Duncan James and his prayer for Eurovision 2010

- Duncan shows the sign of ' Molitva' ESC 07 -with a hope he will sing for his country

This is 'Duncan James', he is former star from U K Boyband 'Blue'

he has been named as more than likely the singer who will represent UK in Oslo 2010. The BBC have been in talks with Gary Barlow (from 'Take That') as next year's choosen songwriter for the Uk entry. If the news story, is correct. This will be the first time in history the BBC have choosen a UK entry and artist internally without any Selection TV Competition. A process Switzerland use each year to pick their enrty for Eurovision.

That seems a shame as 'Your country needs you' show was very success in 2009, when U K public voted Jade Ewan to sing 'My Time' for UK . Following this Jade came 5 th in Moscow, a fantastic comeback for her country. Another singer rumoured to return

to sing for UK was James Fox, who we felt would have been an excellent internal choice

from the beeb!

Wishing N Hoping N Praying.. are they gonna make it for 2010 - The wait is almost over.

As we head for towards December more Artists will be confirmed for Melodifestivalen 2010- In fact svt will release the names from next Monday 30 th November with the first 15 Artists. Very often the songs and even songwriters have a few artists lined-up for the idea choice.

so many names & Melodifestivalen regulars could be waiting n wishing that phone would ring

as we speak.

One exciting artist we have heard is almost confirmed is -Linda Bengtzing, who is said to be singing one of the english 2010 songs. Linda has always been popular with up beat swedish songs in Melodifestivalen. She grew out of the TV show Fame Factory in 2004, then in 2005 she performed 'Alla flickor' a huge popular song and hit that year. Yet of her 3 songs entered in the contest, 'Jag ljuger så bra' (see clip) must be the most favourite, it finished in 7th place in Globen Final 2006.

Linda Bengtzing always gives 110% in her performances and singing english this time could be a golden opportunity for her..

Meanwhile we have a new joker revealed last week, but don't hold your breath .. he is Salem Al Fakir, with the song a self penned 'Keep on walking' he is rather successful in sweden. Yet we have never heard of him, Salem's father is from Syria, he has played the violin since the age of 4. Hmmm..is anyone thinking same as

me? a Rybak Factor part 2 perhapes?

Come on Svt give us some more exciting jokers please?

Over in Moscow the rumours are we may well see Dima Bilan return to the local selection contest, this would be his third Eurovision entry for mother Russia. He is rather massive and could so easily win a place in Oslo next year. And Dima would be chasing ireland's Johnny Logan double Eurovision win in the 80's

Go Dima.....

Netherlands after 34 years have won a Eurovision Title again!

it was back in Stockholm 1975, that the group Teach-in sung & won Eurovision Song Contest.

with 'Ding-a-Dong' see here

Since then in recent times The Netherlands have struggled to even make the Final, in fact it was back in

Eurovision 2004 when Re-Union sung 'Without You' & gave Holland a 20th place in the final.

Now at long last things are turning around for the dutch, and about time- its only a

Junior Eurovision Winning title but hey, its a massive step in the right direction.

Out of 13 countries last night saw a new victory for Holland.

The song is real fun called 'Click,Clack' Ralf wrote the song - No, he does not play the fiddle, but he

does tap instead- well done Ralf.

And Netherlands see you next in Oslo...

BEST Melodifestivalen Winners of past decade!

That's right the decade is now ticking away. In Melodifestivalen terms it has seen
this TV Annual song contest grow to be a MASSIVE annual spectacular

of what is certainly the
cream of Swed' Talent of the artists & songwriters.

Over a month ago now, we asked -What is your
favourite Winner of Melodifestalen in past 10 years?

Here is the final POLL finding...

Winner- LENA PHILIPSSON 'Det gor ont' - 51 %

2nd - CHARLOTTE PERRELLI 'Hero' 32 %

=3rd CAROLA 'Evighet' 19 %

=3rd MARLENA ERNMAN 'La Voix' 19 %

= 5th Friends- 'Listen to your Heartbeat'

& Afro Dite's 'Never Let you go' got 9 %

Other winners The Ark, Martin Stenmarck,

FAME & Roger Pontare- only gained 2% each

of the Winner poll votes.

So it was a case of real Diva-Battle where Lena Ph won over Carola, Malena & Charlotte.

Still this is only Mf Winners be sure to vote still for The Super 12-

Top favourite Melodifestivalen Song of the decade. In the side bar now.

Charlotte has a second chance with 'Hero' in the Super 12 Poll
'see you there?'

1979 The Dooleys another Abba-esque 70's FLASHBACK!!!

Recently on the Blog... we had a look at Abba 70's rivals Brotherhood of Man- who

followed the swedes to Eurovision fame, plus a string of hits in the Fernando' vain.

