Melodifestivalen 2011 #1

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Melodifestivalen 2011

There was only one act in the first edition of "Melodifestivalen" this year who actually sang in Swedish. She had those classic Swedish blonde looks, an unmistakably Swedish name, and a gap in the middle of her teeth to rival Agnetha Fältskog at her prime. Well, before Agnetha's gap magically closed when ABBA began to reach international fame. Despite these impeccably Swedish credentials, her song had a Spanish title, "Desperados" and was sung in the style of blue-grass country. I quite … [Read more...]

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You know it’s Christmas in a week and a day…

December 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Magnus Carlsson from Youtube

You know it's christmas in a week and a day and I just can't figure out what to give away So I just wrap myself in paper for you baby "Wrap myself in paper" by Magnus Carlsson has been my favourite "Christmas song" for the last few years. I discovered it at about the time I discovered the broader Magnus oeuvre and, although it's camp and cheesy, I LOVE IT. The music is fun, the lyrics are playful, and Magnus sings it in just the right tone. In case you're wondering why I'm … [Read more...]

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Swedish Fest on TV

October 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Program on SBS TV Australia about rituals, including Sami animism in Sweden

Oh my goodness, we've had a Svensk-fest on SBS television over the last few days. There have been a few films and one documentary which I've noticed with a Swedish connection. It all started with the film Harry's Daughters which I tried to "get into". As the film's title implies, it's about a man who has two daughters. They're both expecting babies around the same time. One of the daughter's gives birth to a child, while the other is still-born. I have a vague recollection about seeing it … [Read more...]

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Darling – en film av Johan Kling

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Darling - Swedish Film

There was a really beautiful Swedish film on SBS-2 tonight which I stayed up to watch. At the centre of the film was an unexpected, albeit brief friendship between an older man and a younger woman. The younger woman is, for most of the film, quite an appalling character. She's the stereotypical Gen-Y. When she is sacked from her job for not paying enough attention to customers and for taking too many personal calls at work, she responds with "It's not my fault if they don't buy clothes, and … [Read more...]

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Stolen Moments

September 25, 2010 By 1 Comment
Stolen Television

For as long as I've lived in Surry Hills, I've been quite intrigued by a warehouse located on Wiltshire Street. It's remained a bit of a mystery for me. I've never known how many people live in there or what they do. But they've always held some fascination for me, as I've imagined a "Barbery Lane"-like living arrangement you might associate with "Tales Of The City" They've held legendary laneway parties. They've experimented with some artwork, including a concrete television. And they've … [Read more...]

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Jag talar svenska också

September 23, 2010 By 2 Comments
S Club 7 plays on the video jukebox

When my friend called me to say she was in my neighbourhood and asked - "do you feel like a drink"? - I had no idea I'd find myself a few hours later sitting in a lesbian bar speaking in Swedish to a couple of women from Finland. But that's exactly what happened. My friend is quite the extrovert and makes friends easily. She is also a crazy Eurovision fan, loves travel, and loves meeting people from different cultures. Thus when she told me she had met a couple of women from Finland - one … [Read more...]

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