Swedish~ Stereo~

Schlager-newcomer, schlager-veteran and some schlager-dinosaurs that's what new episode of Lotta på Liseberg was about. Sean Banan has smoothly moved from Skansen to Liseberg with a new single "Sommar I Sverige" while Linda Bengtzing has appeared from schlager-nowhere to strike with her (always) energetic performance of "E Det Fel På Mig". Was also nice to see Melodifestivalen-winners Arvingarna and Christer Sjögren joining Lotta to sing "Don't Let me Down".

Linda Bengtzing - Teddybjörnen Fredriksson
Arvingarna - Semester
Sean Banan - Blommig falukorv
Christer Sjögren - My way
Christer Sjögren - I love Europe
Arvingarna - Bo Diddley/Eloise
Sean Banan - Det gör ont

Last time I was speaking about Bingolotto was one month ago when the show was celebrating 20 years anniversary. Since that it has got some old good MF-stars like Pernilla Wahlgren, Linda Bengtzing, Jenny Silver and also this year's artists (Afro-dite and Sonja Aldén) presenting their new hits. Here you can watch schlageristic collection of their performances.

Ladies and gentlemen, here's the greatest schlager-medley I've seen so far! Melodifestivalen-stars have joined forces on Gaygalan to perform for Christer Björkman and it has turned to 15 minutes of schlager-classics from Shirley Clamp, Love Generation, Andreas Johnson, Sarek, Sanna Nielsen, Linda Bengtzing, Afro-dite, Jenny Silver, Malena Ernman, Swingfly, Måns Zelmerlöw, Charlotte Perelli. Incredible summarizing of the latest Melodifestivalen decade!

Schlager-explosion Linda Bengtzing is back this year with her Melodifestivalen single "E det fel på mej" and compilation of some old best and unreleased fresh stuff "Min Karusell - En samling" - both have entered Top-20 making this year pretty successful for Linda. Three of tracks that you've probably missed are duet with Brolle "Varför gör du som du gör?" from previous Linda's album "Vild & Galen", recently released track "Kärlekens barn" and brand new schlager "Män i uniform". You can listen to all of them below.

And sure don't forget to get charged with Linda's performance at Nyhetsmorgon - something that always delivers tons of fun and it even doesn't matter what, where and how is performed, there's only Linda and schlager-hurricane she takes with her on the stage.

Today we'll get new press-reviews of Malmö semifinal but it's already too much of news to hold them so I'll give it article. First of all we've got new covers of Brolle, Anders Fernette, The Moniker and Julia Alvgard, we love Anders' one especially and hope that this bad rock-guy style means we'll get some strong pop-rock entry from him.

The Playtones will release new album "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" on March 9th, it's produced by Jimmy Jansson and Karl-Ola Kjellholm (The Pusher) as their MF-song "The King" and you can already check its snippets below. Unfortunately we didn't find something better than "The King" but the key is that it's not our style, still maybe you'll find something for you.

Rehearsals of the fourth semifinal have already started on places and you can check some pics with Julia, Linda Pritchard, Anders and Love Generation.

Linda Bengtzing has new song "Män i Uniform" on her site and song sounds even better than we've found it before.

And finally exciting news that you could already read on Schlagerprofilerna, Poster Girl and Schlagerfiasko blogs but I should mention once again. Today in new QX-issue it was revealed by Christer Björkman and Edward af Sillén that next rare songs will be out on rarities CD in golden pack of MF:
Sarah Dawn Finer - Not a Sinner nor a Saint
Sonja Aldén - Night of Passion
Sonja Aldén - Invincible
Linda Bengtzing - Headlines
Agnetha Kjörsvik - Hero (Freebee, backing singer of Charlotte in Belgrade)
Brandsta City Släckers - En gång för alla
Timoteij - Run (initialy recorded in English)
Jessica Andersson - Jag ljuger så bra
Fredrik Kempe & Shirley Clamp - Du och jag mot världen

Sarah's "Not a Sinner nor a Saint" was presented few days ago on Poster Girl's blog, so here we show you another track that will appear on that compilation and we like it in this version not less than in final version!

