Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

After four heats of Melodifestivalen it's time for the second chance round aka Andra chansen of those who finished 3rd and 4th. Sadly it's once again made in duels so one can only guess this system's fairness. The duels are based on simple rules: they must be 3rd and 4th placed ones against each other, and they can't be from the same heat. That already pretty much sets who's against who.... According Björkman also they try to put songs aiming to be liked by same groups of fans against each other... My winners are Anna Bergendahl, Nano, Arvingarna and between Stenmarck and Ajax I don't really care.... Andreas Johnsson Vs. Anna Bergendahl Vlad Reiser Vs. Nano Martin Stenmarck Vs. Lisa Ajax Rebecka Karlsson Vs. Arvingarna All is good in the end

Allsång på Skansen, the hugely popular sing-a-long summer show in Sweden has a new hostess this year: Sanna Nielsen. She takes over from Petra Marklund (2014-2015) and Måns Zelmerlöw (2011-2013) who hosted the show the previous years.  The show started already back in 1935 and since 1979 has been on television as well. These days, every Tuesday some 10.00-25.500 people gather around to Skansen in Stockholm to be part of the show and a few million Swedes (and Finns) watch it on television.  This year's guest list is rich with Eurovision and Melodifestivalen stars as usual: June 28: Frans and BAO (Benny Andersson Orchester) July 5: Malena Ernman and Oscar Zia July 19: SaRaha, Anders Glenmark, Orup, Sonja Alden July 26: Jamala August 2: Martin Stenmarck August 9: Lill-Babs August 16: Lill Lindfors along with all the other artists from Veronica Maggio to Lisa Nilsson, Laleh and Zara Larsson.

Sweden's Melodifestivalen has reached the last semifinal before Second chance round and the final. Two big fan favorites here; Molly and Linda, one Eurovision veteran Martin and a couple of Melodifestivalen veterans: Dolly Style and Panetoz. After the leak fiasco with Molly's song all the others were published too for 24 hrs or something similarly stupid. Watching the rehearsal snippets it looks like Panetoz and Linda have just recycled their previous stagings if not the song, too, and Martin makes me only sing along to Whiter shade of pale.... I don't care who qualifies as I will hardly ever listen to any of these again but it would be kinda amusing if Martin and Frans would qualify. Or Eclipse just for the fun of it. Melodifestivalen 2016 has been a real Mehfestival.  Eclipse - Runaways 5th Dolly Style - Rollercoaster 2ND CHANCE Martin Stenmarck - Du tar mig tillbaks 6th Linda Bengtzing - Killer girl 7th Frans - If I were sorry FINAL Panetoz - Håll om mig ...

Sanna Nielsen, nicknamed the oldest granny in Sweden is still only 29 years old. Over the years she has created a huge fanbase with her six previous attempts to win Melodifestivalen and finally she did it with Undo . I already wanted her to win with Empty room in 2008 when she was the runner up. Sanna is adorable, has a fantastic voice, has charisma and is likable. Aren't we all happy she won finally? Robert: Sanna has a strong song and is an excellent singer that knows how to deliver. After numerous attempts to win the ticket to represent Sweden, you can only be happy that this very sympathetic singer finally succeeded. Of course she will go straight to the final. However my favourite song of this year's Melodifestivalen was not Undo or any other song of the 10 finalists but a song that just failed to reach the final by Martin Stenmarck called När anglarna åar hem With this song, it would have been a real nice come back for Martin to the Eurovision stage after his con...

Andra chansen aka Second chance of Swedish Melodifestivalen is over. Now only the final is left and we will know the Swedish represant in Copenhagen 2014. First three acts were kicked out (Ammotrack 8th, Ellinore Holmer 7th, J.E,M 6th). Then the five remaining were divided into duels and 5th was out, State of Drama. First Outtrigger vs. Helena Paparizou and Helena won in the end. Then Linus Svenning vs Martin Stenmarck and Linus won. So, Helena and Linus join the other eight finalists next week. I'm ok with the results, especialy with Linus. I would have sent Outtrigger instead of Helena, if I didn't want also Helena in the final. So, three final worthy songs , a real miracle of this Saturday night is the Swedish one, not the Romanian one! There were many hickups, especially with the graphics that showed wrong results, or displayed the last two duelists before they were said. Someone in SVT isn't happy right now....

It seems the rock entries ended in the Andra chansen aka Second chance, with a very few exceptions. The only one I really want to the final is Helena Paparizou, I have kinda learned to like it, and it is catchy. But the other one? I'm between three: Linus, JEM and Outtrigger. I'd like to like Linus a bit more but something isn't yet right, J.E.M are fun if nothing original, and Outrigger for the fun of it. So let's say Helena and Outtrigger for me! Recap . Ammotrack - Raise your hands Linus Svenning - Bröder J.E.M - Lovetrigger State of Drama - All we are Ellinore Holmer - En himmelsk sång Martin Stenmarck - När änglarna går hem Helena Paparizou - Survivor Outtrigger - Echo

Sanne Nielsen came, performed and all of sudden become the favorite to win the whole Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen. At least if you believe the comments of international fans. Undo is an effective song, very well performed by Sanna but I would call it a bit premature to call it the Winner as yet. Panetoz also took the ticket to the final with Efter solsken while former winner Martin Stenmarck and JEM will have a second chance later. The show's over for The Refreshments, Manda, Alcazar wannabes Pink Pistols and Little Great Things, ABBA's Benny's grandkids and Nanne Grönvall's sons in it. So, no surprises this time me thinks but all according the manuscript in Sweden.

