Dec 21, 2008
Dec 20, 2008
Andreas Lundstedt hits the town with new Melodifestivalen host "Petra Mede"
A new host has been revealed to replace Kristian Luuks, who has been the popular host of Sweden's top songfestival for past few years. She is 'Petra Mede', a comedian who will bring her own brand of glitter & glamour to show. Rumours are going around she may have an equally fun side-kick at Goteberg semi-final opening. Petra was recently seen out at 'Pigalle Club' Stockholm in the fantastic company of 'Alcastar' himself, Andreas Lundstedt. He is very excited about his band Alcazar's Mf entry "Stay the night" . When interviewed by QX Mag recently Andreas mentioned he is writing a new book and feels Alcazar can represent Sweden in Moscow 2009.
GO ALCAZAR - GO ANDREAS
Andreas is the 'hot' favourite to win the Top Award of 'Gay of the Year' at QX Awards on 2nd Feb 2009 at Cirkus Stockholm. Other Mf nominations are Bjorn Gusafsson, for TV Star & Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Agnes is also nominated for the Years Best Artist, and the songs "Hero" and "Empty Room" from Mf 2008. Stay schlager-tuned for more on the QX Awards.
Dec 17, 2008
Final BoyBand's - E M D & THE STAR PILOTS are prepared for MELODIFESTIVALeN Take Off !!
Who are The Star Pilots?
Well, along with E M D they have been confirmed for
Melodifestivalen 2009- So now all artists + songs + writers have been revealed.
E M D are three x swedish idol winner & contestants Erik Segerstedt, Mattias Andreasson & Danny (who had huge hit with Tokyo thought out Europe) these guys have No:1's already with the most recent topper being "A State of Mind" new album which is rather great for a debut. They will sing at Mf Semi- Final at Leksand, a self penned song called "Baby Goodbye"
Then the question remains who f#@ are the Star Pilots? they are a new 4 piece band comprising of Johan Fjellstrom & Joakim Udd who have produced Hit songs for A-Teens, E Type, Marloolio & Helena Paparitzou. They are about to take off with their new single "In the heat of the Night"
it may sound like an 80's cover! but its not, yet they do credit Samantha Fox, Top Gun & Eurythmics as influencing their sound. The song for Mf in Malmo Semi-Final is "Higher" and the 4 singers are known as
M-38, M-31, J-21 and J-38 complete with Tom Cruise sunnies !
Looks like a retro-summer to be had in sweden next year...
Dec 16, 2008
Estonia Eurolaul Favourites with ROLF Junior are back for 2009 ( One on One)
ETV have made public the 10 Artists for the Eurolaul final in March. Laura is back who sung "Sunflowers in 2007.
One of my
favourite tunes from last year was Rolf Junior with "One on One" Lets hope Rolf can come up with an entry as good
as his bouncy hit that came only 4th in Eurolaul 2008. Check out his FAB Vid below:
other Artists confirned :
Chalice Traffic
Ithaka Marie Janne Saar
Sandra Nurmsalu StereoChemistry
Kook Lowry (soul Militia)
Dec 15, 2008
Johnny Logan in Eurovision Song Contest 2009 - Is this an offer he cannot refuse ?
JOHNNY LOGAN & Eurovision the two names go together like sugar & spice, or milk & honey. The only artist to win ESC twice & again in 1992 when he took the winning song writing credit for Linda Martin's "Why Me". In fact his father, Patrick O'Hagen was an irish tenor who sang three times at The White House for three difference US Presidents, during his career. So to follow in his fathers footsteps will Logan take to the Eurovision stage for a third time to sing in Moscow in 2009? According to the irish press. The Tv company RTE after Ireland's worst run of bad eurovision results, and failing shamefully last year with Dustin The Turkey. Have made Johnny Logan an offer to be the chosen artist, and to sing for ireland next year, although this offer has yet to be confirmed for certain by RTE or Johnny Logan. However all will be revealed before christmas, certainly would stir up some huge interest if Johnny goes for a third win as an artist.
