25-1 |
| | 15/05/05 | 20-1 |
| | 08/05/05 | 20-1 |
| | 02/05/05 | 20-1 |
| | 24/04/05 | 20-1 |
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25-1, huh? Whoops.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.martinstenmarck.com/
 http://www.melodifestivalen.com/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (50)
From kiki, Greece
Added 22:01:55 2006-02-12
100.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.Thanks for the 12 points!!!In 2006 we, the Greeks we are all welcome you to Athens!See you!
From lollo, SWEDEN
Added 18:59:45 2005-6-8
ohh, you're the best martin! but (sorry) i like helenas song better...but she's from sweden to! so sweden wann! jippi!
From Louise, SWEDEN
Added 18:55:20 2005-6-8
he is soo good...the greatest in ESC this year!? don't you think so? Martin! Martin! Martin! *skreaming* jag älskar dej martin! du e helt bäst asså! hugs and kisses from Louise in sweden.(L)(L)(L)
From DIMITRIS, GREECE
Added 11:14:17 2005-6-3
WELL I AM SORRY FOR THE RESULT SWEDEN!MARTIN IS FILLTHY GORGEOUS(BETTER THAN SAKIS)!AND WITH A REALLY SEXY VOICE.THE SONG ,THOUGH,WAS RATHER WEAK AND WITH LAME LYRICS(LAS VEGAS)???HELENA SAID THAT APART FROM BEING A GREAT ARTIST,HE IS A REALLY NICE GUY TOO!NEVER MIND.SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN ATHENS!
From Göran, SWEDEN
Added 20:0:59 2005-5-30
Sweden's song was a TOTAL Rip-off from the song "världen utänförr"!!!!
I think that NORWAY WIG WAM was the best(voted 10 times on them;-))
I can't believe that they did'nt win!!!!
From Pic-nic, GREECE
Added 20:25:20 2005-5-28
a song praising america, las vega and the american way of life in a EUROPEAN song contest ! ! ! RIDICULOUS - AWFUL - DISGUSTING ! ! ! no wonder it positioned almost last.... aw and Sakis was 1000 times sexier than this swedish guy - don't immitate sweden ! Inovate!
From Iris, GERMANY
Added 19:10:44 2005-5-26
Well, I can only say: What a fantastic man and what a great song. It was my favourite, even because Martin Stenamrk has a very sexy voice.
From Charlotte, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 22:2:18 2005-5-25
Oh my gosh! I can't believe this song wasn't in the top 10, or even top 5!! For me, this was one of the best songs in the contest this year, and I thought that Martin was simply gorgeous too! Okay, the dancers costumes sucked, they should have worn sequins, but its not about the performance, its about the music. And I thought that this song was really good! My love goes out to Martin bless him xxxx
From ge, LITHUANIA
Added 17:47:18 2005-5-24
song is great, and the singer is great too =]
From Rustem, RUSSIA
Added 9:34:37 2005-5-23
Martin ,
That was a smashingly awesome song of yours . I hava got no clue as to why they failed to award you with the first prize . But in our hearts and souls you are the winner cuz let's face how you performed . It was catching on really and you were a natural ! Vi ses !
From Nireja, LITHUANIA
Added 15:18:5 2005-5-22
I am keen on this song. C'est exellent. Song is wonderful and Martin is beautiful too.
From Cee Cee, DENMARK
Added 14:59:15 2005-5-22
Hey Sweden, and Martin.
I'm so sorry for your result last night.
Just wanted to say Martin ..you were great, and did well. I couldn't vote for my own country ( I would if I could because Jakob were so great) but you also did what you were supposed to....and more.
The epert jury were right to send you....Nanne song were so boring, and her performance was awfull.....
I really enjoyed your performance,you've got class and me and my friends got up and cheered for you ( and voted for you too )
Good luck to you out there...
From Rebecca, SWEDEN
Added 17:6:33 2005-5-21
Damn we are a cruel group of people we swedes and not that smart might I add! We should support our own song and our artists like all other countries does. Shame on you all! Heja Martin!
