Saturday’s Second Chance is an extended special program to pay tribute to the selected artists in SVT’s Hall of Fame. One of them is Loreen, who will also perform.

The show number is based on her three Melodifestival songs “My heart is refusing me“, the Eurovision song contest winner “Euphoria” and “Statements“.

– SVT called it a medley in a press release. I can talk about that at once, it’s not. It is a completely newly written work, although the viewer will recognize some parts. But I have tweaked everything, says Loreen over the phone.

Tell us.

– First and foremost, it is a completely different type of energy. It’s not that suggestive. I have previously had a “Kent black”, according to myself. But this is more explosive. How should I explain? If you go to Ayurveda, it is more pitta, which stands for fire energy…

What kind of message do you want to convey?

– It’s about building bridges between people. I want to show what Sweden is to me. Without all the colors, cultures and differences between us, we have no Sweden, says Loreen, who was born in Stockholm with Moroccan-Berber roots. She says that there is a thought behind everything – from the stage clothes, designed by Fadi El Khoury, to the title of the track: “Fiction feels good”.

– It’s an ironic title. We live in a fictionalized world and think so short-term, from the climate issue to social media where we seek quick confirmation. All these quick kicks… I would like to urge you not to muff in sugar every day, even if it feels good at the moment, says Loreen who is currently training more than usual to be able to implement the high-intensity number.

The last time she was on the Melodifestivalen stage was in 2017 with the contribution “Statements“, whose message and artistic ambitions shared the TV audience (the journey ended in Second Chance).

– The new issue has some similarities with “Statements” in the way that it is permeated by female power. We women must step up and take over this. The men of the world make it. We have Kim Jong-Un on one side and Trump on the other, and then some old man in Russia. It does not hold. It takes empathy and intelligence, and there women have an advantage, says Loreen and continues:

– But it is not a political issue. Politics is boring. It’s more about self-development. If you want to bring about a collective change, you have to start with yourself.

You have an ongoing music career. Do you never get tired of being associated with the Melodifestivalen?

– No, it would be awful of me to say that I am tired of something that has contributed to so much joy and opportunity. So no, I’m grateful. My whole artist career started in earnest thanks to the Melodifestivalen, so coming back feels like coming home.

The Hall of Fame initiative has been criticized for too many people being elected at one and the same time, and for it to drain out of the concept.

– Haha, but that says something about Christer Björkman’s love for all artists. He has not been able to stop himself. I can not see anything negative in it, because it comes from a goodwill. It’s beautiful that you want to highlight the work of creators, right?

Do you feel part of the collective memory bank?

– Yes, but I think so? People come up and remember certain dance movements and that you were barefoot and such. It’s nice to be remembered for something you’ve created.

When will you compete in the Melodifestivalen again?

– My hairdresser recently said: Can you not join again Loreen, it’s so much fun when you join! It was a food for thought – I have the image of myself as very serious. I’m one who shit if I go out 300 times in a row. If I can actually bring joy then maybe…

– But if I want to be part of it again, I must first run a 60-day Vipassana meditation to gather strength. Participating in the Melodifestivalen starts the whole system. There is actually no better word than “Euphoria” to describe it – it is extremely fun but also extremely draining.

• Source: https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/loreen-mitt-nummer-har-en-helt-ny-typ-av-energi/
• Translation: via Google Translate, the translation may not be completely accurate