It's time for new schlager-heroes to visit Linköping this week to fight for tickets to Globen and we're getting probably harder pack of names than it was in first semifinals. Eric Saade looks like even bigger favorite by odds than Danny was before 1st semifinal followed surprisingly by The Playtones (because of Dansbandskampen win + Fredrik Kempe's song I guess), Shirley's Angels (oh, this project looks more and more interesting!) and again surprisingly newcomer Sara Varga (Sara sounds very Anna Bergendahl these days so probably repeat of Anna's success is expected here as well). Simon Forsberg, Sara Lumholdt, Sebastian and Linda Sundblad go close next. There are no outsiders by bookies and no outsiders by good sense. Everyone has strong background, songwriters or label support behind. Tomorrow evening we'll hear first press-reviews and maybe then we'll get first winner-feeling responses (what I miss for now).

Takling about news of participants.
Linda Bengtzing joins artists already announced about wish to release new albums before Melodifestivalen-final, her compilation "Min Karusell" except MF-hits/MF-rejected hits ("Hur svårt kan det va", "Värsta schlagern", "Alla flickor", "Jag ljuger så bra", "E de fel på mig", "Victorious") will also include fan-favorite "Not that kind of girl", duet with Brolle "Varför gör du som du gör", "Kärlekens barn" released on separate EP in 2009 and brand new song "Man i uniform" that you can already listen in the end of this video. Some karaoke-tracks are already included as bonuses.

Linda Sundblad after making soundtrack for "Let's Dance" show on TV4 year ago this time has recorded soundtrack for another TV4's "Sveriges mästerkock" show. As we always love Linda the most with a bit rockier sound (yes, she's gonna stay Lambretta-Linda forever for us) we really like it!

Talking about other news. Love Generation's leak this time doesn't seem to cause any consequenses due to Thomas Hall's response to escsweden.com.

If you remember this year we'll get CD with rarities celebrating 10 years of new Melodifestivalen, Sarah Dawn Finer has revealed that it'll include demo for Alcazar's "Not A Sinner Nor A Saint" recorded by her. And you can already listen to that demo on Poster Girl blog!

The Moniker in recent chat with Aftonbladet's readers revealed that he's album is on the way.

Anniela's album will be out on March 14th and MF-single "Elektrisk" will be released there in English version.

Brolle and Anders Fernette also record new albums and Anders already has preliminary tracklist on his blog (with "Lola", "Hungry Eyes", "Tell me Why" but unfortunately without "Don't Stop").

Loreen also revealed she has so much stuff that she could release three albums but for now her closest aim is to release next single "Sober", you can check its acoustic version below. Very beautiful song!!!

Simon Forsberg who will compete this Saturday in Linköping seems to be ready for the fight and due to pics from rehearsals he's gonna be alone on the stage, we'll know for sure later. Check also video from rehearsal and other pics on Schlagerfiasko.

Tomorow Göteborg will get schlagerized in full-mode meeting Melodifestivalen's 2nd semifinal gang of artists - Brolle, Loreen, Babsan, Elisabeth Andreassen, Sanna Nielsen, The Moniker, Anniela, Christian Walz - not a weak selection at all! And how strong their songs will be we'll know already tomorrow from press-reviews. Due to odds and polls the biggest favorites are Sanna, Brolle and Christian but will they stay faves after tomorrow prelisten? We'll see!

For now we'll turn our face to other updates.
Dilba's single "Try Again" has made debut on iTunes today and going road of Le Kid single has reached #1 of iTunes chart with Le Kid on #2 and Rasmus Viberg at #45. It's gonna be really one of the strongest meloyears if even not qualifying songs are doing so well.

Talking about success of MF-2011 among viwers, show in Luleå has collected 3 014 000 viewers in front of TV-screens (that is neither record nor a fail) and on the other hand only 320 608 of votes that is the lowest first semifinal figure for the last 10 years (since semifinals system was introduced).

Recently Schlagerprofilerna revealed that no Melodifestivalen DVD is intended to be released this year again because of lalbel not satisfied with low sales due to sharing video in Internet and all videos in free access located on SVT site.

Linda Bengtzing has taken part in commercial action Schlagerfeber - talent contest held in Onoff stores net, Linda is gonna be coach for folk's talents and judge as well. Contest will be held through February, you can see trailer here (and our friends say that booklets with Linda are already all over). I just wonder how Melodifestivalen management will take it.

