Sunday, January 22, 2012

Euro Charts Update

Whilst checking out a few of the European iTunes singles charts I couldn't help but notice the cross-continental popularity of "Ai Se Eu Te Pego!" by popular Brazilian singer Michel Teló. At first I wondered why it was turning up in all the charts. It's the wrong time of year for a "holiday hit" so it couldn't be that. So off I went to do some research and found out that the song became popular after Brazilian footballers danced to it after scoring goals. The song was launched in Europe and off it went up the charts. Everywhere of course except here in the UK, but that's no surprise really *exasperated sigh*

Anyway I love the concept of a pan-European hit, especially one that isn't in the English language!

Another song which has taken forever to reach British ears, but is finally here at last is Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know". Gotye was born Wouter De Backer in Belgium but moved to Australia as a child. The song was initially a massive hit in Australia and I heard it a few months ago, and at that time thought it was so unusual and so different from everything else around at the time. It's also been a big hit in Europe and still doing very well.

One British artist doing better "over there" than "over here" is Marlon Roudette, although hopefully that's due to change. His old band Mattafix were very popular on the continent, especially in Germany, and his solo single "New Age" was a big hit over there some months back. Again, it's the kind of song which eats its way into your brain and given the chance, I think it could become a daytime radio staple.

Over in Norway, MGP contestants Plumbo - who sound like a Norwegian equivalent of Nordman with their mix for rock and folk - are no.1 in the iTunes chart with M*******n (?) whilst their MGP entry, the appropriately titled "Ola Nordmann" is also in the top 10. If this is any indication of their popularity, we just might be seeing them in Baku.

On first listen I was a bit unkind about Donkeyboy's comeback single "City Boy" but I should know by now never to judge a song on first listen as it takes a lot of songs a long time to grow on me. I like it now, although still not as much as "Ambitions" or "Sometimes". The song's still doing very well in their native Norway.

In Sweden, the P3 Guld-effect has taken "The Lion's Roar" by First Aid Kit (Salem Al Fakir's favourite Swedish act of the moment, by the way!) all the way into the iTunes top 10. It's certainly a very different and distinctive song, and for some reason reminds me of late 60s/early 70s folk-singers. (!)

She may not have won the final series of Swedish Idol, but Moa Lignell has her moment in the spotlight this week as her own song "When I Held Ya" is no. 1 in the Swedish iTunes chart. Takida are still very popular and getting lots of airplay so it's no surprise to see their latest single "You Learn" doing well, although for me it's a bit weaker than some of their previous hits. It's not the only song in the charts featuring the distinctive voice of Robert Pettersson though, as he (along with Helena Josefsson) sings the theme to the new Swedish movie "Hamilton: I Nationens Intresse". I've only heard the song a couple of times but I've got a feeling it's going to be popping up on my playlist. Check out this post by Damian about the song over at Swedish Stereo: http://swedishstereo.blogspot.com/2012/01/robert-pettersson-feat-helena-josefsson.html

The return of Så ska det låta

It's been running for 15 years, and tonight sees the start of yet another series of the singing panel gameshow Så ska det låta. Fans of a certain Swedish pop persuasion will find many of their favourites in the following guest list....

Week 1 - 22 January
Jessica Andersson & Jamie Meyer vs Shirley Clamp & Daniel Karlsson

Week 2 - 29 January
Christine Meltzer & Lina Hedlund vs Katrin Sundberg & Per Andersson

Week 3 - 5 February
Sibel & Calle Kristiansson vs Sanna Nielsen & Kalle Moraeus

Week 4 - 12 February
Anders Eriksson & Jan Rippe vs Knut Agnred & Per Fritzell

Week 5 - 19 February
Babben Larsson & Andreas Weise vs Carin da Silva & Andreas Lundstedt

Week 6 - 26 February
Nina Söderqvist & Stefan Gerhardsson vs Sonja Aldén & Oskar Nilsson

Week 7 - 4 March
Elisabeth Andreassen & Alexander Rybak vs Matilda Hansson & Peter Johansson

Week 8 - 11 March
Lili Päivärinta & Susie Päivärinta vs Kim Kärnfalk & Nina Inhammar Allard

Week 9 - 18 March
Pauline & Stephen Simmonds vs Molly Sandén & Danny Saucedo

Week 10 - 25 March
Linda Sundblad & Kristoffer Appelquist vs Lotta Engberg & Chris Lind

Week 11 - 1 April
Sarah Dawn Finer & Samuel Ljungblahd vs Caroline Larsson & Anders Ekborg

Week 12 - 8 April
Gunhild Carling & Christer Sjögren vs Elisa Lindström & Hasse Andersson

Here's tonight's line-up. Photo courtesy of www.svt.se.

