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Peace Peace Love Love from Sweden: pre-Eurovision 2022 Chat with Melodifestivalen’s Bella Qvist and Olivia LePoidevin (episode 5)

Music is a force for reaching across barriers and bringing light to the world. Thirsty for Eurovision co-hosts Raúl Rojas and Cody Sisco chat with Bella Qvist and Olivia LePoidevin, the English-language commentators for the 2022 Swedish song contest, Melodifestivalen. We explore their “Melofest” experiences, their earliest memories of Eurovision, and the songs that will linger long after a winner is announced. This is a celebration of international queer cultural exchange that Eurovision makes possible. Stay tuned to the end for reflections on the American and Canadian song contest and how they measure up on the LGBTQ scale set by Eurovision’s example.


Highlights from Peace Peace Love Love from Sweden: pre-Eurovision 2022 Chat with Melodifestivalen’s Bella Qvist and Olivia LePoidevin (episode 5)

Raúl Rojas and Cody Sisco chatted with Bella Qvist and Olivia LePoidevin, the English-language commentators for the 2022 Swedish song contest, Melodifestivalen.

We asked their opinions about Oscar Zia (“he has radiant skin!”), Cornelia Jakobs (“she was my pick to win from the start”), and what it was like watching and commenting live on the contest (“the entire arena was vibrating from Medina’s explosive performance”).

left to right: Olivia LePoidevin, Oscar Zia, and Bella Qvist
left to right: Olivia LePoidevin, Cornelia Jakobs, and Bella Qvist
left to right: Bella Qvist and Olivia LePoidevin