Swedish~ Stereo~

Swedish TV as it happens every year presents some wonderful schlager/pop-stars in its Christmas shows. Bingolloto has brough whole bunch of Melodifestivalen-stars - Sanna Nielsen. Magnus Carlsson, Sean Banan, Yohio, Lotta Engberg and Christer Sjögren singing some beautiful Christmas or their own stuff. By the way show has become the first big TV-presentation of Yohio who will take part in Melodifestivalen-2013 very soon. You can watch the whole show here and some separate performances below.

0.09.45 - Sean Banan - Gott Nytt Jul
0.59.35 - Yohio - Without Wings
1.55.50 - Sean Banan - Sean Den Förste Banan
2.20.22 - Lotta Engberg and Christer Sjögren - The Christmas Song
2.37.40 - Magnus Carlsson - Little Drummer Boy
2.58.25 - Sanna Nielsen - Viskar Ömt Mitt Namn
3.29.31 - Sanna Nielsen, Magnus Carlsson - O helga natt

When you start thinking Loreen can't surprise you with a new performance of "Euphoria" she enters the stage and shocks with her energy and THE VOICE! This time she has also made an absolutely epic performance with drums explored by her in a mini-tour she makes in Sweden right now.
We've already got Diggiloo-gang with Charlotte Perrelli, Jessica Andersson, Markoolio, Magnus Carlsson and The Moniker. Kalle Moraeus was making his "Underbart" and playing with Alexander Rybak.
Norlie & KKV were a nice live-discovery for me and Lasse Stefanz, well, not the stuff I usually writes about.

Magnus Carlsson has appeared in Nyhetsmorgon today to premiere his new song "People Change" and surprisingly it's not a new disco-anthem but a very nice melodic radio-ballad "People Change" with a proper pop-growth, calm and beautiful. You know Magnus can do ballad stuff really well.
Another track that he was performing was Ted Gärdestad's "För kärlekens skull" that you can also make below.

Merry Christmas, dear readers! Swedish TV presents a nice set of Christmas concerts with wonderful bunch of Swedish pop artists and we're gonna check what you've probably missed but still can watch online.

TV3's Julkonsert was visited by Thomas Di Leva with new single "Julens Stjärna" (5.15), Takida performing their latest promoted track "You Learn" (11.50), Jill Johnson expectedly singing "I väntan på julen" (16.07) and "Away in a manger" (33.12), Erik Hassle and (seems like really new track, I still can't find any info) "Stay" (24.30) and wonderful Loreen making acoustic version of "My Heart Is Refusing Me" (28.40) with One Voice featuring Caroline Jönsson, Britta Bergström and Simon Hassle.

Last snippet of JulLotta included performances of Magnus Carlsson with new Christmas single "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" (7.35) and "O Helga Natt" (38.30), Elisa's "Jag Säger Som Det Är" (10.55) and they've even made folk-and-artists-karaoke "White Christmas" in duo (26.40) and "Vi Äro Musikanter" (35.40).

Yesterday we've got special Bingolotto show with premiere of "Last Christmas" from Youngblood I already wrote about, guys have come back once again to perform "All I Want For Christmas Is You" with their future schlager-rival Molly Sandén (1.57.15), you could also watch Robert Wells with Vocalettes (00.40, 2.50.08) and Sofia Källgren singing recently released Christmas duo "I Julens Tid" (2.14.00), Jill Johnson making "Christmas With You" solo (54.34) and singing "En julsaga" in duo with Niklas Hjulström (1.44.50). Idol-2011 runner-up Robin Stjernberg was performing cover of Beyonce's "Halo" (1.09.50).

And finally a small acoustic piece of Christmas-Måns who should've appeared on any/every of these concerts but has just performed newest single "Kära Vinter" at #AdamLive.

There's probably no other artist taking Christmas as seriously as Magnus Carlsson does. Lately it seems completely incredible if Magnus wouldn't deliver new releases in the end of the year and this time he celebrates new Christmas-season with "Arrival EP".
Visitors of Magnus' concerts should've already noticed artist performing ABBA's originally instrumental track "Arrival" with lyrics written by Björn Ulvaeus back in 1999 and previously released on Sarah Brightman's album. Response was good enough to enter studio and record cover for a new festive release. Track has got massive production and tons of Christmas atmosphere. Magnus has also included three more tracks - "När vi närmar oss jul", "It’s the most wonderful time of the year" and "Den lilla trumslagarpojken" which you could alrealy find on his label's recent Christmas compilation or previous Mr. Carlsson's albums. Now you can listen to "Arrival" skipping at 12.25 below.