Read more here and here

In the seventies, a disco-pop band calling themselves-

The Dooleys!!

In Britian

& Europe the eight piece family group

had a solid string of male-vocal hits ' Think I'm gonna fall in love with you'

'Honey I'm Lost' 'A rose has to die' and 'Love of My Life' The band

found a regular spot on the disco dance halls of the time.

Then suddenly for no reason,

the two girls took vocal-control, with the top 3 hit 'Wanted'

This song looked and

sounded very much like an unused track from Abba's 1979 Voulez Vous LP.

The Dooleys continued with a whole album simular to the big hit, called

'Chosen Few This album

has recently been remastered on cd on Cherry Red lable. This Cd /LP it is well worth

a re-visit.

While The Dooleys never did enter Eurovision Song Contest, this may

have been as they did a cover of Olivia's Song for Europe 74 song

'Hands across the Sea' (when it failed to make it- The year 'Long Live Love'

was choosen for UK!) This was The Dooleys debut single that met very little success.

Here is the 'Wanted' clip-

only thing missing is some blond hair dye!

Agnes chats on Manchester News about her new Brit Success

One artist from Melodifestivalen 2009- has gone on to find even greater success overseas. 'Love Love Love' finished in 8th place. As well as a Top 4 hit in Sweden.

Yet Agnes had a lot more to offer from her third Album release 'Dance Love Pop'

this gave her a massive UK

hit with 'Release Me' released in May - the single have now sold more than

350,000 copies in UK and will be among the year's biggest sellers after peaking at No: 3.

Down under in Australia 'Release Me' made

No: 6 as well as No: 5 over in Germany.

Agnes new single is another dance classic of her ballad ' I need you now' and has a fantastic

Cahill Club Mix New mix & video..

Scandipop did a funtastic interview with Agnes you can read that here.

PLUS here is Agnes on Manchester News U K - proving again she is the brightest

star international from Melodifestivalen We Luv you Agnes, & hope to see you

down-under soon.

...And the first ever MELODIFESTIVAL Web Joker is MiSt!

- it was on 'Godmorgon Sverige' at 8.45 am

Today, the Winning web-joker was made public-

so it looks like the other 2 web entry's in the final 3,

just MiSt ed out !!

Måns is Back...for Melodifestivalen 2010

Svt have released the names of the celebrity host for the new season of

Melodifestivalen contest 2010. Last year gave us the wonderful Petra's one woman

show in Mf 2009.

Måns Zelmerlöw is back, but not with a schlager tune like 'Cara Mia' or 'Hope & Glory' He will follow in famous footsteps of Charlotte Perrolli & Lena Philipsson, both have previously been host to

Melodifestivalen shows in the past.

Måns is not the only host, we have two more newcomers, and it looks like Måns will be in full training for his new gig. The reason is his co-stars...... Christine Meltzer Lind, is a female swedish comedian and Dolph Lundgren. Yes, the actor who made his name in Rocky VI movie in the 1985. Dolph will be seen on the Swedish small & Big screen, as he will star again with Sylvester Stallone & Jason Statham in 'The Expendables' action Movie in 2010. Its so great to have- The Måns back in 2010,

well, it just would not be Melodifestivalen without him.

Norway's Det Swinge ...Songwriter comeback for MGP 2010 ?

Rolv Løvland, is the songwriter who took Norway from Last place to

the Top place in Eurovision Song Contest 85 with Bobbysocks. Rolv repeated even

more Eurovision glory in 1995 with his newly formed band Secret Garden.

As 'Nocturne' won for Norway in 1995.

Now this songwriter with so much Norwegian Gold is rumoured to try for a

third time in MGP 2010. Plus Mira Craig who wrote

the hugely popular 'Hold On be Strong' in 2008, is due to try again to represent Norska.

Full details of artists for MGP will be revealed in December, for the moment the rumours

continue to fly

We are hoping Rolv brings us something like 'La Det Swinge' as it remains

one of the best loved Eurovision winners of the past. In fact both the Bobbysocks

ladies, Hanne Krogh & Elisabeth Andreassen will be on tour in Norway this christmas,

yet separately - surely, one more oncore of the '85 classic will be overdue?

Shirley Clamp's 'Min kärlek' leads the way !

Miss Shirley Clamp takes an early lead now in the Super 12
Poll to find MeLODIFESTIVALeN Song Of The Decade.
'Min kärlek' (My Love) was the runner-up in the Melodifestivalen 2005.

Shirley famously began in 2001 as a backing singer to a Greek artist/group Antique.
A duo who was lead by Helena Paparizou ( who herself won for Greece Eurovision 2006 with "Number One" )

This song is often regarded as pure Schlager of recent times see
'Min kärlek' performance in 2005.