Other rumours are that brand new irish x-factor star Eoghan Quigg at 16 years old he came third in the recent final in UK. He said if he was offered the chance would be keen to fly the irish flag in Eurovision 2009.
Another fascinating fact is that Johnny was in fact born in Australia not Ireland in a suburb of Melbourne Frankston! His real name being, Sean Patrick Sherrard, GO the aussies !
Lets hope we see Johnny sing in Moscow?
Dec 14, 2008
Dec 9, 2008
Maria Haukaas Storeng & Anna Sahlene -Could this be a Duet to Die for ?
The Swedish Press & Euro Blogs are alive today, with the rumour that in the next round of Melodifestivalen artists revealed The song "Killing me tenderly" (which was supposed to be sung by Elin Lanto) and the story is that Norwegian Idol Star from 2008 will comeback to sing for Sweden with Anna Sahlene.
This sounds the perfect winning combination, something like the 1985 winning group Bobbysocks' Elizabeth Andreassen, a native swed joined Hanne Krogh to represent Norway & win ESC with 'La Det Swinge'
Marie amazed everyone this year in Belgrade with her 'Hold On be Strong' coming 5 th in ESC 2008. Since then this song has made many European chart lists, in Sweden this tune was still strong in the Top 20 back in August, when many other Eurovision hero's had left the charts.
Meanwhile Anna is a big favourite contestant who has sang in Mf , and sang for Estonia at ESC with "Runaway" in 2002, she came 3rd. In 2006 "This Woman" was sung and wrote by Anna Sahlene for Melodifestivalen. Althrough the song failed to make the final. It went on to be a large Radio hit in Australia! as well as homeland Sweden, The clip for This Woman is posted above.
Let's all cross out fingers, and ask ole Santa Christer to bring us this
small xmas treat?
Dec 6, 2008
Dec 4, 2008
It's a MELODIFESTIVALeN first.! Mans & Marie in SCHLAGER-LOVE...
it was confirmed today in Expressen Swedish Newpaper
The new 'wild card' for Melodifestivalen 2009 is Marie Serneholt. With Mans Zelmerlow, the previous rumour is 'true' the couple are together in a relationship.
Marie was part of A-Teens in the 90's and the main vocalist who brought us 'Mamma Mia' and many hits and classic Abba dance-mixes.
Since then Marie's had a solo album, called 'Enjoy the ride' and big Euro hit single 'That's the way my heart goes' Now she will make a Mf debut with 'Disconnect me' and a new album is due next year. But there is no love duet for the couple? they will go head to head for the Mf prize 2009.
Nov 30, 2008
The Return of the 'Disco Defenders'
One of the most exciting artists on the comeback trail is Alcazar as a three piece group.They began back in 1998 with Andreas Lundstedt Tess Merkel & Annika Kjaergaard & soon after had an international worldwide hit with "Crying in the Discoteque"
The bands major success in their homeland came with Melodifestivalen 2003 when royal highness 'schlager' king himself Magnus Carlsson from Barbados joined Alcazar to make a 4 piece "Sinner nor a saint" The song finished 3rd in MF yet became the public's favourite of that year as well as a massive No; 1 Gold selling single.This was followed by the suberb studio album 'Alcazaized' that perfectly shows the bands continued tribute to Disco dance sound of the 70's in a new modern way. More great singles followed "This is the world we live in" & "Start the fire" and another blast of disco stardust with "Alcastar"This was the bands song in Melodifestivalen 2005 once again finished 3rd place. Then in the autumn of 2005 the band announced they would take an Abba-style break to work on other solo projects.
They had a massive hit with "We Keep on rockin" in 2008 in Sweden, Andeas & Tess are back with former MF star Lina Hedlund, alot like the original line up back in the late 90's.If the new song for MF 2009 "Stay the night" is anything like 'Keep on rockin' we could seeAlcazar pass the previous third placing record....
