Melodifestivalen 2009

[Shiva]

http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=668

As some people call it, the mini Eurovision. The Swedish selection for Moscow has begun.

Here are your contestants for this year, chosen from more then 4,000 entrants.

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BTW I don't know how long these videos will be up on youtube, so apologies if they get pulled ;)

Semifinal 1

Nina Söderqvist - Tick tock: an explosive start for the show. She's on the stage with black leather and four male dancers in black skirts. Pyros and wind machine complete the act that works well. Great staging, pretty good song and she's got presence on stage even if she performs in a rather theatrical way, like a real vampire.

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Jonathan Fagerlund - Welcome to my life: He looks so gay it hurts and acts the way, too. If shaking your pelvis won't come naturally don't do it! A fake rock girl band is on stage with him performing this rather useless pop tune.

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Shirley Clamp - Med hjärtat fyllt av ljus: the diva returns with a power ballad and a very Carola-esque act in her flowing blue dress and wind machine. A few shaky notes here and there but beautiful song and Shirley... well, Shirley is Shirley!

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Scotts - Jag tror på oss: the dansband act performed their songs the danceband way. Here we got the first look at the new rule: no longer max people on stage as they have 3 female backing singers. The song's okeyish.

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Emilia - You're my world: she's back with another world song after big big world. Quite nice tune but is it strong enough for Eurovision? More like some romantic comedy's soundtrack I would say. Also she has more than 6 people on stage. Pyros and sort of 60's golden dress that fits the song.

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Alcazar - Stay the night: Great choreography, catchy tune, 80's neon pink that owes a lot to Madonna's Hard candy look and a heavy dance beat that owes a lot to Diana Ross' Chain reaction. The performance was much better than the song but then this is Eurovision, it's the package! Pretty fabulous at least for the first hearing! (And isn't that also what Eurovision is all about?). Let's see if Swedes get it this time.... Definitely my favourite to win overall, so far ;)

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Caroline af Ugglas - Snälla, snälla: Ok, she might be wonderful and all that but this was more like a lament. Yawn. But she did give it all.... No video available I'm afraid.

Marie Serneholt - Disconnect me: white for her and black for the dancers in this number that looks like Helena Paparizou-Hadise and the song isn't as good as theirs.

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And the results:

Alcazar are through to the final, woo [;-)] Emilia also goes through.

Scotts to go to 2nd chance, Caroline was the international jury's choise and will therefor have also another chance.

I'm a bit disappointed about Nina, but hey, the best bank are through.

Drunken Gay Swedish people are cute :)
An interview with the winners, including some talk about their new album.
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[Cinaed]

hehe i knew it would be alcazar as soon as i read his name [:-))]

gaycork should do Melodifestivalen 2010 as a meetup [:-P]

[Shiva]

gaycork should do Melodifestivalen 2010 as a meetup [:-P]

Seconded!!!

Oh I can't wait for BWO now :)

[Cinaed]

Bwo?

[Shiva]

Bwo?

Oh you poor uneducated dear, you better re track that before Invincible hears you [;-)]

BWO are Bodies without Organs, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodies_Without_Organs).

Bodies Without Organs is a Swedish electro pop group, formed in 2004. Since early 2006 they have usually been presented under the shortened name BWO. In Sweden they have enjoyed considerable commercial success throughout their career, so far notching up 18 hit singles, including a Number 1 with "Temple of Love", and four Top 10 albums including a Number 1 with Halcyon Days, and have won several major Swedish music awards. They have had significant chart success in several Eastern European countries including Finland, Ukraine and Russia, and in 2008 some moderate success in the United Kingdom, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and Denmark.


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Fantastic band :)

[Cinaed]

Bodies Without Organs

[@-)]

name says it all [:-))]

will check them out tho, thanks [;-)]

[Slayer]

Their song Chariots of Fire is also great.

[Shiva]

I've been playing the Alcazar on repeat for the past few days LOVE IT!!!

So full of energy and happiness, bounce bounce bounce

[Shiva]

Try saying that "melody" something or other thing 20 times when drunk [:-D][:-P]

I'll take that bet

[Shiva]

There is a lot of really good songs that don't even make it into the Eurovision. Take Estonia last year, they sent in the joke entry, they were worse than Dustin, thing is they are a huge comedy act in Estonia and got voted in on that merit, they even say themselves they were shocked to get through. The song that should have won came second place Iisis Vesik - Ice cold story, is very very good. Definitely not a winner but I think it would have gotten through to the finals, 12 points from Finland :)

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And yea you can't beat a Swede for choreography*

*apart from the Germans, a scarily organised people

[Shiva]

One minute clips of the eight songs competing in the second semi final of Melodifestivalen 2009 tomorrow in Skellefteå, Sweden are now available to listen to on the national broadcaster, SVT's website. The songs will compete for two places in the national final at Globen on March 14th.

