Blogilkar's flying reporter Robert had another big one after Mr Eurovision Ralph Siegel, namely Mr Melodifestival Christer Björkman sit down for a little chat. Will he ever resign? Does he still sing? Who are his favorites this year? What does he think of Zeljko (how come Zeljko pops up everywhere? Ed.note) and Loreen's chances? And will Melodifestivalen face changes again next year? It's all here:
You have brought Melodifestivalen and
Eurovision to a higher level in the past 11 years. If you are to
continue, what's next? What are your plans?
First of all I will still continue as I
still have one goal to achieve: to bring Sweden to victory. I haven't
done that yet. Secondly we do adjustements to the format every year
and we will surely do next year as well. I can't tell you what they
will be as we haven't decided yet. We had a meeting on the subject
just two days ago. We threw some ideas in the air and once we get
back from Baku we will have another meeting and sort of finalize the
matter. Of course also depending on the result as it's always also a
matter if we couldn't make the final, if we were at the bottom of the
final... We don't want to decide too much before we see the actual
outcome of this.
And what did you change this year as
you did very well last year, 3rd?
This year we only confirmed the
international jury change that last year was a good thing. We also
made it more visible and apparent, this is what we want to do when
things go well. We really believed in this idea. Especially as it
paid off with a 3rd place.
What if Sweden wins this year and you
have achieved your goal, what then? Will you resign?
Ha ha ha ha.... You never know! :-)
You changed the format of
Melodifestivalen in 2002 and made it extremely popular in Sweden and
among the Eurovision fans all over Europe. What year do you recall as
your best year out of these 11 years that you have been in charge?
Hmmm, there's been something good every
year in a one way or the other. But if I have to choose one I would
say 2007. It had drama. You had a huge favourite The Ark winning the
semifinal and a great breakthrough of Marie Lindgren, a total nobody
until then. It was just her and her guitar. You had the both sides:
the huge The Ark and totally unknow Marie going to the final.
Is that your ideal concept; established
artists with newcomers?
Yes, the both sides. So much emotion. I
was watching the dress rehearsal on Friday and got a tear in my eye
and knew she would make it. It's not the same feeling with huge
established artists making it all the way. It was one of those
revelation moments. I'll always remember that!
Do you always predict the
Melodifestivalen winner beforehand?
No, not always. Sometimes I'm
surprised. I can usually say the top-3 like this year I knew it'd be
between Danny and Loreen. But it happens that I'm really surprised.
And how do you react? Are you
disappointed?
...Yes!... ha ha ha! Very....
What is your ultimate Melodifestivalen
song of all time, since 1958?
Well, I could give you the boring
standard answer Waterloo. It's not the best song but when that
happened, if you were in Sweden you will remember where you were,
what you were doing. You can remember every feeling you had when it
happened. That was a big moment. Nevertheless the song. Now you know
they have written hundreds of songs, most of them maybe better
but.... it worked then. The best for me would be something different as I'm the
ballad guy. I really love ballads. One of my absolute favourites is a
Swedish song that came last, by Monica Zetterlund.
Who would you like to have on
Eurovision stage. Do you have an artist in mind?
Yes and no. I say no because I would
like every Swedish established artist to do Melodifestivalen at
least once. Just for the fun of it. The only thing I can't stand is
an artist saying ”I won't go there because of...” The competition
is what the artists make of it. The artist that enter make the image
of the contest. This is like a mantra I have been doing for 11 years:
Don't talk about the image of the competition, talk what you can do
to the image of the competition. If you enter, you change the image.
We have done that gradually, slowly. Year by year I bring in someone,
you know they come in one after another. Sometimes I have persuade
someone for years. Even 4-5 years.
And now they are knocking at your
door....
Most of them are! There are still a few
that say they don't need it. And I understand. If you have a really
good career going and some people just don't like to compete. Some
say they don't need it, all is running so smoothly now so why would I
risk it? We'd have to win. I can understand that point of view. Maybe in a few years... On
the other hand Melodifestivalen is already so established it doesn't
hurt any big name's career. This year we had Di Leva and Lisa
Miskovsky, they didn't win but it won't hurt their career. We also
had Ranelid and Flinck, an author and an actor. Not all are there to win but to have some fun
and I'm fine with it. It's all a matter of timing and the song. Like
Malena Ehrnman, she's booked like three years in advance. It's not
easy to fit Melodifestivalen and eventually Eurovision in. Or Robin.
I wouldn't say no to her but it's difficult.
Do you still sing yourself?
Very little. I do like ten concerts a
year. Because I want to. Usually in summer, and then I do Christmas
shows. I don't do my own shows but am a part of one. Sometimes I also
sing my own Eurovision song, that happens. Actually that was 20 years
ago....
Who are your favorites this year?
The Russian ladies. I love Italy! And I
love Estonia. A beautiful song! And I always have a weak ear for
Zeljko but I think Lane moje is better. That's my only concern about
him, it was such a fantastic song!
Last but not least, what do you think
about Loreen's chances to qualify?
To qualify very good. I don't really
see a problem there. She should absolutely make the final. But beyond
that....???
Blogilkar thanks for the interview and
wishes his goal will be achieved soon!
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