Swedish~ Stereo~

This year's Melodifestivalen final has turned to complete male and mostly rock dominance. All female schlager-(or ok, pop)power was left in semifinals and Carola has become the only saviour to fix it. She has definitely become a queen of the night with a dance-version of "Främling", the hit her grand career has started with 30 years ago at Melodifestivalen. Surely the pack wasn't intended to smash world dancefloors, just to schlageristicaly bomb the event and it has become a big highlight with an epic sing-along final part with arena. The track is also released as a single, let's enjoy it once again.

When have we seen Carola on TV last time? Singer has temporarily slowed down working tempo giving more time to her adopted daughter Zoe. But due to rumours we're gonna have Carola back to pop-career next year and SVT wants to have her involved in Melodifestivalen and/or Eurovision somehow. But while it's unclear Carola has visited today's cinematographic Guldbaggen awards to amaze the audience with her decollete while handing over awards and to perform Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" (in another dress) in a memory of famous Swedish people working in cinematographic industry and gone in 2012.

For all of you who has started to think Carola is over with schlager and has completely moved to rock'n'roll-covers area we have brilliant proof she still can do schlager as good as she used to!
Another The Voice jury member Magnus Uggla has provided track "Jag Vill Ha Dig Baby" from his latest album "Innan filmen tagit slut..." produced by Peter Kvint for Niclas Kings to make remix and Carola to replace Edith Backlund's vocal part. Song has turned from pop-rock schlager in typical Magnus's manner to a light dance-schlager, Niclas can work with schlagers (Hera Björk "Je Ne Sais Quoi", Euroband "This Is My Life", Kate Ryan "Je T'Adore") and though musically it's not in style of his Eurovision works this mix pushes all the right buttons to bring up the tune to its dancey radio-friendly shelf where it belongs.
Below you can listen to both versions of this song as both are really worthy.

Swedish version of The Voice has started this week and it's another show blocked by TV4 for foreigners this year so if you don't live in Sweden you can only fish pieces of it on youtube and other sites.
Jury of the show has become really outstanding - two Melodifestivalen winners, schlager-rock veteran and probably the biggest hip-hop favorite of Sweden lately. Logically we've got this glorious gang opening show and they've chosen Oskar Linnros' "Genom Eld" to perform together, you can watch below what has come out of this.

Though Marie Serneholt and Måns Zelmerlöw are not together anymore, they release Christmas singles almost at the same time.
When Måns has decided to release original track Marie has chosen classic Carola's hit "Himlen i min famn" and has made it as close to original version as possible. It has turned minimalistic, soulful, beautiful and like nothing you heard from Marie before. Very nice way to promote Marie before Melodifestivalen and good support to her common Christmas tour with Andreas Johnson and Elisabeth Andreassen

What a great idea! Carola and Patrik Isaksson have united in Moraeus med mera to sing a big medley singing hits of each other including "Främling", "När Löven Faller", "Hos Dig Ar Jag Underbar", "Du Får Göra Som Du Vill" and "Faller Du Så Faller Jag", stunning bunch of real classics!
Patrik has also performed his recent hit "Mitt Stockholm" and Carola two Elvis' covers, finally they've come up on the stage to sing Kalle Moraeus' Melodifestivalen-entry "Underbart".
You can watch the rest of performances from Yngwie Malmsteen and Those Dancing Days and whole show here.

Carola was officially announced as a part of Swedish The Voice team of coaches with Ola Salo, Petter and Magnus Uggla, what a nice chance to give a new round of promotion to her #1 tribute-album "Elvis, Barbra & Jag" so currently Sweden gets loads of Carola in media and we know it's just a beginning before The Voice fever.
Today Carola visited Nyhetsmoron with a bunch of lovely Elvis/Barbra covers, you can watch all performances below.

Sommarkrysset keeps inviting very important guests and today we've got Carola, Danny and The Poodles.
Earlier this summer in Lotta På Liseberg The Poodles performed acoustic version of their single "Cut like a knife", this time we could enjoy this song in its big live band rock-version and "Show Must Go On" with Immanuel gospel. On the other hand Danny was performing half of "In The Club" in acoustic but was singing latest single "Tonight" with loads of dances and The Provider (looking a bit Eric Saade with those glasses and hood) behind, fantastic performance!
Carola still promoting her Elvis/Barbara cover-stuff has performed her latest single "No more tears (enough is enough)". There was also quite sentimental cut of some huge Swedish pop-artists talking nice words about Carola.