The glitter ball spins as we prepare to be Alcazared
The bands major success in their homeland came with Melodifestivalen 2003 when royal highness 'schlager' king himself Magnus Carlsson from Barbados joined Alcazar to make a 4 piece "Sinner nor a saint" The song finished 3rd in MF yet became the public's favourite of that year as well as a massive No; 1 Gold selling single.This was followed by the suberb studio album 'Alcazaized' that perfectly shows the bands continued tribute to Disco dance sound of the 70's in a new modern way. More great singles followed "This is the world we live in" & "Start the fire" and another blast of disco stardust with "Alcastar"This was the bands song in Melodifestivalen 2005 once again finished 3rd place. Then in the autumn of 2005 the band announced they would take an Abba-style break to work on other solo projects.
They had a massive hit with "We Keep on rockin" in 2008 in Sweden, Andeas & Tess are back with former MF star Lina Hedlund, alot like the original line up back in the late 90's.If the new song for MF 2009 "Stay the night" is anything like 'Keep on rockin' we could seeAlcazar pass the previous third placing record....
The glitter ball spins as we prepare to be Alcazared
Nov 28, 2008
SMILEY MARTIN Will he return?
Martin Stenmarck's Melodifestivalen winner "Las Vegas" hit the top spot the week after the 2005 MF Final, while Nanne Grönvall's "Håll om mig", favorite from public tele-votes topped the charts the week after that.
Meanwhile a new Martin Stenmarck album for 2007 "Nio sanningar och en lögn" (Nine truths and one lie) mirrored the success of "7milakliv" by topping the Swedish albums chart & spending three weeks at #1.
After all his chart success will he come back to Melodifestivalen stage again? I like Martin's music a lot ( even if its not very schlagistic! ) Last week he brought us another great single "A million candles burning" this time in english, so a new english album is on its way (see clip below) now many of his tunes are wrote with younger brother David Stenmarck who has wrote "1000 Miles" one of the song for MF 2009 The artist is to be revealed next week .. its rumoured to be The Poodles (again?) I am hoping it will be Martin's MF comeback..... (come back Marty, Nanne's forgiven you now)
Schlager goes to The Opera
For the second round of Melodifestivalen artists released,
there is not as
many 'hot' favouries as in round one last week.
Such names as The Scotts, ( a famous dansband!) Molly Sanden, Jonathan Fagerlund
Maja Gullstrand, Next 3. and Mikael Rickfors.
Then the wild card 2 we have an internationally famous Opera superstar 'Malena Ernman' she will sing "La Voix" this song is wrote by Fredrik Kempe who wrote "Hero" ( MF 2008 winner ) & sung his own Mf song "Finally" back in 2003.
Fredrik will be in high demand in 2009. He has given his songwriting sparkle to "You're not alone" a BWO electro-power-gospel-drama ballad gosh! "Moving on" is 'nuther Sarah Dawn Finer ballad & our Måns singing 'Hope and Glory'
Its my guess we will see Fredrik on a few of the songwriters tables in the Globen Mf Final night .. can't wait.
Check out Malena clip from this year, and what she can bring to Mf with her Opera Schlager Tune....
Nov 20, 2008
The stars are coming for Melodifestivalen 2009
Its official,
Måns Zelmerlöw, Alcazar
B W O, Emilia
Sarah Dawn Finer,
Jennifer Brown,
Caroline af Ugglas & Lasse Lindh
The first eight artists made public this week, and one
wild card..........
Christer Björkman was joined by Jennifer Brown and Måns Zelmerlöw on 'Good Morning Sweden' to reveal the ninth act confirmed for the competition. As Markoolio, Finnish-Swedish multi platinum musician is massive in Sweden, & someone Christer has wanted to have in Melodifestivalen for several years. See clip interview with Mans below...he looks as smiley & fab as ever.
