Lopez Blogs

Could you refuse spending day with September? Though just for 30 minutes? No? I knew you couldn't! Me too.
SVT offers possibillity to go with Petra to ELLE awards, check music archive and make a small acapella performance on a street of Stockholm's Gamla Stan collecting money for Nacka music school in recent episode of Dom Kallar Oss Artister. The latest you can check right below but I recommend you to watch whole episode here.
Another my tip is Petra's performance with Martin Björk singing Oasis' Wonderwall. In the very beginning of September's career they did performance for tv-show together but we could check only very short episode, now you can enjoy it in full version.

Petra "September" Marklund who releases 4th album "Love CPR" already in 2 days on Monday today has visited studio of Nyhetsmorgon to perform two of her last singles "Resuscitate Me" and "Me and my microphone" (Mikrofonkåt) with live arrangement.
"Mikrofonkåt" has become triple platinum (!!!) hit spending 11 weeks on #1 of Swedish chart and still can come back after album's release, it's gonna be really interesting will Swedish folk get new album with so massive love they showed to Petra on "Så Mycket Bättre" show, we're gonna know very soon.
For now we can check Petra's live performance that's as enjoyable as it always was - right from the first album 7 years ago (February 11th 2004 by the way), Petra was amazing live performer making every show very special and enjoyable, this one is not exception. You should also check September singing these two songs at NRJ Live in Finland and recent acoustic performance for Press2Play.
Samples of "Love CPR" are already available on youtube but we will keep our judgement before we'll hear whole songs.

Wanna get the latest singles from September and Petter ("Backsmälla"), Ulrik Munther ("Boys Don't Cry"), Tim Berg ("Seek Bromance (Avicii Vocal Edit)") and many-many other artists which you don't know yet but can discover yourself without my help?
echolize.com in collaboration with Universal Music provides ability to download this tracks absolutely for free, payment is just watching ads-video during download. So come here, register and get it all.
By the way nice reason to tip you with last year dance-sensation Tim Berg (or Tim Bergling as it's his original name). Tim is DJ from Stockholm that delivered one of the biggest export club-hits of Sweden "Seek Bromance" (obviously Swedish House Mafia influenced floorfiller) in 2010 initially releasing it as instrumental track but soon getting attention of international audience charting well in European charts and even getting into the bright spot of attention in UK pushing out afterwards vocal version of track and touring all over the world whole last year. You can check video for "Seek Bromance" right below.

Usually December is a month when Idol-winning single collects #1 places week by week but nothing can't push September's hit-single "Mikrofonkåt" from 6th week at #1! Loads of positive reviews in media and massive audience reaction - seems like Petra Marklund never was so much popular in Sweden. So label wisely doesn't lose this wave and develop some new promo-steps to squeeze everything out of this success.
Before we've got English version of Mikrofonkåt and now we receive whole 8-tracks pack of mixes - Mick Kastenholt & Andrew Dee mix (completely crazy club track made for blasting dancefloors), Alex Lamb mix (another great wave-growing track from chill-out part to high-tempo dance mix of Swedish House Mafia class), Punchy mix (this time urban-smelling in verses track with jumping beat and loud dance chorus) and Casado & Daif mix (darker club mix with tasty electro-layers and gorgeous dance-beat). You can listen to all mixes except Punchy below.

First season of series Så mycket bättre is over and in the last episode artists were singing versions of their own songs in versions close to original in duets with another artists. Di Leva performed his hit "Vad är frihet" with Lasse Berghagen who also performed his entry on Melodifestivalen-1973 "Ding Dong". Di Leva appeared another time in duet with Plura singing old Eldkvarn's (Plura's band) song "Alice". Plura helped to Petter with the song "Gör min dag" (originally performed by Petter with Magnus Carlson). Lill-Babs and Christer Sandelin united singing Lill-Babs' "Jag vill leva". September appeared twice on the stage - with Petter making mix of her version of "Satellites" and version performed earlier by Petter. As well with Christer she has made Style's "Luften darrar". Another warm and adorable evening finishing one of the most successful tv-shows of the year and hope next year we'll get not worse team of artists bringing this lovely atmosphere and many nice covers.

September enjoys first place of her hit-cover "Mikrofonkåt" third week in a row, that looks like incredible success being her first #1 in Sweden ever and the song has got English version "Me And My Microphone" and already tries to break through in UK. You can check stream from Record Of The Day site right below.

