Lopez Blogs

Globen finalists Brolle and The Moniker unleash videos for their melosongs, to be more exact Brolle releases music video and The Moniker - LED-video shown during his live-performance, very nice and funny work with dancing mushrooms and Christer Björkman made by Rickard Engfors. Brolle's video is simple but pretty enjoyable, this is the song that really has grown on us after watching live performance so we give it a new chance, hope you too.
By the way new Brolle's album "Burned by the fire" will be released on April 20th, you can check cover above.

Efter sex veckors Melodifestivalsfokus ska vi äntligen utse en vinnare ikväll. Äntligen upprepar jag. Skönt att resan är över för denna gång och vi kan börja fokusera på Düsseldorf och Eurovision Song Contest. Det är trots allt den tävlingen som jag tycker är intressant.

Jag var på gårdagens generalrepetition och kan konstatera att jag fortfarande inte har hittat några  favoriter. Det är mycke retro över låtarna och vi befinner oss i årtionden som 50-, 60- och 80-talen.

Mellanaktsunderhållningen blir som vanlig bäst. Eller vad sägs om Nanne Grönwall, Lena Ph, Ola Salo från The Ark och Christer Sjögren som rockar loss tillsammans.

 
 1. Danny Saucedo: In The Club  
Composers: Fredrik Boström, Peter Boström, Danny Saucedo 
Låten har växt för min del och vinner den så får jag väl vara hyfsat nöjd. Snygg dans som tyvärr kräver så mycke koncentration att Danny blir något av en stone face.

2. Sara Varga: Spring för livet    
Composers: Sara Varga, Fredrik Boström
Låtar från andra chansen har en tendens att bli folkkära och det är vad som hänt med Saras låt. Absolut inget för Eurovision men Sara har fått sig genombrott bland Svensktoppspubliken.

3. The Moniker: Oh My God!
Composer: The Moniker
Andra chansen låt igen och Moniker får betraktas som tävlingens dark horse med sin 60-tals pastisch. Trallvänligt så det förslår och refrängen sitter som klister. 

4. Brolle: Days: "And 7 Nights"   
Composer: Brolle
Norrländsk rockabilly i 80-tals tappning tilltalar inte mig. Hur kan 3 minuter kännas så långa! Brolle förlorar också tatueringsfighten mot Nicke Borg.

5. Linda Bengtzing: "E det fel på mej"  
Composers: Pontus Assarsson, Thomas G:son, Jörgen Ringqvist, Daniel Barkman
Klämkäck schlagerdänga som gör att foten automatiskt börjar röra sig i takt. Det svenskaste vi kan skicka till Düsseldorf och hela Europa kommer att skaka på huvudet. Linda charm kommer att behövas big time ifall denna låt vinner - men det tror jag inte.

6. Nicke Borg: "Leaving Home"
Composers: Jojo Borg Larsson, Nicke Borg, Fredrik Thomander, Anders Wikström
Rockballad får liv av Nickes nasala röst. Snygg enkel scendekoration. Tävlingens mest genomarbetade låt men troligen för bra för TV-publiken och definitivt inte en låt som den sms-röstande tonårsgeneration kommer att välja.

 7. Swingfly: "Me And My Drum"    
Composers:Teron Beal, Patrik Magnusson, Johan Ramström, Swingfly
Jag lever på hoppet fram till kl 21.55 ikväll och hoppas att Swingfly sopar bana med de andra artisterna som helst lever i ett musikaliskt förflutet. Bland kvällens låtar är "Me and my drums" bästa alternativet för Düsseldorf.

8. Sanna Nielsen: "I’m In Love"
Composers: Irini Michas, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren
Underbara vackra och skönsjungande Sanna! Du blir mer och mer lik Ann-Louise Hansson. Åh vad jag önskar att Sanna hade fått den kvalitativa låt hon är värd. Nu känns 2 1/2 minuter som en transportsträcka till modulationen där hon äntliga får visa sina röstresurser.

9. The Playtones: "The King"
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, Peter Kvint
Dansbandskampens charmiga vinnare passar i folkparkerna. En hopplös 50-talslåt som kommer att hamna sista i sin semifinal ifall vi skickar dem till Tyskland.

