Etikettarkiv: Nano

Blog post, Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen, Music posts

Melodifestivalen 2019 – Final results

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Melodifestivalen with the final scores and my own take on what really happened last night.

This blog post won’t cover any of my views of the touring monster called Melodifestivalen, I will just look at the results of the Melfest2019 but promise to get back to the changes I feel is needed to keep the Melodifestivalen as an relevant TV show.

The juries, all of them obviously went all in for John Lundvik, all jury groups gave him the top score of 12 points (not happened since Carola 1983?) so I will focus more on what happened behind his perfect score.

What surprised me most was Nano and “Chasing rivers” to end up as the runner up with the juries. I would have thought his points was coming from the Swedish public who know about his history and his extremely well planned spreading of how hard life has been for him and a shameless use of his son to draw attention to it. A tactic that works world wide. But the international jury groups actually placed this excuse of a song second? You never know how “experts” vote.

I was also very surprised to find Finland trashing Jon Henrik song, if not 12 points I was sure they were the once to understand it and give it a 8 or 10… In the same way I was 100% certain that Israel would give 12 points to Bishara, not happened either.

But the big surprise, Anna Bergendahl, train wrecked with the jury and I must say also with the public. This is the big surprise of the evening for me. Together with the fact that I really want to sit down with some people who actually took their phone and placed calls on Malou Prytz, Mohombi and Hanna & Liamoo – what where you thinking?

But Anna Bergendahl returning to the Melodifestivalen with a amazing song, fantastic staged and soo much airplay before the final completely run into a full stop yesterday. The juries had her 11th out of 12? And the public 7th? Since everything pointed on success she must be so disappointed and I must admit I am too. “Ashes to ashes” is a amazing act well worth a final placing 1 – 4. So what happened? And what happened during the rehearsals that made the juries (who voted from the rehearsal performances) place her in the bottom 2?

A 10 from UK to Arvingarna was also a surprise, but a happy one. Cause songs in Swedish is needed in the Melodifestivalen to not turn it into a 100% English contest. I actually also welcome more of other languages on the line up to void everything sounding the same. But this is more for my upcoming blogpost on the contest and changes I feel needed.

I also think the jury got Bishara better judged than the public and also proof of my point yesterday that if you don’t know the story behind his break he is not that special even if extremely talented.

From my point of view who gave my own 12 points to Arvingarna I must say to the people trashing me for this that I am fully, 100% aware they most likely would have ended up outside top 10 in Tel Aviv, but still, the song made me happy and I liked it. At the same time, with no connection to yesterdays result I get a bit worried why Nanne (one of ht composers) not even turned up during the final. She’s been sick for a long time bur from what I am aware feeling fine again. Her absence worries me for real.

Lina Hedlund must also be a bit disappointed but she will have years of being a favorite in the SchlagerBars in Sweden in front of her but for example Malou Prytz must feel her career in music died yesterday while Wiktoria, as I wrote yesterday will get few jury votes since the Eastern states not invited to vote this year. Her song and performance kind of screams 100% Ukraine (withdrawn from esc by the way), Belarus, Azerbaijan and Russia. And since she is one of the singers in a group of performers in Sweden only having a career based on Melodifestivalen participation she most likely will need to sit down and think about her next moves in the industry.

But the show ended with a well worthy winner, John Lundvik will fly the Swedish flag in Tel Aviv with honor and I am actually sure he will end top 3 during the final night. Based on what other countries presented up until now. It won’t come as a surprise if Eurovision Song Contest will be back in Sweden 2020 and listen to the second half of “Too late for love” what a amazing song to end a Eurovision Song Contest TV broadcast from Israel in May. With an arena singing along in the gospel tune.

Björn

Melodifestivalen, Music posts

Final Melodifestivalen 2019

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So after weeks of “Melfest” – Finally there the final of the contest and tonight we will know if John Lundvik, Wiktoria or Anna Bergendahl will fly the Swedish flag in Tel Aviv in May. Looking at the jury groups and a feel of how the Swedish public usually votes none of the other 9 entries will have a chance to win tonight. But I will write one more post on that tomorrow on my views on Melodifestivalen over all. Here I will make a summary of the blogposts on the subject made earlier this week. Feel free to read them too. At the end of this post you find the links.