P3 Guld 2012


The 2012 P3 Guldgalan took place at Lisebergshallen in Gothenburg last night. The presenter of last night's extravaganza was none other than Salem Al Fakir!

Here are the winners of this year's awards voted for by listeners to Swedish radio P3.

Årets grupp: Deportees
Årets pop: Syket
Årets artist: Kapten Röd
Årets hiphop/soul: Ison & Fille
Guldmicken: Kapten Röd
Årets dans: L-Wiz
Årets låt: "Vart jag mig i världen vänder" - Den Svenska Björnstammen
Årets rock/metal: Graveyard
Årets nykomling: Den Svenska Björnstammen

Of course the Guldgalan is as much about the live performances as the award winners, and as usual, they didn't disappoint. Fibes, Oh Fibes!, a long time favourite of this blog premiered their long-awaited new single "Apex of the Sun" in front of their home crowd.

Check out this link for all the live performances from last night: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3964&artikel=4922308

Oh and one more thing....there have been many memorable P3 Guld performances over the years and here's another one to add to the list. Despite stories before the show that Salem wouldn't be singing, well he surprised us and he did sing after all!!

#totallyinexplicablechoice


Tonight was the first (of many) "Super Saturdays" for us Eurovision fans to gather at our laptops and hope for un-buffering streams.

Unfotunately I didn't catch the Danish final till it was almost over, but I saw enough of it to appreciate the fabulous production values and the must-see retro clips. I also wired up my HDMI cable from the computer to the TV which meant that I could watch the remainder of the final on the big screen. Just in time for the final song "Venter" which immediately passed the "mum test". "That's too good for Eurovision!" she declared immediately. Her appreciative tone continued all the way through Alexander Rybak's ESC medley and into the long-awaited appearance by A Friend In London, reprising 2011's DMGP winner "New Tomorrow". She remembered the song immediately although she probably hadn't heard it since last May. She also remembered how good-looking Tim Schou is :)

It's amazing how that song has stood the test of time and if anything, it's got better and better. I'm not sure what was the point of Howie D's guest appearance though?

Unfortunately, the joy of a top quality Danish winner was not to be repeated. Neither Christian and Patrik (dodgy top notes notwithstanding) nor Jesper Nohrstedt (a.k.a "the wee Bieber guy" as I lazily nicknamed him), either of whom we'd have been happy with as Denmark's 2012 representatives, got the call to Baku. Nope, it was Soluna Samay (pictured below) initially dressed up like a Cheryl Cole "Fight For This Love" tribute act - which immediately doomed her at EuropeCrazy HQ before she had even sung a note. The song, "Should've Known Better" turned out to be three minutes in blandsville and immediately recalled Anna Bergendahl's Swedish entry of 2010. Regular readers of EuropeCrazy will know what I thought of that, so enough said.

To summarise: a bad, and totally inexplicable choice of song to represent Denmark at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. I'm now gearing up for a season of inevitable disappointment, 2001-style, as national final after national final produces results which I don't agree with....


Above: Christian Brøns & Patrik Isaksson - it may have been a bit dated sounding, but "Venter" was a hit with the EuropeCrazy HQ jury.


Above: Jesper Nohrstedt - "Take Our Hearts" might not have won, but as a contemporary pop song with an Avicii-style vibe, it's bang up to date and I'd predict that it will go on to be the biggest hit of this year's DMGP.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Square-Eyed Couch Potato: Archive edition - October-December 2011

You know how much I love BBC4, not just for its never-ending stream of Scandi-crime delights. I also love this channel because it broadcasts lots of great music documentaries and theme nights.


"PRINCE - A PURPLE REIGN" was, as you would expect, a documentary all about Minneapolis' finest, one of the most prolific, innovative (and dare I say underrated) artists of our time. There was only one thing wrong with this show - at one hour it was too short, it should have been at least three hours long! Nevertheless it was a treat, featuring interviews with Prince fans and collaborators. Whilst we're on the subject, a very similar BBC documentary from several years back was also broadcast recently on Sky Arts 1, which is also becoming a must-see channel for real music fans. Just as in the new documentary, the vintage "PRINCE OF PAISLEY PARK" didn't actually feature any input from the interview-shy legend but yet again there were lots of contributions from those who have worked with him over the years. And, needless to say, lots of fine, fine music too.

Just as you wait ages for a Prince documentary then two come along at once, so it was around Christmas time that there was no escape from a certain Mr Michael Buble. Who made a Christmas album, of course, so there was a TV special, "MICHAEL BUBLE - HOME FOR CHRISTMAS", which recalled the old-style TV specials from my childhood, when the likes of Val Doonican threw some tinsel over his rocking chair and treated us to some easy listening favourites. In the modern era it's all about the subliminal X Factor-plugging of course: Gary Barlow and Kelly Rowland were among the guests. The combination of Mr Buble and his cosy tunes was perfect fare for curling up pre-Christmas on the sofa.