10. Eric Saade: Popular 
Composer: Fredrik Kempe
'Folket' vill troligen att Eric Saade  ska vinna och det vill också min brorsdotter Marie som är sju år. Det säger en del om var han har sina fans. Jag hoppas på de 11 internationella jurygrupperna och att de  genomskådar supercharmiga Erics glaskrossar dagispop.

Thanks to Giannis Papoutsakis, oikotimes.com, for excellent photos!

Det är bara att konstatera att Melodifestivalens andra chans blev allt annat än det man önskat. Egentligen är jag inte förvånad att The Moniker och Sara Varga är i final. Åter igen har jag fått bevis för att Melodifestivalen inte handlar om att hitta 'rätt' låt till Eurovision Song Contest. Som vanligt handlar det om att rösta på en låt som kanske kommer att få framgång på Svensktoppen.


Det ska bli intressant att se, läsa och höra tongångarna i maj om Sverige floppar i Düsseldorf. Vem kommer att bära hundhuvudet? Förmodligen SVT och inte Svenska Folket. Men vem är det som röstar The Moniker och Sara Varga till finalen när man istället skulle kunna välja Love Generation och Linda Pritchard? Jo Svenska Folket.

Om syftet med Melodifestivalen är att Sverige ska vinna Eurovision Song Contest så kommer det att krävas expertisröster från början. När vi väl kommer till final är det för sent att införa internationella jurygrupper.

 I väntan på finalen så kan jag presentera startordningen i finalen. Att Danny startar som etta och Eric Saade som tia genererar på sin höjd en gäspning. Dessa två killar är nu SVT's sista hopp efter RedOne/Love Generation floppen. Jag är dock tveksam till båda killarna.Just nu känns det som att det enda rätta är att vi håller oss till Sara Vargas "Spring för livet". Jag kräver i så fall att hon slutar klä sig som en huvudrollsfigur i ett grekiskt antikt drama och istället tar på sig en T-shirt och ett par jeans.

1."In the Club"
Composers: Figge Boström, Peter Boström, Danny Saucedo 
Artist: Danny Saucedo

2. "Spring för livet"    
Composers: Sara Varga, Fredrik Boström
Artist: Sara Varga          

3. "Oh My God!"
Composers: Daniel Karlsson
Artist: The Moniker   

4. "7 Days And 7 Nights"
Composers: Brolle
Artist: Brolle

5. "E det fel på mej"
Composers: Pontus Assarsson, Thomas G:son, Jörgen Ringqvist, Daniel Barkman
Artist: Linda Bengtzing

6. "Leaving Home"
Composers: Jojo Borg Larsson, Nicke Borg, Fredrik Thomander och Anders Wikström
Artist: Nicke Borg

7. Me And My Drum
Composers: Teron Beal, Patrik Magnusson, Johan Ramström, Swingfly
Artist: Swingfly

8. "I'm In Love"
Composers: Irini Michas, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren
Artist: Sanna Nielsen

9. "The King"
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, Peter Kvint
Artist: The Playtones

10. "Popular"
Composers: Fredrik Kempe
Artist: Eric Saade

Source: SVT

Today we'll get new press-reviews of Malmö semifinal but it's already too much of news to hold them so I'll give it article. First of all we've got new covers of Brolle, Anders Fernette, The Moniker and Julia Alvgard, we love Anders' one especially and hope that this bad rock-guy style means we'll get some strong pop-rock entry from him.

The Playtones will release new album "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" on March 9th, it's produced by Jimmy Jansson and Karl-Ola Kjellholm (The Pusher) as their MF-song "The King" and you can already check its snippets below. Unfortunately we didn't find something better than "The King" but the key is that it's not our style, still maybe you'll find something for you.

Rehearsals of the fourth semifinal have already started on places and you can check some pics with Julia, Linda Pritchard, Anders and Love Generation.

Linda Bengtzing has new song "Män i Uniform" on her site and song sounds even better than we've found it before.