Jon Henrik Fjällgren with “Norrsken” one of two songs in Swedish tonight and I am sorry to say that I do not think this entry is the one taking JH to Eurovision. And please remember I really want us to send him and his hybrid of Joik and pop. But even for me this song is not strong enough he is neither the hunk of the final this year so the “he is cute” support votes won’t end up here. I am also very surprised that no one think about the different rules in Eurovision with only 6 people on stage and no pre recorded backup chorus. It is so obvious he sing tonight with a lot of recorded singing AND joik (to see him spinning around without joiking and at the same time hear him joik is stupid) something not possible in Eurovision so the song will be a completely other experience if it reach Eurovision. We done that mistake once with Malena Ernman and lets us say that was a failure.

Lisa Ajax and her “Torn” is a song that maybe could have been saved by Sanna Nielsen but Lisa do not have the “shine” to carry this ballad from start to end. It is boring and the lyrics, according to her very very deep and personal, do not impact me at all. I also wonder how a song can be so personal and be the most true thing she ever performed if she’s not involved at all in the composing of the song. Both music and lyrics belongs to someone else and might be personal to her but not to Ajax.

Mohombi enter the Melodifestivalen with one goal in mind to reach the Guiness Book of records as the person saying “hello” most in 3 minutes. But as written before he also think he can gain some votes in other ways and for all of you who know what I talk about I am sure you won’t even listen to the song, you will look for sign of proof. Mohombi released so many brilliant pop songs o I really don’t understand who he decided to enter with this one. His last try in Melodifestivalen with Group Avalon gave him some votes when he ripped his t-shirt off, maybe loose some clothes tonight again and as back then go full Carola throwing flowers on the audience and go for the explanation “I got feeling”.

Lina Hedlund enter the contest with what will be a ESC fan favorite if going to Tel Aviv, and we all know what happens with ESC fan favorites. Good for the CD sale or streaming but not a winner in the long run. I think “Victorious” is a amazing Schlager pop tune in the chorus but the verses is impossible to like. But Line go full out and save it as much as possible but still… Who is supposed to vote for it? Its not the older viewers, not the kids and the ESC fans have other favorites tonight.

Bishara, again I do not hate him! But I must be honest I think he is in this contest at least 2 years too early and the person behind him who decided to enter him with this song should be bitch slapped by the Swedish people. Two things can happen, he will fail with only 12 points from the Israel jury (that’s for sure) and end up in the middle with the telephone votes or he will win cause he is him and it will have nothing to do with the song. And in Eurovision the other countries have no connection to Laila Bagge so the background story fails and we might even not reach the final in Tel Aviv. Cause the song is boring how talented he is the song is crap.

Anna Bergendahl, “Ashes to ashes” One of the songs I think can win tonight and one of the songs I actually don’t mind to see going to Israel in May. Who guessed that knowing what I feel about Anna Bergendahl under normal circumstances – actually not bad at all and her voice fits this song like a glove, good staging and outfit. Go for it girl.

Nano, “Chasing rivers” Again Nano manage to present a cry story in Melodifestivalen and the Swedes fall for it. Why? We will not be able to explain the Europe and Australia in May that we voted for him to support his brother! Last time he entered he had one of the worst entries in Melfest history and I am surprised to find out that he managed to come back with something even worse, it must be a world record in bad taste.

Hanna Ferm & Liamoo I have NO connection to them since I moved before they participated in IDOL in Sweden. Liamoo I know from last years Melodifestivalen when he destroys a good song with adding rap and Hanna I expect her to be a beauty or fashion blogger after her time trying to be a performer. Maybe also a Miss Sweden candidate? She look more like a beauty queen than a singer. The song is “mellanmjölk” de luxe, amazing staging really like that and Liamoo managed as a guy to kick the girls ass when it comes to clothes but again the song is not all that.

“I do me” Malou Prytz, Good bye… Nice to have seen you on TV Sweetie but go back to school now and study. Before that give the girls who wrote the song a finger and blame the Swedes voting you to the final to be the obvious 12th placed song.

So the huge favorite to win tonight, the Swedes will be split between him and Wiktoris but I think the telemeters will push John to Tel Aviv even if the juries will have Wiktoria as number one. Joh will win on performance without a gimmick on stage, joy, talent, body and looks. Live this entry is amazing with he backup from the girls (who must enter alone as group next year) and simple but great to watch. But listen to the recording only the joy fro the live performance kind of not there even if its still an amazing song. But again, I think John will enter the flight to Tel Aviv.

Wiktoria and “Not with me” will be the Eastern part of Europes huge favorite if she go to Tel Aviv, its 100% slick, fake, over the top a la “In Eurovision only”. And even without any eastern states voting this year in the Swedish Selection I think the jury votes will keep her on top but John will pass her after the televises. From the Swedish point of view Wiktoria is not as easy to like as John, and it will be what decide this.

