Melodifestivalen 2021 Deltävling #3

Back in the days of 7-inch vinyl, there was always the B-side. There was the hit song on the A-side, and on the B-side there was, generally speaking, a song favoured by the artist, but never likely to be a hit record.

I often quite liked the B-sides. They were often good songs. In 1977, ABBA released an “alternative version” of their song, “Why Did It Have To Be Me” called, “Happy Hawaii” (described as an earlier version of the song), which was interesting to hear.… Read the rest “Melodifestivalen 2021 Deltävling #3”

Eurovision 2020

Most years there’s two or three songs I really, really like, and “meh” is my usual reaction to most of the remainder. But this year, there were half a dozen songs I really liked, including one I’ve put on permanent repeat.

You know how when you’re a teenager you play the same song over and over and over and over again? Imagine, if you would, a 54 year old man dancing around the lounge room. I’ve become a teenager again!… Read the rest “Eurovision 2020”

Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #8 : Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw

Having been a fan of Petra Mede from Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, I was so pleased when she got to host Eurovision in 2013, and then in 2016, she co-hosted with Måns Zelmerlöw, the previous year’s winner. Together, they were awesome in the half-time act which (in a loving way) took the piss out of Eurovision, by explaining “the secret” to writing a winning song. It’s the same crew responsible for a bunch of these show numbers Petra has become famous for.… Read the rest “Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #8 : Petra Mede and Måns Zelmerlöw”

Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #7 : Petra Mede

Following on from yesterday’s awesome half-time moment from when Norway hosted Eurovision comes another awesome half-time moment. This time it’s from Sweden, and it’s one of two (or maybe three) moments I’ll post featuring the awesome Petra Mede.

Petra is a Swedish comedian, performer, television presenter etc. She’s super-talented, super-funny, and IMHO has been the best host of both Melodifestivalen and Eurovision in recent memory. In particular, I love the way she takes the piss out of both contests, while also paying respect.… Read the rest “Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #7 : Petra Mede”

Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #2 : Loreen at Gay Gala

Initially I was a little “ho hum” about Loreen’s entry in Melodifestivalen (the contest which leads to Eurovision) in 2011, “My Heart Is Refusing Me”. It kinda sounded like someone had put Swedish lyrics into “Google Translate”.

I have since come to love this song, thanks largely to seeing her performance at the Swedish Gay Gala in 2012. The song, which went on to represent Sweden at Eurovision was Eric Saade’s “Popular” was very good, even though, of course, it was musically a rip-off of Boney M’s “Rasputin” and Lilli och Sussie’s “Oh Mamma”.… Read the rest “Eurovision / Melodifestivalen Moment #2 : Loreen at Gay Gala”