Alcazar - Back in full action!

Photo: Tess' instagram

Aah! They.Are.Back. And not only in Melodifestivalen! And that's the best part! They are 100% back! All three of them are fully focused on the group! They are going to release a new album!! When? No idea. I'm hoping sometime after Melodifestivalen, in spring. New album, new gigs, new interviews!! That comeback makes me wonder. When did they decide to come back? I think I read it on Aftonbladet or on Expressen that after the interval act last February they wanted to take part again. So those faces Andreas made while we were talking back then might have been actual hints! Or maybe not. And then they posted a couple of photos in the studio! The first one was in April if I recall correctly and the second one around September (?). Which could possibly mean that they were recording the mello song (in the last one)!

Melodifestivalen! I'm glad I waited until today to make this post coz Andreas blogged about it! He describes "Blame It On The Disco" as a real Alcazar-song and that we should be prepared for an amazing show! What else can I ask for? :D He also says that he'll be blogging all the time about their mello journey (of course!). Too excited already!

I'm just quite pissed at SVT. They put Helena in Malmö's semi (I might make it to the reheasal though) and Alcazar in Örnsköldsvik! Really? Why don't you send them to Kiruna next time? -.- So they have to make it to the final so I can get to see them performing in Friends Arena!

I guess that's all I wanted to say. For now. I hope I didn't forget about anything. Needless to say that I haven't stopped listening to them since yesterday, right?

Melodifestivalen 2014: The artists, the songs, the composers - Heats 3 & 4

The alarm clock went off at 9:40 in the morning. Turned it off. 10:07, fuck! The artist presentation! Well I tuned in kinda late. Actually, too late. But it didn't matter. I checked on facebook and I got what I needed. I also did a check on Alcazar's instagram just to get some hints. Where they back in Stockholm or still in Kalmar (they're having Christmas shows there)? Still in Kalmar. "Ok, they're not in.". Yeah right! The moment I tuned in at SVT's webcast I heard Gustav Dahlander saying something like "There is one more artist who didn't make it today. The song is called "Blame It On The Disco" and it's performed by Alcazar!"! And there it hit me. There is a lot to say about that but I'll do it tomorrow. Let's go to the semis.

Photo: Linwall Sven

Semi-final 3, Gothenburg 15/2

• All We Are
Artist: State of Drama
Composers: Göran Werner, Sanken Sandqvist, Emil Gullhamn, Sebastian Hallifax

• Around the World
Artist: Dr. Alban & Jessica Folcker
Composers: dr. alban, Jakke Erixson, Karl-Ola Kjellholm

• Burning Alive
Artist: Shirley Clamp
Composers: Bobby Ljunggren, Marcos Ubeda, Sharon Vaughn, Henrik Wikström

• Busy Doin’ Nothin’
Artist: Ace Wilder
Composers: Ace Wilder, Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb

• Echo
Artist: Outtrigger
Composers: Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb, Anton Malmberg Hård Af Segerstad, Outtrigger Kontaktperson:

• En enkel sång
Artist: CajsaStina Åkerström
Composer: CajsaStina Åkerström

• Red
Artist: EKO
Composers: Linnéa Deb, Joy Deb, Anna Lidman, Hannes Lundberg, Michael Ottosson

• Yes We Can
Artist: Oscar Zia
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One” Pirouzpanah

So, a bunch of artists that come back! Shirley Clamp, State of Drama and Oscar Zia (well sort of comeback). There are no "standard qualifiers" here. Based just on their names, that is. I'm saying Oscar Zia will make it since the little girls are gonna vote like crazy for him. I really like the team begind Shirley's song! I'm really hoping for some good schlager!! The rest of them... Well I can't say anything yet.

Photo: Stefan Mattsson

Semi-final 4, Örnsköldsvik 22/2

• Blame It On The Disco
Artist: Alcazar
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One” Pirouzpanah

• En himmelsk sång
Artist: Ellinore Holmer
Composers: Ellinore Holmer, Vanna Rosenberg, Åsa Schmalenbach, Josefina Sanner, Henrik Wikström, Amir Aly

• Fight Me If You Dare
Artist: I.D.A
Composers: Albin Nicklasson, Nicklas Laine, Louise Frick Sveen

• Hela natten
Artist: Josef Johansson
Composers: Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Josef Johansson, Peo Thyrén

• Hollow
Artist: Janet Leon
Composers: Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Jimmy Jansson, Louise Winter

• Natural
Artist: Anton Ewald
Composers: John Lundvik

• Raise Your Hands
Artist: Ammotrack
Composers: Jari Kujansuu, Thomas Johansson, Calle Kindbom, Mikael de Bruin

• Ta mig
Artist: Linda Bengtzing
Composers: Nicke Borg, Jojo Borg Larsson

A-L-C-A-Z-A-R! So I was wrong when I said they won't be in. So much for posting about Tess' plans everywhere! xD I guess somehow she'll find a way to do both! "Blame It On The Disco"! Sounds really "Alcazar" but I really don't like seeing Fredrik Kempe's name there. It just doesn't feel right. Alcazar don't do Kempe's music. Of course, Andreas said it's a real party song so that gives me hope. Can't wait for that!

