Swedish~ Stereo~

Right before the start of new Melodifestivalen webbjoker-contest (pre-part of MF where only unsigned artists can compete) winners of previous season MiSt are finally releasing their song "Come and Get Me Now" in new revamped version (diferent from what we've heard at MF). Honestly year ago I was quite sceptic about this song but when it turned to gorgeous dansband-schlager I've completely fallen for this song. I'll remind you that MiSt is Mia Terngård and Stefan Lebert and when contest version was performed by Highlights this new released one is performed by Stefan and Mia, it's also got remix-treatment that you can hear along with radio-version here.

Talking about new webbjoker-contest - already next week we're gonna listen 2 songs which will be performed at Melodifestivalen-2011, this time contest has got 424 webbjoker-candidates (year ago there were just 180) and the final will be held on November 8th when viewers will choose 2 out of 5 songs, it feels undoubtfully exciting and I'm gonna check all candidates and let you know about most interesting ones.

Talking about main contest, it has beaten records of received songs (3832) and like it happens every year media goes wild about possible participants, Expressen presents long list of artists which we can see next year, Aftonbladet speaks about comeback of songwriting trio Norell Oson Bard with the song for dansband Lasse Stefanz, Magnus Carlsson and Eric Saade give hints about their wish to participate and Sarah Dawn Finer anounces that she doesn't plan to compete this time. It's gonna be more and more interesting when we'll get titles of songs and songwriters chosen by jury but let's move to something more real and close - webbjoker contest that will start already on October 11th. I'm gonna present you my three favorites of previous year.
It's Carmen with amazing italo-disco-schlager "Stai Stai" that could fit Melodifestivalen stage perfectly (I should say choreography in video is completely brilliant, a bit unsynchronized but come on! Who cares when the song is so enjoyable?). Another one is Siberia "Hot for the night" - something that could sound fantastic with Empire Music Production revamp, Star Pilots could kill to get this combination of 80s rock and dance-power (by the way Scotts actually released one of webbjokers "När vi har landat" afterwards). And one more work is by Fredrik & Magnus "Slagen av Kärleken" - pleasant relaxing pop-song with velvet Magnus' voice and charming atmosphere. This band also had another song "Happy Thoughts" that came further in contest and due to announcement on their site they're gonna come back this year!

Autumn is the hottest time for speculations in media about who will participate in next Melodifestivalen and therefore who will be those top-pop-artists appearing whole next year on different live events, releasing fresh music stuff and spreading all over magazine's covers here and there. Sure you shouldn't believe in everything that press claims but as usually most of revealed comes true all these rumours turned to be utterly exciting when you see some really interesting names in lists.
Aftonbladet reported today that Danny is ready to perform solo at Melodifestivalen and looking for the right song able to win whole contest (before he participated as part of EMD in 2009 and took 3rd place of the final). Among other possible names are participants of 2009 Lili & Susie, runner-ups of 2008 Sanna Nielsen and 2004 - Shirley Clamp, winner of MF-1996 One More Time re-united in the final of MF-2010 and by rumours being rejected already some years. As well Aftonbladet's sources report that Lasse Stefanz (very popular dansband-group that had to perform with "Den första kyssen (Sweet Kissin' In The Moonlight)" in 2009 but refused and the song was given to Thorleifs) are 100% gonna participate, dansband being quite popular genre in Sweden didn't do well on Melodifestivalen last years (Thorleifs, Highlights and Scotts have failed to get to the final). Anders Fernette received songs from many songwriters and currently is looking for the right song to perform also. After last two years when three final spots were conquered by Idol-participants and this year contest was won by Idol-Anna Bergendahl Mr. Björkman doesn't seem to be positive about big quantity of Idols on MF saying that exploring different genres Idol-artists need more time to find themselves after.
Below is the list of artist who are rumoured to be in Christer Björkman's wish-list:
Timo Räisänen
Ace of Base
Laleh
Sahara Hotnights
Maia Hirasawa
Elena Paparizou
Lisa Nilsson
Mauro Scocco (as songwriter)
Robyn (as songwriter)
Sofia Jannok
Annika Norlin
Magnus Carlson

Artists who want to participate and plan to send songs:
Sara Varga
Marie Picasso
Rebound
Marie Serneholt
Magnus Carlsson
Le Kid
Timoteij
Sarah Dawn Finer
Elisabeth Andreassen
Linda Bengtzing