For one night only, SVT has managed to persuade one of the most iconic Swedish pop groups of all time to reunite… Alcazar! The successful band will perform live during the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö.
For one night only, SVT has managed to persuade one of the most iconic Swedish pop groups of all time to reunite… Alcazar! https://t.co/lrosVHU7aw pic.twitter.com/xnoVBnHQ9Y
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 10, 2024
Alcazar formed in 1998 with with three members: Andreas Lundstedt, Tess Merkel and Annika “Annikafiore” Kjærgaard. Their first single, “Shine On”, was a big hit in Sweden but they achieved success across Europe with their second release “Crying at the Discoteque”. In December 2002, Andreas’ partner at the time, Magnus Carlsson, joined the group. Their second album “Alcazarized” was released in 2003 featuring the major hit “This is the world we live in”.
In the autumn of 2005, the band decided to take a break. Carlsson left the band while Annikafiore had been replaced by Lina Hedlund. The “New Alcazar” released their first and comeback single “We Keep on Rockin” in January 2008. The band stopped once more in 2011 and reunited in 2013 until 2018.
The connection between Alcazar & Eurovision
Alcazar have never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, though they are well known in the community and fans of the contest adore them. Why and how? Alcazar have competed 5 times in the Swedish pre-selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen. It was back in 2003 when they entered the show for the first time. The song “Not a sinner, nor a saint” initially failed to qualify for the final, but got a wildcard in the second chance round, finishing 3rd overall. The song eventually became the biggest hit of all participating songs in Melodifestivalen 2003 and it was Alcazar’s first number 1 single in Sweden.
Their second attempt was in 2005. They participated with the disco tune “Alcastar”. As in 2003, they originally failed to qualify for the final, but eventually made it through after the second chance semi-final. Once again, the group again had to settle for the 3rd place in the final, which was won by Martin Stenmarck’s song “Las Vegas”. Still, the song was a hit and became Alcazar’s second number 1 single in Sweden.
The “New Alcazar” entered the Melodifestivalen 2009 with the song “Stay the night”. After performing the song during the first semifinal in Scandinavium, Gothenburg, they finished in the top 2 of a Melodifestivalen semifinal for the first time, thus qualifying directly for the final. In the final in Globen, having placed third with the regional juries and fourth in the televote, the song finished fifth overall. The song managed to peak at number 2 on Swedish Singles Charts giving Alcazar another Top 10 single in Sweden. Alcazar also participated in Melodifestivalen 2010 with the song “Headlines”, written and produced by Tony Nilsson and Peter Boström, they made it to the second chance round but failed to reach the final.
On 23 February 2013 they were reunited when they came out with a “best of hits” in the Melodifestivalen 2013 in Malmö, Swedish singer Danny Saucedo also joined the band.
On 28 November 2013, it was announced that the band would compete for a fifth time in Melodifestivalen 2014 with the song “Blame It on the Disco”. The band competed in the fourth semi-final and made it to the final in Friends Arena on 8 March. They once again finished in 3rd place.
On 1 May it was revealed that Alcazar would be spokespersons, presenting the voting result for Sweden in the Eurovision 2014 final on 10 May.
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