STOCKHOLM - The Swedish broadcasting company SVT has published a list of entrants in the national selection to the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. The list has 28 songs, but four more will be named later. These four will come from specially invited song writers and among them is Per Gessle.

 Per has contributed to the contest before. In 1980, he wrote the song "För dina bruna ögons skull" ("Because of your brown eyes") together with Mats MP Persson. The song was performed by Lasse Lindbom Band. It finished last. Per also wrote the lyrics to Lena Philipsson's song "Kärleken är evig" in 1986, and in 2000 he wrote the song "Högt i det blå" for Sven-Ingvars, but the fact that Per had written the song was leaked to the public so the song was cut. This time, however, Per may be a stronger candidate, but that's only if he decides to take part.

 The Swedish contest, also called Melodifestivalen, will take place in February. The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, in May.

Daniel Alvedahl contributed to this article.

• Expressen article (in Swedish)
• List of selected songs