Lopez Blogs

Already next month new sensation The Moniker who has conquered Sweden with pure joy of his single "Oh My God!" on Melodifestivalen will release his debut album "Maktub".
Cover of the album is already delivered by Rikard Engfors who was responsible for LED-video for The Moniker's performance and presented to audience. And though there's no sign of tracklist yet (and hope we shouldn't wait till May 15th when album will get released) The Moniker already visits different TV-shows to present tracks which are planned to be included into new album. Here is example of such acoustic performance in Efter Tio with "Oh My God!" and "Time of your life".

TV4 definitely loves and supports its successfull ex-Idols and in one of the latest Körslaget episodes "Oh My God!" was sung by choir of Casper Janebrink.

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

The Moniker som en tupp på en hönsgård bland 12 kvinnor, som motsvara 7 bidrag. Eller? Jag har en känsla av att det är de sju kvinnliga bidragen kanske inte betraktar sig som några höns eller låter sig styras av någon tupp. Men en sak är klar – det blir dueller där vinnarna kan vara vem som helst. Det är dueller med totalt olika låtar och det finns ringa möjligheter till en rättvis bedömning.

Såhär ser schemat ut enligt SVT:s eminenta grafik:





Foto: Lilian

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!

It's time for new schlager-heroes to visit Linköping this week to fight for tickets to Globen and we're getting probably harder pack of names than it was in first semifinals. Eric Saade looks like even bigger favorite by odds than Danny was before 1st semifinal followed surprisingly by The Playtones (because of Dansbandskampen win + Fredrik Kempe's song I guess), Shirley's Angels (oh, this project looks more and more interesting!) and again surprisingly newcomer Sara Varga (Sara sounds very Anna Bergendahl these days so probably repeat of Anna's success is expected here as well). Simon Forsberg, Sara Lumholdt, Sebastian and Linda Sundblad go close next. There are no outsiders by bookies and no outsiders by good sense. Everyone has strong background, songwriters or label support behind. Tomorrow evening we'll hear first press-reviews and maybe then we'll get first winner-feeling responses (what I miss for now).

Takling about news of participants.
Linda Bengtzing joins artists already announced about wish to release new albums before Melodifestivalen-final, her compilation "Min Karusell" except MF-hits/MF-rejected hits ("Hur svårt kan det va", "Värsta schlagern", "Alla flickor", "Jag ljuger så bra", "E de fel på mig", "Victorious") will also include fan-favorite "Not that kind of girl", duet with Brolle "Varför gör du som du gör", "Kärlekens barn" released on separate EP in 2009 and brand new song "Man i uniform" that you can already listen in the end of this video. Some karaoke-tracks are already included as bonuses.

Linda Sundblad after making soundtrack for "Let's Dance" show on TV4 year ago this time has recorded soundtrack for another TV4's "Sveriges mästerkock" show. As we always love Linda the most with a bit rockier sound (yes, she's gonna stay Lambretta-Linda forever for us) we really like it!

Talking about other news. Love Generation's leak this time doesn't seem to cause any consequenses due to Thomas Hall's response to escsweden.com.

If you remember this year we'll get CD with rarities celebrating 10 years of new Melodifestivalen, Sarah Dawn Finer has revealed that it'll include demo for Alcazar's "Not A Sinner Nor A Saint" recorded by her. And you can already listen to that demo on Poster Girl blog!

The Moniker in recent chat with Aftonbladet's readers revealed that he's album is on the way.

Anniela's album will be out on March 14th and MF-single "Elektrisk" will be released there in English version.

Brolle and Anders Fernette also record new albums and Anders already has preliminary tracklist on his blog (with "Lola", "Hungry Eyes", "Tell me Why" but unfortunately without "Don't Stop").

Loreen also revealed she has so much stuff that she could release three albums but for now her closest aim is to release next single "Sober", you can check its acoustic version below. Very beautiful song!!!

Simon Forsberg who will compete this Saturday in Linköping seems to be ready for the fight and due to pics from rehearsals he's gonna be alone on the stage, we'll know for sure later. Check also video from rehearsal and other pics on Schlagerfiasko.

Tomorow Göteborg will get schlagerized in full-mode meeting Melodifestivalen's 2nd semifinal gang of artists - Brolle, Loreen, Babsan, Elisabeth Andreassen, Sanna Nielsen, The Moniker, Anniela, Christian Walz - not a weak selection at all! And how strong their songs will be we'll know already tomorrow from press-reviews. Due to odds and polls the biggest favorites are Sanna, Brolle and Christian but will they stay faves after tomorrow prelisten? We'll see!

For now we'll turn our face to other updates.
Dilba's single "Try Again" has made debut on iTunes today and going road of Le Kid single has reached #1 of iTunes chart with Le Kid on #2 and Rasmus Viberg at #45. It's gonna be really one of the strongest meloyears if even not qualifying songs are doing so well.

Talking about success of MF-2011 among viwers, show in Luleå has collected 3 014 000 viewers in front of TV-screens (that is neither record nor a fail) and on the other hand only 320 608 of votes that is the lowest first semifinal figure for the last 10 years (since semifinals system was introduced).

Recently Schlagerprofilerna revealed that no Melodifestivalen DVD is intended to be released this year again because of lalbel not satisfied with low sales due to sharing video in Internet and all videos in free access located on SVT site.

Linda Bengtzing has taken part in commercial action Schlagerfeber - talent contest held in Onoff stores net, Linda is gonna be coach for folk's talents and judge as well. Contest will be held through February, you can see trailer here (and our friends say that booklets with Linda are already all over). I just wonder how Melodifestivalen management will take it.

Linda Pritchard's dress is gonna be made not less than by Royal family designer Lars Wallin who had previous Eurovision-experience with Sweden-2006 and Azerbaijan-2009.

Daniel "The Moniker" Karlsson has appeared in XL-Live with very nice acoustic performance. Interesting fact is that both Daniel and Christoffer Hiding participated in the same season of Idol leaving on 4th and 6th place (EMD's Mattias was 5th) so it's gonna be interesting if both will meet in the final.

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!