I do Casper, I do, so Arvingarna back with the song “I do”, I know its not a winner tonight (looking at the polls in Europe both songs in Swedish is 11 and 12 in most of them) but I think the televises will save them from ending up 12, but I´ll be surprised if the Swedish public place them higher then 9. But I would have voted for them, even with John and Wiktoria in the final I like this song, it makes me happy even if it is “old School” schlager. Just imagine in a dream that all “Dansbands” fans (most likely watching, cause Melfest and Dansband go hand in hand) decides together to save Dansband as a genre in Melodifestivalen and all voted Arvingarna…. Exiting.

Thats it for now, if you want more views on each song, please check the links

First 4 songs

Song 5 – 8

Song 9 – 12

Melodifestivalen, Music posts

Melodifestivalen 2019 – The next 4

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So let us go on with the next four then.

“On my own” – Bishara Morand

First of all… No I do not hate this guy he is a piece of pure talent with a future in the music industry if he wants to and with the right management. But the same management should have hold him outside the Melodifestivalen maybe two more years? 2019 won’t be his year even if it will be his break. And for the older crowd, 1983, a 16 year old girl won the Melodifestivalen and thanked God for the victory, the Swedish music industry never been the same. Here we have a 16 year old guy, thanking God for his advancement into the final, and yes, his break. But he will get the votes cause of him who nail the song on stage not because of the song which is 3 minutes long but feels like 20 minutes, nothing here excites me. Just a boring ballad.

“Ashed to ashes” – Anna Bergendahl

I did not like her in Idol and I was the first who said Sweden won’t reach the final when she won the Melodifestivalen 2010 – and my lord did people trashed me then… I never liked her so reading she was launching her comeback to the music scene this year I was less then excited. But wow, “Ashes to ashes” nailed it. The song is smart, fit her voice, the performance is amazing and even the clothes make this act 100% right. A hit song for Anna, I take my “mats ur stolen” as we say in Sweden and congratulate Anna. So far the most played entry among the once being released as a single in my home. Not sure I will put her no 1 on Saturday, but the chance is high (together with a few other songs she’s up there)

“Chasing rivers” – Nano

With a B song he entered a few years ago and got so much votes that I am chocked, all cause his cry story about his gangster life but when he turned out to be a father he needed to take care of his family and could not be a thug anymore. This year the song is even worse, its not even a song its just simple shit BUT wow he has a even better cry story this year so Sweden will vote, thanks heaven for the International jury who will give him lower scores.

“Hold you” – Hanna Ferm & Liamoo

The talk in town said this might be the winner, and fans went crazy. Many of them the same fans who trashed “Running scared” when that song won the Eurovision for Azerbaijan. And this is the same song a bit re arranged which shows that Eurovision fans are a strange crowd, fun but strange. The stage set up tho´is amazing but no, this is not a winner.

Tomorrow we go the last 4

Björn

Blog post, Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen, Music posts

The duels – Melodifestivalen

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So tonight its time for the Second chance contest and the duels, and without seeing if they done any changes this is my choices for tonight.

Andreas Johansson “Army of us” – Anna Bergendahl “Ashes to ashes”, Actually an easy one. Andreas song is one of the worst once this year while Anna Bergendahl usually someone I really do not like as an artist. But Anna found her sound and “Ashes to Ashes” actually raised up to be one of the most played songs from 2019. Somy winner: Anna Bergendahl

Vlad Reiser “Nakna i regnet” – Nano “Chasing rivers”, this duel will not go my way if not Vlad can get all his followers to watch the show tonight and make them vote. So, Vlad song is not a masterpiece but Nano? Really? Something of the worst thing ever happened to Melodifestivalen, TWICE! But here people will once again buy the poor poor Nano story and vote hm to the final. My winner: Vlad Reiser.

Martin Stenmarck “Låt skiten brinna” – Lisa Ajax “Torn” Not an easy one, but I think Lisa will win but hope for Martin. Listen to the songs after they been released Lisas song is one of the once I skip the most. My winner Martin Stenmarck

Rebecka Karlsson “Who I am” – Arvingarna “I do” – The “why did she even come top 5” song against “WTF why not direct to the final song”. Rebecka who never reached this position without the tearful presentation in her semifinal. The song is crap even if she is sings well. Arvingarna should have been in the final without passing second chance contest with “I do”. “I do” is not a new “Eloise” reminds me more of “Bo Diddley” but I, if not love it, like it a lot. My winner: Arvingarna

So if I can decide its Anna Bergendahl, Vlad Reiser, Martin Stenmarck and Arvingarna.

But I think it will be Anna Bergendahl, Nano, Lisa Ajax and Arvingarna. The two last duels are the hardest to guess.

