» Requests fulfilled.. I hope.
Today it's all about Swedish schlager. You don't know what it is? It is catchy, camp, irresistible and cheesy popmusic - damn good in other words. Schlager is often connected to Melodifestivalen (if you don't know what that is by now, you should be ashamed of yourself) and all Europeans think it sounds like ABBA... that's not completely true though. Anyway, here are a few examples, some fresh, some old..
Pernilla Wahlgren - Don't Say Goodbye [Buy]
Pernilla first participated in MF in 1985, with the classic "Piccadilly Circus" - a song that actually is a lot better than the winning song, and it's still very popular in Sweden. "Don't Say Goodbye" is Pernilla's brand new single.
Caracola - Ända Fram (The whole way)
[Buy]About a year ago I got hold of some demos that were submitted to MF. This was one of them, but I got the English version. "Ända Fram" is the Swedish version and it's featured on Caracola's debut-album, which was released last week. From the minute I heard this I loved it. It's a lot better in English too. But you will have to do the Swedish, I'm afraid.
Shirley Clamp - Äntligen (Finally)
[Buy]
In 2003 Shirley entered MF with "Mr Memory" but she didn't get her breakthrough until a year later with the huge hit "Min Kärlek". For her debutalbum she recorded Mr Memory in Swedish, and if she had sung it in Swedish from the beginning maybe she would have breaked already in 2003.
Friends - Favourite Song (That's All Because Of You)Friends made four schlagtastic albums. This song is from the third album "Listen to your heartbeat". It's a "cover" of Ines, y'know, the brilliant girl from Estonia. But their version is more schlager so it is quite suitable.
.. the finale
Carola - För Alltid (For always) [Buy]The Queen of 'em all. Carola's latest album is the best schlageralbum of the year. She knows how to do it, when she wants too. "För Alltid" belongs to my favourites.
I hope you're not disappointed with my choices. I will do another selection like this again.
Don't worry, be happy!
» Design
Noticing anything different? For the next few days (well, could take ages) the blog will slowly change looks here and there. I'm absolutely no talent at these things though so it will take time.
If you have ANY ideas or would like to help me out PLEASE email me at
ajson05@yahoo.seI'd appreciate all the help I could get. We want the blog to change looks, to make it look more flashy or whatever. ;-)
Thanks for visiting and keep listening!
//Alexander
» This song is not for you
The Sounds – Tony The Beat (Push It)When listening to
The Sounds' latest LP
[buy] I totally misjudged this song, thinking it was a bad song, but after hearing it a couple of times on music television channels, since it's the new single, I’ve realised its brilliance. I’m loving Maja’s voice on this track, and the chorus is very catchy. Hopefully this song will boost the album-sales a bit, since they haven’t been very good this far (probably due to the crap first choice for a single). This makes me believe I should consider re-listening to the entire album again since I might’ve misjudged it all?
Otur – Self-Titled NovelRemember
Cat5’s previous group
The Lightbulb Project? They’ve been featured on both
Fluxblog and
Into The Groove earlier this year. Well, the only remaining member of the original line-up recently went solo and released an album. It’s following in the veins of Lightbulb Project, being cute electro-pop, and there are a couple of good songs on it (even though it’s not nearly as good as the Cat5 album). And while Cat5 are singing ironic lyrics about taking their jeans off and shaping their man into the man,
Otur (which is the Swedish name for Bad Luck) sings about deep and philosophic things. You could call her a cuter version of Sophie Rimheden (music-wise, that is). ‘Self-Titled Novel’ has grown to be my favourite song on the album. The chorus is very infectious, and you get a rather cosy feeling while listening to it.
[Buy]Bonus:
I Want – It’s like a mixture of The Knife’s ‘Na Na Na’ and Norway’s entry in Eurovision Song Contest this year. And it’s like the ultimate grower, increasing from being enormously mediocre at the first listen to fantastic at the fifth listen. Give it a chance!
Oh, and the Pet Shop Boys concert was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. As well as the afterparty held by West End Girls. Martin Rolinski (singer in BWO) was standing just beside me when they (ie West End Girls) performed! And Neil Tennant a few metres away. With other words; slightly too many ace popstars in the same room (which by the way was really a small one) at once for a pop obsessed guy like me. They had cheap beer too. I had a great time.
» You will survive!
People have been telling me lately
UPDATE!!!, and the reason why there hasn't been one for some time is lack of inspiration. I want to find music you haven't heard for a while or at all. I'm still searching, but until then here's a few songs that will settle your demands (hopefully).
Alcazar - Save My PrideThis is one of Alcazar's most rare songs. It's a hidden track on Alcazarized but it's also featured on Dancefloor Deluxe. It's a great, camp, joyful and catchy tune. And the chorus actually reminds a lot of BWO's "Temple of Love". Maybe Bard lacked some inspiration himself when he wrote the later one. ;)
Velvet - In & Out of LoveJenny (Velvet) is without a doubt one of Sweden's best popsingers. She has a very strong and quite dark voice, and that's what I like about her. She doesn't sound like everyone else. And the voice is just perfect for her music. She didn't win Melodifestivalen this year, but surprisingly "Mi Amore" has become a hit in Sweden and in parts of Europe. What a good sign for her future!
Leila K - ElectricI won't write much about this gal, 'cause frankly I know nothing about her! I did however read in a newspaper a couple of years ago that she's nowadays homeless. That was very sad to hear, and I hope she's doing better now. "Electric" is a Swedish classic. Leila wrote it with Denniz Pop and Max Martin. And the gorgeous, wonderful, fantastic Jessica Folcker is singing the chorus on this one (Double up!)
