Austria will they bring us another Song of Love- Thomas Forstner in Eurovision 1989

-its still music to our ears that Austria are back in Eurovision 2011 in Dusseldorf-

will they produce something like the super schlager-ballad ' Nur Ein Lied'

from 1989- it gave Austria 5th place in Lausanne that year. A worthy top placing from Austria

+ 12 points, for just a Perfect 80's hair-do Thomas

UK finished 'Rock Bottom' in 2010- Not like Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran

Yes, once again United Kingdom finished last in Oslo with Josh - 'That Sounds Good to Me' there is some hope
now as at least one of the 'Big 4' countries in Eurovision have shown -they can win. Perhapes something simple like 'Rock Bottom' it finished as a runner-up to the French winner of Eurovision 1977
- certainly even a Piano-Duo worked for Romania's Ovi & Paula 'Playing With Fire' in 2010 they came 3rd

If you wanna see a great selection of classic tunes from 1970's click on
Best of Eurovision in 70's be sure to hang out for Anne Marie David in 1979 at the end.

A1 perform a 'Eurovision classic' 'Mil Etter Mil' in Norwegian

A1 are took part in the Melodi Grand Prix 2010, they almost won
yet still proved themselves as Brit lead singer Ben Adams took on the task of singing
'Mil Etter Mil' from Jahn Teigen. The song from ESC 1978 is about Jan's long journey
to find someone
and telling this person that he simply cannot walk one more step - having walked "mile after mile" already. (Click on song- if you dare watch the original performance)
This Norway entry was recorded in Norwegian & English, it was a huge hit in Norway & other European countries and became a historical tune-
Mainly as it failed so badly at Eurovision finishing last with nul points. Even with

those fabulous sun glasses Jahn did not get a point!

Romanian Producer/Songwriter Edward Maya Makes it Big in Sweden

Edward Maya- his real name is Eduard Llie from Romania is a musician producer songwriter & now new

dance star with his big House Dance hit ' Stereo Love' This tune became a big dance hit last

year, now the song has crossed over and become a pop hit making No;1 all over Europe . In Sweden during Melodifestivalen

invastion of the Charts, Edward

'Stereo Love' hit No;1 for 2 weeks. He has worked on a lot of great mixes with mainly Romanian stars as well as re-launching the international career of Akcent (Romanian boyband) in recent years. The Akcent boys now feel the recent hit by Edward borrows too heavly from the Maya Mix of Akcent's 'Stay with Me' hit of 2009.

Akcent in 2009

At the age of 19 Edward was the songwriter behind Mihai Traistariu - 'Tornero' Romania's Eurovision entry and massive hit of 2006.As Lordi won that year 'Tornero' went on to be a big success at the time I felt this song should have

at least got 2nd placing- also check out the great Video clip Mihai did for the track that year...

Come back Luxembourg to ESC 2011 ?- Bring some style back like Baccara in '78

Baccara, more famous for their disco smash in '77 'Yes, sir I can boogie'

The spanish duo of Maria & Mayte were plucked from a resort Hotel.

Where the girls

performed for German tourists, dutch Producer Rolf Soja took them to Hamburg

to Write & produce "Yes sir.." & a best selling Album.

At Eurovision 1978 they sung 'Parlez vous Francais' for Luxembourg.

The tune finished 7th with 71 points. As well as adding to the girls

list of European hits mainly in Germany, Spain & Holland. Baccara's songwriters

tried again in Eurovision 1986 with Luxembourg entry "L'amour de ma vie"

this tune did better and came in 3rd place. Sung by Sherissa Laurence.

It was unfortunately one the the last successful results for Luxembourg

at Eurovision Song contest. Having been a 5 time winner in the past,

Luxembourg dropped out in 1994 -and never returned.

Luxembourg's Anne Marie David returns to sing her Eurovision 1973 winner

Anne Marie David is back to duet with Harel Skaat who

will represent Isreal in Oslo ESC 2010- Together they show us

just what a Eurovision Song winner should really be made of !

The english version of 'Tu Te Reconnaitre'

was 'Wonderful dream'

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!

FLASHBACK Vid 2000 Ines - "Once In a Lifetime" (Estonia)

+ Just a hint as to who could be our up-coming schlager Hero?

Alcazar's HISTORY CHANNEL- 'Funky Feet' 2003 (Abba's unreleased song)

2003- The Alcazar Line up of Andreas Tess and Annika joined by Magnus Carlsson (Barbados)
to make a foursome- Was it any wonder they took this song from Abba's heyday 1976.
'Funky Feet' was never released by Abba at the time, although its been called a 'Dancing Queen'
# 2. Svenne & Lotta released it in the 70's. Then Alcazar made it their own with this
cover on the Alcazarized CD
what a great boogie version..

Alcazar during their Abba period!

1978..And then there was Figaro' Brotherhood of Man's -son of Angelo & Fernando

Brotherhood of Man found Eurovision glory in 1976 by winning for the UK

with No:1 "Save your kisses for me" two years after Abba's ESC win. They were in the 70's constantly compared to Abba, yet as you see in the last post- was it any wonder when 'Angleo'

was released in 1977 hot on the heals of the Abba '76 Classic 'Fernando'

But wait there was more ... just 6 months later in 1978 'Figaro' was born- another dose of latin lover pop-schlager from Brotherhood of Man. 'Figaro' was a bit more bouncy & became the third UK No:1 following this same latin lover theme. The follow-up to this was not so successful - only peaking at No:15 the title was 'Beautiful Lover' Hold on, its got that same theme in the lyrics only this latin guy "-she don't need to know his name.."