We may have entered 2012 but in the parallel "TOP OF THE POPS" world on BBC4, we're now into 1977. A landmark year for music indeed. But don't expect wall to wall punk yet on TOTP - you're more likely to get something like "Grandma's Party" by Paul Nicholas.

The end of the year means lots (and lots) of list-shows, which I can take or leave as I get totally sick of the beyond-Z-list so-called 'celebs' commenting on the showbiz events of the year. We still love "THE MOST ANNOYING PEOPLE OF....." (BBC3) which annually does what it says on that particular annual countdown tin. The 2011 edition rolled around just after Christmas and didn't disappoint. Richard Bacon's commentary was very sharp as always, and the contributions entertaining.

Yet another list-show this time on Channel 5. "BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONGS" was a chart based on sales figures so there's no surprise that Band Aid topped the list. It was good to see how a lot of the old hitmakers look today. Dave Hill hasn't really changed, but the years haven't been so kind to Greg Lake, or worst of all my beloved childhood crush Ray Stiles from Mud. Oh well. We're all getting old.


"THE UNTOLD TOMMY COOPER" (Channel 4) took a slightly different insight from the usual biographical documentaries, as it used his life-long manager's diaries and correspondence to illustrate the dark and complex life of the comic legend.

Back to Christmas now. Generally the TV over Christmas wasn't anything to write home about, and I'm glad we'd stockpiled a few things to watch. Christmas Day of course is all about the one hour soap specials (predictable) one-off Strictly Come Dancing (which is always a bit lower league compared to its Premiership series equivalent, don't ya think?), and Top of the Pops (serious yuck!) so the only thing I really got excited about was the "DOWNTON ABBEY" (ITV) Christmas special.


I never thought I'd see the day when I looked forward to Downton, but that's how low my life has sunk :) It rattled along at a cracking pace, there were lots of loose ends conveniently tied up and a certain long-awaited happy ending of sorts. Or will it be a happy ending? Bring on series 3!!

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Swedish Grammis 2012: the nominations

I was too busy before Christmas to post this, but (finally) here is the full list of nominees for this year's Swedish Grammis which will take place on 14th February. Information courtesy of www.grammis.se.

Årets album
ANNA TERNHEIM – THE NIGHT VISITOR
DEPORTEES – ISLANDS & SHORES
ISON & FILLE – FÖR EVIGT
LYKKE LI – WOUNDED RHYMES
VERONICA MAGGIO – SATAN I GATAN

Årets artist
DEPORTEES
LYKKE LI
MELISSA HORN
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA
VERONICA MAGGIO

Årets barnalbum
DOREEN MÅNSSON – DILEMMAN MED DOREEN
LEKISJAZZ – LEKISJAZZ
NASSIM AL FAKIR – UTE OCH CYKLAR
ORKESTER POP – MÄTA MED SKÄGG
OSCAR DANIELSON – DET KOSTAR PÅ ATT VARA BARN

Årets dansband
BENNY ANDERSSONS ORKESTER – O KLANG OCH JUBELTID
ELISA’S – DET HÄR ÄR BARA BÖRJAN
LARZ KRISTERZ – FRÅN ÄLVDALEN TILL NASHVILLE
LASSE STEFANZ – CUBA LIBRE
ZEKES – VI LYFTER IGEN

Årets elektro/dans
ADRIAN LUX – BOY / ALIVE
AVICII – LEVELS/FADE INTO DARKNESS
LITTLE DRAGON – RITUAL UNION
REBECCA & FIONA – I LOVE YOU, MAN
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA – SAVE THE WORLD/ANTIDOTE

Årets folkmusik/visa
CAJSASTINA ÅKERSTRÖM – VISOR FRÅN NÄR OCH FJÄRRAN
ERIC BIBB – BLUES, BALLADS & WORK SONGS
LASSE TENNANDER – EREMIT I ETT KOLLEKTIV
MERIT HEMMINGSON – EQ
SOFIA KARLSSON – LEVANDE

Årets hiphop/soul
ADAM TENSTA – SCARED OF THE DARK
ALEXIS WEAK – TILL MINNE AV
ISON & FILLE – FÖR EVIGT
MOVITS! – UT UR MIN SKALLE
TIMBUKTU – SAGOLANDET

Årets hårdrock/metall
GRAVEYARD – HISINGEN BLUES
HAMMERFALL – INFECTED
IN FLAMES – SOUNDS OF A PLAYGROUND FADING
OPETH – HERITAGE
THE HAUNTED – UNSEEN