It's Friday night, I barely made it through this week...
I'd like to share with you guys selection of some nice acoustic performances from Efter Tio tv-show which I missed to mention but it feels like it's the right moment to relax and enjoy this beautiful mini-gig with some top Swedish pop-stars like Magnus Carlsson, Pandora, Linda Sundblad, Velvet and Martin Rolinski.

Every year since September we get a lot of schlager-rumors getting wild flowing around and collecting the most pop-actual artists into speculations lists of Aftonbladet and Expressen. As you understand loads of these rumours never happen but at the same time we get a solid bunch of artists which are later officially confirmed so at least half of final list is already expected.
We didn't get speculations season started quite long this year though (except previously discussed Nina Söderquist, Lili & Susie, Timoteij and H.e.a.t. with Erik Grönwall) but today Aftonbladet has revealed utterly exciting list of artists willing to participate in Melodifestivalen-2012.
- Charlotte Perrelli is eager to come back to the contest working this year with her previous Melodifestivalen-winning entry "Hero" songwriter Fredrik Kempe.
- Helena Paparizou who was haunted by Christer Björkman many years has finally sent few songs.
- E.M.D.'s Erik Segerstedt and Mattias Andréasson have sent solo-songs, it's not clear if Danny wants though. Seems like he didn't send any songs himself but doesn't mind to participate if he'll be invited by SVT.
- Rebound's Eddie Razaz and Rabih Jaber are also eager to participate solo and both have sent songs.
- Magnus Carlsson who sent entries recent years without any luck was working this time with new songwriter supposedly on Melodifestivalen-stuff.
- Another Alcazar-member Lina Hedlund was looking for songs to partiipate in Melodifestivalen with while band is on a hold since this summer.
- Martin Rolinski who was ready to partiipate in MF-2011 has refused when Christer Björkman wished him to change the song, it has opened a spot for Anders Fernette, now Martin is ready for comeback.
- Few songwriters have written songs for Ace Of Base's Jenny Berggren this year.
- Molly Sandén is looking for the right song to make comeback.
- September's participance is quite possible but depends on if her new material will succeed in USA as it's more important goal for her to work on.
You can check articles here and here.

Today Sommarkeysset line-up was really outstanding with Diggiloo-2011 participants Jessica Andersson and Magnus Carlsson appering on the show to perform Narada Michael Walden's cover "Gimme Gimme Gimme" and Marvin Gaye's "Ain't no mountain high enough", farewell-heroes of 2011 The Ark were singing their biggest classic "It takes a fool to remain sane" and new song "The apocalypse is over", finally best year's newcomer (according to Swedish Stereo) Loreen performed her stunning hit "My Heart Is Refusing Me", she never does it less amazing and it wasn't exception. Check full show here.

Magnus Carlsson & Jessica Andersson - Gimme gimme gimme
Magnus Carlsson & Jessica Andersson - Ain't no mountain high enough
The Ark - It takes a fool to remain sane
The Ark - The apocalypse is over
Loreen - My heart is refusing me

Traditional celebration of Nationaldagen in Skansen wasn't broken this year and once again some represantatives of Swedish pop-elite have stepped on the stage to please the audience with some old classic Swedish hits. So what you're risking to miss ignoring this show?

- Peter Jöback singing half-acoustic cover of Gyllene Tider's "Juni, Juli, Augusti" with Cookies'n'Beans;
- Amazing Timoteij making lovely folk-performance with "Sommarpsalmer";
- Charlotte Perrelli uniting with Magnus Carlsson to sing "Nygammal vals" that represented Sweden at Eurovision-1966;
- Gunilla Backman with nice schlager "Han har blommor i sitt hår" (we don't know where it came from but it's good) and later with another song "Sov du lille svensk";
- opera-fellow Markus Pettersson with "Nu är jag pank ock fågelfri";
- pop-sensation Erik Hassle with classic Björn Skifs's cover "Härligt, Härligt Men Farligt, Farligt" and Timoteij providing backing vocals;
- and not to forget loads of Swedish summer warmth and joy.

