Little Great Things- is Abba- the third generation & bid for more Melodifestivalen glory..

2014.

It will be 41 years since Agnetha Benny Bjorn & Frida took to the Melodifestivalen stage with the pop favourite 'Ring Ring' then in the meantime 'Waterloo' a follow-up managed to created international pop music history. Then even a Abba museum opening this year in Stockholm stad.

In 1986 the second generation Peter Gronvald (Benny Andersson's son) joined forces with the famous Nanne in a 80's pop band called 'Sound Of Music' and the 4th placed 'Elorado' being the first time we saw the Andersson-clan back in sweden's favorite national song contest. 'Sound of Music' became then 'One More Time' and even sung for Sweden at Eurovision Song Contest 1996 when they finished in third place.

Now two son's of Nanne & Peter namely Felix & Charlie have formed their own band called

'Little Great Things' and will compeat in the Melodifestivalen 2nd semi-final in 2014 with their own song called "Set Yourself free'

so during the 40th anniversary of 'Waterloo' We will witness the third generation of Abba, in Benny Andersson's grand son's - The best of luck to the band that should bring us some great things ..

'
- 'Little Great Things'- or Spot the Benny's? (the 2 with beard's it must be surely)

Melo- Names for 2014 - The artists are revealed and Helena is back for Sweden-

Yes, now we have the first of 2 batches released from SVT of the artists for Melodifestivalen 2014.
There is not too many surprises for next year and alot of first timer artists here with lots of old timer songwriters in the music credits.

After a few years of rumours former winner Helena Paparizou
enters for the first time for Sweden. Her song will be 'Survivor' and certainly will be in with a big chance in semi-final 1. As one last year's success stories Yohio, he was pipped to win in Melo 2013 and finished up with a huge hit with the tune 'Heartbreak Hotel' although he did'nt impress the Melo juries so much in the Melodifestivalen Final contest. Will Yohio better this 2013 fantastic debut?

Here is the full run down on the first two semi-finals: (not in any running order of course)

Also so great to see former Melo winner Mr Martin Sternmark back for the first time since 2005.

Semi Final One.

Mahan Moin- “Aleo” (Mahan Moin, Anderz Wrethov)

Alvaro Estrella - “Bedroom” (Jakke Erixson, Jon Bordon, Lauren Francis, Kristofer Östergren)

Linus Svenning - “Bröder” (Fredrik Kempe)

Sylvester Schlegel - “Bygdens son” (Sylvester Schlegel)

Elisa Lindström- “Casanova” (Ingela “Pling” Forsman, Bobby Ljunggren, Jimmy Jansson)

Ellen Benediktson- “Songbird” (Sharon Vaughn, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren)

Helena Paparizou- “Survivor” (Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Sharon Vaughn)

Yohio - “To the End” (Andreas Johnson, Johan Lyander, Peter Kvint, Yohio)

Martin's ready for Race 2

Semi Final Two.

Panetoz - “Efter solsken” (Johan Hirvi, Mats Lie Skåre, Nebeyu Baheru, Njol Badjie, Pa Modou Badjie)

Manda - “Glow” (Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb, Melanie Wehbe, Charlie Mason)

Pink Pistols - “I Am Somebody” (Joakim Törnqvist, Nestor Geli, Per Ivar Hed, Susie Päivärinta, Tord Bäckström)

JEM - “Love Trigger” (Thomas G:son, Peter Boström, Julimar “J-Son” Santos)

Martin Stenmarck - “När änglarna går hem” (Andreas Öhrn, Alexander Bard, Martin Stenmarck, Peter Boström)

Little Great Things - “Set Yourself Free” (Charlie Grönvall, Cristoffer Wernqvist, Felix Grönvall, Adam Dahlström)

The Refershments - “Hallelujah” (Joakim Arnell)

Sanna Nielsen - “Undo” (Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Hamed “K-One” Pirouzpanah)

Peter Jöback returns home to sweden, as 'Candy Darling' in 'Life is a Schlager Song'

                                          Stop the cab- Jöback has a new important schlager- mission!

Peter Jöback began his career as a melodifestivalen starlett, singing
 'En Sensation' way back in 1990.
Now he is finally returning to his ole schlager roots at long last..
Since then he has been internationally famous in musical theater, and recently re-created  'Phantom of the Opera' starring role in London and recently in his amost second home from home New York City.