Årets Internationella album
ADELE – 21
BEYONCÉ – 4
FRANK OCEAN – NOSTALGIA, ULTRA
JAMES BLAKE – JAMES BLAKE
PJ HARVEY – LET ENGLAND SHAKE

Årets jazz
FREDDIE WADLING – WITH A LICENSE TO KILL
GEORG RIEDEL, SARAH RIEDEL & NICOLAI DUNGER – CORNELIS VS RIEDEL
MAGNUS ÖSTRÖM – THREAD OF LIFE
NILS LANDGREN – THE MOON, THE STARS AND YOU
TONBRUKET – DIG IT TO THE END

Årets klassiska
ANNE SOFIE VON OTTER – BERLIOZ: LES NUITS D’ÉTÉ / HAROLD EN ITALY
GUSTAF SJÖKVISTS KAMMARKÖR – I VÅR TID
KUNGLIGA FILHARMONIKERNA/ESA-PEKKA SALONEN/ALAN GILBERT/SAKARI ORAMO – ANDERS HILLBORG – ELEVEN GATES
KUNGSBACKA-TRION – HAYDN: PIANO TRIOS
MALMÖ SYMFONIORKESTER/CHRISTOPH KÖNIG/MALENA ERNMAN – GÖSTA NYSTROEM – SINFONIA DEL MARE

Årets kompositör
ANNA JÄRVINEN – ANNA SJÄLV TREDJE
ANNA TERNHEIM – THE NIGHT VISITOR
LYKKE LI, BJÖRN YTTLING & RICK NOWELS – WOUNDED RHYMES
MELISSA HORN – INNAN JAG KÄNDE DIG
VERONICA MAGGIO/CHRISTIAN WALZ – SATAN I GATAN

Årets låt
AVICII – LEVELS
DEN SVENSKA BJÖRNSTAMMEN – VART JAG MIG I VÄRLDEN VÄNDER
ERIC AMARILLO – OM SANNINGEN SKA FRAM (VILL DU LIGGA MED MIG?)
ERIC SAADE – POPULAR
PETTER & SEPTEMBER – BAKSMÄLLA
SEPTEMBER – MIKROFONKÅT
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA – SAVE THE WORLD
TIMBUKTU – RESTEN AV DITT LIV
TOVE STYRKE – WHITE LIGHT MOMENT
VERONICA MAGGIO – JAG KOMMER

Årets musikvideo
GUSTAV JOHANSSON – KARL X JOHAN ”FLAMES (UNCOMPROMISED CUT)”
MAGNUS RENFORS – PETER JÖBACK, FILMEN TILL ALBUMET ”LIVET, KÄRLEKEN OCH DÖDEN – LA VIE, L’AMOUR, LA MORT”
MAX VITALI – ROBYN ”CALL YOUR GIRLFRIEND”
SLOBODAN ZIVIC – KRIGET ”SUBMISSION”
TED MALMROS/GUSTAF VON ARBIN – PETER BJORN AND JOHN ”GIMME SOME”

Årets nykomling
ADRIAN LUX
ALEKS
DEN SVENSKA BJÖRNSTAMMEN
NEWKID
REBECCA & FIONA

Årets pop
ANE BRUN – IT ALL STARTS WITH ONE
ANNA TERNHEIM – THE NIGHT VISITOR
JONATHAN JOHANSSON – KLAGOMUREN
LYKKE LI – WOUNDED RHYMES
VERONICA MAGGIO – SATAN I GATAN

Årets producent
CHRISTIAN WALZ
JOHAN ECKEBORN
MASSE SALAZAR
SHELLBACK
TOBIAS FRÖBERG

Årets rock
DEPORTEES – ISLANDS & SHORES
ELDKVARN – DE BERÖMDAS AVENY
KEBNEKAJSE – IDIOTEN
ME AND MY ARMY – THANK GOD FOR SENDING DEMONS
SAMLING – NÄR MULLRET DÖVAR VÅRA ÖRON BLIR VI RÄDDA

Årets svenska internationella framgång
AVICII
LITTLE DRAGON
LYKKE LI
OPETH
SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA

Årets textförfattare
ANNA TERNHEIM – THE NIGHT VISITOR
JONATHAN JOHANSSON – KLAGOMUREN
MAURO SCOCCO – MUSIK FÖR NYSKILDA
MELISSA HORN – INNAN JAG KÄNDE DIG
VERONICA MAGGIO/CHRISTIAN WALZ – SATAN I GATAN

Årets innovatör
AVICII
DEPORTEES
ERATO
VERONICA MAGGIO