Magnus Carlsson is ready for release of new single "The Kiss" from his latest album "Pop Galaxy", it's already fifth single and this time it's not disco-anthem that I find pretty good decision with the fact that chosen song is really one of the best tracks from album.
It's difficult to categorize "The Kiss" - it's not dance track and it's not a ballad, just beautiful pop-track with utterly tasty production and romantic feeling created by Magnus' delicate manner and thin air-light synths creating magic with strings arrangement.
But it wouldn't be Magnus if he haven't put some disco-flavour to this release. So single will also include another track "Slave To Love" that perviously was released on special edition of "Pop Galaxy" and new version of "Keep On Dancing" - probably best track of the album that I wouldn't refuse to see as separate single. Special single-pack will also include keychain with Magnus' pic in it.

Though Christmas is in the past we're not gonna leave you with any best music pieces missed out of our spot!
Magnus Carlsson is one of those artists having huge colection of Christmas covers who just can't leave audience without December tours and music gifts in cold period. This year wasn't exception and Magnus has presented (in a wrap with Christmas tour-programme) his track "Christmas With You" from "Änglarnas Tid" album as separate single packed with it's Spanish version "Navidad Junto A Ti", another old track "Little Drummer Boy" and new recorded version of "O Come All Ye Faithful".
The most pleasant in "Christmas With You" is that having traditional Christmas feeling this track is generously disco-powdered schlager in all its classic brilliance with key-change and everything, it can't go other way with ex-Alcazar member, isn't? And it's lovely!
Below you can check this track in studio-version and to watch it performed in acoustic at Nyhetsmorgon.

Charlotte Perrelli, Sarah Dawn Finer, Magnus Carlsson and Peter Jöback - isn't it too much for one Christmas show?
Stjärnklart tour with pure gold of Swedish schlager-elite is rolling around country and though we can't be there we can taste how it looks in video-cut from Charlotte Perreli's blog. This woman always knows how to amaze her fans and this is what amazes us in this video the most:

- Charlotte and Peter in cabaret gang making "All That Jazz".
- gorgeous jazz-version of Charlotte's "Tusen Och En Natt" in a sexual dress and with unbelievable shape standing back to public.
- Charlotte performing Shirley Bassey's "This is my life" covered with a monster feather fans.
- Sarah Dawn Finer, Peter Jöback and Magnus Carlsson singing "The Show Must Go On" and I just say OH MY GOD! How great Sarah sounds!!! She was born to make this cover!
- Charlotte's disco-party with mashup of "Hush Hush" and "I Will Survive" in glittering dresses and pointing moves.
- Magnus Carlsson driving public with "Kom Hem".
- Sarah Dawn Finer in golden dress with "Bad Romance" (Yes! You read right, Sarah making Gaga!!!).
- Charlotte with another great mashup of "We Need a Hero" and her own "Hero".

If this cut not shot professionally from hall looks so great how would it be to watch full concert?! If you're in Sweden you still have a chance to watch tour programme on Stjärnklart site and get your ticket.

Here is a small weekend treatment for all schlager-crazies.
Magnus Carlsson and Pernilla Wahlgren performed old Pernilla's hit "Svindlande Affärer" on Bingolotto and what can you expect from a couple of Melodifestivalen-veterans? Right, highest concentration of schlageristic energy with all those schlager-poses, singing back to back and 100% perfect vocals.
Nanne took part in current season of Doobidoo and performed Alice Cooper's "Poison" with comic Måns Möller and though vocal is not the strongest Måns' side but still Nanne always brings loads of joy to the stage and together they looked really not bad.
And a little bit bit slowing down tempo - another Doobidoo-duet - gorgeous Lisa Nilsson and Samuel Ljungblahd performed cover of Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack's "Where Is The Love", it's not schlager but calm soul performance, very enjoyable as both artists are the owners of very beautiful vocals so hope you're gonna like it!

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!

