Skip to main content

Blogilkar exclusive. CHRISTER BJÖRKMAN INTERVIEW


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!  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further?  No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local.  The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist,  as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o

NO AMOR IN ICELAND FOR ÁSDIS MARIA

In Iceland Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins 2014 started as well. Five songs in the running and two were voted to the final: Gréta Mjöll - Eftir eitt lag and Gissur Páll Gissurarson - Von . To be honest I'm not very suprised about the choices even if I was hoping for Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir - Amor to make it. The people of Björk didn't warm up to that enough, sadly. Also Sverrir Bergmann - Dönsum burtu blús and Vignir Snær Vigfússon - Elsku þú are out but that's ok. Or maybe I would have sent Ásdis Maria with Vignir to the final....Oh well. Next week another five songs and two qualifiers.

BLOGILKAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: HANNAH MANCINI

Straight into interview with my Bycycling reporter Robert goes American born Slovenian represent Hannah Mancini. The chatty lady tells us how she ended up from LA to Slovenia and how it is. She does also some serious name dropping. Talks about Slovenian music business. And has her husband turned into an Eurovision maniac?! And how Slovenian does she feel actually? And who would she like to grace the Eurovision stage for Slovenia again? Read it all here: Thank you Hannah for this interview. You're an American woman singing for Slovenia. How on earth did you end up there? I married a Slovenian man! Actually he lived in the States when I met him. I always loved the idea of living in Europe and it was kinda perfect as I met an European man! And he always wanted to come to Europe, his parents emigrated when he was a small child so eventually when the opportunity came, he had a good business thing happening there and also I had some music contacts in Amsterdam and in the UK an

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well...  The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam

SWEDEN: LOREEN GETS NUDE WITH BODY

 Loreen. A legend for some. A one hit wonder for most. Since winning Eurovision song contest 2012 with Euphoria she has released seven singles. None of them has left the mark really. Her third attempt in Melodifestivalen this year with Statements ended up in a real defeat.  Now she's ready to finally release her second album Nude in August. The lead single is Body . It's... well, like her previous stuff. Okeyish to listen to when it's on but completely forgettable once it's finished.... Pretendious comes to mind. But then maybe I just don't get her. Maybe I never did. Her fans are surely euphoric. Maybe.  Listen in Spotify

FINLAND: CONGRATS HANNA PAKARINEN - BABY IS COMING!

No more leave me alones as Eurovision 2007 veteran Hanna Pakarinen has published in her Youtube channel a video unboxing the Finnish state's maternity box aka layette set thus announcing she's due to have a baby later this spring. Congratulations!

Summer songs: Kylie Minogue - On a night like this

This is one of the songs that make me think of sweaty summer nights, humid air and being slightly drunk... I wonder where that all comes from? Anyways. Kylie Minogue recorded On a night like this, maybe not first but better than Pandora or Anna Vissi . And Lord which is actually great!