And finally exciting news that you could already read on Schlagerprofilerna, Poster Girl and Schlagerfiasko blogs but I should mention once again. Today in new QX-issue it was revealed by Christer Björkman and Edward af Sillén that next rare songs will be out on rarities CD in golden pack of MF:
Sarah Dawn Finer - Not a Sinner nor a Saint
Sonja Aldén - Night of Passion
Sonja Aldén - Invincible
Linda Bengtzing - Headlines
Agnetha Kjörsvik - Hero (Freebee, backing singer of Charlotte in Belgrade)
Brandsta City Släckers - En gång för alla
Timoteij - Run (initialy recorded in English)
Jessica Andersson - Jag ljuger så bra
Fredrik Kempe & Shirley Clamp - Du och jag mot världen

Sarah's "Not a Sinner nor a Saint" was presented few days ago on Poster Girl's blog, so here we show you another track that will appear on that compilation and we like it in this version not less than in final version!

Both biggest bookmakers and polls favorites Sanna Nielsen and Brolle have proved expectations and have taken victories moving to final of Melodifestivalen-2011 with the only difference - Sanna has become winner though Brolle was considered as bigger favorite.
Our thoughts? Not managing to like Brolle's song we're happy it's Sanna who have done it - she did everything right, performing it aseptically clean with confidence of artist who was on Melodifestivalen 5 times before. Unfortunately song (though it's good) sounds like younger sister of "Hero" (stopping Sanna from going to Eurovision 3 years ago) - fresh, more modern but not as massive so we don't see it as serious contender for a victory but still Sanna deserved victory in semifinal.
Really breathtaking thing for us was Loreen's performance, what a voice! We've drown in this voice and stopped to breathe for whole three minutes, incredible artist and we hope Loreen has a chance to qualify to final from AC. The Moniker has delievered bright-coloured show but the song still wasn't our cup of tea. Big losses for us were Christian Walz with amazing ballad "Like Suicide" that will make this meloseason for us (among few others) and Anniela's "Elektrisk" - great pop-song that can be on top of iTunes chart already tomorrow. Babsan gets our kudos for interesting show and Elisabeth Andreassen - for very high-professional vocals.
Another highlight of the show for us was Marie Serneholt performing "Babie Girl", what a great self-irony! We definitely respect it.

Last week we've got not only officially presented brand new hosts of next year Melodifestivalen - Marie Serneholt and Rickard Olsson but also 6 new participating names who'll be competing in first 2 semifinals, some information about their songs and plans and some bonus rumours about final artists who can be announced next Monday.

Talking about hosts Marie Serneholt is well-known artist - ex-participant of famous pop-band A-Teen who started solo-career 4 years ago and tried Melodifestivalen-2009 but hasn't succeeded and since that was more involved in TV-shows, musical and everything except her own music. As Marie is naturally funny, charming and alive person it's a great news that she was chosen as I hardly imagine her getting stuck or confused in case of not funny joke or forgotten text. Rickard Olsson is another familiar face on Swedish TV being involved for many years in some popular tv-projects like Bingolotto and Nyhetsmorgon. He's like less sarcastic but more energetic version of Kristian Luuk (host of MF-2007, 2008) so undoubtfully it's not bad news as well!

Moving to new official artists and songs of Melodifestivalen... YES!!! ANNIELA WILL PARTICIPATE IN MELODIFESTIVALEN-2011! One of the most promising pop-artists we've discovered this year, very sweet person, beautiful and talented girl that gave Swedish music lovers delightful pop-gem "My Confession" this year was chosen with the song "Elektrisk" written by Johan Alkenäs, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren, Johan Fransson - team behind "Kalla nätter", "Alcastar" and "Om natten" . So we send our warmest congratulations to Anniela and happily announce that "Elektrisk" is due singer's words is a lot in a vein of "My Confession" (read it as it's gonna be brilliant).
Another great expected name was Le Kid who wrote the song "Oh My God" themselves (should band with hit-stuff for BWO, Alcazar and Agnes ask someone's help?) and they describe it as their typical song not written especially for Melodifestivalen with touch of Motown. However we trust their taste!
Some unexpected but rumoured name Jenny Silver who was left last in semifinal this year with the song "A Place To Stay" is coming back with "Something In Your Eyes" written by Erik Bernholm, Thomas G:son and Henrik Sethsson - team behind Danish song "In A Moment Like This" at Eurovision-2010. Jenny describes the song as big disco-schlager with key-change, loads of ABBA-influences sounding like modern version of "Tusen och en natt". Before it was offered to Charlotte Perrelli but she refused it and Jenny has got a chance to make a great revanche.
Daniel Karlsson under new name The Moniker enters the contest with *oh my God!* another "Oh My God!" song (with exclamation mark, should we expect more emotional song than Le Kid will perform?). Daniel was 4th on Idol-2007 beaten by Amanda Jenssen and Marie Picasso but more successful than EMD's Mattias and Gathania.
Artist who was rumoured to enter MF every year and by unofficial information was rejected in 2008 Brolle was presented with self-written song "Seven Days And Seven Nights" that was initially written as a ballad but ended up as uptempo mix of rock and rockabilly.
And finally really surprising name of Christian Walz with the song "Like Suicide" from Fernando Fuentes, Henrik Janson and Tony Nilsson. Christian has apeared on a stage more than 10 years ago releasing three albums and some notable hits like Wonderchild and What's Your Name?. His sound is something between Salem al Fakir and Vincent but a bit more raggae and guitar-pop - mix that sounds exciting with Tony Nilsson's song ("You're Out Of My Life", "Headlines", "Love In Stereo"). Christian descibes his song as his own sound with spaceship atmosphere.