I love "Show Me Heaven" :D, that said 1000 Miles is really good too. I really should go and live in Sweden...

Clips of the eight songs competing this week are now available to listen to online. The show tomorrow night starts at 20:00 CET and features the return of two former Melodifestivalen finalists, Amy Diamond (2008) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2007). There will also be comebacks from Lili & Susie and Jennifer Brown as well as the Melodifestivalen debut for wildcard and Swedish superstar, Markoolio.

To listen to the song clips on the SVT website, click on the artist and songs below:

1. Show Me Heaven - Lili & Susie (http://svtplay.se/v/1443406/melodifestivalen/60s_lili_och_susie_-_show_me_heaven)
2. Jag ska slåss i dina kvarter - Lassse Lindh & Band (http://svtplay.se/v/1443411/melodifestivalen/60s_lasse_lindh_och_bandet_-_jag_ska_slass_i_dina_kvarter_)
3. Never Been Here Before - Jennifer Brown (http://svtplay.se/v/1443416/melodifestivalen/60s_jennifer_brown_-_never_been_here_before)
4. 1000 Miles - H.E.A.T (http://svtplay.se/v/1431467/melodifestivalen/60s_h.e.a.t_-_1000_miles)
5. Kärlekssång från mig - Markoolio (http://svtplay.se/v/1431480/melodifestivalen/60s_markoolio_-_karlekssang_fran_mig)
6. It’s My Life - Amy Diamond (http://svtplay.se/v/1431464/melodifestivalen/60s_amy_diamond_-_it_s_my_life)
7. What If - Cookies’n Beans (http://svtplay.se/v/1443403/melodifestivalen/60s_cookies_n_beans_-_what_if)
8. Hope & Glory - Måns Zelmerlöw (http://svtplay.se/v/1431472/melodifestivalen/60s_mans_zelmerlow_-_hope_och_glory)

Once again, after the first stage of voting, three songs will be eliminated. After the second stage, the first two songs to battle for a place at Globen will be announced. The winner of the dual will qualify, and the loser will go to the Andra Chansen (second chance round). This will then be repeated with the other two songs in the top four and the song finishing fifth will be revealed. After that, the result of the international jury will be revealed, and the highest placed song that did not automatically qualify will be given another chance in the international jury selection for the second chance round. The international jury will rescue one song that does not qualify for Globen to provide the 11th and final song in the show on Saturday 14th March.

[Shiva]

http://gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=668

Apologies for having no clips, but as mentioned previously SVT (the Swedish national carrier have gone all silence mode on the songs, so as not to give anyone an unfair advantage)

Lili & Susie opened the night and time stood still in a good way. I adore them, they brought me back 20+ years in seconds! They did a good job but I wasn't at all sure how Swedes feel about them these days..., they currently stand as Invincibles favorites [;-)]

Lasse followed with the dullest song of the evening (and indeed he finished 8th) and then came Jennifer. She sung well and the song was ok but it didn't take her further than 7th place and I don't think it deserved mcuh more.

Next was HEAT who had a serious disfunction with the looks department but the song! The song is a perfect pop anthem disguised as a heavy rock song. I like it!

Then Marko Lehtosalo, better known as Markoolio took the stage with his ballad. Just when I was wondering if it is a joke entry or not, on stage they started making joke about Dima Bilan's both entries with people coming out of grand piano, skaters and violinists... Oh well.

Amy Diamond next. I have to admit I dislike her and I don't even know why. The song has the Alexandar Bard touch in it so it isn't completely wasted.

Cookies & Beans, or three messy looking saloon ladies from the wild wild west with their country tune. Yawn...

And last but not least the big favourite this year: Måns Zelmerlöf. He surely is a good performer, highly entertaining with good vocals and his James Bond inspired show worked well but is the song a little disappointment?

As usual we got the top-5 first and Lili & Susie, Måns, HEAT and Amy made it this far as I expected but instead of Markoolio the messy ladies made it but they only came 5th and in final duels HEAT beat Amy (hoorah!) and Måns beat Lili & Susie (sigh!). Lili & Susie will made it from the second chance then....

[yop]

I'm starting to get really into Melodifestivalen this year. Was in a Swedish bar in London at the weekend watching heat 2 and heading back again this weekend for heat 3, I loved Mans - Hope & Glory last week.