Is everyone now schlaga-x-cited !
Nov 19, 2008
From 'MAKING YOUR MIND UP 2004' to HOLLYWOOD !
that's Ben Barnes he is being
called the new Orlando Bloom, and was picked from hundreds of actors to take on the major role in Chronicles Of Narnia new movie Prince Caspian. More movies are coming up for this
hot property in Hollywood as he will star in 'Stardust' and 'Picture Of Dorian Gray' (currently being filmed)
In 2004 the Londoner's career began when he was one step away from Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Part of boy band Hyrise, Ben who looks better now, with his longer hair. They came 2nd to
James Fox with "Hold on to out Love" in MYMU check out the clip below.
So there is hope for all Euro- rejects there is a place in Hollywood movies when you don't make the big ESC....
Nov 16, 2008
SHOCK Schlaga-Swap is Van der Boom-Boom.
Jeroen Van der Boom-Boom ! has been now named as a 'New' replacement
in the dutch top schlager act 'De Toppers' this is the band hand picked
by Netherlands Tv. They were all set to take the dutch entry to Moscow
for Eurovision 2009 and make, A Big Toppers-schlager performance to put Holland back on the Euerovision map.
When 'tragedy' (que Steps intro ) struck the band! one of the lead singers Gerard Joling
left the group who are approaching their 5th anniversary year, and a large tour. Leaving
only 2 Toppers brothers Gordon & Rene Froger, shortly after the shock of
the news. The brothers found Jeroen as a happy replacement for Gerard, and Jeroen seems
highly qualified, just take a look at his recent Video below.
With a couple of No 1 singles up his sleeve back in Holland he will be making hearts go a boom-boom!
in fact, it makes you wonder...............
Could he be related himself in someway to that famous Song , Lulu's Eurovision winner
'Boom Boom Bang-a-bang" of 1969. ................ see what ya think.
Nov 15, 2008
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Stand by your Måns.....
Måns Zelmerlöw is set to return to Melodifestivalen 2009 (hurrah) with a song "Hope and Glory"
He gave us 'Cara Mia' in Melodifestivalen 2007 and this gave him a Swedish No:1 hit and big selling debut album, for the boy from idol. He was one of the runner ups to Agnes Carlsson in the final 2005 ( she may also take to Melodifestivalen stage next year ) Also to top off the year our Måns took the grand title of 'Najeskowniejszego Swede' (Most sexiest man) in QX Gay Magazine.
Since then he has taken part on Sweden's 'Lets Dance' Tv show & 'Grease- The Musical' starring as Danny in Malmo and been touring sweden in various shows. Welcome back to MF
Here is his follow-up huge hit "Brother oh Brother" video.
Nov 13, 2008
LILI OCH SUSIE ARE BACK FOR 2009
While heaps of rumours are flying around back in Sweden who will,
or who won't? sing which song?
One return to Melodifestivalen is a certain fact, and thats
after some 20 years Lili & Susie are back.
How exciting, the 80's Pop-blonde sister duo, who were even famous for making big waves down-under.
Where in 1991 "The Sisters" album was released in Australia with 'Boyfriend' & 'What's the colour of money' were big-ish hits for the girls. Back home they had a longer Hit run 1984-93 also they came 5th in Melodifestivalen 1989 with
"Okey Okey"
-this tune was much more that ok,ok! Just check out the english version Video below.
They are a very worthy pop act to take Sweden into Eurovision with their song
"Show me Heaven"co-wrote by Lili herself, who is now-a-days an activist against animal testing now at home in sweden.
So lets hope she can prevent any more 'Dustin, the Turkey's being exploited in Moscow 2009...
Please EBU, can we have a new ruling....
NO Animal Puppetry Experiments in Eurovision 2009 !
okey okey?
