The Playlist: January-February 2012

"The Boy Can Dance" - Afro-Dite: one of the very few songs in this year's Melodifestivalen which I'll continue to listen to after the contest.

"Stay" - Tooji: an absolute cracker representing Norway this year. Modern beats blended with eastern rhythms = success! (hopefully).

"Shapeshifter" - Rikke Normann: I really enjoyed following the Norwegian national finals his year and even though I didn't really enjoy the performance on the night, this works very well indeed on record.

"You and I" - Minnie-Oh: a cracking wee song from the MGP. She's charming and captivating and very different, and I hope we see her again in the contest in the future.

"Take Our Hearts" - Jesper Nohrstedt: I'm probably calling it this year's "Yes Man" with a considerable post-(D)MGP life on my playlist.

"Remedy" - J-Son featuring Salem Al Fakir: these are exciting times for our main man: recently married, baby on the way and soundtracking it all is this joy-filled rap/pop crossover collaboration with rapper J-Son.

"Live Tomorrow" - Lena Philipsson: I'm not really a fan of Laleh but I'm enjoying Lena's version of this song, the sentiment of which is very appropriate at this point in time.

"Hugarro" - Magni Asgeirsson: he gave his typical passionate performance of this rock ballad in the Icelandic final, but of course it was Jonsi and Greta's year.

"Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye featuring Kimbra: yes I know it's pretty ubiquitous by now but on the plus side, it's not Someone Like You or Jessie J :)

"America" - Le Kid: for some reason I've got right into this song again. Just a pure pop song, nothing more and nothing less.

"My Own Worst Enemy" - Robert Pettersson featuring Helena Josefsson: It's very James Bond-ish and dramatic so it's very appropriate that it's a Swedish movie theme, with distinctive vocals from the Takida frontman.

The Playlist: June 2011

(I haven't been able to blog for the past couple of weeks due to some personal stuff but normal service will now be resumed! But firstly, a couple of posts from last month.)

Here's what I was listening to in June...

Solid Ground - Pnau: smooth, breezy pop from Nick Littlemore's band, and sharing the same irresistible musical characteristics as Empire of the Sun - which he was once a part of.
Judas - Lady Gaga: the critics are already airbrushing this one from Gaga history, but it became a Friday night favourite at EuropeCrazy HQ. Now that is an honour.
Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn: more exquisite high quality electropop from the queen of ....high quality electropop.
Battles (Of The Mind) - Kula Shaker: a long forgotten song from a few years ago, which I only rediscovered again recently and it reminded me just how much I liked them. Very 60s influenced.
Kärlekens Tunga - September: her own unique take on the Eldkvarn song, done in her own inimitable style.
Higher - Taio Cruz featuring Kylie Minogue: one of the year's most enduring pop songs, and a cert for a good placing in my year end chart.
Like Suicide - Christian Walz: another one which I can't stop playing, and which (along with "Me and My Drum") was my favourite MF 2011 song.
Rabiosa - Shakira featuring Pitbull: it's catchy, it's silly, it's fun and it's summer. And we'll even forgive her for having Pitbull on it.

We are over halfway through the year (it's flying by, isn't it!) and I've started thinking about my year-end chart. The way things are going, I'm going to struggle to put together a top 50 this year. Or even a top 30, come to that. I need to go back to basics, to the early days of this blog, when I did the work and went looking for the music which I wanted to hear, rather than expect it to fall into my lap. I'm going to put more work into this blog in the coming months and hopefully that will bring some much-needed musical rewards.

The Playlist: May 2011

Silhouettes - Avicii featuring Salem Al Fakir: You won't be surprised to see this on my playlist! A cracking dance track by Tim Berg, and the vocalist's not half bad either :))) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtQBFmdjLtg

Higher - Taio Cruz & Kylie Minogue: Yes I know I was late to this one, but it's one of the best things he's done in ages and not even the hideous Travie McCoy can spoil it.

