In addition, SVT was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, after winning the previous edition with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" by Herreys.

In order to save money for the staging of the Eurovision Song Contest itself, the Melodifestivalen 1985 was a reduced version of the competition.

Of the ten entries, five went through to a second round, which was won by the song "Bra vibrationer", written by Lasse Holm and Ingela "Pling" Forsman and sung by Kikki Danielsson.

There have been claims that this was because SVT could not afford to hire the orchestra for two shows, as they were hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 1985.

[citation needed] However, she finished 4th and the following day Lasse Anrell from Swedish newspaper Expressen was "angry".