As well some previously presented artists talked about their songs.
- Sanna Nielsen describes her entry "I'm In Love" as uptempo with huge refrain and says she never did anything like this on MF.
- Elisabeth Andreassen says her balad "Vaken i en dröm" sounds a lot like her previous Eurovision entry "I Evighet".
- Danny describes his "In the Club" as club-track with the touch of urban sound. r'n'b and hip-hop that he was into before starting his dance-pop career.
- Swingfly also describes his "Me And My Drum" as strong party-song.
- Rasmus Viberg's "Social Butterfly" is pop-song with folk-sound that was initially recorded in a different version.
- Måns Zelmerlöw's protégé Loreen will perform "My Heart Is Refusing Me" that by her own words has grown from ballad to original electronic mix inspired by Björk with loads of strings.
- Dilba's song "Try Again" is a strong dance-track.
- Pernilla Andersson calls her song "Desperados" style "spagetti-western" - country-song with loads of guitars, strings and atmosphere of Clint Eastwood films.

Participants of 3rd and 4th semifinal will be presented next Monday and 9 artists are not announced yet. By media rumours Eric Saade, Sebastian Karlsson, Sara Varga, Jimmy Jansson and Malena Laszlo are top-candidates for these places and Rebound is also waiting for approval of their entry so they still stay candidate and we keep our fingers crossed for them.

Below you can see list of participants of 1st and 2nd semifinals:

1st semifinal (Luleå)

Pernilla Andersson - Desperados (Pernilla Andersson)
Danny - In the Club (Figge Boström, Peter Boström, Danny Saucedo)
Swingfly - Me And My Drum (Johan Ramström, Patrik Magnusson, Teron Beal, Swingfly)
Le Kid - Oh My God (Märta Grauers, Anton Malmborg Hård af Segerstad, Felix Persson)
Jonas Matsson - On My Own (Sari Autio Olsson, Peter Autio)
Rasmus Viberg - Social Butterfly (Amir Aly, Henrik Wikström)
Jenny Silver - Something In Your Eyes (Erik Bernholm, Thomas G:son, Henrik Sethsson)
Dilba - Try Again (Niklas Pettersson, Linda Sonnvik)

2nd semifinal (Göteborg)

Anniela - Elektrisk (Johan Alkenäs, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren, Johan Fransson)
Babsan - Ge mig en spanjor (Larry Forsberg, Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson)
Sanna Nielsen - I'm In Love (Irini Michas, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren)
Christian Walz - Like Suicide (Fernando Fuentes, Henrik Janson, Tony Nilsson)
Loreen - My Heart Is Refusing Me (Moh Denebi, Björn Djupström, Loreen)
The Moniker - Oh My God! (Daniel Karlsson)
Brolle - Seven Days And Seven Nights (Brolle)
Elisabeth Andreassen - Vaken i en dröm (Lars ”Dille” Diedricson, Calle Kindbom, Kristian Wejshag)

Information is taken from interviews of Scandipop, Poplight, Schlagerprofilerna, Schlagerzoot so if you need to know more don't hesitate to check these great sites!