Nov 11, 2008
FLASHBACK ALERT Song For Europe 1978 & 1981
Cheryl Baker, one of the members of Bucks Fizz. Our Cheryl is
also one of the few artists to take to the Eurovision stage for her homeland
twice. In fact only Sir Cliff Richard & Ronnie Carroll have equalled this proud honour
'Bad old days' was wrote by same team Stuart Slater & Stephanie de Sykes who also wrote the 1980
U K enrty Prima Donna 'Love enough for two'
Co-Co's song won Song for Europe in 1978. The band were:
Terry Bradford Josie Andrews Cheryl Baker Keith Hasler & Paul Rogers
it was back in 1976 they had sang 'Wake up' and finished 2nd to Brotherhood of Man,
in Song for Europe that year.
I have found both of Cheryl's debut mega lush BBC Eurovision Preview Clips, they always
seem to featured our new Euro' stars never even singing a word in these clips. Never
sure why? as it was the decade that started lip synching could it be that have they yet to learn the song lyrics...
Hmmmm. The Bucks Fizz clip is fantastic, as our Fizzers slip the first
glass of bubbly
Nov 10, 2008
MELODIFESTIVALEN 2009 Countdown Begins
The rumour mills are turning making new fresh schlager-bread
for the Melodifest' harvest in 2009.
Who will be in the Melodifestivalen next year??
As only song titles & writers
have been revealed and we all wait for the names of the wild-cards- Top Swedish
artists for 2009.
According to The Swedish Press Mill; Peter Joback, E M D ( featuring Danny Saucedo ) or Sibel
are hot contenders to take to the stage in for Melodifestivalen.
MOST exciting for me is news of the likely return of some ole favourites .....
the return of past HEROs.......
Alcazar ( stay the night)
BWO (You're My World) Velvet (The Queen)
Amy Diamond (Its my life) Sarah Dawn Finer (Moving on)
Shirley Clamp (Med Hjartat fyllt av Ljus) Lili & Susie (Show me Heaven)
Elin Lanto ( Killing me tenderly)
and lets not forget
The return of Måns Zelmerlöw (hope & glory)
Check out some more schlager memories that came from 2007 Sonja Alden's "For Att Du Finns"
together with a classic "Att älska dig". in english... the vid is above.
FLASHBACK ALERT Song For Europe 1980
Following the excellent big NEWS from the ole BBC in UK that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber will
be heading a Tv Show to Search for a 'Eurovision Star' for Moscow 2009.
Will it be like "The Cilla Black Show" of 1968 onwards ! with Sarah Brightman as his sexy co-host!! she could bring back her dance group Hot Gossip!!
Just wishful thinkin'
As I am a Brit' Lad (Birmingham UK home of 1998 Eurovision Contest)
from way back, I have been checking out the Best of 'Song For Europe' gems.
So I will be bringing you on this blog, the best & even the worst of England's Eurovision Pre-Selections.
Perhapes even from the 70's & 80's before Videos came to be the norm.
They was "TV Preview" Clips....
of winning local entry's from a lot of counry's in Europe . I found one from 1980
'Prima Donna' very typical of the Preview Clips of that time.
The band were Kate Robbins, Jane Robbins ( the wonderful) Sally Ann Triplett. Danny Finn Alan Coates and Lance Aston (who was "yes" Jay Aston Fizzer's brother no less)
Lance Aston tried again to reach Eurovision final performing with a ex-New Seeker
Kathryn Ann Rae in 1983 after Jay in Bucks Fizz had won just 2 years before. The band was Audio with "Love on my mind" finished 4th in Song For Europe.
Be sure check out this 1980 clip above.
Nov 9, 2008
Schlagertunes is here
Hej there,
Welcome to the first blog on schlagertunes..
a place to get all the News and views on schlager-pop music
both past and present mainly from Sweden. The schlager capital
of the world.
Also regular up dates on Melodifestivalen and even some Eurovision
tunes from around Europe -as they happen leading into 2009 & Beyond.
Stay SCHLAGER Tuned & ENJOY
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