Debut season of Så Mycket Bättre presented whole series of hits firstly from Petter who was the first of participants shooting with loads of his covers in iTunes chart but then came Petra "September" Marklund and she has torn the chart for real with her cover for Petter's "Mikrofonkåt" and it wasn't her last success as another two covers "Vem Ska Jag Tro På" and "Kärlekens Tunga" being released a bit later joined "Mikrofonkåt" - invincible #1 place of iTunes chart (and already double #1 in common chart) in Top-5. So Petter and Petra decided to unite their forces releasing brand new single "Baksmälla" together and premiered it on the radio today!
"Baksmälla" sounds exactly like you could expect from September new Swedish electro side, it's less dancey than "Mikrofonkåt" and more urban in Petter-style with a bit more commercial wrap that can allow this song to get even longer life on Swedish radiostations. Cold dance electro sound with Petra's intimate vocals and Petter's rap - it's all there, it all works and it's just created to be a hit!

Recently I told you about Caroline Roosmark's amazing calendar where she involved such stars like Anna Bergendahl, Darin, Helen Sjöholm and Nanne and here goes another cool calendar from Djurens Rätt (organisation fighting for animal rights) with loads of another popular artists like Linda Sundblad, Marie Picasso and Caroline af Ugglas, below you can watch whole set of photos, they're in small size but you can check brilliant pics of September-mermaid, Adam Tensta and Thomas Di Leva in a better quality.

Marina Schiptjenko (Vacuum, BWO)
Dennis Lyxzén (Refused)
Thomas Di Leva
Marie Picasso
Britta Persson
Adam Tensta
Patrik Arve (Teddybears STHLM)
Linda Sundblad
Caroline Af Ugglas
September
Khoma
Regina Lund

September already second week holds the first place of Swedish chart with her new hit "Mikrofonkåt", but this week her comeback single "Resuscitate Me" has also made debut in chart but only on #45 though.
Great way to keep public dragging more of September's previous hits to iTunes chart was to show September's evening in "Så mycket bättre" show last Saturday so that time all participants were making covers on her songs.
Thomas Di Leva has delievered indie-version of the biggest international September hit "Cry for you". Petter's gone raggae sampling Petra's voice from "Satellite" with nice summer-pop feeling. Lill-Babs' blues cover was one of the most unexpected performances "Looking for love" and afterwards Petra joined Lill-Babs making this cover even more amazing. Plura otherwise has made expected guitar-pop cover of Petra's first hit "La La La (Never Gonna Give It Up)" sounding a lot like his previous covers. Lasse Berghagen revealed that it was oficially first time he was singing in English and performed cover for "Because I love you" that will be included in compilation of Så mycket bättre. Another cover to be released on forthcoming compilation is Christer Sandelin's "Can't get over" that was as well real highlight of the evening in anthemic a bit ABBAesque cover with beautiful piano part and dynamic instrumental part in common.
This weekend Petra had to make cover herself as it was Plura's evening and Petra delievered pretty amazing electropop cover for "Kärlekens tunga" that together with "Mikrofonkåt" and "Vem ska jag tro på?" will be included in compilation. Lill-Babs went ballad with "Håll huvudet högt", Petter was rapping with "Fulla för kärlekens skull", Christer Sandelin was rocking with "Pojkar pojkar pojkar", Lasse Berghagen made pleasant retro-cover of "Somliga går i trasiga skor" and Thomas Di Leva presented melodic and expressive pop-rock cover of "Kungarna från Broadway".

September celebrates her first #1 hit in Sweden "Mikrofonkåt", before only "Satellites" managed to reach #4 but participation in popular tv-show Så mycket bättre has really pushed her hard (due to Aftonbladet's poll around 70% of readers from more than 7000 voters think that Petra's covers are even better than her own songs) and Petter's cover made by her debuted right on the 1st place of Swedish chart.
Great time for starting promoting new solo-stuff and September is finally presenting new single "Resuscitate me" to the world and makes it with a whole bag of goodies with video and mixes for this song.
"Resuscitate Me" video was directed by Patric Ullaeus, Petra appears in it with new short hairdo dancing with cables attached to her hands and saving her soul when body needs some resuscitation with warm love memories. September who likes to play with dark lyrics in dance music ("Until I Die", "R.I.P.", "Flowers on The Grave" etc.) keeps dancing on a broken glass bringing together dramatical keys with life-asserting club beats and does it in her own recognizable way constantly attracting attention of pop-fans around the world.

Along with video full packed single with extended mix and also mixes from Buzz Junkies and Moto Blanco finally has seen the light. Moto Blanco provided slightly trancey light radio-track when Buzz Junkies has made club delight but still very poppy track with loud layers and heavy dance beat.

