Sweden 2024: Marcus and Martinus with ‘Unforgettable’

We have our host nation entry with Norwegian twins Marcus and Martinus going one better than last year and aiming to keep Sweden's enviable run alive:

There was certainly an argument earlier in the year that if Sweden were going to break out of their typical lane, it would be on home soil. That was certainly behind some of the early expectations I had on Smash Into Pieces (soon abandoned) and which others had for Medina. Scarlet were another name to briefly enter the frame but in the end this Melfest lineup was indeed very melfest.

Anyway, I do believe that at the end of the day the best available package for gathering points has won and this is a entry that keeps Sweden relevant for now in the market, and certainly as an each way proposition. ‘Unforgettable’ is a very slick and eye catching package that will once more delight juries, a side of the game where SVT do remain the masters and the big dog. Marcus and Martinus have also won me over this year more and this performance feels like it possesses a maturity and worthiness I never quite felt with ‘Air’. Yes, their lane is still very much in appealing to pre-pubescent girls but there is talent and charisma here too that has come on from their earlier years so fair play.

We're close to full preview time so I won't delve into this point too far for now but this may be the jury frontrunner at this moment in time, having yet to see some key lives. At the very least, like usual Sweden are the safest suspects to be somewhere up there with a ready to go staging and entry that has passed a good test. This clearly does not have the potential to run away with that side of the vote but does look likely to achieve c.200 pts in my view.

The televote remains more of a concern and the idea of an Ingrosso-esque collapse has been tossed around. It is true that the televote has moved on from Swedish flashy lights - if that was ever really the most in vogue avenue to victory anyway in favour of entries with more character. As a host entry in particular, this doesn't really call out for votes or have much of a deeper purpose or cultural meaning to tie into. This might also be hurt by being the host/Swedish entry with a traditional vote drag and under performance coming with that honour. If this was actually the Norwegian entry, I’d be keener on its chances. MM do have a good profile however and a certain fan base to fall back on (more so than Ollie Alexander who has been more heavily discussed). That girl vote can at times be strong and there is a bit of a similarity in appeal to Kristin Kostov (Bulgaria 2017).

Overall, this feels a strong 5th-10th televote entry for now which would add up to a podium finish in all likelihood. This does come with a big random draw caveat which would have a huge impact on its televote total. Draw well and this might have an outside chance if everyone else comes up short - the standard Swedish default win argument. Instinct says this is just not interesting or purposeful enough as a host entry to do the double, and I doubt I will ever be tipping this as the one but I would also be cautious dismissing this entirely right now and wouldn't like to have Sweden red.

Personal Rating: 8/10

Competitve Rating Rating: 9/10

Early Prediction: 3rd-7th