Press Melodifestivalen
February 10, 2022
The press coverage for Omar Rudberg during Melodifestivalen 2022 was heavily influenced by his breakout success in the Netflix series Young Royals. Media interest peaked around his "major comeback" to the music scene and the impact of his international fanbase on the competition.
Pre-Competition Buzz
- "SVT's Dream Name": Before the official lineup was confirmed, Aftonbladet reported that Omar was SVT's top choice for the 2022 season due to his massive social media following following Young Royals.
- International Hype: Omar expressed shock in interviews with Dagens Nyheter (DN) and Omni regarding how much his international fans were "hyping" the typically Swedish competition.
- Strategic Release: He told the press that he viewed the timing as "perfect," using the platform to bridge his acting success with his upcoming debut solo album.
Key Press Interviews
- Handling Pressure: In a featured interview with DN, Omar stated he was not afraid of being eliminated because "the worst has already happened" (referring to his early exit in 2019).
- Performance Teases: He promised a highly "dance-filled and energetic" act for his entry, "Moving Like That," noting that the performers themselves would provide the "pyro" through their vibe on stage.
- Voting System Concerns: Omar frequently commented on SVT's updated voting system, remarking that with the new age-group categories, "anything can really happen".
Post-Elimination Reaction
- "The Mello Fiasco": After finishing 5th in the first heat on February 5, 2022, headlines in Aftonbladet described the result as a "fiasco" and a surprise elimination for the heavy favorite.
- Critique of Technical Issues: Coverage following the show noted his disappointment, particularly after a technical malfunction with the Melodifestivalen app meant only telephone votes were counted for his heat.
Omar: I want to eat pasta with Moonshine
After his role in the hyped "Young Royals", Omar Rudberg is making his return to Melodifestivalen. He has one goal with his participation: –Please vote for me so I can eat pasta with Moonlight!
The first time Omar Rudberg competed solo in Melodifestivalen, things went both badly and brilliantly. He was eliminated in the first round and finished second to last – but afterwards his entry "Om om och om igen" became a streaming success.
– It was boring, but I learned that it's not always that easy. I was sure of my thing, at the same time I knew that the song was a little special. That experience has made me calmer for this year. I've already gone out, it doesn't get any worse than that, he says.
A lot has happened since the loss in 2019. When most music assignments were made impossible as a result of the pandemic, Omar Rudberg chose to pursue a completely new career: acting.
"Had owned the stage"
In Netflix's "Young Royals" he plays Simon, a working-class boy who studies at a boarding school and begins a relationship with Sweden's future king. The Swedish series has given him many new fans, even outside the country's borders. Something that Omar Rudberg believes will be a big advantage if he gets to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest.
– The fans in Europe would have been so happy if I had gone on to Eurovision, it would have been so great. Imagine how many votes I could have gotten! I would have owned the stage at Eurovision! he says.
He describes the entry "Moving like that" as a dance-friendly and "catchy" pop song.
– I would really like to win. It would be so cool for me as a Venezuelan to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest, after living in this country for 16 years. To go to Italy, eat a lot of pasta and meet Måneskin, he says.
The goal of his artistic career is to succeed internationally – that's also one of the reasons why he now mostly writes songs in English and Spanish.
– Actually, I've always wanted to focus on those languages, I never thought I would sing in Swedish – until I did.
"Sick" missions
In February, the filming of the new "Young Royals" season will also begin - which means that if Omar Rudberg advances in Melodifestivalen, he will have to take a leave of absence from acting. The breakthrough on television has resulted in a hectic year for the 23-year-old.
– It's crazy how things change after something like this, there are a lot of things behind the scenes that I'm not even allowed to talk about, which is so crazy, he says.
Like last year, the first of the Melodifestivalen semi-finals is pandemic-adapted, this time with an audience of a maximum of 1,500 people, face masks, distancing and hand sanitizer. But Omar Rudberg believes in a spirited atmosphere despite everything.
– I can imagine that the audience there will be overly excited, they will raise their voices.
TT: Are you afraid of getting sick?
– Yes, all you want is to be healthy on Saturday. I've stayed away from friends, from hanging out, from everything that goes on. I would have started crying if I hadn't been allowed to stand on stage, says Omar Rudberg.