Walking In The Rain - Flash & The Pan: a forgotten old obscure gem restored to my memory thanks to it being used in a car ad.

Without You/Walking On A Dream - Empire of the Sun: rediscovering them once again. Actually, forget that, because I never stopped listening to them.

Don't Know Why - Soundgirl: very clever use of Carly Simon's "Why" sample. It's got 'summer hit' written all over it: now all we need is the weather.

Love In Rewind - Dino Merlin
New Tomorrow - A Friend In London
So Lucky - Zdob zi Zdub
Coming Home - Sjonni's Friends
Get You - Alexey Vorobyov
Angel In Disguise - Musiqq:
All the songs I played after Eurovision was over.

Lifeline - Jamiroquai: heard it a lot in Pisa and realised I liked it more than I initially did.

Indestructible/Hang With Me - Robyn: still liking these.

Give A Little - Hanson: ooh look they've grown up into big grown-up men now!! This is a nice catchy pop song.

Bullets - Rebecca & Fiona: no, I'm still not tired of this one.

Summer Rewind: The Playlist

All Day Love - Salem Al Fakir: do I really have to say how brilliant this is??
4 O’Clock (Adrian Lux Remix) - Salem Al Fakir: pop perfection reinvented as killer dancefloor anthem.
Skisser för Sommaren - Kent: catchy standout track from a smashing new album.
Love Will Always Find A Way (Damien Adore Remake) - Fibes, Oh Fibes!: great band, great song, and of course great remixer!
Wavin’ Flag - K’naan: A song which goes all the way back to our Bratislava holiday and which I’ll always associate with this year’s World Cup, even if the tournament was dull.
Doot Doot - Freur: a song which was ahead of its time and which I’ve recently rediscovered - it sounds better than ever. And I didn't realise until recently that the people behind this band went on to form Underworld!
Dirty Picture - Taio Cruz featuring Ke$ha: This shouldn't be in my favourites list but it's one of those so-bad-it’s-good songs which somehow managed to become a Friday night EuropeCrazy HQ favourite after a few glasses of wine :)
All Time Low - The Wanted: one of the best pop songs of the year, by a new boyband to get really excited about. Can’t wait to hear their album.
Misery - Maroon 5: trying to capture the glory days of "This Love" and reasonably succeeding. I still like them, even if they are no longer "in vogue" in this country anymore.
Hygiene Squad - The Ark: completely bonkers track from their latest album "In Full Regalia" which still hasn’t grown on me in the way I thought it would. It’s taking its time...

This week's playlist: you make me wanna listen to music again

OK so it's been a while since I did a playlist on here, so here goes...

Music Again/Whataya Want From Me/For Your Entertainment - Adam Lambert: still got these on repeat, and I still can't believe that "FYE" only made it to no.39 in our top 40 :(

4 O'Clock/Red Rock/Bloody Breakfast - Salem Al Fakir: and you won't be surprised to know that "Ignore This" is still my most played album of the year, and that's not likely to change.

Keep On Walking (God Morgen Norge version 05.05.10) - Salem Al Fakir: a wonderful, different, low-key version of what is already a classic song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNRux8J11_M

Brooklyn Sun (God Morgen Norge version 05.05.10) - Salem Al Fakir: probably one of the best live versions of this song ever - heartbreakingly beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQwEone_FS8

Umbrella Beach - Owl City: very catchy follow-up to the ubiquitous "Fireflies" which I still like a lot. I'll need to discover some of his other music.

Yes Man - Bjorn Johan Muri: Norway's real Eurovision hit from 2010, and I'm still not fed up with this song.

Hurricane - Rebound: a.k.a. Idol 2009's Eddie Razaz and Rabih Jaber. This has been a big hit in Sweden. Although I didn't really like it to begin with, it has now grown on me.

Love Is A Hurricane - Boyzone: there seems to be a hurricane theme developing here :) Obvious, middle-of-the-road pop it may be, but it's a Gregg Alexander song, which is always well worth celebrating.

