Ben Robertson
@bensvision.bsky.social
Writing for ESC Insight about the Eurovision Song Contest.
Previous roles with OGAE Sweden, OGAE International and Bet Eurovision.
Previous roles with OGAE Sweden, OGAE International and Bet Eurovision.
Reposted by Ben Robertson
Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!
January 31, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!
Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!
January 31, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!
Bookmark this article for when you see his performance tonight…and you don’t understand
Junior Lerin is raising most eyebrows here at Sweden's first #melfest heat.
While 'Copacabana Boy' has been critiqued musically, Junior Lerin's rise to minor celebrity status and beloved figure for Swedish society means he comes to Melfest as his boldest, bravest self.
And that's good for Melfest
While 'Copacabana Boy' has been critiqued musically, Junior Lerin's rise to minor celebrity status and beloved figure for Swedish society means he comes to Melfest as his boldest, bravest self.
And that's good for Melfest
Why Junior Lerin is Exactly What Melodifestivalen Needs
Junior Lerin debuts as a singer in Melodifestivalen 2026, viewing the opportunity to perform 'Copacabana Boy' as a "miracle". Despite the criticism that the song has, we explain why is it healthy for ...
escinsight.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Bookmark this article for when you see his performance tonight…and you don’t understand
Watching the #melfest rehearsal now, final ten minutes are on.
Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes.
Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.
Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes.
Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.
January 31, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Watching the #melfest rehearsal now, final ten minutes are on.
Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes.
Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.
Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes.
Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.
Reposted by Ben Robertson
The new voting system at MelFest means a new way of presenting the votes, and many of the artists are not in favour of the highly visible way in which tension is being pulled out of them. @bensvision.bsky.social goes into more depth on the impact of the changes. escinsight.com/2026/01/30/m...
January 30, 2026 at 11:31 PM
The new voting system at MelFest means a new way of presenting the votes, and many of the artists are not in favour of the highly visible way in which tension is being pulled out of them. @bensvision.bsky.social goes into more depth on the impact of the changes. escinsight.com/2026/01/30/m...
This has to change
And has to change at the next rehearsal
For the good of entertainment
And for the good of the artists
And has to change at the next rehearsal
For the good of entertainment
And for the good of the artists
Melodifestivalen has changed their voting system...again. Here is everything you need to know about how it all works, including quotes from #melfest artists who do not like the new presentation changes tried out at Friday's rehearsal
More Changes To Melodifestivalen's Voting Process
ESC Insight explain the melodifestivalen 2026 Voting Mechanism (Image: SVT)
escinsight.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:05 PM
This has to change
And has to change at the next rehearsal
For the good of entertainment
And for the good of the artists
And has to change at the next rehearsal
For the good of entertainment
And for the good of the artists
Full article after the rehearsal, but these are #melfest heat voting rules:
🥇Most votes in first round
🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds
3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position.
Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes
🥇Most votes in first round
🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds
3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position.
Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes
January 30, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Full article after the rehearsal, but these are #melfest heat voting rules:
🥇Most votes in first round
🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds
3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position.
Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes
🥇Most votes in first round
🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds
3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position.
Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes
Junior Lerin #melfest rehearsal
Starts alone on stage and is joined by four dancers with one dancer on the catwalk ”playing” the steel drums.
Junior ends on the catwalk and will get the party going there in the middle of the arena.
Song objectively awful and Junior quite out of key mind you
Starts alone on stage and is joined by four dancers with one dancer on the catwalk ”playing” the steel drums.
Junior ends on the catwalk and will get the party going there in the middle of the arena.
Song objectively awful and Junior quite out of key mind you
January 29, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Junior Lerin #melfest rehearsal
Starts alone on stage and is joined by four dancers with one dancer on the catwalk ”playing” the steel drums.
Junior ends on the catwalk and will get the party going there in the middle of the arena.
Song objectively awful and Junior quite out of key mind you
Starts alone on stage and is joined by four dancers with one dancer on the catwalk ”playing” the steel drums.
Junior ends on the catwalk and will get the party going there in the middle of the arena.
Song objectively awful and Junior quite out of key mind you
Jacqline #melfest rehearsal
Legs. Lots of legs. Jacqline has great legs and gets to show them off at every opportunity. Prop on stage well used as a sort of bed/lounger for extra sultry seductiveness. Dancers in typical SJB formations
Harmonies sound fine in arena.
Legs. Lots of legs. Jacqline has great legs and gets to show them off at every opportunity. Prop on stage well used as a sort of bed/lounger for extra sultry seductiveness. Dancers in typical SJB formations
Harmonies sound fine in arena.
January 29, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Jacqline #melfest rehearsal
Legs. Lots of legs. Jacqline has great legs and gets to show them off at every opportunity. Prop on stage well used as a sort of bed/lounger for extra sultry seductiveness. Dancers in typical SJB formations
Harmonies sound fine in arena.