Linda Pritchard's dress is gonna be made not less than by Royal family designer Lars Wallin who had previous Eurovision-experience with Sweden-2006 and Azerbaijan-2009.

Daniel "The Moniker" Karlsson has appeared in XL-Live with very nice acoustic performance. Interesting fact is that both Daniel and Christoffer Hiding participated in the same season of Idol leaving on 4th and 6th place (EMD's Mattias was 5th) so it's gonna be interesting if both will meet in the final.

Today we've got a whole bunch of schlager-related news I'm gonna share with you right now!
Everyone's and everything's updating styles closer to the biggest Swedish music tv-event of the year - Melodifestivalen and here are the brightest examples which we can't miss to mention - Dilba is looking gorgeous on new photos with big dark hair and red stylish jacket and Linda Bengtzing is coming back to her long hair with very fresh and young look like it wasn't 6 years since Linda has entered competition first time.

Site of Melodifestivalen also has change its look today and now you can watch there presentations of artists talking mostly about their families, favorite songs, dishes and what they are going to do when they'll win. Site has got its editor Elsa Billgren that you can look at here, page where you can ask Christer Björkman about everything here and you can even participate in contest to get tickets to the first semifinal of Melodifestivalen in Luleå sending answer to question what Danny, Dilba and Pernilla Andersson use to do in nature (not together dirty minds!) to melodifestivalen@svt.se
Also now we've finally got the title of Love Generation song and it's "Dance Alone" written by RedOne, Bilal "The Chef", Teddy Sky, AJ Junior, Jimmy Joker and BeatGeek. If these names (except RedOne) don't tell you anything it doesn't mean you didn'n hear songs written by them:

Impressive? No, it smells like world hit!!! And hopefully Sweden won't reject it.
You can also check running order in semifinals and I'll remind you that 1st, 6th and 8th places are considered as lucky ones. So Danny, Eric Saade and Love Generation look like biggest favorites to get their tickets to the final and by the way Carola, Charlotte Perrelli and Malena Ernman performed last in 4th semifinal so definitely SVT will make everything to provide Love Generation's victory and we don't mind at all!

And finally today we've known two artists who refused to participate this year, it's popular indie-artist Håkan Hellström who has released #1 album "2 steg från paradise" and 2 Top-10 hits in 2010. And another act is Treadstone - fresh rock-band that I told you about this Summer debuted with amazing single "Six Feet Under" and now before release of album "A New Day Sun" on January 19th they present single "S.O.S" that they were asked to participate with but refused. Here's new video for "S.O.S" - powerful Foo Fighters-smelling rock-song that we'll definitely be missing this year.

Today SVT revealed first 4 artists who'll perform at next year Melodifestivalen, all of them are quite popular so undoubtfully you've heard at least few names from list of artists and songwriters. If you didn't I'm gonna present you all artists during Autumn. But giving fast look on a list you can mention schlager-veteran-artist Linda Bengtzing with schlager-veteran-songwriters like Thomas G:Son so if there's someone who has doubs it's gonna be huge schlager, I would advice you to forget about them. Due to Linda's revelation she's fallen for this song from the first listen and she promises that no one will stay unsatisfied, even Bert Karlsson (another hint that song will be very schlageristic). Utterly popular dansband-group Lasse Steffanz will perform with the song of coming back songwriting team from 90s - Norell Oson Bard, actually this team already has huge experience with dansband acts but still it's interesting what Alexander Bard will bring to this song from his huge music portfolio after trio broke up. Probably mostly I'm excited about Swingfly - rap-artist who presented set of pretty nice singles not so along ago mixing hip-hop with fresh sounding pop, I'm gonna tell you about him later.

Another Melodifestivalen-newcomer is Pernilla Andersson who's not newcomer for Swedish audience in common though. She's relatively fresh name on indie stage but has already managed to release 4 albums for 3 years and all of them charted more or less well. Last one "Ö" has debuted 3 weeks ago at #11 of album-chart and right now Pernilla presents new single from it - "Som En Ö". Like the most of Pernilla's stuff this song is gentle guitar pop, a bit melancholic with feeling of light sadness and relaxing mood. You can check live performance of it right below.