I'm off to Sweden next month for the final. Anyone else going?

[Shiva]

Alas I can't go this yea [:-((]
But plans are afoot for next year

So jealous of you right now :)

[Shiva]

Another semifinal of Melodifestivalen has just ended and once again it was a great show visually and in my opinion musically the most solid one.

My favorite act did get through to the finals, E.M.D., and certainly not because Danny Saucedo was there [@};-]

ydC1wyWLlSc

http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=99&pictureid=1395

According to a member of the international jury, their money is on Molly Sandén to win, she went straight to he final on March 14th. A nice ballard, which does stand out from all the others.

BWO did a risky choice by trying with a ballad-esque song instead of their usual dance anthems but upon a second hearing it sounded better. Rigo & co, who lost their duel with E.M.D. are also through to the second chance semis on March 7th along with BWO.

[Shiva]

http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=668

Round 4 is on tonight, and as usual SVT have release 1 minute promos for each song. You can find them here (http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=79702&lid=puff_1433272&lpos=lasMer)

Agnes - Love love love (a very good Schlager song, it would even do well in the charts, one of my favorites)
Star pilots - Higher (Fantastic 80s pop song, definitely inspired by Top Gun :) )
Susanne Alfvengren - Du är älskad där du går (a golden oldie this one, I don't think it will do well at all)
Anna Sahlene & Maria Haukaas Storeng - Killing me tenderly ( another slow ballard, not that great)
Thorleifs - Sweet Kissin' In The Moonlight (sounds like a Christmas song)
Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on (A decent ballard, this might get her through)
Next 3 - Esta Noche (Swedish rap to a Jamaican beat)
Malena Ernman - La voix (this is the crazy opera lady, kind of reminds me of Fifth Element, or as the review says "A raging glorious declaration of love to the combination of pop and opera!")

[Shiva]

As expected, and much to my delight both Agnes and crazy opera lady Malena Ernman got through to the finals. Agnes' song would do well on general release I think, its a lovely pop tune.

Star Pilots and Sarah Dawn Finer got through to the second chance final next week.

[Shiva]

The Swedish Eurovision Song Contest selection show, Melodifestivalen has been a growing commercial success in Sweden for several years. The multi-award winning show's compilation CD and DVD are chart toppers every year and the 2009 editions are now available.

The Melodifestivalen 2009 official CD has been available for pre-order for several weeks and deliveries begin this Friday. The official DVD is now available to pre-order and deliveries will begin on 8th April. You can purchase your copy of the 2009 Melodifestivalen CD featuring all 32 songs here.

The official Melodifestivalen DVD includes all six shows from the 2009 competition as well as plenty of bonus material and backstage footage.

The DVD will be released on Wednesday 8th April 2009 and can be pre-ordered from CDON.com here.

The growing success of the Eurovision Song Contest selection shows across the Nordic countries has seen Norway, Denmark and Finland return to releasing their official compilation CDs as well, all are now available from CDON.com (http://cdon.eu/music/swedish_melodifestivalen/)

Taken from Here (http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13430)

[Shiva]

http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=668

Well sorry for the late report but I only got to see it last night. The second chance final was held in the quaint northern city of Norrköping.

It consisted of the 3rd and 4th placed semi-finalists from each heat battling against each other in a series of duels TO THE DEATH!!!!*

*This might be a slight exaggeration

Duel 1: First up was was Scotts - "Jag tror på oss" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMpHHMp4ERY) vs Sarah Dawn Finer - "Moving On" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhezzqJsKY).

The Scotts gave a good performance but it was just a generic pop hit in Swedish, nothing really grabs you about this.

Sarah Dawn Finer was really impressive, now that's a power ballard, well performed but she went a little too high in one or two places, she was trying to reach too much. But it worked out as she won that duel.

Duel 2: Lili & Susie - "Show Me Heaven" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gdhpXLBn-A) vs BWO - "You're Not Alone" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-8uYX6MwpI)

Lilli & Susie were fantastic, great high energy song with a fantastic performance.

BWO performed their slow song again, its not as bad as the first time around, bit of a grower, but unfortunately it didn't help them at all as Lilli & Susie beat them WITH CLUBS*

*Again a slight exaggeration

Duel 3: Amy Diamond - "It's My Life" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdBtU18F4A) Vs Star Pilots - "Higher" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZV7efwbRTY)

Amy, the token child in the competition was much better this time around, but her voice was still shaky, catchy little tune but again her voice gets annoying after a while.

Star Pilots were once again fantastic with their top gun impressions and 80's sounds. Which got them through to the next set of duels.