Legs. Lots of legs. Jacqline has great legs and gets to show them off at every opportunity. Prop on stage well used as a sort of bed/lounger for extra sultry seductiveness. Dancers in typical SJB formations
Harmonies sound fine in arena.
Took a walk around #Linköping during the break, here is a thread of how the city is preparing for #melfest this weekend
January 29, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Took a walk around #Linköping during the break, here is a thread of how the city is preparing for #melfest this weekend
More #melfest rehearsals start in ten minutes
Or maybe not
Fire alarm has gone off. And the firefighters are here
(no, not Brandsta City Släckers, that’s next week)
Or maybe not
Fire alarm has gone off. And the firefighters are here
(no, not Brandsta City Släckers, that’s next week)
January 29, 2026 at 4:09 PM
More #melfest rehearsals start in ten minutes
Or maybe not
Fire alarm has gone off. And the firefighters are here
(no, not Brandsta City Släckers, that’s next week)
Or maybe not
Fire alarm has gone off. And the firefighters are here
(no, not Brandsta City Släckers, that’s next week)
A*Teens #melfest rehearsal
Huge Shady Lady prop on steroids and it looks big budget on camera. A*Teens stay in boxes until the 2nd chorus and then break to front of stage, before 20 seconds of awkward audience shots as they climb their platforms.
Executed well if lacking that je ne sais quoi
Huge Shady Lady prop on steroids and it looks big budget on camera. A*Teens stay in boxes until the 2nd chorus and then break to front of stage, before 20 seconds of awkward audience shots as they climb their platforms.
Executed well if lacking that je ne sais quoi
January 29, 2026 at 11:37 AM
A*Teens #melfest rehearsal
Huge Shady Lady prop on steroids and it looks big budget on camera. A*Teens stay in boxes until the 2nd chorus and then break to front of stage, before 20 seconds of awkward audience shots as they climb their platforms.
Executed well if lacking that je ne sais quoi
Huge Shady Lady prop on steroids and it looks big budget on camera. A*Teens stay in boxes until the 2nd chorus and then break to front of stage, before 20 seconds of awkward audience shots as they climb their platforms.
Executed well if lacking that je ne sais quoi
Indra #melfest rehearsal
Starts on platform at front of stage with side lights reminding of Hold Me Closer. Colours change to deep orange for 2nd verse as Indra walks to main stage and is fully oximated by dry ice. BIG lights on key change and strong impact on ending.
Needs camera tweaks but good
Starts on platform at front of stage with side lights reminding of Hold Me Closer. Colours change to deep orange for 2nd verse as Indra walks to main stage and is fully oximated by dry ice. BIG lights on key change and strong impact on ending.
Needs camera tweaks but good
January 29, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Indra #melfest rehearsal
Starts on platform at front of stage with side lights reminding of Hold Me Closer. Colours change to deep orange for 2nd verse as Indra walks to main stage and is fully oximated by dry ice. BIG lights on key change and strong impact on ending.
Needs camera tweaks but good
Starts on platform at front of stage with side lights reminding of Hold Me Closer. Colours change to deep orange for 2nd verse as Indra walks to main stage and is fully oximated by dry ice. BIG lights on key change and strong impact on ending.
Needs camera tweaks but good
Noll2 #melfest rehearsal
Two onstage throughout, mainly separated as green side and orange side standing on their boxes, singing to each other but also to camera. Lyrics on screen in same colours, perhaps a bit too childish?
Despite the obvious fiddle melody, no one plays instruments.
Two onstage throughout, mainly separated as green side and orange side standing on their boxes, singing to each other but also to camera. Lyrics on screen in same colours, perhaps a bit too childish?
Despite the obvious fiddle melody, no one plays instruments.
January 29, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Noll2 #melfest rehearsal
Two onstage throughout, mainly separated as green side and orange side standing on their boxes, singing to each other but also to camera. Lyrics on screen in same colours, perhaps a bit too childish?
Despite the obvious fiddle melody, no one plays instruments.
Two onstage throughout, mainly separated as green side and orange side standing on their boxes, singing to each other but also to camera. Lyrics on screen in same colours, perhaps a bit too childish?
Despite the obvious fiddle melody, no one plays instruments.
Greczula #melfest rehearsal
Clear 80s-esque motivs as the song slowly builds from quiet to this Queen/ABBA hybrid. Effective lights that come from ceiling all the way down, giving Cesar Sampson effect. Gimmick lift at end of catwalk for finish.
Clear 80s-esque motivs as the song slowly builds from quiet to this Queen/ABBA hybrid. Effective lights that come from ceiling all the way down, giving Cesar Sampson effect. Gimmick lift at end of catwalk for finish.
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Greczula #melfest rehearsal
Clear 80s-esque motivs as the song slowly builds from quiet to this Queen/ABBA hybrid. Effective lights that come from ceiling all the way down, giving Cesar Sampson effect. Gimmick lift at end of catwalk for finish.