 Today I attended the press conference where SVT presented the artists in semi final 1 and 2. Without having a clue about the songs (they are not allowed to be played until the event kicks off in February) it seems to be a cocktail of known, unknown, young and older artists, English and Swedish language and a dictionary in music genres. Very often the participation is connected to an album release. Melodifestivalen is the best PR you can get for your new album.

Christer Björkman, the producer of Melodifestivalen, said he was happy with the mix. He looked a bit tired - maybe it was because of spending the last week in Minsk with Junior Eurovision Song Contest. And if you heard that Sweden will arrange the contest next year it is only a rumour without any essence.   


I had the possibility to interview some of the participants. Among them was Elisabeth Andreassen who is very close to a world record in this context. Her CV includes five times Melodifestivalen, five times Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix and four times in Eurovision where she won 1985 with Bobbysocks and "La de swinge".



 Another wellknown artist in Sanna Nielsen. She celebrates 15 years as an artist and this is her sixth attempt in Melodifestivalen. Keep in mind that Sanna is only 26 years so Elisabeth Andreassen might lose her record one day to Sanna.

All the interview will be published here but already on Wednesday you can listen to Sanna and Elisabeth on www.radiointernational.com or www.oikotimes.tv.


Here are the entries in alphabetic order - the running order has not yet been decided. Next Monday the semi final 3 and 4 will be presented.

Semi final 1, Luleå, 5th March 2011










 Pernilla Andersson: "Desperados"
Danny: "In the Club" 
Swingfly: "Me And My Drum"
Le Kid: "Oh My God"
Jonas Matsson: "On My Own"
Rasmus Viberg: "Social Butterfly"
Jenny Silver: "Something In Your Eyes"
Dilba: "Try Again"

Semi final 2, Gothenburg, 12 March 2011:











Anniela: "Elektrisk"
Babsan: "Ge mig en spanjor"
Sanna Nielsen: "I'm In Love"
Christian Walz: "Like Suicide"
Loreen: "My Heart Is Refusing Me"
The Moniker: "Oh My God!"
Brolle: "Seven Days And Seven Night"
Elisabeth Andreassen: "Vaken i en dröm"

Photos: Lilian

Brolle is the artist that I hardly try to fall for and and this is my new try. Finally artist who makes crowds of Swedish audience wild and constantly makes Top-10 singles and not less successful albums deserves some attention.
Well, one of the most popular Popstars show artists - Brolle presents new single - "Lovers' Battlefield". As the whole music concept of Brolle it's a guitar pop song with a bit screaming vocal and epic half-acoustic instrumental. Earlier this year Brolle released another single "Anything She Wants" from his "Best Of" compillation so fans should have not wait too long and here is brand new single that Brolle performed today at Nyhetsmorgon.
By the way recently I've discovered song "Solo i Stlm" in the list of MF-2008 rejects - right in a month after MF-2008 final Brolle released single "Solo i Stockholm" so with a big confidence we can suppose Brolle was one of rejected schlager-candidates two years ago.

Last show of Sommarkrysset-2010 is unforunately over and this time we've got few fresh debutants, few schlager-comebacks and few modern rock-stars.
Amazing Tove Styrke performed her debut single "Million Pieces" and obviously was very welcome by public, girl is still need a bit more confidence working with public but we don't leave any doubts that she's new real diamond of Swedish music. Mohombi currently topping Dutch iTunes chart performed his Summer hit "Bumpy Ride" with a huge charm and brilliant choreography unforunately lypsynching choruses but receiving great public response. Simone Moreno (participant of Melodifestivalen-2006 with the song "Aiayeh (the music of the samba") has blasted Gröna Lund with brazilian rhytms and carnaval spirit spreading tons of energy around. Another ex-participant of Melodifestivalen (talking about 1978 we probably need to write EX in capitals) Pugh Rogefeldt performed retro-schlager "Stockholm". Danish Eurovision duo Chanée & N'evergreen performed their famous hit "In a moment like this" written by Thomas G:Son, Brolle presented his last single "Anything she wants" as popular rock-band Takida with their currently promoted "Never alone always alone" (from the last album "The Darker Instinct") that they recently released in new version.

Simone Moreno - Zumbi
Chanée & N'evergreen - In a moment like this
Takida - Never alone always alone
Mohombi - Bumpy ride
Tove Styrke - Million Pieces
Brolle - Anything she wants
Pugh Rogefeldt och Pughs trio - Stockholm