Duel 4: Rigo & The Topaz Sound feat. Red Fox - "I Got U" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcBFVYPilD0) Vs Caroline af Ugglas - "Snälla, snälla" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcb8KGMJa0), or as I like to call it the boring part of the evening.

Don't get me wrong Caroline is a good singer, if a little quirky, and Rigo was just meh! But neither song grabbed me as interesting. Needless to say the better of the 2 Caroline, went through.

The next set of duels determined who would go through to the final in The Globe in Stockholm this Saturday.

Sarah Dawn Finer Vs Lilli & Susi
As much as I wanted it to be Lilli & Susi the voting went to Sarah Dawn Finer's power ballard. It's a pretty good so I'm not too upset by this qualifying.

Star Pilots Vs Caroline af Ugglas
Again I'm disappointed here as Caroline qualified, not my favourite and as the show as no ad breaks this will be time to go to the toilet I feel.


http://www.gaycork.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=99&pictureid=1409

And now for the potential 11th place finalist. This is the International jury vote. Each semi-final a group of 20 international jurist, lead by the head of the French delegation, choose a song they think will do well. At the second chance final they then again choose one of those 4, before the show starts, and if that person hasn't already qualified then they get through to the finals as well. Its worth noting that any of their choices doesn't have to have qualified at this point.

This year they chose Caroline af Ugglas, Amy Diamond and Sarah Dawn Finer who all got through to the second chance with both Caroline and Sarah getting through to the finals. The one act that didn't qualify to the second chance that they chose was Sofia with "Alla" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shy2DLeJZDM), a very good greek dance song, of all things (or as Admin called her "The Drum lady". This left only two songs in contention for the International-Jury wildcard: either Amy Diamond or Sofia. The artist chosen to receive the wildcard was Sofia with "Alla" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shy2DLeJZDM). I am delighted by this as it was a very good song, which I think will do well in the finals.


Now onto Saturdays Final

The list of contestants are in the order of appearance:


Måns Zelmerlöw "Hope & Glory" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P52-9nI0n4) - Decent Shlager song with a cute guy in a tux.
Caroline af Ugglas "Snälla snälla" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcb8KGMJa0) - Swedish ballard powerful lyrics, toilet break time.
Agnes "Love Love Love" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgOplKCMQVw) - This I really like, fantastic tune with a great beat to it, definitely one of my favorites.
H.E.A.T. "1000 Miles" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9XVNK_6AzI) - Token rock song, its pretty decent.
Emilia "You're My World" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv7zlk0Tia0) - From the girl who brought you "I'm a big big girl, in a big big world", ok song her voice annoys me, she should not sing pop.
Alcazar "Stay the Night" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9tg2XpJo4) - YES YES YES, I kind of love this song and I hope its Alcazars year [:-D]
Sarah Dawn Finer "Moving On" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uhezzqJsKY) - Power ballard thats more interesting, will do well.
E.M.D. "Baby Goodbye" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jkqU24C-KA) - 3 hot men in tuxes who can sing and dance, MAN CANDY with a great song.
Sofia "Alla" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shy2DLeJZDM) - Love this song, great beat hope it does well for her, she was crushed she didn't make it through until now, definitely one of the better live performances.
Molly Sandén "Så vill stjärnorna" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddmei9I2NzU)- The favourite of the international jury this year, she will do well but I suspect if she wins it will be converted to english. Its a ballard but not a power one, a sweet one.
Malena Ernman "La voix" (www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmanHZKQ270) - Crazy opera lady strikes again, the surprise qualifier, but well deserved. Going from her semi-final performance if she wants to do well she needs to pronounce her words more, sounded like she was mumbling. But if you remember the opera scene in The Fifth Element then you will love this.

[Shiva]

I don't care that I can't speak Swedish, drool
http://svtplay.se/v/1443918/danny_ratt_som_det_var_dok_den_har_spolingen_upp

[Invincible]

I don't care that I can't speak Swedish, drool
http://svtplay.se/v/1443918/danny_ratt_som_det_var_dok_den_har_spolingen_upp

Your man the blond is.....mmmmmmmmm........words can't describe[:''].

[Shiva]

Your man the blond is.....mmmmmmmmm........words can't describe[:''].

Ahhh Danny Saucedo, husband number 4

[admin]

YAY the final is on now [:-D]

Watch it live here:

http://svt.se/melodifestivalen

[Shiva]

In a shocking move La Voix by Malena has won Melodifestivalen 2009.

She came from 6th place after the Jury voting to receive maximum points from the public vote. Well done girl!!!

tmanHZKQ270