There isn't much I can say that hasn't been covered on every other pop blog around. I think the Swedes have done us proud this year. 2008 will be remembered as an extremely strong year for Melodifestivalen.
It was a year where anything could have happened. Charlotte was the obvious favorite, but Sanna was only 18 points behind. It truly was an exciting competition this year. Watching the show live at the Globen you really could feel the energy as each artist gave it their all.
When the dust settled Charlotte took home her second Melodifestivalen victory and will represent Sweden in Belgrade.
She will now go on a tour across Europe to promote the song and we will soon find out how the European public responds to the track. While the song is anthemic, catchy and has a lot of passion. There really is nothing groundbreaking or new with her song. It's a formula that has been done before and it will be interesting to see how she does at Eurovision and to see if she can beat Carola's placing from 2006.
My final thoughts are basically this. Whether you're a long time fan, a casual observer or if you have no idea what the hoopla is about. Melodifestivalen is about great music written by the best song writers and performed by the best talent. It is a competition that truly gives everyone a chance, from the first time performers to legendary stars. This is a country that takes this competition extremely serious. The entire city has been living and breathing Melodifestivalen every day of the last week. It has been on the cover of every newspaper since the day I arrived. arrived.
The entire city has been so warm and receptive. Everywhere I go I would meet new people, share opinions on the performers and the songs and make new friends. Sweden has something very special with Melodifestivalen and it is something no other country has been able to truly replicate. If you've ever thought about making the trip here for Melodifestivalen stop thinking and just make it happen in 2009! You won't regret it.
I'm off to London on Wednesday and I'll be back home in Vancouver, Canada on Thursday.
My cd count is now up to 66 cd's!! So you can expect some great new songs once I'm home and the blog returns to normal.
Finally... I've met a lot of people during the trip who actually read this blog. Talk about a small world! So I want to give a huge shout out to all of them and thank you guys for coming back, listening to the songs I post and leaving comments and feedback. You keep me motivated to continue posting the music I love.
Showing posts with label Sweden Trip 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sweden Trip 2008. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
I LOVE SWEDEN!
I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU ALL!
So lets break it down.
1. You wouldn't believe the luck we've had on this trip. Yesterday we were walking back to our hostel when I heard a microphone and an announcement being made on the street. A crowd had formed and when I went to take a closer look... (There was a big stage up on a catwalk between two buildings) LINDA BENGTZING walks out and performs her new single in the middle of the street!
It was AMAZING, if we had been 5 minutes earlier or later we would have missed the whole thing. Afterwards they announce that she is signing autographs in the mall area! So I actually got to meet her and she signed her single for me.
She was SUPER nice in person and surprisingly short and petite. I told her that we were voting for her and I got a fantastic photo of us together.
At this point I thought my life was complete. THEN! We head to the Globen to watch the dress rehersal. We were about 2 hours early so we go into the Globen Mall and guess who is right in front of us... CHARLOTTE PERRELLI! They're playing 'Hero' on a loop and she's signing autographs!
So of coarse we signed up for that. She was a bit of a diva, but still nice enough. She signed my single 'Take Me To Your Heaven.'
2. The dress rehersal: They basically explained to us that the Final tonight is live, but that they were recording the dress rehersal so they could play it if there was a problem during the live broadcast on Saturday.
Charlotte was flawless... but in a way seemed like she wasn't really trying. I think that of coarse they don't want to give it 100% because they have to be ready for Saturday night.
Sibel's vocals were really poor last night. I'm not sure if she is sick or was just holding back... but it was probably her worst performance so far in the competition.
Linda rocked it! She's toned down the performance a bit and her vocals were really strong. I still don't like the choreography too much... but the audience loves the song and her single is sold out at every shop in Stockholm.
Amy Diamond was the most improved vocally. She sounded MUCH better and she added something to her stage props which I love.
Nordman has a really good chance of winning it all tonight. It was pretty clear after watching the audience reaction that people are LOVING Nordman. I think perhaps a lot of fans will split the vote between BWO and Charlotte which will leave an open door for Nordman.
Sanna was perfect as usual and hadn't changed anything in her performance.
Rongedal was another big surprise... everyone loved them. Of coarse the people around us were impressed that we knew the entire routine and gave our own performance as well.
Christer is the song you love to hate.
BWO was a big hit as well and nothing much had changed for their performance either.
So Im really stuck... I don't know what is going to happen tonight! The media here seems to have Charlotte pegged as the winner but I think BWO and Nordman could easily steal it.
Don't forget half of the vote is decided by a Jury and half from the public and quite often the juries and the public don't match.
