Måns reveals- this was our Life: Melodifestivalen a Year in review.

The Chronicle of Melodifestivalen 2010/11

Måns Zelmerlöw- our perfect host for Melodifestivalen 2010 returns with a festive

NY review of Melodifestivalen- plus some preview of the artists for next Feb & March.

Also we can see again the funtastic clips of Christine Meltzer & Dolph Lundgren with those funny vid clips from 2010.

(Click on title above to see the full program).

Hostess with Most-est couple -Måns & Marie- she will take on Melodifestivalen Host in 2011.

Switzerland Have choosen for Eurovision 2011 Anna Rossinelli

It seems a little early but Switzerland have choosen following there National Final they had just last night-based on the song alone 'In love for a while' is not too bad - and its first year in a long while that Switzerland have not just made an internal selection within SF Tv.

So they want to select a great song that can at least put them in the Grand Final 2011, can this one do it? if you want to see what Anna was up against see more entries here ( these clips have lots of de swiza-deutch)

Anders Fernette he will sing 'Run' - With some different writers!

The previous song 'Don't Stop' had to be disqualified, and while it was though the same songwriter ( JC Chasez formally with N'sync) would come up with an equally strong tune for Anders Fernette. Well that did not happen so some more American writers came forward- namely-

Desmond Child, Negin Djafari, Hugo Lira,

Ian-Paolo Lira & Thomas Gustafsson.

The most famous of all these is Desmond Child who has wrote best seller tunes for the likes of Bon Jovi, Cher, Ricky Martin, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Roxette, & Aerosmith he has wrote over 70 US billboard Top 40 hits. Looking at the track record, this Melodifestivalen entry 'Run' could be more a rock orientated track - with a spanish flavour -as Desmond is from Miami.

We are glad anyhow Anders certainly has made the grade and like his new songwriters

This news filling one of the 2 gaps in Melodifestivalen 2011 line-up. The last song- is the one sung by new girl band Love Generation

ITALY'S History in Eurovision Song Contest up-to date (1997)

-With the news of italy's return let's look back at previous entry's

All the songs (click here to u-tube - a great medley of them all)

-Alan Sorrenti in 1980 he came 6th

All ITALY'S EUROVISION SONGS..1956-1997.

1956 - Franca Raimondi - "Aprite le finestre"; + Tonina Torrielli - "Amami se vuoi"
( in 1956 the year all countries sent 2 entries each)
1957 -Nunzio Gallo - "Corde della mia chitarra"
1958 - Domenico Modugno - "Nel blu, dipinto di blu"
1959 - Domenico Modugno - "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)"
1960 - Renato Rascel - "Romantica"
1961 - Betty Curtis - "Al di là"
1962 - Claudio Villa - "Addio, addio"
1963 - Emilio Pericoli - "Uno per tutte"
1964 - Gigliola Cinquetti - "Non ho l'età" Winner
1965 - Bobby Solo - "Se piangi, se ridi"
1966 - Domenico Modugno - "Dio, come ti amo"
1967 - Claudio Villa - "Non andare più lontano"
1968 - Sergio Endrigo - "Marianne"
1969 - Iva Zanicchi - "Due grosse lacrime bianche"
1970 - Gianni Morandi - "Occhi di ragazza"
1971 - Massimo Ranieri - "L'amore è un attimo"
1972 - Nicola di Bari - "I giorni dell'arcobaleno"
1973 - Massimo Ranieri - "Chi sarà"
1974 - Gigliola Cinquetti - "Sì"
1975 - Wess & Dori Ghezzi - "Era"
1976 - Al Bano & Romina Power - "We'll Live It All Again"
1977 - Mia Martini - "Libera"
1978 - Ricchi e Poveri - "Questo amore"
1979 - Matia Bazar - "Raggio di luna"
1980 - Alan Sorrenti - "Non so che darei"

1983 - Riccardo Fogli - "Per Lucia"
1984 - Alice & Battiato - "I treni di Tozeur"
1985 - Al Bano & Romina Power - "Magic Oh Magic"
1987 - Umberto Tozzi & Raf - "Gente di mare"
1988 - Luca Barbarossa - "Vivo (Ti scrivo)"
1989 - Anna Oxa & Fausto Leali - "Avrei voluto"
1990 - Toto Cutugno - "Insieme: 1992" Winner
1991 - Peppino di Capri - "Comme è ddoce 'o mare"
1992 |- Mia Martini - "Rapsodia"
1993 - Enrico Ruggeri - "Sole d'Europa"

1997 - Jalisse - "Fiumi di parole"

2011- Italy return to Eurovision after 13 years away!