Vända Med Vinden - Timoteij & Alexander Rybak: from the girls' rather good debut album, this is a Swedish language version of young Mr Rybak's "Roll With The Wind" and ticks all the folk-pop boxes.

Playing With Fire - Paula Seling & Ovi: one of the few songs from this year's Eurovision that I'm listening to. Subtle it most definitely ain't, but you will remember it after one hearing.

This week's playlist: Now count to twenty and here we go again

Hello y'all....


4 O'Clock/Keep On Walking/Virgin Mary/Red Rock/Bloody Breakfast/This Is For - Salem Al Fakir: it's only April, but "Ignore This" is the album of the year. And nothing will change that very obvious fact.

Manboy - Eric Saade: this is what a weekend in Sweden does to you :)

You're Out Of My Life - Darin: ditto.

Unstoppable - Ola: one of the major 'radio hits' to come out of this year's Melodifestivalen, and rewarded this week with top spot in the Sverige Topplistan singles chart.

Kom - Timoteij: ditto. Dangerously catchy tune. Faithful travelling companion is obsessed with them....:))))

I'm Not Mad - Alex Gardner: is this going to be one in yet another long line of great lost blogland hits???

On A Mission - Gabriella Cilmi: at least this one did make the charts. Will need to check her album out.

Memories - David Guetta feat Kid Cudi: I heard this on holiday and didn't know who or what it was. Now I do, so it's a regular fixture on the old iPod.

Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding: this is a strange one. I like it sometimes but other times it annoys me...yet it all seemed to make sense when I heard it on P3 whilst in Gothenburg!

Respect - Adeva: something from "back in the day" which for some strange reason I've got into all over again.

This week's playlist: Whatever it takes I will do what I gotta do

On A Mission - Gabriella Cilmi: it's so good to have her back. A top electro-pop tune based around (what sounds to me like) the Joe Jackson 'Steppin' Out' bassline.
Give It To Me - Alexander Stenerud: some Norwegian MGP-wonderful-ness. I'll be supporting him in next week's final...
Don't Wanna Lose You Again/Take You Home - A1: that's when I'm not supporting A1 of course!! And I still can't get enough of "Take You Home"...!
Never Forget/Shine/Rule The World - Take That: you can tell that I've spent some time of late watching the Take That 'Circus Live' DVD: and why not. It's fabulous.
Stay Too Long - Plan B: I like bits of this because it reminds me of Northern Soul....but other bits of this just annoy me :(
Septieme Ciel - Jane Fostin: a musical flashback to 1999, back in the day when I used to go on holiday every year to la France :))))))
Backseat - Staygold, Spank Rock and Damien Adore: 'get a job done in the parking lot....in the backseat of your car...."

This week's playlist: There's no regret, at least not yet

Take You Home - A1: they have made a very nice transition from boyband to man-band. I really like this, it's a solid pop track which I'm playing a lot. Looking forward to them in MGP!

Ambitions - Donkeyboy: still on a Norwegian theme, this remains a very addictive track and has been getting lots of play at EuropeCrazy HQ over the last 4 weeks.

Morning After Dark - Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado & SoShy: I'm surprised this didn't do better in our top 40 chart - it deserved better after all, when you think that autotuned rubbish like Iyaz can get to no.1 !!

Appetite - Prefab Sprout: a true blast from the past, and a real classic. I don't know the reason why, but for some reason I want to listen to lots of Prefab Sprout again. And no autotune in sight.

Over You - Erik Gronwall: these are good times for Chris Daughtry, as his songs are covered by Westlife ("What About Now") and this one, which appears on the debut album by the latest Swedish Idol winner. Very nice. And yes, I (finally) got into "Higher" too!

Walking In Memphis - Calle Kristiansson: another cover version, this time by the Swedish Idol runner-up. Proof that you can't keep a good song down.