During Stockholm Pride week Linda Bengtzing, Anna Bergehdahl, Jill Johnson, Sarah Dawn Finer and Magnus Carlsson gave English interviews to oikotimes and great news are that both Magnus and Linda are definitely want to come back to a big spotlight of future Melodifestivalen. Linda seems to be especially eager about comeback. Unfortunately Sarah is not so eager about it but doesn't want to say she'll never do it again. Well, you'd better check it yourself right below.

And you can also check some well-recorded performances during last week. Second record of Rebound's performance is a bit distorted with agonizing dying fans but this is what actually makes me laugh to tears everytime I hear it.

As you can remember year before after giving birth to first child Linda Bengtzing has made her comeback on the stage of Liseberg with big schlager-medley of her songs "Alla flickor", "Jag Ljuger Så Bra", "Hur svårt kan det va?" participated in Melodifestivalen. Yesterday audience could get deja-vu watching Linda with this schlager-medley again but this time in a full power and expression she usually provides on the stage of MF, also together with Velvet they performed "Victorious" and it feels like every new performance of this song is stronger and stronger. Velvet as another representive of schlager-royalty couldn't leave audience without her Melodifestivalen-hit and performed "The Queeen" (around 40:00) in all her brilliance. Also you can check performances of another guest-artists Robert Wells and Joel Alme and karaoke with public of Arja Saijonmaa's "Högt över havet" and Ted Gärdestad's "Satellit", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and others here.

I'd like to put your attention on one interesting show being popular in Sweden in 90s. Sure many of you know about Fame Factory (talent-show in the beginning of 00s) and artists which came from it (Linda Bengtzing, Sandra Oxenryd, Magnus Bäcklund, Mathias Holmgren...) but then many of these singers were already not newcomers for Swedish audience participating before in show "Sikta mot stjärnorna". The aim of participants was to imitate different big stars and the winner of every show qualified to the final. The winner of the final was sent to European final. In this amazing show you could see Sandra Oxenryd as Carola, Magnus Bäcklund as Tom Jones, Mathias Holmgren as Nick Kamen, Cecilia Vennersten as Mariah Carey, Caroline Wennergren as Ella Fitzgerald and you can also watch yourself performances of Linda Bengtzing doing Lene from Aqua, Shirley Clamp doing Maria McKee, Bosson as Michael Jackson and Date as Take That.

If you didn't hear the story of this song it's quite simple but touching. Last year schlager-daddy Thomas G:Son gave a birth to the new schlager-anthem and has sent it to Melodifestivalen - the place where all (almost all) schlagers become legends but evil people didn't accept it and threw it out. How dramatical! Well, as long as this world has some hot schlager hearts beating these stories still can finish with happy ends. Two schlager-moms Linda Bengtzing and Jenny "Velvet" Pettersson adopted this pure child and has made it as glorious as only these faboulous ladies can. The story goes and we've got new really nice mix of this song!

This week Sommarkrysset hasn't left us without another Melodifestivalen-2010 discovery, fresh pop-project and premiere of new single from one popular artist.
If you're really into Swedish pop you couldn't miss great hit of this Spring "Kom" from new girl band Timoteij, band whose album has become golden for one day. Another freshest pop-project that I've been talking about is Rebound!, they performed their successful debut single "Hurricane" with Sara Varga as DJ. And finally Eric Gadd presented his new single "Rise Up!" from forthcoming album "Rise Up" that's gonna be released in July. Host of the show this time was Linda Bengtzing and foreign guests were American Joshua Radin and Scottish Amy Macdonald. Check their performances below.

As it happens every year this summer we'll be able to catch many open-air tv-performances on Swedish TV, probably it won't bring as much joy to pop-followers as attendance of famous Rix-FM festival and if you come to Sweden in closer few months I extremely recommend you to visit it. Well, those who can't visit Sweden can follow shows like Sommarkrysset, Allsång på Skansen and Lotta på Liseberg (to name a few). Yesterday we could see first show Sommarkrysset this year from park Gröna Lund in Stockholm and it has given us premiere of Orup's new single "Tiden Bara Gick", spring hit of this year "Manboy" by Eric Saade and performance of Swedish pop-queens Velvet and Linda Bengtzing with "Victorious" in all their fabolousness and amazingness with guest performance of the winner of Brittish X-Factor Alexandra Burke, not less than EMD were the hosts of the show yesterday and next week show will be hosted by fröken Bengtzing with performance of Timoteij, Eric Gadd and Rebound.