Swedish~ Stereo~

New guest of Sommarlov this week was Amy Diamond, that wonder-artist who never disappears from media, never take breaks and never stops releasing something new. Not that we're against, it's great and what is greater is that Amy has decided not to sing her own old hits once again but to make Tomas Ledin's cover of "Sommaren är kort" and Gyllene Tider's "Gå och fiska". Very nice idea!

Sweden celebrates its National Day (or Swedish Flag Day) today, national holiday in honour of King Gustav Vasa elected in 1523 that marked independence and foundation of modern Sweden.
Sure it's supported by many artists participating in all sorts of public events and tv-shows singing national anthem of Sweden "Du gamla, Du fria" (that is usually performed at different sports events as well), it was covered in all possible genres and by many names you should know - from Basshunter to Andra Generationen, from Amy Diamond to Sarah Dawn Finer. But probably these three performances we like the most - by Timoteij, Kevin Borg and Carola, sure Carola takes main prize, incredibly touching and powerful. Grattis Sverige!

Amy Diamond's everywhere this Christmas and after acoustic intimate performance at Musikhjälpen she comes to Bingolotto with much more festive mood and two covers from her Christmas album "En Helt Ny Jul". And she does them 100% making dance-performance of "Hej Mitt Vinterland" and teaming up with Lotta Engeberg, Tommy Nilsson and Anna Christoffersson to sing classic "Tänd Ett Ljus" slowing down tempo but sharing warmth of friendly company.

Two years ago Amy Diamond released her first Christmas album "En helt ny Jul" so this theme is not new for her and it would be shame not to participate in some Christmas event being so fine in singing acoustic ballads (yes, as I said before I'm still conviced that dance-Amy is good but ballad-Amy is brilliant!). So Miss Diamond visited glass-studio of Musikhjälpen-show with beautiful acoustic performance of her version of "Julen är här" from "En helt ny Jul" and "It Can Only Get Better" - that undoubtfully enters top-list of Amy's ballad-stuff - touching, gentle and seems like Amy looks older (I've almost put money she never will).

"Greatest Hits" compilation from Amy Diamond is out and it feels like a great celebration of huge music career of 18-year-old artist with many beloved hits and some new surprises on it. Let's check what new we've got on it.
First single "Only You" (cover of Yazoo's hit) from compilation surprisingly turned to be a ballad, probably not the best Amy's single so far but it got to Top-10 and sounding a bit childish it actually can be taken as idea to say goodbye to Amy's childhood before moving to a new era. Second single "True Colors" became another ballad and this time much more adult and touching ballad with loads of acoustic guitar and light country-touch, right what we like about Amy when it comes to live-performance! Another new song "Perfect" has a higher tempo, it's happy song full of life built on acoustic guitar riffs that you can easily imagine being performed in friends company. And the last new songs that I would really like to see as the next single is "Ready To Fly" - loud pop-song with anthemic beat and lovely strings being so popular and constantly successful these days in dance-pop - greatest among new Amy's hits! Compilation also includes acoustic versions of previous Amy's singles - "It's My Life", "What's In It For Me" and "Shooting Star" - great present to all fans and below you can see performance in the show "Piraterna" on SVT for kids where Amy's singing first two of them and "Champion". Remix for "Bittersweet" is another pleasant surprise for Amy's collectioners. Check some latest public performances of Amy promoting her "Greatest Hits" below.

Amy Diamond is real Swedish pop-wonder. Being 18-years old girl she has already managed to release 5 albums (4 of them reached Top-10 except the last (#16)), loads of succesful singles, participated in Melodifestivalen twice and well, isn't it enough for such young lady? Amy could easily write thick book with her memoirs but she prefers to look back at her discography and summarize all those music stages she's been through releasing compilation of her greatest hits with 4 new songs ("True Colors", "Only You", "Perfect", "Ready To Fly"), 3 renewed songs ("Shooting Star", "It's My Life", "What's In It For Me"), new mix of "Bittersweet" and all 12 Amy's singles. Doesn't this pack looks great? You can find on Pitchline's that she's currently working with this team so I really hope we'll get results of their collaboration on this compilation already on the 3rd of November when it will be out. Don't forget to check recent Amy's performance with acoustic medley at Sommarlov show.

1. What's in it for me
2. True colors (New track)
3. Shooting star
4. It's my life
5. Perfect (New track)
6. Welcome to the city
7. Thank you
8. Champion
9. Is it love?
10. It can only get better
11. Only you (New track)
12. Don't cry your heart out
13. Big guns
14. Stay my baby
15. Up
16. Ready to fly (New track)
17. Bittersweet (Remix)
18. Shooting star (New version 2010)
19. It's my life (New version 2010)
20. What's in it for me (New version 2010)

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 ;)

Just a few weeks left before one of the main cultural events of this year in Sweden - marriage of princess Victoria and Daniel Westling and Stockholm's already preparing for this royal celebration. This Sunday when Sweden will be celebrating National Day (as always with some exciting open-air concerts in Stockholm) 2-weeks festival LOVE Stockholm 2010 will start with different activities all over the city and will finish on 19th June in a day of Victoria's wedding. These days Stockholm will see performances of artists like Darin, Carola, Alexander Rybak, Anna Bergendahl, Timoteij, Salem Al Fakir, Erik Grönwall, Orup, Martin Stenmarck, Moto Boy, Ola, Cookies N Beans, Shirley Clamp, Anne-Lie Rydé, Sanna Nielsen, Fibes, Oh Fibes!, Alice Svensson, Rebound, Nanne, Rigo, Amy Diamond. Check information about festival here and watch trailer of festival with Linda Sundblad's "Making Out" as soundtrack.