Brotherhood of Man's run of Golden Hits came to an end with a final flop single in 1978 "In the Middle of the Night" their whole career ended bit like a Brit 2-week package holiday in Belidorm or Cotsa Del Sol lol

Yet Brotherhood of Man still perform today as the orginal 2 girl, 2 boy line-up.

or more like 2 uncle, 2 auntie line- up! Still 'Figaro' was the best, struting around in his

trunks down at the beach.

CHARMED My heart goes boom MGP 2000

I found this Great Norska clip 'Charmed' the band that represented Norway in Eurovision 2000-
with 'My Heart goes Boom' -This is from Melodi Grand Prix, you can also see how the MGP
has grown in Norway. In Stockholm Sweden Charmed finished 11th with 57 points.

FLASHBACK -Where is ICELANDs Silvia Night? We still Luv you- comeback soon

Once upon a time in the sugar forests of

iceland lived a being so beautiful & fabulous that time stopped for a one moment 

in Athens, Greece during Eurovision Song Contest 2006!!

The behaviour of Silvia Night builds on what people do and say in modern day  Iceland. 

Silvia repeats what has been said, 

all the way from people at cafe's to people in media and press.

She was misunderstood or perhapes far ahead of her space-time, check out her

great video for 'Congratulations'-   "Silvia this is Schlagertunes calling...where are you?"

 We all miss you Silvia Night,

+ the 2 guys in her vid were just as FAB tastic!

Stenmarck in Las Stockholm ! Live 2005

Back in Melodifestivalen 2005- Martin Stenmarck sung his winner 'Las Vegas'
..at the sunset strip, ... even caesars palace... and then just outside Ahlens, in Central Stockholm !

FLASHBACK One More Time- 'Highland' (Extended Version)

One More Time - Nanne Grönwall, Maria Rådsten, Peter Grönwall & Therese Lof ( Peter is Benny Andersson's son ) As
a three piece they won Melodifestivalen back in 1996 with 'Den Vilda' I recently have been listening to 'Highland'
One More Time's superb album released in 1992. It certainly has that Papa Andersson influence even back in the early 90's. Another fascinating fact is the album was engineered by Hans Fredriksson, -who just happens to be Anni-Frid Lyngstad's son !
'Highland' would have been so much better as a Melodifestivalen Song for 1992, however way back then entry's were only sung in swedish due to Eurovision rules. If you hear this album again you will find like I did one more ... entry
from Melodifestivalen. Stay tuned to find out which one, & enjoy this fantastic video clip

thanks 77Romuluz77 for U-clip

BUCKS FIZZ 'If you can't stand the heat' 1983 & Jay's 'Easy Love' in 1982 !!

To celebrate the new 'Original Bucks Fizz' return to the stage..
we searched & found these History Fizzical Clips
a truly wonderful 1983 TOTP's performance- with perhapes the band's
best tune 'If you can't stand the heat' Then below is a 9 mins performance
of Bucks Fizz from Blazers Club, this captures well the band amazing Live
show of the mid 80's- Jay Aston's solo track 'Easy Love' will she do a
reprise of this in the new Fizz Show-
We certainly hope so...

FLASHBACK Euroband 'This is my Life' Iceland 2008 Wow! that was then.

This one FAN TASTIC Vid

from Euroband iceland's ESC Hope in 2008 - we hope Euroband and/or
Fridrik Omar qualify again soon in Iceland- Check out also Fridrik's new single

'I want to Know' - + YES 'its true' this talented Man
was on stage with Yohanna singing back-up in Moscow- showing there

is a lot more to Iceland than just Bjork....

FLASHBACK Olivia Newton John 1974-'Angel Eyes' would have been better than 'Long Live Love' winner of that year?

Its been no secret that Olivia was not a big fan of Song For Europe Winner of 1974 'Long Live Love' althrough
it went on be gain 4 th place at Eurovision Song Contest 1974. Here is Olivia on The Cliff RIchard Song singing
the runner up song. 'Angel Eyes' another worthy winner, I aggree it would have been a better choice at the time.
Still a sounds fantastic- just the orange frilly jump suit is outa place

              Long Live Livvy...

FLASHBACK: La Vie- Christer Björkman-Shirley Clamp & Miss Engfors + a Magnus cameo (2002)

This camp Swed feature I had never seen before, it was in fact put together

for Stockholm Pride in 2002 ! Christer looks and sounds

fab...& the cameo from a young up-coming Magnus Carlsson is

equally entertaining- I will try dig out some more classic Master Magnus soon

Anita Skorgan was recognised as one of Norway's MGP icons & returned to MGP Stage in Grenland 09- Here's her 1977 Song

This is back in the day....when ESC had no Vid' Postcards, just views

of a very bored after dinner audience who should have stayed home ! 

Not even a single " I Luv Lynsey" (De Paul) banner  to be seen either Ha!

Schlager-Heros 3-Charlotte Perelli (Eurovision 1999 Winner)

Charlotte Perelli.

Melodifestivalen-winner twice- a host, & icon she brought us

'Hero' last year and has become perhapes Sweden's best Eurovision

ambassador. As Charlotte Nilsson she began as the lead singer with famous

dansbands Anders Engbergs & Wizex, then in 1998 she went solo.

This meant she was choosen to take Sweden to Jerusalem in Eurovision

Song Contest 1999- where she won with 'Take me to your Heaven'

Then in Mf 2004 she took on the massive role of hosting the show and heats .

In 2008 she returned as the Mf favourite to win Melodifestivalen 2008.

Charlotte is a schlager icon today- just like in her song 'Hero' she is our

Schlager Hero 3.

'Take Me To Your Heaven' Preview Vid