Ten out of Ten - Paolo Nutini: this is such a catchy song! And don't be put off by the fact that it's currently in one of those DFS furniture commercials - it's a top tune. Great fun.

Heaven or Hell - Osmo Ikonen: whether or not he'll win his Finnish national selection for Eurovision is irrelevant - but his musical talent is indisputable. This may not be as legendary as "Speakerbox" but it's still very good indeed.

This week's playlist: Tell me what you got in that box right now

Pandora's Box - Gerald de Palmas featuring Eagle-Eye Cherry: absolute standout track from GdP's new album "Sortir" (which I'll probably review on here sometime) - two of my favourite singers duetting on a wonderfully wonky acoustic-flavoured tune.

Whole New World - It Bites: still loving this. It's taken me 20-odd years to repeat its greatness, but I got there eventually.

Sing - Vivienne McKone: a delicious, obscure, unappreciated oldie from 1992, which I've recently rediscovered and still enjoy as much as ever.

Morning After Dark - Timbaland featuring Nelly Furtado & SoShy: it's good to have him back again, although points deducted for using the dreaded autotune. I love his facial expressions in the video though! This is a real grower - I wasn't too fond of it to start with but by the third hearing I loved it.

Won't Go Quietly - Example: Liked his first single but this is soooo much better - such a catchy song with hit written all over it!

Gloria - Mando Diao: or to be more specific, the dance mix of this song which has done really well in the Swedish singles chart and is still getting a lot of airplay on Rix FM.

I Wish - Mini Viva: I'm probably not the only one who listens to this and has fond memories of the Vengaboys (!) anyway still loving "Left My Heart In Tokyo" and the follow-up's not that bad either. A real grower.

This week's playlist: I know you like to keep an eye on me

OK it's not specifically this week's playlist, but more of a round-up of what I've been listening to over recent weeks.

Spy - Shakira & Wyclef Jean: the nature of this collaboration suggests a future single, although it's quite bonkers in every way and therefore won't repeat the success of "Hips Don't Lie". With the new "She Wolf" album she’s got even further away from the Latin-influences which made her famous, but she’s still got so much talent and so many more ideas that she is still one of the most innovative pop stars in the world today.

Good vs Bad - Tingsek: and now to one of Sweden's most talented and underrated singer-songwriters. A song which narrowly missed out on my 2009-50 (because I discovered it too late) but this is a timeless, well-performed song with a catchy call and response chorus.

Pencil Full of Lead - Paolo Nutini: Almost as bonkers as Shakira, this one! Short and sweet burst of Jungle Book-style jollity which always makes me smile. He is becoming one of this country's most interesting performers who most definitely doesn't follow the crowd.

Reality Used To Be A Friend of Mine/Set Adrift On Memory Bliss - PM Dawn: Been listening to these a lot again since they featured in Retro Saturday. "Set Adrift..." Is still a breath of musical fresh air.

Haven’t Met You Yet - Michael Buble / I’m All Over It - Jamie Cullum: two singers inhabiting a very similar musical universe with crossover appeal, one appeared on X Factor and had a very big top 40 hit, the other appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and failed to make the top 40. Draw your own conclusions. Two very catchy songs which I like a lot just now.

Krossa Allt/Vals for S***n/Sjukhus/Taxmannen - Kent: probably my favourite album of the moment, Kent can still do no wrong for me. Swedish language electro-rock from a band still at their distinctive best.

De Juiste Vergissing/Leve Belgie - Clouseau: I’m enjoying their lively power-pop at the moment. They are currently in the midst of their "10 x 10" annual Sportpaleis pre-Christmas extravaganza where they play no less than 34 songs in one concert!

OK that's it for the playlist - I probably won't be doing another one now until we get some new music to listen to in January. In the meantime we'll all have to cover our ears and try to run and hide from all the Christmas songs on the TV and the radio....there's no escape!

