Swedish~ Stereo~

Annual tradition of Melodifestivalen is inviting some non-schlager artist to make cover of previous winning song. This time SVT has made exception, cover of Eric Saade's "Popular" was made not less than by Eurovision-2005 winner Helena Paparizou who has delievered her very special version growing from Broadway musical sound to electropop heavy beat. Does it mean Christer Björkman is halfway from getting Helena to MF as an artist?

Fredrik Kempe is one of the most popular and successful Melodifestivalen songwriters, every single year his songs participate in the contest and at least one of them becomes hot public favorite.
It all has started back in 2004 when Fredrik has entered the contest performing his own song "Finally" that reached Second Chance round and has ended up with three winning songs ("Hero" (2008), "La Voix" (2009) and "Popular" (2011)). 17 entries during 7 years (he has missed 2006) but we don't have a doubt that after "Popular" success this number will get bigger in the next season.
This week Fredrik has performed potpurri of his most successful hits with Stockholms Musikkår Tre Kronor at Allsång på Skansen, I bet many melofans was wondering how these songs will sound in songwriter's version so here they are - "Manboy", "Hero", "Hope & Glory", "Moving On", "La Voix" and "Popular".
One week ago Eric Saade was at Allsång på Skansen and you can check his own version of "Popular" below.

Not only Sweden starts new season of big live open-air TV-shows. Norwegian Allsang på Grensen starts this week as well and this year it has some Swedish guests as well - Dr. Alban, Charlotte Perrelli, Måns Zelmerlöw and Eric Saade (check full list at Schlagerfiasko). Last two guys visited first episode of the show and public was obviously very glad to see Eric singing his Eurovision-hit "Popular" starting with ballad-version and switching to original version with full dancers gang later.

Swedish Stereo is officially delighted with yesterday's winner of Eurovision-2011 - Ell & Nikki who participated with the song "Running Scared" written by Swedish songwriting team - Stefan Örn, Sandra Bjurman and Iain Farguhanson, backing singers - Lisa Stadell, Åsa Engman, Jessica Marberger and Vera Prada and man behind Azeri performance - Rennie Mirro (main person responsible for MF performances). It was fantastic and beautiful victory and we really hope to get to Eurovision in Baku next year as it's gonna be gorgeous by show, fun and low costs for everything.
Sweden came at respectable #3 with Eric Saade who performed "Popular" written by Fredrik Kempe, RedOne's written "Get You" performed by Alexey Vorobjov came #16 and Swedish-Finnish Paradise Oscar with self-written song "Da Da Dam" was #21.
I'm gonna tell you one interesting fact! Before Eric was chosen as the winner of MF-2011 and before Eldar was selected in Azerbaijan I was contacted by OGAE Azerbaijan who communicated with artists and helped them to choose songs and asked if instrumental version of Eric's "Manboy" was ever released - Eldar wanted to sing it in Azerbaijani final as he realy liked the song, it didn't happen as instrumental version of "Manboy" wasn't released but later Eldar could meet with Eric on the stage of Eurovision. Below you can watch Swedish Eurovision road of Azerbaijan to victory supported by Anders Bagge's label and sure Eric's performance of "Popular".

Since massive Charlotte Perrelli's promo-tour in 2008 Sweden doesn't seem to put loads of efforts in flying across Europe to promote its song for Eurovision to other countries before the contest.
This year wasn't exception but however Eric Saade couldn't refuse to visit Russia having quite active programme of interviews and visits to a few tv-shows. Though Eric hasn't managed to get to popular Stars Factory show (that would be amazing possibility being shown on main country's channel) he has performed "Popular" at Armenian Music Awards and at Sunday show "Central TV".
Both performances were done with playback but looked quite well with Melodifestivalen choreography, here you can check both.

Eric Saade's video for his Melodifestivalen winning song "Popular" is unleashed!
Video was directed by Mikeadelica and as there's no Eric without dances you can expect a lot of dances - bloody dance fights, dance dramas and happy dancing end (sorry for a little spoiler but there's no place for a bad signs when you're going to Eurovision in a few weeks).
Two words about Eurovision. Eric was allowed to blast his glass cube on the stage of Eurovision, actually two cubes will be used for it, we're not sure about details of implementation but very soon as rehearsals will start we'll know from reports more how it will look like and will let you know.

Eurovision-race of melowinner Eric Saade has just started and currently all forces and hopes of Eric's team and team in Dusseldorf are aimed to repeat MF-show on the stage of Eurovision. But as it's whole month before Mr. Saade will start his first rehearsal appointed to May 3rd he has time to get on mini-tour around Sweden that seems to get pretty huge buzz.
Now you can check well-shot Eric's gig in Trelleborg's trade center where he performs "Still Loving It", "It's Gonna Rain" and ballad-version of "Popular" in front of the crowd of happy fans.