Leana - Faith (Lenny B.'s Faithful Radio Edit) A while ago Chris posted the official "gay pride theme" of 2005, by Leana. It was called "Dance With a Stranger". It never became popular among the gays of Sweden because it simply wasn't gay enough. Here's another song by Leana, which I find very good. Dancy!
Oh, and if you haven't already noticed our Shoutboard/Tagboard to the left, check it out now and leave us a message or whatever. It's always nice to know who our visitors are!
Se A Vida É!
Hi guys.
Just wanted to check in with you. Sorry for the lack of updates from me, school and my driving license have been keeping me busy. However, I'm 'free' from now on so there will be updates as usual next week.
Right now I'm sitting by some computer in Arlanda, Stockholm. I've just flown from my home town way up in Northen Sweden to see a, hopefully and probably, amazing concert with pop gods Pet Shop Boys. And afterwards I'm going to an afterparty held by no other than West End Girls! I'm extremely excited.
I'll tell you how it was in my next update. Bye!
Chris xx
Have I been gone too long?
Charlotte Perrelli - Gone Too LongYou all remember Queen Charlotte, right? The amazing singer who won Eurovision back in 1999 with pink outfit and gorgeous backings. This is a song from her latest album (released 2004), it has also been recorded by Gloria Gaynor but I prefer Charlotte's of course. If you listen carefully you can actually hear Anna Sahlene doing backings.
Jessica Andersson - Kalla NätterRemember Fame who represented Sweden in Eurovision 2003? Well, this is Jessica's solo-debut. It finished 5th in one of the semis of Melodifestivalen this year, despite this being an utter amazing poptrack.
Lena Philipsson - Det Ringer På Min DörrThe new single from Lena, and this could be the summerhit we've been waiting for. It's very fresh and I can imagine myself laying on the beach listening to this, checking out hot guys and asking them to ring my bell.
Lisa Lindebergh - One WeekThis is an old favourite of mine. It was released sometime in 1997, I think, but it still sounds pretty up-to-date. It's very catchy and summery. Apparently someone called Sandra Morey has recorded this too. If you know who she is, and have her version of the song please let me know. I'm dying to hear it.
That's all from me folks. Enjoy the weekend! Hope I've brightened it a bit.
Picture: Jessica Andersson
They're a work of pop art
Zeigeist – Tar Heart
The electro-beat sound exactly like Robyn’s ‘Who’s That Girl?’, the chorus sound like Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, some of the synths remind me of New Order’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, and the girl sound exactly like Karin Dreijer of The Knife. So much that it’s almost acceptable for either one to sue. But it’s still a good electro-pop song. I like it, and something tells me you will too.
Zeigeist is a new popgroup (consisting of one girl and two boys) from Gothenburg who got quite hyped earlier this year when ‘Tar Heart’ leaked and was told to be a song from the latest Knife-album. Similar to Army of Lovers they don’t play any instruments on stage, and are working just as much with the group’s outfits and image as with the music. All the members also share a love for art, which you can see in
pictures from their live shows. You can check out some more tracks by Zeigeist on
their Myspace. And be sure to remember their name! I predict big things for these guys.
Evan – Under Your Spell This didn’t quite catch me on the first listen, probably because the first time I heard it Evan was performing it, and he’s quite awful live. But while listening to it on the Melodifestivalen-CD I’ve realised what a masterpiece it really is! I absolutely love the production with all the synths and violins, really powerful, and Evan’s voice is wonderfully overproduced. He has a couple of clips from his upcoming album on his
website, and I think it sounds really really promising. Looks like we have another great pop album ahead of us.
Best! News! Ever!
Two of my favourite pop groups are both working on new albums. I'm talking about The Ark and Melody Club, who both are amazing. And, if that’s not enough, Melody Club are working with pop genius Klas Åhlund (Robyn, Teddybears STHLM) on theirs. That's a guaranteed masterpiece then. Woho!
Disco extravaganza
The Paper Faces – Disco BoyDo you miss Melody Club? And The Mo? Then The Paper Faces are something for you. They do jolly electro-softrock with strong melodies. Though they sound a bit more ‘British’ than the groups earlier mentioned. Like they’re really trying to sound indie, but, like most Swedish ‘rock’ bands, they end up being pop anyway. It’s incredible! But, I appreciate it, and I think you do too. I’ve actually had ‘Disco Boy’ on my iPod for months now, but didn’t find out that they’re Swedish until a couple of days ago. It sounds like something off the new Sounds-LP, except miles better. You can download two other brilliant songs of theirs on their
website (you should - they really are good). Are The Paper Faces the “next big thing”?
Purchase!
Andreas Lundstedt – Lovegun Both Alcazar-boys' solo singles has done really well in the charts. Magnus’ debut single ‘Let Livet’ debuted at number one, and his current one called ‘Mellan Vitt Och Svart’ is currently at number two. Also this, which is Andreas’ debut single, went straight to number one a couple of weeks ago. While Magnus decided to go into the Swedish schlager-pop genre, Andreas decided to stick with disco. So no – it’s nothing like Six4One. Thank God! Oh, and it’s even gayer than Alcazar. And I didn't even think that was possible. My favourite line is "Down down down on my knees baby, please baby, fire your love gun!"
Purchase!