Back in stockholm, a wonderful fabulous new musical called 'Livet ar en Schlager' is about to be staged for the very first time. This event is bringing Jöback back home to re-create the part of 'Candy Darling' for this new musical. Along side Helen Sjöholm who will play the main part of Mona in the show.The last time the two sang together was as part of the original cast of Bjorn and Benny's  'Kristina' in the 90's.

What is  'Livet ar en Schlager'?  It is was a swedish comedy-movie from 2000, with a rather simple story line of Mona who is a hard working mother of  4 children who are called Kikki, Anna Book, Lena Ph and Carola! yes sssir,
As you can image a big Melodifestivalen fan is Mona, and you can see the swedish melodies help her get though her ordinary surburban life. When suddenly against all odds Mona comes up with her own song that puts her in the Melodifestivalen final and a chance to become a Schlager-Queen herself.

Add to this story-line new music from the one and only Fredrik Kempe - we think and hope 'Livet ar en Schlager' will be a success..and who knows where else Peter and Helen could take this show, we can
be sure of two amazing performances from these two. As well as a great platform to but Melodifestivalen in the schlager spotlight again.

You can watch the movie version of 'Livet ar en Schlager' here on u tube. Feat. an appearence from Carola herself, and Army of Lover's Jean-Pierre Barda.
  ( unfortunately with no english subtitles though )

Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen - for Eurovision 2014 join us!

--Emmelie pedal's to Copenhagen after Malmo 2013 - with her trophy in the bag?

It's official the Eurovision Song contest 2014 will travel the shortest distance ever
in the contests long history. Not only has the worlds best loved song contest stayed in the nordic region in 2013, with Emmelie De Forrest's win for Denmark
the new host city has been announced today from Eurovision.tv as
Copenhagen 2014

Never before has the contest traveled such a short distance from Malmo Sweden back accross
the Oresund Bridge a distance of only a meer 8 Km (5 miles) Yes wonderful Copenhagen will
host each semi-final and the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. The grand danish city last hosted Eurovision Song Contest back in 2001 previous to this it was way back in 1964 on 21st March 1964 Copenhagen hosted the song contest. Not many european cities have been a host city three times
and we all love the fact it's back in the danish capital...

Sweden's Best summer Albums in August 2013

Just checking out Sweden's Top 10, this week as I do from my fave chart site-
http://www.hitparad.se

Wonderful to see Agnetha's 'A' back on the rise up the chart again to No: 4 followed by the Abba-Gold shadow
at No: 6. Then just about the only remaining Melofestivalen 2013- album is actually now Yohio's 'Break the Border' will he try again in 2014 with a better song next time we think..

SVERIGETOPPLISTAN - ALBUM
	#	2013-08-23
	1	Watain The Wild Hunt
	2	Mando Diao Infruset
	3	Lasse Stefanz Trouble Boys
	4	Agnetha Fältskog A
	5	Larz-Kristerz Det måste gå att dansa till
	6	ABBA Gold - Greatest Hits
	7	Yohio Break The Border
	8	Danne Stråhed 13 rätt... 13 nya låtar
	9	John Mayer Paradise Valley
	10	Gyllene Tider 24 Hits! Soldans på din grammofon

Copyright 2013 © Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening

For 14th August 2013- We have the latest Schlagertunes Top 15 Playlist--

TOP 15

1 Dance the Pain Away- Agnetha Faltskog 

2 Strobo Pop -Die Atzen & NENA NEW 

3 Glorious- Magnus Carlsson NEW 

4 We own the Night- The Wanted NEW 

5 Would that make me Love you - Anton Eward NEW

6 A S A P -Lena feat.Miss Li 

7  Begging- Anton Ewald 

8  I feed you my Love- Margaret Berger

9  Alibi- Eddie Razaz  RE ENTRY

10 On Top of the World - Swedish House Wives

11 Kedvesem (Zoohacker Remix)- Bye Alex

12  Magnetic Heart-  Marco Mengoni 

13  Believe in Me (Blutonium Boy & Matty Menk Radio Mix)- Bonnie Tyler

14   City (linus loves remix)- Lo Fi Fnk

15  Invincible- Jack Rowan  

Agnetha does Pride - a extra special appearence for her hometown

   Just on Thursday night the much published appearance at the Stockholm Pride 2013 from ABBA's Agnetha dropped in on the Schlager-Thursday evening of non-stop musically events. Okey she did not sing in the event but had a bief chat with the crowd. As well as being presented with a Gold record for sales of "A" gladly Australia got a special mention as being an overseas territory where "A" has gone gold as well. This created a huge response from the gay pride crowd as well..