This week's playlist: And I feel like taking off

Supernova - Mr Hudson featuring Kanye West: despite my hatred of vocoder-hell pop, this is a notable exception, and I look forward to hearing what else he can do.

Warning Sign - Nick Heyward: obscure maybe, but I've been listening to this a lot lately. Catchy and underrated track from his post-Haircut One Hundred solo repertoire.

Kylie Said To Jason - The KLF: Hard to believe that this is 20 years old, but still sounds so fresh. I previously gave this a mention on Retro Saturday (which is back with a vengeance next week!) Nonsensical lyrics + an irresistible chorus = excellence.

Lala Song - Bob Sinclar featuring Sugarhill Gang: I still don't understand why UK chart success passed this one by this summer, when it's just got such a sunny, happy vibe about it. Great stuff for anyone who likes old-school rap music.

Say It - Booty Luv: Very very nice to have them back. They make rather fab commercial-dance music, and this is a pretty good comeback.

The Rain/Ready For The Weekend/Stars Come Out/Flashback - Calvin Harris: did I ever mention that "Ready For The Weekend" is my most-played CD of recent weeks? Top dance music which has soundtracked everything from bathtime to housework.

Trippin' On You - Cahill featuring Nikki Belle: this was played a few times on Galaxy Radio (which is otherwise the home of vocoder-hell) and I realised how much I still liked it after all this time.

Sweet Dreams - Beyonce: Now you know that I can't really stand Beyonce ("Halo" is currently my undisputed most-hated-song of 2009) but for some strange reason I like this.

Don't Bring Flowers/Hurtful/Wanna Be Loved/Bitter End - Erik Hassle: Swedish pop's latest brightest new talent releases a very impressive album indeed. Here are four songs from it.

Release Me - Agnes: yes I know it's old news by now, but I still like it. 2009-50 place guaranteed by now. I don't know how her UK chart career will go now, but this is a pretty good start.

This week's playlist: One, two, three, four, uno, dos, tres...

I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull: I only got to know this song about a week ago but I'm already addicted to it. As near as we'll get to a real summer hit this year.
Ready For The Weekend - Calvin Harris: Another slice of dance-pop awesomeness from this very talented DJ. If the album's as good as its first two singles then it will be a monster.
Diamond Rings - Chipmunk: Not usually into this kind of thing but it escapes the dumper and appeals to me purely because of its sampling of "Pipeline" in the vocal hook.
The Only Ones - Melody Club: I've probably said this before, and if I have (or haven't) I'll say it again anyway: they remind me of the Ark. And that's a good thing.
Fire - Kasabian: still sounding fresh after all these weeks. I really will need to get listening to that new album...
You Can't Kill Rock & Roll - Sugarplum Fairy: more retro-tastic melodic rock from another musically fab branch of the Noren gene pool.
Youngblood - E.M.D.: took a while to grow on me but now it's a firm favourite. Nice catchy Swedish pop, nothing more, nothing less.
Joyride - The Killers: I'm well into their music again and this is one of the high spots on their "Day and Age" album.
Lala Song - Bob Sinclar & Sugarhill Gang: catchy singalong summer dance tune. Mr Sinclar continues to make some inspired choices of collaborators.
Right Here Right Now - BWO: They've had a bit of Swedish TV exposure over the last couple of months. But apart from that opportunity to drool at Martin, they also make great pop. Like this.

This week's playlist: I sing now for all of you

Hold On - Lazee featuring Neverstore: I know I wasn't too kind to this band on this blog in the past, but with this song I take it all back. A fine fusion of rap, dance and indie/guitar style and the end result is quite mesmerising. Bring on the Swedish Invasion!

Untouched - The Veronicas: there's something quite addictive about this song - a UK top 10 hit in recent weeks although I've never heard it once on the radio. Girlie pop-rock it may be, but it has an edge and urgency about it which Kelly Clarkson & co. just don't have.

Fire - Kasabian: I still like this, and will need to get round to hearing that album in full!