From Bekim, ALBANIA
Added 13:21:41 2005-5-21
I woulden,t be suprissed if sweden win the contest,,great song,,i don,t know what are you people talking,,a lot of people are saying that greece will win? why???? what,s in that song,,accept a naked show,,,no real shchlager,,,,,,so,,good luck Sweden,,Good luck Albanien,,you have the best songs in this contest,,but not a lot of neighbours to vote on you,,especially Albanien,,
From A.K, SWEDEN
Added 1:14:3 2005-5-21
I'm from Sweden but I just can't like this song. The swedish people voted for Nanne to win and she did win the televoting while Martin scored more points from the jurygroups. I'm afraid our run in the top 10 is over this year. Singing about "Las Vegas" trying to be some sort of Elvis Presley is not going to work in Eurovision 2005. Although he has stolen Lena Philipsson microphone idea from last year this will not be in the top 10. We should have sent Nanne than Sweden would probably be one of the favorites!
From Gartesta Limazuli, EL SALVADOR
Added 7:49:52 2005-5-19
won't be able to vote as i live in Sweden, but even if i lived elsewehere would i not vote.
We all remember the shame in 1992 in Malmo. The same to happen 3 days later.
Televoters don't like America. SOULT wrote 'San Francisco'in 97. He has right, ZERO points to Norway that year, also Turkish song "Petrol" had some lyrics for American Imperialism. And last years entry of UK got shocking points just for the political relations with Blair and Bush.
Sweden has no chance this year. Everyone that wrote for sweden as a good song are not potential televoters that will decide.
I live in Sweden and can not vote, but if i had a chance to protest, then would my vote be against "Las Vegas"
From Apostolos, GREECE
Added 7:7:6 2005-5-19
Nice performance, Martin! Good luck to u and your country!
From Andreas Davidson, SWEDEN
Added 18:57:59 2005-5-18
Last year´s winner, "Det Gör Ont/It Hurts" by Lena Philipsson was chosen to win by the jury and the tv viewers. Lena´s comeback was huge. Not only that she won, and came 6th in Eurovison, she got the biggest hit 2004 in Sweden, plus people were proud that we send her to Eurovision. The song, the stage performance, the artist - everything was of high class. This year, the televotes got to Nanne Grönwall "Håll om Mig" - a nice poptrack. But Martin won the jury...so he won, even Swedish people wanted Nanne. After the contest, Nanne got the biggest hit, even it not was close to last years massive hit by Lena Ph, she got much bigger hit then Martin´s "Las Vegas". The song is old and boring. Martin is a good stage artist and good voice and have good looks. But the song is not good at all. Maybe the Lena-microphone-stage show will make him in the top 14. I think, Alcazar with "Alcastar" should had much bigger chance then Martin. 2 bad they dident win 2005 or 2003 (Not a sinner nor a saint). Swedish tv have no regret that we send Martin and will change the rules to 2005...but thats one year to late.
From alexei, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 7:32:5 2005-5-18
vote for helena.. .vote for greece ....number 1 is the no1
From amy, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 11:34:33 2005-5-17
this is so good! definately top 10.
From Demmy, GREECE
Added 11:24:27 2005-5-17
It's damn entertaining, impressive stage performance, and positively hilarious and different. It will be easily top 5, I do hope Martin takes it all, because the winner does
From David HJ, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 23:36:59 2005-5-16
A bit Tony Christie I concur, but a good jazzy feel and a good voice from a good looking guy in leather. It could do well and i think it will. maybe 8th or 9th
From Guell, --
Added 22:56:33 2005-5-16
OK, let's review this year's trends. Cyprus sounds like last year's Greece. Greece sounds like last year's Ukraine. Turkey sounds like last year's Estonia. Estonia sounds like UK. UK sounds like Turkey 2003. Spain sounds like ketchup. Lithuania and Bosnia & Herzegovina both sound like Sweden, but not Sweden!
The last time Sewden got away from being Sweden was in 2000 with "When spirits are calling your name". Now that was a great song. As for this one, I like it. But I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Soult. This may be the end of Sweden's 7-year run at the top 10.
From Charlotte , SWEDEN
Added 21:37:32 2005-5-16
I'm very sorry, but this year I can't bring myself to hope it will go well for our own (Sweden's) entry - it has absolutely nothing that I like! A very plain song with bad lyrics, and a singer (Martin) who is trying to pretend he's Elvis Presley - unfortunately, it doesn't work! The Swedish viewers agreed as we voted overwhelmingly for Nanne.....unfortunately, now we're stuck with this pathetic number. Ah well, Fame in 2003 were great and Lena Philipson was good last year - this year though we have a real dud on our hands......
From Martin , UNITED KINGDOM
Added 10:51:50 2005-5-14
This is the dark horse of ESC05.
The performance will have cabaret girls and martin sings really well.
This will be top 5 and I have alot of money on it to win !!!!
Viva Las Vegas !
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Sweden
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