3. So today we did some research and found out that there was a massive autograph singing taking place downtown. So at 11:30 I was waiting outside to see performances from Daniel, Alexander Schuld, Caracola, The Poodles and Ola!
Daniel was really really nice. It was actually pretty good to see him sing 'Pame' without all the glitter and campy costume and dance routine. I really really like this song. I talked to him for acouple minutes and he was really happy to sign autographs and pose for photos. Daniel said he wants either Charlotte or Sanna to win tonight.
Caracola were by far the nicest of all the stars I've met here (actually they're tied with Linda who was really great as well.) They signed 3 singles for me and asked me about Canada. They want Sanna to win tonight.
Alexander Schuld did a SUPERB acoustic version of his Melodifestivalen entry, but he wasn't very receptive when signing autographs.
The Poodles also did an acoustic set of a bunch of their hits but I couldn't be bothered to wait in line to meet them. They were also giving their single away for free to everyone walking on the streets. It came across as a little desperate actually.
It was great to see Ola live since I'm not seeing him in the final tonight, but he only sand Love in Stereo which was dissapointing. Caracola sang two tracks and I hoped that Ola would at least sing SOS as well. When we met him he was shocked to hear we were from Canada and he was really nice as well and talked to us for acouple minutes before posing for pictures.
I think I've told every artist that I've met that we've come all the way from Canada just to see them.
4. We went clubbing last night and they played Mans, Linda, Chatlotte, BWO, Amy, Christer, Shirley Clamp, Carola and Andreas, Rongedal, Sanna Nielsen and so much more... it was madness!
Im just getting ready to head to the Globen now to watch the Finalen. Don't forget you can watch it live online at svt.se/melodifestivalen tonight!!
So lets break it down.
1. You wouldn't believe the luck we've had on this trip. Yesterday we were walking back to our hostel when I heard a microphone and an announcement being made on the street. A crowd had formed and when I went to take a closer look... (There was a big stage up on a catwalk between two buildings) LINDA BENGTZING walks out and performs her new single in the middle of the street!
It was AMAZING, if we had been 5 minutes earlier or later we would have missed the whole thing. Afterwards they announce that she is signing autographs in the mall area! So I actually got to meet her and she signed her single for me.
She was SUPER nice in person and surprisingly short and petite. I told her that we were voting for her and I got a fantastic photo of us together.
At this point I thought my life was complete. THEN! We head to the Globen to watch the dress rehersal. We were about 2 hours early so we go into the Globen Mall and guess who is right in front of us... CHARLOTTE PERRELLI! They're playing 'Hero' on a loop and she's signing autographs!
So of coarse we signed up for that. She was a bit of a diva, but still nice enough. She signed my single 'Take Me To Your Heaven.'
2. The dress rehersal: They basically explained to us that the Final tonight is live, but that they were recording the dress rehersal so they could play it if there was a problem during the live broadcast on Saturday.
Charlotte was flawless... but in a way seemed like she wasn't really trying. I think that of coarse they don't want to give it 100% because they have to be ready for Saturday night.
Sibel's vocals were really poor last night. I'm not sure if she is sick or was just holding back... but it was probably her worst performance so far in the competition.
Linda rocked it! She's toned down the performance a bit and her vocals were really strong. I still don't like the choreography too much... but the audience loves the song and her single is sold out at every shop in Stockholm.
Amy Diamond was the most improved vocally. She sounded MUCH better and she added something to her stage props which I love.
Nordman has a really good chance of winning it all tonight. It was pretty clear after watching the audience reaction that people are LOVING Nordman. I think perhaps a lot of fans will split the vote between BWO and Charlotte which will leave an open door for Nordman.
Sanna was perfect as usual and hadn't changed anything in her performance.
Rongedal was another big surprise... everyone loved them. Of coarse the people around us were impressed that we knew the entire routine and gave our own performance as well.
Christer is the song you love to hate.
BWO was a big hit as well and nothing much had changed for their performance either.
So Im really stuck... I don't know what is going to happen tonight! The media here seems to have Charlotte pegged as the winner but I think BWO and Nordman could easily steal it.
Don't forget half of the vote is decided by a Jury and half from the public and quite often the juries and the public don't match.
3. So today we did some research and found out that there was a massive autograph singing taking place downtown. So at 11:30 I was waiting outside to see performances from Daniel, Alexander Schuld, Caracola, The Poodles and Ola!
Daniel was really really nice. It was actually pretty good to see him sing 'Pame' without all the glitter and campy costume and dance routine. I really really like this song. I talked to him for acouple minutes and he was really happy to sign autographs and pose for photos. Daniel said he wants either Charlotte or Sanna to win tonight.