Clear 80s-esque motivs as the song slowly builds from quiet to this Queen/ABBA hybrid. Effective lights that come from ceiling all the way down, giving Cesar Sampson effect. Gimmick lift at end of catwalk for finish.
January 29, 2026 at 9:03 AM
January 29, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Reposted by Ben Robertson
🇸🇪 60-second snippets of Melodifestivalen 2026's first heat entries have been released on SVT Play.
Greczula, Jacqline, Noll2, Junior Lerin, Indra and A-Teens will compete on Saturday in Linköping.
Listen here: www.svtplay.se/melodifestiv...
Greczula, Jacqline, Noll2, Junior Lerin, Indra and A-Teens will compete on Saturday in Linköping.
Listen here: www.svtplay.se/melodifestiv...
January 29, 2026 at 6:00 AM
🇸🇪 60-second snippets of Melodifestivalen 2026's first heat entries have been released on SVT Play.
Greczula, Jacqline, Noll2, Junior Lerin, Indra and A-Teens will compete on Saturday in Linköping.
Listen here: www.svtplay.se/melodifestiv...
Greczula, Jacqline, Noll2, Junior Lerin, Indra and A-Teens will compete on Saturday in Linköping.
Listen here: www.svtplay.se/melodifestiv...
Thanks SVT for the invite to the press song listenings for @melodifestivalen.se 2026.
Always a privilege to take part
Reviews will be published on the @escinsight.com channel and I’ll be taking over our Bluesky account for the next five Tuesday mornings.
#melfest song reveals start at 10:00 CET.
Always a privilege to take part
Reviews will be published on the @escinsight.com channel and I’ll be taking over our Bluesky account for the next five Tuesday mornings.
#melfest song reveals start at 10:00 CET.
January 26, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Thanks SVT for the invite to the press song listenings for @melodifestivalen.se 2026.
Always a privilege to take part
Reviews will be published on the @escinsight.com channel and I’ll be taking over our Bluesky account for the next five Tuesday mornings.
#melfest song reveals start at 10:00 CET.
Always a privilege to take part
Reviews will be published on the @escinsight.com channel and I’ll be taking over our Bluesky account for the next five Tuesday mornings.
#melfest song reveals start at 10:00 CET.
Reposted by Ben Robertson
Moldova's TRM put on a selection for the ages this weekend, not just for the Contest, but also for the nation itself. @bensvision.bsky.social attended a transformational National Final to find out why Moldova needs Eurovision as much as Eurovision needs Moldova. escinsight.com/2026/01/20/a...
A Salute To Europe: Moldova Is On Duty
Moldova's National Final and what it means to Moldovan (Photo: Ben Robertson, ESC Insight)
escinsight.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Moldova's TRM put on a selection for the ages this weekend, not just for the Contest, but also for the nation itself. @bensvision.bsky.social attended a transformational National Final to find out why Moldova needs Eurovision as much as Eurovision needs Moldova. escinsight.com/2026/01/20/a...
Watch the Moldovan selection tonight!
Live at 18:00 CET!
Here is our preview to the show
Live at 18:00 CET!
Here is our preview to the show
@bensvision.bsky.social is attending Selecția Națională, Moldova’s one-night-only competition to choose its Eurovision representative; in a newly built Arena with a five-thousand capacity, and an expanded 16-song selection. Why does the Moldovan Eurovision selection matter so much to the country?
Welcome to Moldova's Biggest Ever Television Production
The stage for Moldova's Eurovision, illustrating an article on Modlvoa in 2025 (photo: Ben Robertson).
escinsight.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Watch the Moldovan selection tonight!
Live at 18:00 CET!
Here is our preview to the show
Live at 18:00 CET!
Here is our preview to the show
I took a train journey and wrote about it
But also about EU membership, Romanian reunification, train gauges, the Eurovision Audience Poll and the war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires
And a certain Eurovision song that is now part of our folklore
But also about EU membership, Romanian reunification, train gauges, the Eurovision Audience Poll and the war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires
And a certain Eurovision song that is now part of our folklore
Hey Ho! Let’s Go: Chasing the Legend of ‘Trenulețul’. @bensvision.bsky.social travels to Moldova's National Final the long way, 14 hours on the train between Bucharest and Chișinău. Here is his report not just on the journey, but also on the significance of this train line, and its Eurovision song.
Hey Ho! Let’s Go: Chasing the Legend of ‘Trenulețul’ from Bucharest to Chișinău
Changing tracks, the history of Moldova in trains and songs (Photo: Ben Robertson: ESC Insight)
escinsight.com
January 17, 2026 at 7:20 AM
I took a train journey and wrote about it
But also about EU membership, Romanian reunification, train gauges, the Eurovision Audience Poll and the war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires
And a certain Eurovision song that is now part of our folklore
But also about EU membership, Romanian reunification, train gauges, the Eurovision Audience Poll and the war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires
And a certain Eurovision song that is now part of our folklore