Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Sweden has been selecting its entry for Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest the past five weeks around Sweden but tonight the show moves to Stockholm for its grand final. The viewing figures may have been dropping along the way as well as number of voters, and more and more international fans have woken up to the fact Mello isn't all that great it used to be. Haven't been for years now but in the end, like in all the national finals, all that matters is the one song. The one that will go to Eurovision and as Björkman and Swedes hope would continue Sweden's incredible success in the past seven years: two wins, two third places and two 5th places. And of course getting the 7th victory and thus making Ireland tremble. But do we have Eurovision winner among these entries? Most likely not, but a few that could sneak into the top-5 again. Two songs seem above the others in early polls, Jessica and Benjamin, but Jessica seems to have lost some of it's popularity along...

Sweden has its third Meloifestivalen 2018 semifinal tonight and it's still very bland. When I saw Cuba libre in the title I was expecting something great. Instead, I don't feel Cuba in it at all and I should know, I still have the Cuban suntan on my skin! It sounds like Swedish mock song with African rhythms and the ladies "dressed as Cubans" are ridiculous and more of a joke. As Cuban as Booga-loo dansa rockenrolla. ... Shame on you. Shame! Where are now those people who shout out for using Indian headpieces of Sami dresses? This is as embarassing and bad - and so wrong. Also Mendez seems to be mocking flamenco dancers. What's going on?! But at least the song is better, and not so obviously fake. Actually the only song I liked a bit in this semi. Martin Almgren - A Bitter Lullaby FINAL Barbi Escobar - Stark 7th Moncho - Cuba Libre Andra chansen Jessica Andersson - Party Voice FINAL Kalle Moraeus & Orsa Spelmän - Min d...

Sweden has never won the Eurovision song contest with a male solo artist but this year they are really trying. The final next Saturday (along with the one in Norway) is the last of the season 2015 and it is filled with muscled guys who seem to love parade half naked showing off. Some of them can also sing and perform, some... well, a bit less so. The main contenders seem to be Måns Zelmerlöv and Eric Saade . Then there's  Jon Henrik Fjällgren to shake the things a bit. Let's see who wins that fight. It seems both Måns and Eric need to beat Jon first, but then also each other to win.  Samir Badran and Victor Frisk are also ready for the battle even if they had to make it through the second chance round. They know how to pose but that's just about all it is about... Barking dogs don't bite. Samir also challenges Linus Svenning  with the tattoo department. Linus can deliver, we know that, but Samir ... well, he gives great poses. And what about th...

Eric Saade and Jessica Andersson, the Eurovision veterans took themselves directly to the final tonight. Dolly Style and Behrang Miri & Victor Crone got to the Andra chancen round while the others are out: 5th Rickard Söderberg & Elize Ryd, 6th Molly Pettersson hammar and 7th Daniel Gildenlöw.  What to say? I'm a bit surprised Behrang Miri did it to the Andra chancen, but not at all surprised for Saade, Andersson and Dolly Style . Holly, Molly and Polly are quickly becoming the theme song for this season, hello hi! :-) Saade was better than I expected. The song I mean. The sax totally saves it and gives an extra layer. Andersson delivers and deserves to be in the final. Back to Miri, it's not bad at all and maybe it's better to have it still in the race instead of more predictable and calculated Söderberg & Ryd for example, which seems to have been a favorite by many. I find it uninteresting and unoriginal in every way. Pretendous and fake but not ment t...

Melodifestivalen 2015 kicks of tonight from Gothenburg. Several familiar names in the line up, including Eurovision veterans Eric Saade and Jessica Andersson and from national finals Behrang Miri and Daniel Gildenlöw. Along is also specially formed trio of Molly, Polly and Holly aka Dolly Style.... No comment. This said the dollys may be the brightest thing in this semi, that judging the snippets seem rather lame, only Jessica and Daniel got me interested. And Dollys. Update: After hearing the almost full versions I stick to Dolly. It's fun, shamelessly plastic and fun. And catchy as hell. Saade isn't as bad as I feared, saved by the sax. And yes, Jessica and Daniel stay in quartet to make the final and the second chance.  Molly Pettersson Hammar - I'll be fine Daniel Gildenlöw - Pappa Elize Ryd & Rickard Söderberg - One by one Dolly Style - Hello hi Behrang Miri feat. Victor Crone - Det rår vi inte för Jessica Andersson - Can't hurt me now Eric...

Melodifestivalen acts will be announced next Monday and Tuesday. The rumor mill of possible participants has been running wild for weeks already and finally we know who are really in and who are not. What we know so far is that Sanna Nielsen will debut as the host and with her will be Robin Paulsson , a very well known television host, also him making his MF debut. We also know one of the contestants already, Kalle Johansson . He won the Svensktoppen nästä 2014 contest and the award was a ticket to Melodifestivalen 2015.  SVT received 2.177 songs this year and it seems the famous Swedish schlager is making a comeback. There are minor changes to the format and instead of 32 songs there will be only 28, but 12 of them will advance to the final instead of 10. Makes sense? Måns Zelmerlöv is supposed to be making a comeback to the contest, as are Lili & Susie, Linus Svenning and Charlotte Perrelli . Sean Banan has also made it clear he has sent a song. Other names ru...

Måns Zelmerlöv is releasing a Christmas album on November 15, 2010. The album features as guests Björn Skifs, Pauline and Jessica Andersson. Besides classics there is one original song, December, written by Jörgen Elofsson, Andreas Carlsson and Niklas Strömstedt. Here's a little teaset, Christmas song . Besides this Måns is busy rehearsing Romeo & Juliet musical and starting a new record comapny with some friends. Their first project is Loreen's entry in Melodifestivalen 2011, My heart is refusing me .

Pernilla Wahlgren has been in Melodifestival four times (1985 Piccadilly circus , 1991 Tvillingsjäl , 2003's runner up Let your spirit fly and Jag vill om du vågar this year) but there have been times her the songs she has proposed haven't been accepted, and times she herself has said "no thanks" to a song she was offered to perform. In a recent interview she revealed Som om himlen brann that Lizette Pälsson took to the second place in 1992 is one of them, Kayo's Innan natten är över in 2006 is another and finally Jessica Andersson's Kom in 2007 yet another. "I was pregnant when I was offered Kom so I had to skip it " she told before concluding "If I ever do Melodifestivalen again it will not be with schlager !"