   Wow, what a fantasic outfit n top- she is so luv-ly and recently realy shown she is back in top form - and although she has been away from the stage and studio for great lengths of time. Agnetha's brave smart charm will always be
around to pop up every now and then, and amazing vocals of course that we missed so much. She is certainly comeback at last...

For 9th July 2013- We have a New Schlagertunes Top 15 Playlist--

TOP 15

1 Dance the Pain Away- Agnetha Faltskog NEW

2  A S A P -Lena feat.Miss Li NEW 

3 Begging- Anton Ewald

4 Neon (Lonely People)- Lena NEW 

5 I feed you my Love- Margaret Berger

6  In And Out Of Love- Martin Rolinski

7  Magnetic Heart-  Marco Mengoni 

8  Kedvesem (Zoohacker Remix)- Bye Alex NEW

9   Invincible- Jack Rowan  NEW

10 It's Showtime (Theater)- Katja Ebstein

11 Believe in Me (Blutonium Boy & Matty Menk Radio Mix)- Bonnie Tyler

12  Dix pas cent pas [Jesse Voorn Club Mix]- Kati Wolf  

13  Love Kills- Roberto Bellarosa 

14  On Top of the World - Swedish House Wives

15  We write the songs-Bjorn & Benny + AVICII 

More ABBA Gold..The ole question comes up again, will they get back together?

With the recent release of the wonderful Agnetha Faltskog album "A" as expected this new album of original new songs has sparked the various question will they? won't they? reform or perform as Abba. Most certainly it looks highly unlikely! still I found the most joy in discoving a wonderful U-tube copy of the Svt broadcast of a performance of  'Tivedshambo' this will certainly remain in the history books as the very
last time Abba ever performed 'Live' together as a group. Sad but true, and fitting that they came together at least to sing for their manager Stig, who is so often overlooked today.

  So the reason was to perform for Stig Anderson's tribute as part of a 'This is your life' style TV-show called "Här Är Ditt Liv" it was on swedish Tv back on 16th January 1986.
(tack to Stephen Layton for this clip)

More Agnetha sings new song 'Bubble' from the album "A"

Mid JUNE 2013 TOP Schlager-Tunes 15- Bonnie's on top!

TOP 15

1 Believe in Me (Blutonium Boy & Matty Menk Radio Mix)- Bonnie Tyler 

2  Magnetic Heart-  Marco Mengoni 

3 Begging- Anton Ewald

4 When You Really Loved Someone- Agnetha Fältskog

5 Dix pas cent pas [Jesse Voorn Club Mix]- Kati Wolf  NEW

6 Poupée de cire poupée de son-  Jenifer 

7  Det Svär Jag På- Arvingarna FLASHBACK TRK

8  I feed you my Love- Margaret Berger

9  We write the songs-Bjorn & Benny + AVICII  NEW

10 In And Out Of Love- Martin Rolinski

11 Love Kills- Roberto Bellarosa

12  It's Showtime( Theater) -Katja Ebstein FLASHBACK TRK

13  L'essenziale- Marco Mengoni

14  Alibi- Eddie Razaz 

15  On Top of the World - Swedish House Wives NEW

In our very own chartlist this month, Bonnie has bounced up to the top!

with a great Remix of the Eurovision power ballad from Malmo. In fact the chart has a real revival aspect with Agnetha's first single from her fab new album "A" rising to 4 this month.

We have in this chartlist - a couple of Flashback tracks' it happens when an ole hit becomes all new again

with our listening trends, and I have been listening lots to Dame Katja Ebstein. In fact Katja holds the amazing record of 3 Eurovision 70's enries all for Germany and each time scoring a Top 3 placing. Yet

never the winning honours, a record that will be very hard to beat or equal at Eurovision Song Contest anytime soon. 

The German entry that came 2nd to Ireland's Johnny Logan in 1980, I luv the best- it's 'Theater' or '..Showtime' in english.

At seven is a great Melodifestivalen classic from Arvingarna back in 1999. They finished in a healthy 3rd place behind 'Take me to your heaven' I did not realise that the songwriting credit for this 

entry go to none other than Lena Philipsson.