Have I already written review of Magnus Carlsson's new album "Pop Galaxy"? No? Gosh, alright, I have excuse in this Magnus' live performance of whole three songs. We've already saw his recent performances on tv but trust me this one is even more brilliant.
Today Expressen speculates about Magnus who gave a hint in tv-show "Förkväll" that he has some stuff for Melodifestivalen so obviously it means Magnus is trying to comeback to competition and we wish him best of luck and enjoy his music.

Magnus Carlsson's new album "Pop Galaxy" is out and very soon I'm gonna give you preview of this album as it's really worthy work with loads of pop-anthems.
Though few days ago we've got new Magnus' single "The Best In Me" currently Mr. Carlsson is giving way to brand new video for one of previous singles "Feel You". Very enjoyable video with Magnus between huge computer graphics light panels and dancing in the rain, everything's looking huge, disco and positive and Magnus is in a great shape as well and ready for a new stage of music life with his new album.

New Magnus Carlsson's single "The Best In Me" is out and Magnus is on the way to promote it along with forthcoming album "Pop Galaxy" that's gonna be released already on September 29th and this album is going to be devotion to music of 80s - Modern Talking, Pet Shop Boys, Samantha Fox and other Magnus idols. You can hear it very well in new single, as it's probably the campiest disco-pop single Magnus ever did, spreading joy of 80s disco with tsunami-scale waves. Magnus performed single at TV4 in it's studio version so if you haven't bought it yet you can check it below. Single contains also cover-version of Alcazar's "Crying At The Discotheque" made in the same vein of Pitchline-pop that you can hear at Magnus' official site (+ Ruff & Jam mix for previous Magnus' single "Feel You" and Pitchline Extended version of "The Best In Me").
As well Magnus visited XL-Live with acoustic performance of "The Best In Me", another single - Erasure-cover "A Little Respect" and ballad version of old Barbados' hit "Kom Hem".

Swedish general selections are over with the victory of reigning political block and nationalistic block Sweden Democrats getting to Parliament that caused loads of scandals and demonstrations against. You could also read many negative words on different artists' blogs and twitters and even find stars like Ola and Erik Hassle being engaged in company against Sweden Democrats (check this video). But let's put attention on a more positive side of it. SVT recently has organized show-event Demokratifesten in Göteborg involving artists like Charlotte Perrelli, Magnus Carlsson, Sanna Nielsen and Anders Ekborg so don't forget to check performances. If duo of Charlotte and Magnus wasn't new for audience (as whole Summer this couple was promoting their single "Mitt livs gemål") with Fleetwood Mac's cover "Don't Stop", Anders Ekborg first time appeared on such a huge event with his new single "I Do Believe", Sanna Nielsen was just as lovely as she can be with Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and it's a lot, check yourself!

Autumn has just started and we've already got whole bunch of planned exciting album-releases, I should collect all of them in one post.
- Magnus Carlsson's new album "Pop Galaxy" will be released already on September 22th but before we'll get another single "The Best In Me".
- It's just few days till new Ola's album "Ola" (September 15th).
- Erik Hassle's EP with 4 new songs is planned for the end of September.
- Nanne Grönvall's album "En Rastlös Själ" is ready to hit shops on October 6th.
- After 6 years Stephen Simmonds releases new album "Anomie" in October.
- Jennie Berggren's album "My Story" release was moved to October 13th.
- A little bit earlier Ace Of Base will release album "The Golden Ratio" on September 24th with first single "All For You" planned to be released already today.
- Caroline af Ugglas after huge success of previous year is back with new album planned for September 22th publishing as well book "Hjälp, vem är jag?" (Help, who am I?)
- EMD's album "Rewind" release was firstly carried from August 25th to the end of October but now you can find its release in some shops marked with December 31th.
- Albums from Linda Pritchard, Titiyo, Tove Styrke, Lisa Miskovsky, Love Generation, second EP from Gravitonas and Christmas album from Måns Zelmerlöw are to be expected.
- Sanna Nielsen's just released her last single "Part Of Me" and ready for new release of Christmas album with Shirley Clamp and Sonja Aldén, this time due to title "Vår Jul" (translation of English title of previous album "Our Christmas" that obviously says tracklist won't be different in common) it's gonna be in Swedish.
- Amy Diamond after 5 studio-albums is ready for compilation "Greatest Hits" that will be out on November 3rd.
Not enough to be excited? It's alright, it's just the first days of Autumn ;)

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.