Lopez Blogs

Every so often (though seemingly weekly sometimes) a new pop obsession brightens my landscape and gets me all twitterpated about their upcoming releases (oo-er). One of the latest is former boybander (What's Up!) Eric Saade, who has become some what of a big deal in Sweden with the brilliantly titled single ManBoy. Now what is intruiging about Eric as a popstar is not only is his music effortlessly catchy and key changing, but he appears just to be having a big ol' ball of fun with this popstar malarky. There's no sly winking at the camera, it's just a whole "isn't pop amazing" attitude, and that goes down mightily well with me. He's been up to lots lately so that should keep me busy while I impatiently await the arrival of his debut album shipping from Sweden (it's out tomorrow, album buying fans!)...

Sommarkrysset

Eric's been working his little socks off lately doing the promotional rounds for his Swedish/Fizzypop number one single ManBoy. Quite literally as evidenced by the clip above - he is in yellow winklepickers/clamdiggers and a snazzy shirt/bow tie "Nu-Who" ensemble. I personally feel this was quite a brave choice, but the cheeky scamp just about manages to pull it off. I love these summer concert events that take place in theme parks with random screams eminating from the rollercoasters. Still with four backing dancers, some funky dance movements (including that bizarre but bonkers arm windmill thingy) and -gasp- an electric guitar solo, it seemed that the crowd lapped up this performance of Manboy. And quite rightly so - even though he must be performing it multiple times a day, Eric still gives each performance his all. I must say I particularly like the slow running on the spot dance movements, the skinhead backing dancer (yummers) and the way the dancers sit on the Bleachers during the middle 8 as if Eric is Zukko from Grease. Tremendous!
EDIT: I've added in a performance from Eric of a track called One Summer and you can see lots of Swedish pop stars such as Timotei and non Swedish pop stars such as Alexander Burke giving out flowers. Amaze. If anyone knows more about this track (it's not an Eric song, i don't think) do fill me in...

Masquerade Album Launch @ Cafe Opera

Thanks to the fine folks at Scandipop website/twitter, I was able to vicariously pretend I was at the launch for Eric's debut album. Tragically I wasn't otherwise I could have air kissed Alexandra Burke, bumped fists with Ola Svensson and asked little Eric why he hadn't even changed from earlier :P Still, the costume change wasn't entirely necessary, particularly when his dreamy piano player was sporting a sexy masquerade ball look :) Eric played a number of songs from his debut album, including Manboy, next single Break of Dawn, the Charlie Mason (who also worked with What's Up!) penned Upgrade and the title track which was co-penned by future pop sensations Le Kid. You can view that track above in a cam-phone type moment, but already it sounds like a fun essential pop classic in the making. I'm confident that the album will actually be immensicles. Bonza!!

Coming this week: Simon Curtis! Westlife! Fizzypop Chronicles!