This week Norwegian Allsang på Grensen has got incredible pop-invasion - two biggest Swedish schlager-divas and two of four Swedish Eurovision winners Carola and Charlotte Perrelli were singing at this popular event.
For now it's only Carola's performances has got to youtube but it would be too much if we could get all of them. I should say that if "Fångad Av En Stormvind" (featuring Charlotte) and "Modersvingen" were just loveable, "Suspicious Minds" with that utterly cool dance gang was absolutely fantastic!
Quality of video is not amazing-amazing but we're thankful for what we get.
UPD: You can check whole show here if you live in Sweden.

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!

This year for Carola is all about recently released tribute-compilation "Elvis Barbra & Jag" on CD and concert in Dalhalla on DVD. Later in July Carola will perform at Princess Victoria day and we can only suggest that she'll be singing something out of this compilation as well.
But now to keep audience warm towards Carola's release official Youtube-channel has got some videos of Carola performing her tracks in the studio and in the club with some biographical comments from Carola herself and they're shot quite well to serve as separate music videos. We really hope that later these videos will appear in its full length but for now you can check what we have.

Carola releasing proper dance-remix for her new single - is it something happening like ages ago last time?
Though new Carola's album is just a tribute to retro-hits of Elvis and Barbra Streisand fresh single "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" was obviously chosen to please Carola's schlager-fans sector as first of all this cover has turned to be stunning disco-track in pretty classic manner. However for all those who is not that keen on good old disco have got fresh dance-treatment from Adam Rickfors and it really feels like Adam never disappoints these days.
Amazing club-track and soon it'll be released on iTunes.

Next week long-awaited Carola's tribute album "Elvis Barbra & Jag" will see the light and today singer has visited Efter Tio studio to support release performing two of album tracks, both beautiful acoustic ballads with calm and spiritual performance.

Later yesterday Carola performed another album track "Enough Is Enough" at Let's Dance show giving on the other hand stunning disco-performance with loads of active choreography, charisma and perfect vocal.

Today Carola has appeared in popular tv-show Skavlan with Bee Gees' Robin Gibb.
It's not the first time roads of these artists are crossed, back in 1986 Carola had a trip to USA to record her album "Runaway" produced by Maurice Gibb and written by Robin and Barry Gibb. In 25 years they've met again not only to talk about memories from the past but as well to perform their version of "How Deep Is Your Love". You know that Carola is great singer so nothing could go wrong with this truly enjoyable performance, very intimate and lovely.
You can aso watch whole show here.
UPDATE: Yesterday Carola has also performed her new single "Suspicious Minds" and it's already out on youtube so if you didn't watch whole show check it below.

Few days ago we could see announcement on Carola's facebook page talking about forthcoming single and as it was revealed before that Carola will release her tribute-album to Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand on March 23rd it was pretty expectable to get some of covers as a single. And now it's official that new tribute-single is "Suspicious Minds" and single is already on sales immediately reaching top of iTunes marking that though Carola doesn't release her original stuff lately she's still beloved in Sweden.
Last year "Suspicious Minds" along with other covers was often performed by singer though in studio it has probably become more interesting with Carola making Aguilera in the beginning and dynamic stylish retro-pop spiced with all expression of Carola's vocal. It's not often when we like this sort of stuff but it's really-really good cover charging strongly with positive energy.
You can also check performance live-performance of this song on concert in Dalhalla here.

Two of the biggest Swedish pop-divas Carola and Lena Philipsson are ready for comebacks and already announced about it this week.
Whole last year Carola was busy promoting her tribute-concerts devoted to Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand. Quite successfully as DVD "En magisk kväll på Dalhalla" has debuted at #1 of DVD-chart in November and Spring is already full of tour dates. Tribute album is going to be released on March 23rd and below you can see Carola working in studio on records for it. Today release of new single was also announced for January 25th (less than in a week!) on Carola's facebook page. Thanx for information to Carola International blog.
Another pop-diva ready for comeback is Lena Philipsson. Due to new published press-release from Universal new single "Idiot" will be released in the beginning of February and it's written by Magnus Lidehäll (Afasi & Filthy, Maskinen) who wrote Kylie's "Cupid Boy". Popdrömmen promises a lot of autotune and dance-music that undoubtfully sounds like a great news!