Rising boxes, American cars, very tall violinists, pink pistols, great little things, rockabilly, boys with make up.....yes, it's all there. Melodifestivalen has never been shy with props and gimmicks. Anything to hide the fact the songs aren't anymore what they used to be. In this second semifinal the favorites are Eurovision veteran Martin Stenmarck and Sanna - I still haven't won Melodifestivalen and btw I'm only 29 - Nielsen. But like the first semifinal showed, the Swedes have become quite unpredictable in their voting so anything can happen. But hearing the snippets, she's the best so far ... Here are the entries this Saturday: JEM - Love trigger The Refreshments - Hallelujah Manda - Glow Panetoz - Efter solsken Pink Pistols - I am somebody Sanna Nielsen - Undo Little Great Things - Set yourself free Martin Stenmarck - När änglarna går hem Anyways, this is a good excuse to join in the Sanna-mania and remember all her previous MF entri...

The first 16 names in the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2014 are out and reading the list gives a little confusing idea: there are the "big" names rumored (Paparizou, Nielsen, Stenmarck) but "big" is relative, none of them has bothered the local iTunes for ages. Then there are a lot of names this blogger has never heard of, like Mahan Moin who actually came third in Idols. In Persia. Alvaro has been dncing behind Danny and Eric, among others. Linus brings in the ink and the piercings this year while Sylvester was already on Eurovision stage in Helsinki 2007 as a member of The Ark. Manda comes from X Factor, as do JEM. Little Great Things include little great things with ABBA heritage, namely Benny's grandsons! And then, among the songwriters we have the usual ones. Sounds a bit of a bland mix so far but then, who knows?  And we have Helena Paparizou back. Wonder how she will do? Will she end up like the girl ? However it made me also thinking, when will be have ...

The rumour mill is running wild for Melodifestivalen 2014 participants and it seems Martin Stenmarc k (ESC 2005) is back while the ladies Sanna Nielsen and Linda Bengtzing are giving it yet another go. Dr Alban might finally make his debut? Aftonbladet also reveals the other possible names: Oscar Zia, Panetoz, J.E.M., Outrigger, Judit & Judit, Eko, Cajsa Stina Äkerström, Josef Johanson that are more or less unknown to this blogger. Christer Björkman is quoted of saying there are still five open slots but negotiations on going with more big names and "the big names are usually the last ones to be confirmed and the talking-them-over period is at full swing right now". It is rumored Avicii, Ola Salo and Lisa Nilsson are some of those Björkman is sweet talking. I hope he has a chat with Sarah Dawn Finer and Darin as well! SVT will reveal all the names by the end of November 2013.

Many have been surprised - and not pleased - with Robin Stjernberg's victory with You in Melodifestivalen 2013. Gustav Dahlander explains some possible reasons why the international juries preferred Robin and snobbed YOHIO . The juries voted on Friday and in the rehearsals all favorites seemed to have failed in way or the other: YOHIO missed the long climax vote and was saving his voice it seems, Ralf Gyllenhammar gave a nervous and less inspired performance and was all but pleased after it. He was back on track on Saturday, as was YOHIO, too late. Ulrik Munther wasn't in top form either, partly caused by problems in his ear piece it seems. Anton Ewald had some hip problems in his dance number. It didn't harm his vocal perfomance (but then he wasn't singing anyways) but his dancing, that the number was entirely built upon. So, Robin just got better and better by each performance and it paid of. He had however quite a struggle to get that far: in his semifinal he ...

Martin Stenmarck of Las Vegas fame is taking a new step in his career as he's to play one of the main roles in a new Swedish romantic comedy, described as a "Swedish Notting Hill" that includes also Sarah Dawn Finer in one of the roles. "I'm 40 and this is like a dream" the feature film debutante confesses. His music career he released his 7th album Kaffe på Everest in 2011 and his latest single is  Tonight's the night , also from 2011.  

A bunch of male artists on stage tonight in Kungsträdgården in Love Stockholm 2010 when the wedding's only two days away. Eurovision veteran Martin Stenmarck with Melodifestivalen stars Ola, Orup (but where is lena Philipsson??), Style and Star Pilots on stage tonight!

The Swedish represant Anna Bergendahl is having a memorable spring between school and Eurovision. She has recorded her debut album and now that it is ready and released (Sweden and Finland on April 14, Norway April 19) she has a bit more time for some PR but no, she's not going to tour the Europe but limits her PR to Norway and Sweden. " I have been doing a lot of interviews by phone and email abroad, and the local branches of Universal are doing the local promotion " she tells. "We will reherse mainly two weeks before leaving for Oslo. I want and will be just myself and I will just concentrate on my performance, no gimmicks. " Her secret to the success? "Honesty. Honesty and love to the job I am doing ".  Previously the Swedish artists have done PR tours abroad from zero (Martin Stenmarck) to megatours (Charlotte Perrelli) with similar results so I totally agree with Anna who says only the performance on the big night counts. The PR tours are fun fo...

The guessing and wishing for the Melodifestivalen jokers is going on at the moment while SVT prepairs to reveal the first one tomorrow. Expressen claims today they will be Lena Philipsson , Sofia Jannok , veteran Jerry Williams and maybe Martin Stenmarck who would do a Melodifestivalen come-back. Meanwhilke the internet voting for the web joker is going on and 50 songs are still in the running, and the rumours about who is going to sing which of the 27 already chosen songs....

The annual Ladies Night show will be held in Stockholm on September 26 and Andreas Johnsson, Martin Stenmarck and Mikale Tornving will entertain the only female crowd. The tour starts from Västeros September 18 and ends in Helsingborg in November 7. This is the fourth tour and Martin Stenmarck has been in all of them.