It will be the fourth time that Samir & Viktor participate in Melodifestivalen. In 2015 they debuted with the contribution “Groupie”, in 2016 it was time for “Bada nakna” and in 2018 for “Shuffla”. This year’s song is called “The whole world is waiting”.
– I would say that it has influences from, for example, “Bada nakna”, but that the text has a much greater depth than the others. But you will hear the Samir & Viktor sound. It’s there, says Viktor Frisk when DN meets the artists.
Samir Badran says that the song means a lot to them and that it was written four years ago, when they were going to close down.
– We made a song about that, that it was the last song. It was fucking sad. When we reunited, we took it back and changed the lyrics a bit, he says.
During the break, Samir switched to real estate, but after a few years away from music, the loss came. And now the brokerage is put on hold.
Samir Badran and Viktor Frisk feel humbled before Melodifestivalen. Photo: Ali Lorestani
What is the message of the song?
– It is about togetherness. That you should support each other in hard times, because there is so much hate and shit out there. But above all: a few minutes of joy and energy. Let go of the crap and just party, says Samir and adds:
– Everything has been damn good down. Very hard times, both in the world, in Sweden and for us. We want to convey that in the song, but in the chorus we still want to convey love – that now we let go of our sorrows and just party and have fun. It’s nice.
Does your entry contain a lot of dancing, and how is the preparation going?
– It’s more choreography than it usually is, Samir manages to answer before Viktor breaks in:
– We have never scratched this much ever. It’s incredibly fun to be a part of this again, and that’s why we want to make it as good as possible. We do a lot of rehearsal, so that it fits. But it’s not monstrously difficult choreography, it’s simple steps that even we can follow, he says.
The pop duo Samir & Viktor have scratched more than ever. Photo: Ali Lorestani
Do you believe in the final?
– The longer time goes by, the more skeptical I become. It’s hard to guess now that we haven’t been there for a while, says Samir.
– I think we are both very humble about the situation that you don’t know, Viktor agrees. I can have nightmares at night. Last night I dreamed that we went out.
– My girlfriend dreamed that we reached the final, so can we meet somewhere there? jokes Samir and then states that it is tough and that all entries are good in their competition.
On the light gray sofa in one of the record company Universal’s small rooms in Östermalm, the duo continues to talk about how the only thing they can do when they perform is to spread joy, energy and dance as well as they can.
– Then it is difficult to be able to do more. But as long as we do our best, we will probably feel that we are very satisfied, says Viktor.
– What I’m afraid of if we were to go out is that people will think “okay, it went so well”, says Samir.
Samir Badran and Viktor Frisk talk about Melodifestivalen and play music. Photo: Ali Lorestani
Do you have more new music coming up?
– We are working on it. The future will decide what happens, says Viktor.
– Yes exactly, we sit in the studio quite often now. But it’s so hard to get monster hits. It’s easy to release music but we’ve made music that hasn’t been our favorite and it’s worked out the way it’s done. We have a song that’s kind of ready, but we don’t know if it’s that good, says Samir.
The two artists and friends don’t think it’s enough for a new song to be good for it to be released.
– It’s going to have a fucking blast, notes Samir.
Melodifestivalen is broadcast on SVT1/SVT Play on Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Facts. Samir & Viktor
Samir Badran: Born in 1990.
Viktor Frisk: Born in 1995.
Bor: I Stockholm.
Experience in Melodifestivalen: Competed in 2015 with “Groupie” (eighth place in the final), in 2016 with “Bada nakna” (twelfth place) and in 2018 with “Shuffla” (fourth place).
Current: Competing in Melodifestivalen’s first competition with the song “The whole world is waiting”.
Show more Show less
Facts. Melodifestivalen 2024
Sub-competition 1: Malmö 3/2
Round 2: Gothenburg 10/2
Sub-competition 3: Växjö 17/2
Round 4: Eskilstuna 24/2
Round 5: Karlstad 2/3
From each sub-competition, two artists go directly to the final, while two go to the semi-final Final Qualifier. The final qualifier is broadcast directly after the fifth heat has been decided and ends with two more artists going to the final. The final takes place in Stockholm on March 9. The winner competes for Sweden in the Eurovision song contest in Malmö on May 7–11.
Show more Show less
Read more about Melodifestivalen, for example Matilda Källén’s reviews of the songs.