After brand new song "Still Love You" recently presented at Carola's site singer confirmed that she is going to release tribute-album to Elvis and Barbra after shows she was around last Summer. Great news for Carola's fans but not as great for those who want to get some really new stuff from the singer. So our dear schlager-songbird provides us with some new music pieces!
This week Carola appeared at Skavlan show performing with amazing Norwegian artist Sissel Kyrkjebø single "Velkommen hjem" from her album. Unfortunately it's released in solo-version by Sissel but still we can enjoy live-version of this Christmas beautiful ballad, Carola looks better and better with time, don't you think?
Project Sweet Chariots consisting of well-known musicians Niclas Frisk and Andreas Mattson is releasing re-edition of the album "Beat Based, Song Centered, Spirit Led" (2000) with 5 new tracks and among them first version of old Carola's hit "You+Me" entered her album "My Show" in a bit different and poppier one. But that version is pretty charming with its retro-pop feeling so you can listen below and judge yourself. Thanx for interesting information to Carola International blog.

Like many other Swedish pop-artists Carola's preparing for annual Christmas tour due to dates on her site it's gonna be really active tour. Earlier this year I've given you a tip to her tribute-concert devoted to Elvis and Barbra Streisand covers in Dalhalla. It was showed on TV4 and later it was released on DVD and due to tracklist the concert was really massive and if you're Carola's fan... Oh are you Carola's fan and still don't have it? I don't believe you! Well, however as the last Carola's studio album (not considering compillations and covers-albums) was released 4 years ago there are a lot of fans missing completely new stuff and before Royal Wedding this year they've got new Carola's single "Det är bara vi". Now Carola's presenting new piece of her music with the song "Still Love You" - beautiful classic schlager-ballad a bit in a style of "Det är bara vi" but more powerful and emotional, I bet no one Carola's ballads fan will be disappointed.

If you've missed opportunity to watch Carola's tribute concert to Elvis Presley and Barbara Streysand in Dalhalla this July TV4 gives you a chance to see it. These artists meant a lot for Carola and her family so this concert was also devoted to memories of her beloved parents.
Carola has started programme riding to the stage on a bike and singing Elvis' "See See Rider" continuing this rock'n'roll part with "Burning Love", "Love Me Tender" (in acoustic), Elvis-medley ("Blue Swede Shoes", "Tutti Frutti", "That's Alright Mama", "Hound Dog", "Shake Rattle and Roll", "Jailhouse Rock") and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" that she presented earlier this year at Allsång På Skansen. Next part of programme devoted to Barbara Streysand has started from beautiful performance of "Somewhere" with Carola floating on boat from behind of the stage in fabulous dress singing "Happy Days Are Here Again", "Woman In Love" (truly great cover being one of the highlights of concert in my opinion), "Enough Is Enough" (disco-performance that got really great responce from audience), "Papa, can you hear me?" and finished with Elvis' "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" and "An American Trilogy".
On the stage Carola was supported by band of live band and MF-choir professionals Michael Blomqvist, Anna Nilsson and Joanna Eriksson. Really great show proving Carola's status as one of the biggest Swedish stars, watch it here or right below.

Yesterday annual tv-event "Allsång På Skansen" has started new season on SVT and audience from the very first show got the biggest names on the stage - three winners of Melodifestivalen - Carola, The Ark and Anna Bergendahl performed with some old hits singing karaoke with public and performed their own stuff. Carola was promoting her new programme devoted to Elvis Presley and Barbara Streisand with their songs (performance of "Woman In Love" deserves special attention!), The Ark performed their new songs "Take A Shine To Me" and "Stay With Me" and Anna was singing "This Is My Life" and "Have A Heart". But don't forget to check some old hits covers, for example Anna's "Båtlåt" turned to be very sweet one showing uniqueness of Miss Bergendahl's voice. Among other guests of the show you could see MozART Group, Thomas Järvheden and Hanna Hedlund. Watch whole show here.