Caracola were by far the nicest of all the stars I've met here (actually they're tied with Linda who was really great as well.) They signed 3 singles for me and asked me about Canada. They want Sanna to win tonight.
Alexander Schuld did a SUPERB acoustic version of his Melodifestivalen entry, but he wasn't very receptive when signing autographs.
The Poodles also did an acoustic set of a bunch of their hits but I couldn't be bothered to wait in line to meet them. They were also giving their single away for free to everyone walking on the streets. It came across as a little desperate actually.
It was great to see Ola live since I'm not seeing him in the final tonight, but he only sand Love in Stereo which was dissapointing. Caracola sang two tracks and I hoped that Ola would at least sing SOS as well. When we met him he was shocked to hear we were from Canada and he was really nice as well and talked to us for acouple minutes before posing for pictures.
I think I've told every artist that I've met that we've come all the way from Canada just to see them.
4. We went clubbing last night and they played Mans, Linda, Chatlotte, BWO, Amy, Christer, Shirley Clamp, Carola and Andreas, Rongedal, Sanna Nielsen and so much more... it was madness!
Im just getting ready to head to the Globen now to watch the Finalen. Don't forget you can watch it live online at svt.se/melodifestivalen tonight!!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thank You Sweden!
WOW!
So Im here in Stockholm and here is an update for you all!
First off we went shopping yesterday and I spent approx $6000 Kronor on Cds and clothes! Thats about $1000 USD in one day.
When I was buying some cds the guy at the register told me that Amy Diamond would be signing autographs there that night! *I was buying her Gold edition of Music In Motion*
So at 4pm I waited in a line of 10 year old girls to meet Amy Diamond. When I finally got there I told her that I was a little embarassed because I was the oldest fan there and that I had flown all the way from Canada to see her in Melodifestivalen. *Only a slight lie* She was sort of embarassed and slightly scared! She signed my album and then I asked her what her favorite song was besides hers of coarse and she said she couldnt decide.
I posed for a picture and that was it! My brush with Swedish popstar fame!
BUT HERE IS THE BIG NEWS!
Tonight we went to a little bar in Gamla Stan and I met the stage director for Charlotte Perrellis performance in Melodifestivalen! He gave me some inside info on her performance!
First off... when her performance begins and she is in black and white... he said that the organizers were originally not very happy with the idea and they had to work hard to convince them. In the end the organizers gave in and said they would see how it worked in the semi-final. He said they were happy with the way it worked out.
ALSO! We can exclusively tell you that the catwalk has been extended for Charlottes performance! He seemed to make a big deal about this.
THe night was amazing they played Mans Zelmerlow, Charlotte twice! BWO, Britney, Nsync, Worlds Apart!! 5ive, Westlife... it is obvious that the Swedes take their pop music very seriously.
Its now 2am and Im off to bed!
Expect a massive update after the dress rehersals on Friday night!!
So Im here in Stockholm and here is an update for you all!
First off we went shopping yesterday and I spent approx $6000 Kronor on Cds and clothes! Thats about $1000 USD in one day.
When I was buying some cds the guy at the register told me that Amy Diamond would be signing autographs there that night! *I was buying her Gold edition of Music In Motion*
So at 4pm I waited in a line of 10 year old girls to meet Amy Diamond. When I finally got there I told her that I was a little embarassed because I was the oldest fan there and that I had flown all the way from Canada to see her in Melodifestivalen. *Only a slight lie* She was sort of embarassed and slightly scared! She signed my album and then I asked her what her favorite song was besides hers of coarse and she said she couldnt decide.
I posed for a picture and that was it! My brush with Swedish popstar fame!
BUT HERE IS THE BIG NEWS!
Tonight we went to a little bar in Gamla Stan and I met the stage director for Charlotte Perrellis performance in Melodifestivalen! He gave me some inside info on her performance!
First off... when her performance begins and she is in black and white... he said that the organizers were originally not very happy with the idea and they had to work hard to convince them. In the end the organizers gave in and said they would see how it worked in the semi-final. He said they were happy with the way it worked out.
ALSO! We can exclusively tell you that the catwalk has been extended for Charlottes performance! He seemed to make a big deal about this.
THe night was amazing they played Mans Zelmerlow, Charlotte twice! BWO, Britney, Nsync, Worlds Apart!! 5ive, Westlife... it is obvious that the Swedes take their pop music very seriously.
Its now 2am and Im off to bed!
Expect a massive update after the dress rehersals on Friday night!!
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