1971- Massimo Ranieri's Hit single

After 13 years away- ITALY is offically in for EUROVISION-DUSSELDORF 2011

Well first up it was Austria, now- we have the fantastic-o-news that Italy have just met the deadline of last friday to submit applications with the EBA for Eurovision 2011. So that means they are down to take part, as long as they do not pull out before the end of this month! Yet broadcaster Rai say there is no reason why Italy would pull out.

It has rumoured for the Italian entry they will have their current X-Factor winner Nathalie Giannatrapani.

Italy has won Eurovision twice in 1990 & 1964, and been present almost non-stop from 1956- 1997 ( except 2 short breaks at start of 80s & 90s )Many of Italy's major stars have taken part thu these years -Domenica Modugno, Ricchi E Poveri, Franco Battiato, Romina Power & Al Bano, Umberto Tozzi & Raf, Mia Martini, Matia Bazar and Gigliola Cinquetti (above) she sung one of the greatest winners ever with 'Non Ho L'eta' in 64.

(this is a classic -schlagertunes often play today)

Then Gigliola Cinquetti came back and almost stole Sweden's Abba glory in 1974 finishing 2nd with 'Si' . In english 'Go (before you break my heart)' was the song that year.

-That original '1974 Eurovision Scoreboard'- Italy finished on 18 points. (abbaworld)

Eurovision Tv announced 'We are eagar to show the Italian people how Eurovision has developed over the past 13 years- And feel sure they will be postively surprised' its wonderful they have made the journey back..another original country missing is Luxembourg who last took part in 1993. They cannot say they have not been successful- as they are a small country with 5 Eurovision winners, last time in 1983 with Corinne Hermes. It's perhapes too late for Luxembourg next year but we hope they will return one year soon also.

JEDWARD for Eurovision -Yes! and they got SchlagerT's vote already

Its true, Jedward the twins who set the X-factor contest into a frenzy, wanna continue with Eurovision in their sights for the next Jed-conquest. The twinz Edward & John rose to fame from UK X-factor now they have confirmed they will be part of the irish selection for 2011. They had a 2009 No;1 hit in homeland Ireland with 'Under pressure (ice ice baby)'

& have gained an army of Jedward fans.

This is part of a new process of Ireland's Eurovision selection where 5 music mentors from the irish music scene will be a choosing an artist a song each to compete in a final on 11th February 2011 Live on the 'Late Late Show -Eurosong' We think certainly with that right song Jedward have that special real Euro-Star quality- Eire needs.

It seems this is not a recent developement for the boys in fact Louis Walsh (X factor judge) spoke out at the end of Eurovision 2010 in Oslo -just how he felt that Jedward would be great for Eurovision

Then there has been on-going facebook pages to see Jedward in Eurovision since

last year.

It would fit well in the plan for the twins to go international , they are currently being launched in Japan. Then a chance to go Dusseldorf in 2011 would be perfect.

I even confess to having the 'Planet Jedward' album, somewhere...gulp!

He turned out to be The Man of the hour- Anders Fernette!

The schlager world is right now buzzin' with the exciting News of the full line up for Melodifestivalen 2011. The full lists of stars and their song writers cannot dissapoint - with the likes of Shirley Clamp & her Angels, Linda Bengtzing, Sanna Nielsen, Linda Pritchard, Dilba Babsam Elisabeth Andreassen & Jenny Silver. Hey That's just the girls, yet with all this excitement - one guy hit the headlines- one spunk Anders Fernet!

Nothing to do with those 'Hungry eyes' of his, but his song had to be disqualified - about an hour after it was made public.

The US song-writers JC Chasez (NSync) Carl Falk & Kristian Lundin (Cheiron) had their song

'Don't Stop' - was released to MySpace and on the web already- so it cannot be eligible for Melodifestivalen. Yet all is not lost as the songwriters have a week to come up with a replacement song to be sung by Anders to keep that much sort-after slot in semi final 4.

JC Chasez from N'SYNC days

Anders starred in Fame Factory then had a couple of big hits in Sweden with a excellent cover of eighties classic 'Hungry Eyes' & follow up 'Lola' we hope he gets it together to still make the grade- cus your Melodifestivalen Needs you Anders-

Here is the final results of the SVT Melodifestivalen 2011 jury...