Going back to Så mycket bättre - theme of the latest show was dedicated to Christer Sandelin's covers (Style's vocalist) and as we guessed right Petra was singing "Vill Ha Dig" but in pretty original version as dark pulsating and hypnotizing electro-track with a beautiful strings section, we really hope it will be released on forthcoming compilation of Så mycket bättre. Petter has made another beautiful electronic version of "Hjärtats ensamma slag". Thomas Di Leva presented cover for one of the latest Style hits "Vill ha dig igen" in very close to original synth sound. Lill-Babs with "Fantasi", Lasse Berghagen with "Dover Calais" and Plura with "Den hon vill ha" kept it on more retro-field.

Last week many of "Så mycket bättre" participants released digitally their covers (actually everyone but Plura) that turned to be quite logical promo-decision and though Petter took whole 3 singles to iTunes Top-10, chart was waiting for Petra "September" Marklund, her cover of Petter's song "Mikrofonkåt" has become real hit among tv-audience and when finally it was released on iTunes it's taken just few hours to reach #1 and right now it's still there!
If the highest September's entry in basic Swedish chart was "Satelites" (#4) can "Mikrofonkåt" beat it? I think yes and it's even more amazing start of new September's career stage in Sweden than we could imagine.
Already this Friday September will release her brand new single (along with music video) "Resuscitate Me" that we exclusively presented to you in its full version few weeks ago, so here's the time for another exclusive thing - new monster hit of September in Sweden "Mikrofonkåt" - great club track with infectious tune and heavy dancefloor base. Everything in best traditions of September so you're gonna enjoy it!

Next episode of Så mycket bättre show turned participants to another artist's tribute and this time it was schlager-veteran Lill-Babs. Ex-husband Lasse Berghagen has made calm retro soul-smelling version of "Är Du Kär I Mig Ännu Klas-Göran?". Christer Sandelin also decided not to go too far from original 50s version with cover of "April april". Thomas Di Leva from happy covers turned to slow half-acoustic "När vi älskar". Plura had as usual calm guitar-pop cover of "Snurra Min Jord". Petter who released already 2 singles from the show and both are currently in Top-10 on iTunes presented probably his most enjoyable cover of "Tuff brud i en lyxförpackning". September who's also going to realese successful cover of Petter's "Mikrofonkåt" performed again dance-version of "Leva Livet" but in a colder electro-sound with different tune in chorus-line. There are three cross tribute-shows left (not sure about theme of the 8th one) - for Plura, Christer Sandelin and September, I wonder if September's going to sing cover for Christer's biggest hit "Vill ha dig" in Style that Petra did in the beginning of her career? Hope so as it was brilliant!

This week on "Så mycket bättre" artists prepared their covers for Petter's songs and it's actually not so easy task for pop-artists to make interesting covers for rap-artist (actually many participants has complicated format and completely different music).
Christer Sandelin has made interesting cover of "Vinden har vänt" with light raggae touch. Di Leva provided very atmospherical charming indie-version of "Min egen kärleksaffär". Lill-Babs "Så klart" has gone a bit latino chill-out. Lasse Berghagen has made ballad-version of "Längesen" (featuring Veronica Maggio in original version). Plura's cover of "Logiskt" has ended up in pop-rock version. Finally the most interesting for us performance again was provided by Petra Marklund and this time she has made dance-version of "Mikrofonkåt", Petra already has shown her ballad and indie side but there's no need to say that Petra's genre is dance so she not only sounded but looked completely perfect and comfortable in this cover!

Officially Queen of Swedish dance-pop September's back with brand new single "Resuscitate Me" and we're giving you first full listen of new song!
The word "comeback" is gonna sound a bit weird for most as it was just year before when September did a hard promotion with bunch of her hits leading by world-hit "Cry For You" but still real hardcore fans were waiting for completely new stuff as the last studio album "Dancing Shoes" was released 3 years ago and since that Petra Marklund worked on pushing her old stuff around the world with different re-editions and compillations.
So finally it's here, brand new single "Resuscitate Me" written and produced among others by Cutfather responsible for Basshunter's "Saturday", Kylie's "Get Outta My Way" and Shayne Ward's "Gotta Be Somebody".
Talking about the song, "Resuscitate Me" sounds a lot in conception of Brittish "Cry For You - The Album" and on the other hand using formula of Agnes' international breakthrough tracks particularly international version of "I Need You Now". It's a melodic radio-friendly dance-track with loads of strings and Petra's hot vocal containing tonnes of personality in every single key. Single will be released on November 17th and new album "Love CPR" is planned for beginning of next year. Check full-length song right here right now!