Touch You Right Now - Basic Element: music to dance around the room to.

Skylark - Körsbär/Karlsson: unreleased but streaming over at their MySpace (www.myspace.com/korsbarkarlsson) this is an absolute treat. Jeppe has just the most beautiful voice and he sings like an angel.

Click/New In Town - Little Boots: I wanted to file her away in the hype-over-talent section but I've been pleasantly surprised by her poptastic debut album - review to follow here soon.

This week's playlist: visualise like it's '75 again

We Are The People - Empire of the Sun: I'm extremely delighted that this is now in the UK top 20 singles chart - some quality at last!!

Release Me - Agnes: talking of which, here's another song I like in the UK chart. It has really grown on me.

Bluest Eyes - Salem: "Astronaut" is still a consistent fixture in my home and on my iPod. This may be one of the lesser-known tracks, but it has a lot of depth and every time you listen to it you hear something new.

Sensitized - Christophe Willem and Kylie Minogue: I wasn't familiar with this track previously (it was on a Kylie album), although I was familiar with the "Bonnie and Clyde" sample. I'm working my way through Christophe's album at the moment and will eventually review it here someday!

We Don't Wanna Put In - Stefane & 3G: Disco-tastic and disqualified Georgian ESC entry. Still sounds great.

Hurtful - Erik Hassle: is it true that his album release has been delayed till August in Sweden? It's one of my most eagerly awaited albums of the year, if it's anywhere near as good as this song.

Nature's Law - Embrace: Something old (ish) which I put on my iPod and played a lot this week.

Take On Me - A-ha: for reasons only that we've been loving that Weebl and Bob "Paper" cartoon :)

Fire - Kasabian: New album out today - I must check it out.

Ayo Technology - Milow: Still a favourite, although I may now give it a rest for a while.

This week's playlist: that's the way it goes when you wanna be free

Roxy - Salem: the video's out, it's fab and funny - little Salem pumping iron with the muscle-men in Venice Beach! - and given the right promotion, this song could be a massive summer hit.

Ayo Technology - Milow: it may still seem a bit of a novelty, but it's different enough from the original to have taken on a life of its own.

Storm - Osmo Ikonen: discovered this on the 'Speakerbox' singer's MySpace over the past week....he's a very impressive soulful vocalist.

Haus am See - Peter Fox: a man inhabiting his very own, distinctive musical genre at the moment.

Fire - Kasabian: not quite earth shattering comeback, but a real grower nonetheless, and possibly the only band with the potential to save British guitar-music, assuming it's not too late?

When It Was Good - Flipsyde: still a cracker.

Love Is Noise - The Verve: for some strange reason my iPod keeps playing this on shuffle this week....I used to love this for a short time, then I got sick of it very quickly, but now it's ok again.

Release Me - Agnes: it's Swedish, it sounds good on the radio and it's in the charts!!

Love Child - Fibes, Oh Fibes!: one of the best pop singles of this year, and I'm eagerly anticipating their new album.

We Are The People - Empire of the Sun: hooray! This is in the UK top 30 singles this week, nice to see some total quality in the chart for a change. One of the best songs of this year, which will figure very highly in my end of year chart, that's for sure.

This week's playlist: and with a little luck I'm gonna meet you on the dancefloor

Dance With Me - Zoli Adok: on record, this is just the most disco-tastic thing ever, which sadly didn't translate on stage to Eurovision final qualification for Hungary. Still love this song though.

The Highest Heights - Lovebugs: on record, this is just the most pop-rock-tastic thing ever, which sadly didn't translate on stage to Eurovision final qualification for Switzerland. Still love this song though.

Bistra Voda - Regina: I'm still surprised this didn't end up in a higher position on the scoreboard as I thought it was a cert for top 5. It's still standing up to repeated play, which is more than can be said for most of the songs that finished higher!

Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf: for some strange reason I've developed an unhealthy obsession with this song since I came back from my recent holiday. Great rap/rock commercial crossover which I didn't appreciate much when it was in the charts. Better late than never I guess.

Rise to the Occasion/Bite the Bullet - BWO: I'm really loving their "Big Science" album at the moment and these are my two most played tracks from it this week!

We Made You - Eminem: another song which probably wore my resistance down on holiday, although it's a long way from classic Eminem, there are still some witty lyrics in there.

Gloria - Mando Diao: saw their video for this a couple of times on Viva when I was away. Very 'retro' in sound and vision, a band out of time (and I say that as a compliment).

Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - Freemasons feat Sophie Ellis-Bextor: welcome back Sophie, no-one does posh dance music like you do, no one sings "daaaaancer" or "aaaaanswer" like you do.

Ayo Technology - Milow: still addictive. When is this going to be released in the UK? Anyone know? Or will it pass us by like most other big Euro-hits?

When It Was Good - Flipsyde: this will be one massive, massive hit record. It's not getting a mention yet in the UK new release schedule: will it be another Lady GaGa and we'll be the last to know?

Jai Ho - AR Rahman/Pussycat Dolls: this is turning out to be one of this year's more enduring pop hits. I never get tired of hearing it.

This week's playlist: seven days later I'm messed up and nowhere to be found

(One week on from the release of "Astronaut", and I've still got it on constant repeat at EuropeCrazy HQ but I've decided to limit Salem's songs to a maximum of five per week on the playlist - need to get some other songs on it too ha ha!!)

"Cold Shower" - Salem: stunning opening track to the new album which just seems to get better with every listen. Clever call-and-response lyrics wrapped up in a confident and intelligent musical arrangement.

"One of the Others" - Salem: still my favourite on the new album - a perfect example of timeless songwriting. A totally amazing song.

"Astronaut" - Salem: the current single, but it seems to make even more sense on the album. Becomes more lovely everytime I hear it.

"Brooklyn Sun" - Salem: a beautiful, new, unreleased song performed live last weekend at Bengans in Stockholm. I'm not sure how long it will be around on YouTube so check it out while you still can.

"Roxy" - Salem: coincidentally I am actually listening to this song right this minute. The more I hear it, the more it screams "international hit", it's such a fun song you can't help singing along with it.

"Jai Ho" - AR Rahman & the Pussycat Dolls: with "Slumdog Millionaire" mania still going, the PCDs go for a quick and very catchy cash-in.

"I'm Not Alone" - Calvin Harris: I still think this will be a massive hit, although so far my (dull) local radio station is ignoring it. Poor old Calvin's not too well at the moment - hope you get better soon!

"Shake It" - Metro Station: there is probably something deeply wrong in liking this because it has a member of the Cyrus family on it, but I do find it terribly catchy, against my better judgement.

"Forever" - Måns Zelmerlöw: rejoice, for the album is out, and I will be buying it when I go over to Sweden in three weeks. This is like Basshunter's "All I Ever Wanted" wrapped up in pure Måns-tastic-ness.

"Tingeling" (about 40 versions of this at the moment, any one will do). Yes I know it's wrong, but as the great Kanye West once said ...."I can't get much wronger".

This week's playlist: can you stay up for the weekend?

I'm Not Alone - Calvin Harris: truly the first great (non-Swedish) song of 2009. Long-awaited comeback from this very inventive and talented young man....I can't wait to hear his new album if it's as good as this.

The Queen - Velvet: it may not have gone far at MF but it's beginning to have a post-MF iPod longer life for me. Cracking little dancey pop song.

Singing That Melody - Swingfly: I'm not sure how this is going to do in the UK (it may have bombed already for all I know) but it's sooooo addictive and I'm listening to it a lot again.

Breakeven - The Script: it's not new by any means, but for some reason I seem to love this song more now than I used to. They have their critics, but I like them a lot. I see they did very well at this week's Irish music awards. Must do a post about that over the weekend if I remember.

