Melodifestivalen 2002 - Son of a Liar - May 10th 2002

Hello to you all. For today's edition of Eurovision Histories,  we're back looking at Melodifestivalen again but we're going back in time a little further to 2002. A time in the world with wars, boy band chart domination and glitter hair spray. I was 7 and though I was watching Eurovision then, the Internet wasn't a big thing (we didn't get Internet at home until 2006) so I had no idea about all these preselections. 

The 47th Eurovision took place in Tallinn, Estonia on May 25th. 24 countries fought it out for the Eurovision crown this year and this would be the first year with a slogan, which was A Modern Fairytale. 

However, we're going to take a closer look at a song from Melodifestivalen that year that didn't even make it to that final, let alone Eurovision! Melodifestivalen 2002 was the first year to feature heats as well as the first that allowed songs in other languages other than Swedish to compete. Held between January 19th and March 1st 2002, 32 songs competed, 8 at a time to battle for the chance to represent Sweden. The top two songs from each heat qualified to the final with the next 2 going to the winners choice to battle for the final two spots ! 

So time for some facts before we delve a little deeper into the performance. Here's a link to the song if you don't know it or if you need a refresher ! 

Song : Son of a Liar
Artist : Kina Jäarnek 
Place in Heat 4 : 4th ( Qualified for Winner's choice) 
Place in Winner's Choice : 4th (Failed to Qualify) 


Our song in question took place in the final heat of this year's contest, held on 9th February in Falun. Kina's was the first song in the running order that night and tells the story of a woman pining for her lover after her left her. Despite knowing he was bad, to even quote this ' she was bound to go with a bad bad boy' ,she still wants him but hates that she wants him. It's a pop rocky number with some slight country elements as well and guitars are a prominent feature of the performance. Kina takes to the stage in a black and gold ensemble with her guitar and her backing musicians who form a band of sorts. This was still in the days where live backing was in Mello and I think it's a bonus to this song, having it there to support the main vocal. 

I adore this song after finding it by accident during Covid and it becoming my most played song on Spotify that year! It's well composed if a little formulaic, the instrumental is great and you can feel this pain and conflict in her singing knowing she wants this guy even though he messed her about ! And of course the obligatory final chorus key change is alive and well in this one.

Kina managed to place 4th in the heat, allowing her another chance at getting to the final. The Winner's choice round was held on the 22nd February 2002 in Stockholm. Kina performed first that evening and personally gave a stronger performance that in the heat but alas it wasn't enough for her to get to the final of Melodifestivalen as she placed 4th and only the top 3 went through. 

The winners of mello ended up being Afro-dite with Never Let It Go which went on to place 8th in the contest. 

So to sum this one up in 3 words I'd go for rocky, fun and catchy. If you've never heard this song, I'd definitely go and check it out! 

Until the next time,  remember history is important especially if it's Eurovision History  !!!

Ellie x

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