The final artists are revealed..its very exciting Linda Pritchard returns as does Eric Saade from this year. Eric was not planning to come back two years running & true after his success in 2010, he did not need to. But Eric said his Fredrik Kempe song was too good to turn down. Shirley Clamp is in, but as a group called 'Shirley's Angels' thats wonderful news. Sebastian's here as is Linda Bengtzing & girl-band Love Generation who are hot faves at the moment. Here is the line-up- Artists & songs are

Linkoping -26th Feb

Sara Lumholt - Enemy
Shirley's Angels - I Thought it was Forever
Linda Sundblad - Lucky You
Sebastian - No one else could
Eric Saade - Popular
Sara Varga - Spring för Livet
Playtones - The King
Simon Forsberg - Tid att Andas

Linda will sing in Malmo with more Kempe Magic for 2011!

Malmo -19th Feb

Linda Pritchard - Alive
Julia Alvgard - Better or Worse
Anders Fernette - Don't Stop
Linda Bengtzing - E De Fel på Mig
Lasse Stefanz - I Surrender
Nicke Borg - Leaving Home
Melody Club - The Hunter
Love Generation - TBA

Benny's Band is Back on SVT & confirmed new music with BAO will be recorded in Jan

This week it was releaved Benny Andersson- he has some new music to record with his

band BAO -this will also mean the Benny band will be on tour again in summer 2011. Benny also did an in-depth interview VI magazine in sweden, this turned into a rare time when Andersson really opened up to speak of his family his mother, & being a 16 year-old Hep Star Rock-Star/father of Peter his first son in the 60's ( from his first marriage). It seems to be the time to remonise of the 70's as well...

A Tv special was shown a few months back on Svt called Seventies' here Benny is interviewed & chats casually about all his old Abba albums. You can view the whole thing here'

Benny interview on SVT

PLUS- alot more interesting 70's footage was found in the Kenneth Gardestad interviews (about his brother Ted) Ted was part of the Polar Records family, and was produced in the early 70's by Abba- this clip has some excellent old 70's footage of Stig Anderson.

Clip of Ted/Stig Andersson (this clip has english subtites)

Enjoy this rare stuff -Ted, off course also sung a Toto inspired Eurovision entry & Mf winner of 1979- 'Satellit'

CC & Lee -No Melodifestivalen Dreams in 2011 !

29th Nov 2010. Very soon now all the artists for next year's Melodifestivalen will be set and confirmed, there has been lots of chat about just what Sweden needs for Melodifestivalen. Not just to keep it as Sweden premium top TV Show, but more importantly select the right choice for Eurovision 2011. Next year Sweden want at least a top 10 placing at dusseldorf, after the past 4 years managing an average best of 18th placing!

We have dying to see the pop-dansband talents of CC & Lee feature in Melodifestivalen 2011- they even had a Thomas G:Son song wrote specially for Mf couple of years back with 'Himlen Kan Vanta'- Taken from their fabulous last album 'Gava Till Dig' (Gift for You)-Heaven can wait, it seem 'Melodifestivalen can wait- as well as the girls could have

made the grade for next year's Mf. However one of the girls is expecting right in the middle of Febuary 2011. ( ahhhh! a little baby CC or Lee! )

Let hope MF 2012 is time for CC & Lee , we are hoping.

We are The Playtones...we are coming to get you !

Yes, these guys are the latest artists revealed last night for Melodifestivalen class of 2011- This all happen during Dansbandskampen' finals in Svt, while Uk has X-factor keeping everyone home on saturday night- In sweden they have a talent competion in the X-factor style of the Dansbands. So each year a Dansband get selected as part of Melodifestivalen 2011, via this Tv show. These boys in fact won Dansbandskampen 2009 plus they will have the added bonus of that 'Kempe Magic'

The song is 'The King' wrote by ..

Fredrik Kempe (our schlager 'Hero' who did 'La Voix'& 'Manboy') & Peter Kvint (he has wrote "Sing for Me"(2005) "When The Night Comes Falling" & "A Little Bit Of Love" (2007), "One Love" for Carola & Andreas (2008)

More exciting news of the other artists in the last to semi finals will be revealed next week. We can hardly wait to hear who the final names for semi 3 & 4 ? according to expressen news- we could see the return of Shirley Clamp ( hurrah! last seen at Tescos in 2009) Eric Saade (the shower boi -yeeeah!) and a favourite of ours from melodiifestivalen 2006 Sebastian who sung 'when the night falls'

These names have yet to be confirmed so all subject-to-change- lets wait n' see

- we have our schlager finger crossed for all three.