In Linda Bengtzing's case, persistence paid off. A Swedish pop singer in the mold of Melodifestivalen veterans Lena Philipsson and Carola, Bengtzing literally battled her way to celebrity beginning with her appearance on the fourth and final season of Fame Factory. Long story short, Bengtzing never made it to the finals; however, she was selected to compete at Melodifestivalen 2005 during her stint on the show. Entering the national song contest with "Alla Flickor," Bengtzing finished last with zero "phone-in" points. She'd been trounced, but "Alla Flickor" nevertheless peaked at number eight on the Swedish charts. Another single, "Diamanter," followed on the heels of "Alla Flickor," peaking at a respectable number 32. Bolstered by her chart success, Bengtzing returned to Melodifestivalen the following year with "Jag Ljuger Sa Bra," a song originally intended for Jessica Andersson. Bengtzing finished seventh; regardless, "Jag Ljuger Sa Bra" went on to peak at number two on the charts. Her debut full-length, 2006's Ingenting att Forlora, managed to peak at number four and yielded another Top Ten single, "Kan Du Se." Bengtzing teamed up with novelty rapper Markoolio early in the following year for the comedic single "Varsta Schlagern." It would prove to be Bengtzing's first number one single. ~ Margaret Reges, Rovi
