Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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.

The reigning Eurovision nation and this year's host Sweden will have its final tonight. The most overrated and most fan wanked event on planet. This blogger has been thinking already for years it's just getting worse year by year - gret show but songs that I don't care to hear ever again once this holabaloo is over - and this year is no exception. The semis were filled with songs that only made you think why?! but then it's only one song that you need. Sweden may not have the winner in this lot this year, no matter how much Christer Björkman wants to equal the Irish wins but there are a few that even this blogger would be glad to have in Globen come May.... Oscar, Frans and Robin that is.  As always there are stagings that leave you mouth open and you don't even notice how medicore the song is (Ace this year, Måns last year) and word gimmicks (Youniverse) and wardrobe gimmicks (Wiktoria) Molly Sanden was the biggest pre-contest favorite but the song is so dul...

And on we go with Sweden. Semifinal three tonight. This seems to be the multi ethnic semifinal with some drag show, new talents and Idols winner thrown in. And a boredom unlike never seen before in Melodifestivalen. Or almost in any other national selection before....#UMK16's Ylona and Rafaela Truda would shine like diamonds in here. Life isn't fair.... SaRaha - Kizunguzungu (2nd chance) Swingly feat Helena Gutarra - You carved your name (6th) Smilo - Weight of the world (5th) After Dark - Kom ut som en stjärna (7th) Lisa Ajax - My heart wants me dead (FINAL) Boris René - Pur your love on me (2nd chance) Oscar Zia - Human (FINAL)

The third Melodifestivalen 2014 semifinal was the first one I saw this season and I have heard and read before proved to be true: uninspired and rather boring, I'm afraid. The presenters... oh well, where is Lena Ph when you need her? Or Petra Mede ? I thought Outtrigger would make it but in the end it was the pretty boy bubble gum pop that had its best before date a long time ago that sailed to the final by Oscar Zia . And surprisingly Ace Wilder with the song Madonna and Avicii would make together if forced to. The bands Outtrigger and State of Drama went to second chance while dr alban and Jessica Folcker finished 5th (also this had it's best before date a long time ago), Shirley Clamp looked like she was suffering the Carola -esque wind machine at least as much as I would with an eye infection and made it only to 6th. In the end maybe she deserved more. At least a new stylist, that woman needs a serious makeover! CajsaStina had a lovely song that sounded a bit l...

The third Melodifestivalen 2014  semifinal takes places tomorrow and it has alredy been described by some fans the weakest in history. Are also the die hard Mello fans waking up and smelling the coffee? Melodifestivalen has been going downhill for a long time what comes to music, that's what this blogger has been thinking for a long time already. Just a few years ago a clear priority to watch and follow, this year quite frankly I'm yet to see it live even if I have it on my telly.... The other finals that have been colliding with it have just been more interesting.  Listening the snippets of tomorrow's songs I must agree with the criticism and will turn in to watch something else most propably. Indeed it has become something to watch, not to listen. The show's great but the music? Hmmm... Even Shirley Clamp can't save the night. Ace Wilder sounds like Madonna's demo from Hard Candy sessions, dr.alban is a great addition to the line up but clearly not at his...