Lopez Blogs

Idol-2010 runner-up Minnah Karlsson has released her self-titled compilation "Minnah Karlsson" with covers from Idol. The winner Jay Smith's album was sold platinum for less than week debuting at #1 of album chart (when his "Dreaming People" was first Swedish Idol winning song not debuting at #1 ever - it has debuted at #3) so let's see how high Minnah's album will be able to climb.
Minnah as Jay had qute a lot of highlights on the show and compilation contains maximum of them. I'll be missing "Paparazzi", "Ambitions" and especially "What you waiting for?". Though, no, Pixie Lott's "Here We Go Again" and "Dreaming People" more but they weren't meant to be on the album from the beginning. Minnah's album includes both fresh hits like "Whataya want from me", "Just the way you are" and "When love takes over" (their arrangements are almost untouched comparing with originals so only Minnah's voice is tasty decoration of these works) and classic stuff like "Always on my mind", "Total eclipse of the heart", "Everything I do I do it for you" and "Alone" and here you can hear some surprising changes, for example "Everything I do I do it for you" was wrapped in more actual beat making it sound like modern ballad and ballad-part was completely deleted from "Alone" but the song hasn't lost at all becoming strong radio-pop-rock-track (one of the strongest album tracks that would be great to get as separate single). Sure the biggest Minnah's moment of Idol with "Twist and Shout" is on compilation as well and though visually crazy retro-style Minnah is much more interesting but still she's completely in this record - twisting, shouting and making smile you wide. "Piece of my heart" from auditions and "Not ready to make nice" released earlier on Idol-compilations were also included in tracklist.
Today Minnah came to Aftonbladet studio to perform her Idol-hit "Not ready to make nice" and "Mama Do" of Pixie Lott - how great was to hear cover of Pixie that provided "Here We Go Again" presenting Minnah on auditions like that charming and funny girl with rock-voice that audience has fallen in love with and girl that hopefuly will make long music career after this very first but memorable step.

Jay Smith and Minnah Karlsson have met this year in the final battle of Swedish Idol, battle to get a new winner in 7-years history of the show and though due to different polls and odds Jay was huge favorite Minnah still was a dark horse of the show who was expected to leave the contest almost every of the last 6-7 weeks but she managed to surprise again and again constantly growing and here we got Minnah in the final!
Firstly contestants performed songs they've chosen themselves and when Jay performed Creed's "Higher" that looked more like static rock-performance in a way and sound Jay performed before Idol, Minnah has decided to bring more dynamic show with Gwen Steffani's "What You Waiting For?" - moves, lights, glitter and massive choreography that impressed jury much more. Second part of the show was performing songs chosen by audience and it was quite obvious choise of Minnah's "Twist and Shout" and Jay's "Like a Prayer" - both performances unfortunately looked weaker being presented not in especially hard times for Minnah and Jay they used to initially (Jay's problems with drugs and Minnah's comeback after elimination) but it wa time for Jay to get huge audience response. But finally it came to singing winning ballad "Dreaming People" written this year by Svante Halldin, Jakob Hazell, Sharon Vaughn and Christian Walz and though Minnah sang it like a real Idol-ballad, like it had to sound from touching start to huge culmination when Jay turned it more to rock-ballad nothing could stop him already and Jay became new winner of the Idol getting chance to release album with his Idol-covers already this Friday but Minnah has got this chance as well and her album will be released two days later on Sunday. Both artist has got their new sites (site of Jay, site of Minnah) and Jay's version of "Dreaming People" has already got #1 on Swedish iTunes.

Few days ago I told about first two Idol participants who were selected by audience and got their tickets to Friday shows stage. Here we have another 4 successful contestants.
This year contest from the first sight from audition looked in my opinion lacking unique commercial characters but on pre-final stage it turned so that vocal level of chosen artists was very stable and strong so many who deserved to go further couldn't do it. However they still have hope to get through as jury's wildcards and we'll know these lucky contestants already this Friday.
Huge favorites Alice Hagenbrant and Jay Smith haven't deceived expectations of public and got to the final together with Andreas Weise (son of popular tv-host Arne Weise) and Minnah Karlsson - girl with one of the best auditions this year in my opinion. However I should mention as well amazing performance of Daniel Norberg, loveliest Elin Blom and very nice performances of Simon Lingmerth, Sassa Bodensjö and Michaela Osberg who unfortunately haven't qualified but hope will be supported by jury.
Watch second evening-show here and third here.