Swedish~ Stereo~

It's less and less competitors at Dansbandskampen-2010 with every week and at last show we've got whole bunch of beloved Melodifestivalen hits.
Pure Devine performed quite powerfull version of Barbados' "Kom Hem" in Sanna style vocal, I'd say it was too good for retro dance-party. Elisa's performed Charlotte Perrelli's winning song "Tusen och en natt" and as original version is quite dansbandish and vocalist has strong voice it all worked quite well (but how great would it be to be performed by Wizex where Charlotte sang before her Melodifestivalen breakthrough in 1999). CC & Lee performed Ola's hit "Natalie", not the best vocal performance of our faves but still it's quite difficult song in verses so we forgive it. Patrik's Combo has made cover for season's hit "Manboy" and though it hasn't impressed me maybe you'll find it funny. How do you think? Also we've got some covers of Timbuktu, Shirley Clamp, Caroline af Ugglas and Sandi Thom - less interesting but still you can check them below. Jeppez and the Cowboys left competition, I've finally got three favorites (Pure Devine, Elisa's and CC & Lee) and dansband-race keeps moving.

"The Coliseum EP" from Gravitonas is out and it turned to be even more amazing than previous "The Hypnosis EP" of the band, very concentrated and strong work.
Lead single "You Break Me Up" is the first ballad-single of the project - anthemic pop-rock ballad with the greatest instrumental you've ever heard from Gravitonas, you can find it sounding a bit final soundtrack-way and it would be soundtrack of really high level.
New instrumental movement from electronic music of "The Hypnosis" to live beats, guitars and massive strings keeps going on "Dry Your Eyes", it's more dynamic track but still thoughtful and with dramatic vocal part.
"Not Gonna Be Dancing" starts in pop-rock verse but growing with wild dance beat in chorus, stylistically it's like older brother of "Shameless" - more amateur and dark.
Final track "Youth Is Wasted On The Young" is probably the most BWOesque track of Gravitonas with dark synth melodic verses and dramatic choruses acompanied by Kites beat.
You can already check all the tracks below and I recommend you to do it right away!

UPDATE: It hasn't take a lot of time for "You Break Me Up" video to flow out. The darkest work of Gravitonas showing funeral of Andreas burried by Alexander himself but growing up with plants through the ground and coming back to life again. Deep idea and touching video, another piece of pop-art from Alexander Bard.

Few weeks ago I told you about exciting solo-debut of Sugarplum Fairy brother Viktor as Viktorious, then I supposed that soundtrack to his impressive teaser is going to become his first single but I was wrong as the real debut single is right here below, different song but not disappointing at all!
"When We Were 10" turned to be quite amazing mix of indie-pop (Viktor couldn't leave his roots completely) with a massive electro-sound and quite poppy melody, whole thing sounds very internationally, I'd say it's like Killers going Pet Shop Boys. Very tasty track having huge potential to become this season hit. Photo for cover of the single is done by Mattias Lindblom (Vacuum) and it's not the last Vacuum credits for forthcoming Viktorious album - they've written and produced two songs together with Viktor (not confirmed if "When We Were 10" is one of them though).

Some news that you should know if you are melo/eurofan or just around to check if we're still alive here. I am! Just a bit slowing down with October hyper-activity on blog. But you're good guys, we've got few hundreds more stable visits and I'm really glad you're with Swedish Stereo, feel like home, don't be shy and leave comments so I'll better see which artists are more interesting for you and which one I should put under the spot more frequently.
Alright back to post theme!
13th Melodifestivalen participant is officially announced and it's... Babsan!
Lars-Åke Wilhelmsson is 52 years old artist who just like After Dark has started his career back in 80s as dancer, clothes designer and drag show artist. Through many years Babsan has become popular character participating in different shows and public events and as well Lars was quite in demand as designer making costumes for some huge musicals. Recently he also worked in tour with After Dark.
Babsan will perform the song "Ge mig en spanjor" rejected year before and written by Larry Forsberg, Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson - songwriters behind "Crazy In Love", "La Dolce Vita" and "Wherever You Go". So no doubts some classic schlager is expected. How does Babsan sound with schlagers? Check the song "Gala Jetset Babsan" written by Thomas G:Son below and you'll see.

From other news webbjokers countdown is coming closer to Top-5 when everyday now we get one participant with least number of votes out and right now there are 8 participants left and we still have 5 our favorites in fight, the biggest ones in danger are Fredrik & Magnus and Julia Alvgard so please-please-please vote for them! And don't forget about sweetest Engla, Jonas Matsson and Anton & Dejo. Here they are, our webbjoker-saviours!

And the last thing - remember I told you about our "Drama" we've sent to Webbjoker contest? Currently we've sent it to Swiss pre-selection so if you like the song you can help us giving just a few minutes of your time. Just register on this site, fill this form, click the confirmation link in coming email, log in, mark us with 4 at this page and push button below. Thank you dear readers!

Unexpectedly fast Måns' already releasing his brand new Christmas album "Christmas With Friends" - album that turned to be collaboration with charity organization World Childhood Foundation and market net ICA and it's coming out already on November 15th. Album will include tracks recorded with Björn Skifs, Lunds Studentsångare, Pauline, Göteborgs symfoniorkester and Pernilla Andersson and produced by Peter Nordahl.
Mostly album contains some popular Christmas hits but also you'll find completely new song "December" written by some biggest Swedish songwriters Jörgen Elofsson, Andreas Carlsson and Niklas Strömstedt. Another new song "Vit som en snö" is written with participation of Måns himself.
Below you can already get the first taste of this album with classic "Christmas Song" recorded in quite classy and very pleasant way with soft Måns' vocal that turned to be much better Christmas treat than I even could imagine.