Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Fans are able to really get high in Stockholm 2016 Eurovision. A 81 meter high viewing tower (just 3 meters shy of Globen's 84 meters) aka City Skyliner will be erected in the middle of the Eurovision Village in Kungträdsgården. Up there you will have a stunning view to the city center and over Gamla Stan to Globen and beyond. Up to 60 persons can take it at time and for the modest cost of 100 kroner. The Village itself is free and open to everyone. Nearby will be the Euro Fan Café. It will have two floors and three separate spaces with four bars, including an open terrace. Right attached to it is EuroClub, that is twice the size of that in Malmö, now housing 3000 fans, delegates and journalists. Shirley Clamp and  Velvet will be hosting the EuroClub. 

Melodifestivalen veterans Shirley Clamp and Velvet will be the hosts of the EuroClub that will situated in Skeppsbron in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm in coming May 2-14. They will host live show every night during the Eurovision nights with special guests, among them of course most every participant this year and new and ole veterans of both Eurovision and Melodifestivalen.  Both ladies have a lot of experience with Melodifestivalen having been first chorists (even in Eurovision) and then trying their luck as artists several times both. Shirley has been also a commentator for SVT.  "We are very proud and make sure this will be the highest level and the best party ever!" says Velvet.  EuroClub is where the delegations, media and accreditated fans party and mingle together. EuroFanCafé will be also situated in the same place. 

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...

Here we have them. The rest of the Swedish hopefuls and it seems it's all laid out for Alcazar finally to make it and Christer Björkman got his wish, they have reunited and they are in! Also rumored dr.alban is in and the vocalist is none other than Jessica Folcker. Nice! Schlager dive and fan favorite Shirley Clamp makes also a welcome comeback and also Linda Bengtzing has been lured in by Björkman. Last year's revelation Anton Ewald is back for revenge and a lot of names I have never heard of.... Among songwriters its rather striking Thomas G:son hasn't got many songs in, only two. But in overall it seems more widespread this year. The song king and queen are Joy and Linnèa Deb along with Fredrik Kempe with four songs. Bobby Ljunggren, Sharon Vaughn and Peter Boström all got three songs in. Now everyone, start practising to pronounce Örnsköldsvik! Heat 3 - Gothenburg, February 15, 2014 State of Drama - All we are (Göran Werner, Sanken Sandqvist, Emil Gullhamn,...

Stockholm is filled with Love this week in preparations for the royal wedding on Saturday afternoon. Amonst many festivities Kungsträdgården hosts concerts every night and already Friday Carola and Cookies n Beans amongst others performed there. Saturday it was time for Alexander Rybak , Annelie Rydé, Sanna Nielsen and Shirley Clamp. Last night no Eurovision or Melodifestivalen artists involved but tonight it's Darin and Idol 2009 winner Erik Grönwall . Darin just visited Finland this Saturday on his tour and has recently said he won't take part in Melodifestivalen again. For now. Ask again in 20 years or so! Stay tuned for daily updates as BlogIlkar joins in the celebrations for the wedding of schlager fan Victoria!

This week SVT announced more names in the 2009 Melodifestivalen and this group is made of female artists. All of them have participated previously with the exception of Idols Agnes. Velvet - The Queen It's her third solo try after Mi amore and Deja vu . Besides that she has been backing other acts five times. Agnes - Love love love She's here for the first time, but her song writers have plenty of experience! Shirley Clamp - Med hjärtat fyllt av ljus Shirley's a real fan favourite and it's her much awaited fourth time as soloist after successes of Min kärlek and Att älska dig . She has also backed previously other acts, including Antique (Greece) in 2001. Sofia Berntsson - Alla This is her second try after Hypnotizied back in 2006. Lili & Susie - Show me heaven The fantastic Päivärinta sisters are back! So Finland sneaks in again, besides Markoolio! They did Melodifestivalen 20 years ago with Okey! Okey! Amy Diamond - It's my life She debuted last year with T...

The Swedish ladies seem to have joined forces to attack Carola being yet another Christmas the queen what comes to selling Christmas albums. Sanna Nielsen, Shirley Clamp and Sonja Aldén release Our Christmas , continuing their collaboration that started last summer touring together. Charlotte Perrelli also gets into business with RimfrostJul . And don't forget Magnus Carlsson's Spår i snö from 2006...