Björn

Blog post, Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen, Music posts

Melodifestivalen 1 – The Songs

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As the second post on Melodifestivalen 2019 let us look at the songs.

My list at the Night The real result in ():

  1. Anna Bergendahl – Ashes to ashes (Second chance contest)
  2. Zeana feat. Anis Don Demina – Mina Bränder
  3. Wiktoria – Not with me (Final)
  4. Mohombi – Hello (Final)
  5. Nano – Chasing Rivers (Second chance contest)
  6. High 15 – No drama
  7. Arja Saijonmaa – Mina fyra årstider

Anna Bergendahl “Ashes to ashes” I really surprised myself when I ended up with a list with Anna on the top. Cause I normally do not like anything she produced so far. As a Eurovision blogger back when she won the Melodifestivalen last time she participated I was more or less cyber killed telling that she would send Sweden out from the final in Eurovision. History gave me right and she is still the only artist from Sweden to fail to reach the final (Charlotte was saved by the juries with “Hero” but still Sweden was in the final). But “Ashes to ashes” was the best song during the nigh even if Anna looked more like a manic skier from Norway dressed up for a award show. In this song her voice actually worked and not sounded like nails on a blackboard.

Zeana feat. Anis Don Demina “Mina bränder” at first I was like, “what?” but when the chorus started I really liked it. I do think, maybe, that Anis Don Demina should have done this solo cause Zeana both looked and sounded very nervous. This song will most likely sound much much better recorded than live so I suppose it will end up as one of the most played songs from melodifestivalen 2019 in my home.

Wiktoria “Not with me” a song Sanna Nielsen might have rocked and Wiktoria tries to as much as she can. But this ballad only work cause of the show, without the rain on stage she would most likely only reached the “Second chance”. She kind of demonstrate whats so wrong with Melodifestivalen and Eurovision today, its not about the music it is about the concept and the presentation. The show is effective and will end up on the top when we reach the final in March 2019.

Mohombi “Hello” turn us back to the 80s and “A-Ha” in his performance, not the song tho´which made be so disappointed. I am a fan of Mohombi and he is well known here in France which makes me wonder if his decision to enter the Swedish selection and not the French one might have been a mistake cause even if “Hello” made me disappointed as a song I would have loved it to kick Bilal Hassani out as the French contestant in Eurovision. For me “Hello” only bring 3 minutes of endless repeats of the word “Hello” and has nothing of the beat Mohombis songs usually bring us. Very very lame and I can’t see how any televoting European will lift the phone and call for this. A second Benjamin Ingrosso year if we send Mohombi, jury say yes and the viewers no. And the flirt with the “Take on me” video might have been fun if the songs was a 80s tune… Now its just “Why is he doing Take on me?”

Nano “Chasing rivers” Oh NO, this is even worse than the shit he presented last. Then I understood he would be popular cause he then entered as a underdog and the song had some drive and beat so even if I hated it I got the hype. But this? “Chasing rivers” is a amazingly bad try to repeat his last entry in “Melodifestivalen”. And as an artist he brings nothing to the world. No performer ever been so dated but thinking he is all that.

High 15 “No drama” In the year of the Spice Girls reunion SVT picks out a girl group (knowing that the girl groups never work in Eurovision) with. song turning out to be three songs in one and not connected what so ever. A pity cause Im sure the girls are talented and really nice. And girls, you’re a girl group, the words “We are so different and come from different backgrounds but it works so well and we are best friends” will work for 1 year then you will start to change girls in the group and 6 months later one go solo and the group is no more. Just want to give you a heads up so you don’t be disappointed.

Arja Saijonmaa “Mina fyra årstider”, beautiful beautiful Arja, this was…. Tragic… Be lucky you advocate the reasons for the global warming to be the fault of the human race and not deny it cause if so would never have reached the Melodifestivalen scene. The no politic comepetion which is one of the most political competitions ever made going Political Correct and present a first entry in the accepted “Åsiktskorridor”. Cause I cannot see that this song was picked to participate of any other reason than the Lex Greta Thunberg cause the song was bad.. so bad, and I love Arja. The big “?” is where was Tobias Karlsson in all this he kind of escort Arja in all “gay” events… Another thing If Arja won the contest can you see SVT to put her and all of the Swedish delegation on a boat to Tel Aviv to not end up in a discussion on the carbon footprint.

I dont think, and I hope, the winner 2019 not among the first 4 going to the final or second chance contest but we will see. It takes all songs to in full understand who Christer Björkman decided he want to send to Tel Aviv.

Björn