Unforgettable (Marcus & Martinus song)

Melodifestivalen 2024

Sweden's broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest, Sveriges Television (SVT), organized a 30-entry competition, Melodifestivalen 2024, to select the country's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The competition was split into five heats of six songs, where the top two in each heat qualified to the 12-song grand final. Third and fourth in each heat qualified to a second-chance round, where the top two in the round qualified to complete the lineup for the final. In the final, the winner was selected via a 50/50 system of juries and televoting.^[15][16][17]

The duo were first rumored to compete in the competition on 31 October 2023 by Aftonbladet.^[18] Confirmation of the report was given on 1 December, where they were placed into the fifth heat^[19] and were later drawn to perform first in the heat.^[20] In the heat on 2 March, they managed to finish first, directly qualifying to the grand final^[21][22] where they were drawn to perform seventh.^[23] In the final on 9 March, the song was able to come in first place in both the juries and televoting, winning the competition. As a result of winning the competition, it won rights to represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.^[24]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is taking place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consists of two semi-finals held on 7 and 9 May, respectively, and the final on 11 May 2024. According to Eurovision rules, all countries, except the host and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), are required to qualify from one semi-final to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. As Sweden is the host country for the contest, the song was given automatic entry into the grand final.^[25] The duo were later drawn to perform first in the grand final.^[26]

For its Eurovision performance, minor alterations were made to accommodate a different stage design. However, it remained closely similar to the one given in Melodifestivalen.^[27] Before the contest, the duo stated that the style of the performance had been inspired by Super Bowl halftime shows.^[28] Marcus & Martinus, wearing black-and-blue suits with blue Converse, were accompanied by four backing dancers, who wore black leather outfits.^[29][30] Throughout the performance, lines of code are displayed on LEDS along with a relatively dark environment.^[29]

After the results were announced, they finished in ninth with 174 points, with a split score of 125 points from juries and 49 points from public televoting.^[31] Regarding the former, the song received one set of the maximum 12 points from Germany. It did not receive any sets of 12 points from public televoting; the most given was 10, awarded by Norway.^[32] In response to their result, the duo expressed disappointment, stating that, "We wish we could have done better... we only want the best for Sweden". They further expressed sadness at the Norwegian jury, who gave them three points; a result seen as unusual due to the common occurrence of Nordic bloc voting, with the duo having expected to get a higher amount of points from the Norwegian jury.^[33]