Stay The Night - Alcazar: the "disco defenders" may have missed out at MF (yet again) but they will always be winners in my heart. Star quality and discotasticness, to the max.

Baby Goodbye - E.M.D.: Black suits, white suits whatever, I just find this song irresistible.

Hope and Glory - Måns Zelmerlöw: I'm still standing for it. Even if the Swedish public didn't last weekend....

Higher - Star Pilots: Still loving this big time.

Roxy/Bluest Eyes/Cold Shower/One of the Others - Salem Al Fakir: from Swedish radio P4's "Musikplats Stockholm" live session last Friday, some rather fabulous new songs whilst I wait for "Astronaut" to drop through my letterbox and when it does....this playlist will know it!!

This week's playlist: baby it's now or never

There are two kinds of songs on my playlist this week: those that are Melodifestivalen songs, and those that aren't. So....

Higher - Star Pilots: if their record company had any sense they would give this a Europe-wide release and it would be a massive summer hit.

Hope and Glory - Mans Zelmerlow: a very familiar fixture at EuropeCrazy HQ over the past week, even my mum can sing along with it by now!

Tick Tock - Nina Soderquist: this didn't initially register with me but I now love its high energy scary-rock-dance vibe.

Baby Goodbye - E.M.D.: try not to whistle along with this one....! Great memorable pop that sticks in your brain very quickly.

Stay The Night - Alcazar: same here. I could remember the tune after only one hearing, but inevitably this won't win on Saturday either.

Jag Tror Pa Oss - Scotts: I'm still finding this a ridiculously catchy foot-tapper.

And then the ones that aren't MF songs....

It's Only You Part II/Astronaut/Roxy - Salem Al Fakir: from his rather brilliant comeback performance on last week's "Popcirkus" on SVT. More about this at Planet Salem (can't resist a plug for my "famous" other blog!!)

Standing on the Shore/We Are The People - Empire of the Sun: I still can't get past the first four tracks on "Walking On A Dream" (that review will get posted on here someday) and these are my favourite two this week.

Det' Det' - Sukkerchok: Danish reinvention of Katy Perry from this year's Dansk MGP.

This week's playlist: and I was stuck in the middle

Astronaut - Salem Al Fakir: more about this over at Planet Salem. Be warned: in just a few weeks it's going to be all Salem, all the time on this playlist. (So what' s new I hear you ask?). This is the next single and title track from his new album and it's so sweet and lovely and sums up everything that's wonderful about him. Which is a lot.

Standing On The Shore/We Are The People - Empire of the Sun: not long now till the album is out, and I've already decided that it's my second-favourite album of the year even though I haven't heard it all yet.

Change - Daniel Merriweather: at long last!! It's been a while since "Stop Me" but his solo debut album is on the way and this is the first single from it, which has entered the UK top 10 singles chart today - yipppeeee! A nice upbeat soulful sound with the man himself in good voice.

Fearless - Bryn Christopher: once again I'm sad to say, criminally neglected and overlooked. What does this man have to do to get the success he deserves?

Singing That Melody - Swingfly: Poster Girl was talking about him on her blog the other day and then I was watching one of the music video channels on Friday and this came on! Very catchy track indeed, already a massive hit in Sweden some time ago and now (hopefully) heading for the British charts!!

Can't Get Over - September: and talking of Swedish acts and the British charts, here's another future hit. I hasten to add that I'm listening to the original which was a big hit in Sweden a year ago. It has now been pointlessly remixed for British dancefloor tastes...

Speakerbox - Signmark feat. Osmo Ikonen: Thanks to the wonderful Keira for introducing me to this utterly wonderful funky rap song which is one of the least Eurovision-y songs you'll hear all year, yet it made it all the way to the Finnish national final where it was beaten by...

Lose Control - Waldo's People: those nostalgic for early 90s Eurodance should love this. A very strong track indeed with a killer chorus and an irresistible beat. Great!