Lopez Blogs

Year by year Melodifestivalen by some reasons loses truly faboulous songs sounding so much better than many of competing entries, rarely songwriters or artists come out to announce it but the latest year has started a trend not to put these songs on a shelf and to release/get people learn him no matter what, this year we've already heard rejected songs from Topcats and Treadstone but nothing really pop-melotastic so now we get probably the most gourgeous track that hasn't qualified to Melodifestivalen-2011 "Hardcore Love" from Anderz Wrethov and Johanna Stedt-Elkesdotter.
Earlier I've introduced you to both of these lovely artists. Johanna has delivered one of two our favorites songs of 2010 in Swedish - "Stormen" (along with Timoteij's "Kom") and Anderz was working on his solo-stuff debuting with pretty successful single "Runaway" and plan to release new album very soon. Earlier Anderz was involved in schlager-circus writing songs for Arash "Always", Frida "Upp Och Hoppa" and Günther "Like Fire Tonight" (Johanna was responsible for female vocals in studio-version) and this time this glorious team decided to perform their own song in duet and though it hasn't reached the final destination, it looks like really promising attempt making us already waiting for their next year try impatiently!
"Hardcore Love" is modern anthemic pop-song with clear feeling of Anderz music mixing rock-sound and powerful choruses with hard synth-production and hit-melody sticking in your head from the first listen. Johanna is giving all beautiful touchingness and power of her voice and completing whole picture of this hit that we hope will be released as soon as possible.
Below you can listen song in its studio and live version. Also you should check b-side of Anderz' "Runaway" single cover of "Forever Young" that recently has flown out on youtube and Johanna's renewed myspace page with new terrific dance tracks "Can't Stop Loving You" and "Never Walk Away" - it's everything you love about Swedish dance-pop, full pack of hit melody, stunning vocals and top production!

Sweden always had amazing singers who started behind the names of some already famous projects and rocketed their solo-career after it so I'd like to present you one of such hopes and undoubtedly one of the most amazing voices of Sweden - Johanna Stedt, very beautiful and talented singer who started on back-vocals of well-known dance-projects like Günther and Carlito, her voice is very recognizable so if you're really into Swedish pop you know it well. In 2005 Johanna has started collaborating with Danish DJ Encore, they released single "You Can Walk On Water" and later in 2007 album "Unique" that turned to the great mix of soft trance and Scandinavian dance-pop - so if you'd like to listen what could make Ian Van Dahl, Da Buzz and Kate Ryan together you're gonna love this album! Check samples of this album here.

Next week Johanna participates in competition "Svensktoppen nästa 2010" - contest organized by radio P4 for new artists, Johanna together with Anderz Wrethov, Elin Wrethov and Martin Svensson have written incredibly beautiful and emotional ballad "Stormen" with Johanna's amazing vocals, great tune and folk-touch that is rare combination these days and makes song even more amazing. Johanna reached the final of the contest and June 16th she will fight for the victory with other finalists so let's cross our fingers for Johanna and this beautiful song!

Sweden's ready for a new star though this person is already familiar to Swedish audience. Already in June Anderz Wrethov will release his single "Runaway" and it sounds like it's gonna be a huge hit in a close future. Initially Anderz has started as artist participating in popular show "Sikta mot stjärnorna" that I wrote about in previous post, he won as Bryan Adams' look-alike in 1999 and in 00s has turned from artist to songwriter working with many artists all over the world and sure with Swedish colleagues - Günther, Arash, Frida, Carlito (Dr Bombay), etc. His latest huge European hit "Always" was performed by Arash and Aysel on Eurovision-2010 and his songs (Arash, Günther & The Sunshine Girls "Like Fire Tonight", Frida feat. Headline "Upp och hoppa") were also taken twice to Swedish selection. Debut Anderz' single "Runaway" sounds like great follower of "Poker Face" mixing elecro-pop with hard beat and guitar sound. You can also clearly hear vocals of Johanna Stedt in the end of track (Johanna is often involved in tracks made by Anderz), I'm gonna tell you about this talented and beautiful singer little later and now enjoy with this newborn hit!