Don't have idea how I've missed this June release but it's really proper track for Saturday night.
Stonebridge's mixes appeared this year on some really huge releases of world scale artists like Alexandra Burke's "Start Without You", Taio Cruz's "Dynamite", Locnville's "Sun In My Pocket", #1 Billboard Hot Dance hit Yoko Ono's "Give Me Something", etc. As well you can see on his site information that he has worked on productions for September and 98 Degrees.
However StoneBridge doesn't stop to promote his own material and follow-up of amazing "The Morning After" released earlier this year is "Trip'en" recorded in collaboration with Tamara Dey from Flash Republic, it's pretty high-level dancefloor anthem with monstrous base, hard rhythm and all attitude of Tamara's voice. It's poppy enough to be played on the radio and it's dance enough to get on any dancefloor, so here it is, another hit from StoneBridge!

It's my first September post and I'd like to devote it one of the greatest artists of Sweden - September and I have a reason for it, I'd say whole bunch of reasons!
Very soon Swedish dancing queen Petra "September" Marklund is gonna break a pause that she took after completely crazy period starting from her international breakthrough with single "Satellites" in 2006. After this she has managed to release her third fantastic album "Dancing Shoes", to make her biggest world-wide blast with single "Cry For You", to release multiple compilations of her hits around the world and to bring loads of gigs and appearances almost everywhere.
This October Petra is back with brand new single! But besides it we're gonna get Petra on TV in new show on TV4 where she should live together with another musicians - Petter, Christer Sandelin, Barbro "Lill-Babs" Svensson, Tomas Di Leva, Per "Plura" Jonsson, Lasse Berghagen around week and make some covers for hits of each other, Petra has already chosen songs and promises to show completely new side of September. Season will include around 8 episodes, it will be shot in September and shown approximately in October. And this is not the last news. Petra has become model of cosmetics company FACE Stockholm and you can already see a banner with her above. What a gorgeous look, isn't it?
It's actually great that Petra's coming back to Sweden and we have a chance to see her in some local events and shows, if you didn't see her performance in last season of Så Ska Det Låta you can do it right now, it's really joyful!

Artist who delievered one of the biggest Swedish pop-hits of 2007 - Valentino is back!
Ferat Amin has started his way in music back in 2003 when he entered a casting of popular tv-show Fame Factory. Earlier in school years he aimed to become football player but discovered huge music talent that has turned his way and pushed him to send demos to different labels and participate in castings. Luck didn't follow him on Fame Factory but finally releasing single "Hayati" mixing best traditions of Swedish pop and Eastern origin of Ferat (and by rumours reject of Melodifestivalen-2006) he's made big breakthrough entering Top-10 of singles-chart. Later he released another great single "What is Love" and disappeared for few years after that.

This year Ferat is back as Ferró with new single "Bailamos (on the Floor)" from not less than great team Jonas and Niklas von der Burg and Anoo Bhagavan who are responsible for amazing stuff for September, Nexx, Lucky Twice, Gathania, etc. that went so well in Europe last 5-6 years. "Bailamos (on the Floor)" contains all the brilliance of dance-stuff being released by this team - amazing tune, crazy dance beat and bassline that stuck in your head once and forever, with special Ferró's vocal and lyrics painting new image of Ferat as hot Argentinian caballero it works 200%. Hopefully soon this song will be another international hit from brothers von der Burg and Anoo Bhagavan.

Thanx to Poster Girl and scandipop for making me take a more attentive look at this song and find out the story behind it as unforunately there's no official site or webpage devoted to Ferró yet.

Did anyone tell you how extremely hot girls in Sweden? If you believe or not, it's a fact and you're gonna get a proof right now.
New face on the big club stage Mikey Mic makes its loud debut with a brilliant club track "Swedish Girls" providing utterly sexual video for it.
Mikey has Jamaican root but has managed to live in England and America finally finding his home in Sweden, as legend on his site says "a Swedish blonde with big breasts called Inga kidnapped him and forced him to move to this wonderful country and live in a kinky cage with her and three twin sisters", what a lucky guy! Starting investigating club field before moving to Sweden Mikey moved to a practice after arrival performing as a DJ with such stars like September, Busta Rhymes, David Guetta and Flo Rida. Finally he came to releasing his own stuff that you can check on his myspace or start right on this page with checking his new single "Swedish Girls" devoted to all the beauties Sweden overfilled with.