Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Now what can I say? Carola is one of my favorite artists, an ultimate Eurovision Diva and we go back a long time. Flashback summer 1983: I was spending summer at my aunt's in Sweden. And Sweden was all about Carola after her Melodifestivalen win (full marks from each and every jury - for the first and last time ever) and 3rd place in Eurovision (6,1 million Swedes watched her there!!!) with Främling   (fate is I was also in Sweden when the Mello took place and saw it live on tv. However then I was all for runner up Kikki Danielsson's Varför är kärleken röd ...) Her album was the best selling album in Sweden ever (over 1.000.000 copies). She was everywhere, including a Folketspark near Fagersta where I saw her live.  The tour broke all previous records in 24 out of 25 parks. The year after I saw her live in Finland. And again in the years to come . But then Carola, a controversial figure retired after 3-4 years of success and even an album with the BeeGees in the USA to...

  Oh dear. What can I say I haven't said before? If I thought last year some Mello semi did the rock bottom and was the worst ever, forget it. Because this one beat them all. I'm talking about the songs, not the show. In from ear and out from the other leaving no trace whatsover. If I have to save one it's John Lundvik. Benjamin Ingrosso's song isn't much to talk about either but thumps up for his stage show that reminded nicely of his mom's Piccadilly Circus back in 1985 - at least for the leather jackets and showing some skin between shoulder shakes. Then again, John brings back memories of Celine Dion's jacket back in 1988.... Is 80's back in fashion? This said, I'd love Sweden went nuts and sent something like Edward Blom just to see if the Eiroboys still backed Sweden unconditionally in some common euphoria.... :-) To the final: John Lundvik - My turn Benjamin Ingrosso - Dance you off To the Second chance: Renaida - All th...

Today 30 years ago, February 26, 1983 a star was born and an epic song. A song that most every Swede knows and most of them at least parts of it by heart. A 16-year-old, the  unknown Carola Häggkvist read bible backstage and shined on stage and collected 88 points, full marks from every regional jury leaving Kikki Danielsson far behind with her 45 points. Her first words after the win where the immortal "I thank God!" Later that spring she charmed Europe and ended up third in Eurovision behind Corinne Hermes and late Ofra Haza. The rest is history. And now, March 9, 2013 she will be back on Melodifestivalen stage and offer as a new version of the same song, with new arrangements. Aren't we excited yet?  You can relive that historic moment here . And yes, this blogger was in Sweden and watching that night (mind you, internet and streaming wasn't even invented back then.....)

Kikki Danielsson avoided jail and will only have to pay fine of 10.000 SEK. She celebrated the decision by going to a hairdresser and sent her love via Twitter to all her fans and supporters. "It's been like a witch hunt" she tells the media. "I didn't commit any deliberate crime and am very relieved the day after the verdict. Now I can hopefully start living again and not just surviving!" It all started in the fall of 2010 when customs stopped a package of 240 tablets of narcotic pills (Diazepam). Last spring she was freed but the prosecutor appealed to the Court of Appeal and demanded that Kikki was sentenced to prison for drug smuggling. Now the case is closed. She admitted ordering the pills online but says she didn't understand that whar she was doing was illegal. "I've been stupid and naive and I've never used any drugs. I'm terrified about drugs and always warn young people about them" she concluded.  She's not a...

Christer Björkman is after Carola. He's ready to roll out the red carpet and get her into Melodifestivalen 2013. He says in Aftonbladet that as soon as he's got the 32 songs ready he will contact her and do his best.  Meanwhile Carola, who is celebrating her 30th anniversary since Främling in 2013 is planning her big schlager come back and new pop album. Despite being a bit skeptical about Melodifestivalen again she admits she has cleared May in her agenda....  And that she's been offered some really strong songs over the past months..... And now, wouldn't that be the best way to celebrate? After all her story started in Malmö, February 26, 1983. Hmmm, I was there, in Sweden I mean watching it live on telly and angry as Kikki didn't win with Varför är kärleken röd , lol. But by summer I was a fan and saw her live in Fagersta Folkets Park... :-)

Propably the most experienced Eurovision artist in history is back at it: Elisabeth Andreasson. She has sung in Eurovision final already four times, finishing 1st, 2nd, 6th and 8th. Now beat that! Besides that she has taken part in the Norwegian final five times and now returns to Melodifestivalen for the 6th time. She has also co-hosted both the Swedish and the Norwegian final once." I have been sent songs and asked to take part every year since 2002 but I have won already so much that it had to be perfect. Now it is. It's great to be back! " she says. Melodifestivalen (Sweden) 1981. Chips - God morgon, 2nd 1982. Chips - Dag efter dag , WINNER-> 8th 1984. Elisabeth Andreassen - Kärleksmagi , 6th  1990. Elisabeth Andreassen - Jag ser en stjärna falla , 7th 2000. TV-host, with nine other artists. 2002. Kikki, Bettan & Lotta - Vem é dé du vill ha , 3rd  2011 Elisabeth Andreasson - Vaken i en dröm Melodi Grand Prix (Norway) 1985. Bobbysocks - La det swinge , WINNER -...

Two Swedish Eurovision stars have been abusing alcohol that has caused their careers and private lives to go down the drain. Kikki Danielsson has tried a come back and sober up several times in the 2000's, so far in vain, but now Jan Johansen comes out as clean. "I got drunk for the first time when I was 12. Since then I have been drunk every other day, more or less " he says. "It ruined my career and my personal life, but it is so common in this business to have a drink after show no one noticed. Since September 28, 2008 I haven't touched alcohol. I was diagnosed with ADHD and all of sudden it all fell apart. I was drinking because of that! After diagnosis I got my life back" Well done Jan! Maybe it's time to record some great songs again? Like Se på mig and Let your spirits fly . And best wishes to Kikki to make it. And give us more Bra vibrationer ,  Varför är kärleken röd and I dag & I morgon .

The little birds are telling Elisabeth Andreasson has sent in a song to Melodifestivalen. Just imagine her on stage in Oslo singing for Sweden.... shivers! She is one of the most succesful Eurovision artists in history: singing for Sweden in 1982 Dag efter dag as Chips with Kikki Danielsson (8th), winning it for Norway in 1985 in Sweden with La det swinge as Bobbysocks with Hanne Krogh. In 1994 she was there again for Norway and dueting this time with Jan Werner in Duett (6th). Her first only solo appearance took place in 1996 when Norway last hosted the show and she took the homecountry to 2nd place with I evighet . Besides that she has taken part in Melodifestivalen also in 1981 with God morgon (2nd), 1984 Kärleksmagi (6th), 1990 Jag ser en stjärna falla (7th) and in 2002 with Kikki Danielsson and Lotta Engberg and Vem é dé du vill ha (3rd). In Norway she took Winds of the Northern sea to 2nd place in 1998 and the same trio Kikki, Bettan & Lotta tried their luck in Norwa...