Then we have Linda Bengtzing!! I love the schlager queen! But again, Nicke Borg is behind the song? Are we really talking about a turbo schlager a la Linda song? Please don't be a ballad!

Anton Ewald and Janet Leon are also coming back. As far as I'm concerned, Alcazar and Linda B to the final!

More info about my Alcazar tomorrow! There's a lot to say. You can find that info basically in every swedish website but there's no way I'll leave them without a blog post dedicated to them! ;)

Melodifestivalen 2014: The artists, the songs, the composers - Heats 1 & 2

Here we are! The artists of the first two semis are revealed! And of course Helena Paparizou was one of them. ;) Also, the expected Yohio and Sanna Nielsen. And many unknown artists (to me).

Photo: Lina Siksjö

Semi-final 1: Malmö 1/2

• Aleo
Artist: Mahan Moin
Composers: Mahan Moin, Anderz Wrethov

• Bedroom
Artist: Alvaro Estrella
Composers: Jakke Erixson, Jon Bordon, Lauren Francis, Kristofer Östergren

• Bröder
Artist: Linus Svenning
Composer: Fredrik Kempe

• Bygdens son
 Artist: Sylvester Schlegel
Composer: Sylvester Schlegel

• Casanova
Artist: Elisa Lindström
Composers: Ingela ”Pling” Forsman, Bobby Ljunggren, Jimmy Jansson

• Songbird
Artist: Ellen Benediktson
Composers: Sharon Vaughn, Johan Fransson, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren

• Survivor
Artist: Helena Paparizou
Composers: Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Sharon Vaughn

• To the End
Artist: YOHIO
Composers: Andreas Johnson, Johan Lyander, Peter Kvint, YOHIO

Yeah, apart from Helena and Yohio I have no idea who the rest are! And if I just stick to the names then it's Helena and Yohio to the final! It's all about the songs though so I can't be sure about anything. It's the Swedes who vote after all. If you know what I mean. ;) I'm sad that Helena competes in Malmö and not in Linköping. But I totally expected it right after I found out (last night) that she'd be in today's press conference. Now she will either open the semi or perform last. She and Yohio will be the ones who'll share the spots 1 and 8. Who knows... I might repeat last year's craziness... Love Malmö!

Photo: Lina Siksjö

Semi-final 2, Linköping 8/2

• Efter solsken
Artist: Panetoz
Composers: Johan Hirvi, Mats Lie Skåre, Nebeyu Baheru, Njol Badjie, Pa Modou Badjie

• Glow
 Artist: Manda
Composers: Joy Deb, Linnéa Deb, Melanie Wehbe, Charlie Mason

• I Am Somebody
Artist: Pink Pistols
Composers: Joakim Törnqvist, Nestor Geli, Per Ivar Hed, Susie Päivärinta, Tord Bäckström

• Love Trigger
 Artist: JEM
Composers: Thomas G:son, Peter Boström, Julimar ”J-Son” Santos

• När änglarna går hem
Artist: Martin Stenmarck
Composers: Andreas Öhrn, Alexander Bard, Martin Stenmarck, Peter Boström

• Set Yourself Free
 Artist: Little Great Things
Composers: Charlie Grönvall, Cristoffer Wernqvist, Felix Grönvall, Adam Dahlström

• Hallelujah
Artist: The Refreshments
Composer: Joakim Arnell

• Undo
Artist: Sanna Nielsen
Composers: Fredrik Kempe, David Kreuger, Hamed "K-One” Pirouzpanah

Ok I didn't get Helena in "my" semi but I got Sanna Nielsen! And Martin Stenmarck! Funny that the last time I got to see Sanna was in April 2011, with Martin in Kvällen Är Din! Now I'll get to see them again! What can I say about the second semi? Again, I only know Sanna and Martin! And I've just heard of Panetoz... I'd say it's Sanna and Martin to the final. Based on my taste, that is. :P Sanna's song seems to be a ballad. That's the vibe I get by the title. But then I see Fredrik Kempe's name there and it screams schlager. We'll see...

EDIT: I just watched a video from TV4 and Sanna confirms it's a ballad!

Generally I'm not too excited about the names. 16 artists are revealed and I only care about 3 of them. Hopefully the songs will be good.

On Thursday we'll know the rest of the contestants. Expressen and Aftonbladet are sure that Alcazar are in. I'm not. At all. Tess is supposed to be in Thailand for two months during the mello season. I doubt she'll be going back and forth for Melodifestivalen. And I've posted this on many groups on fb and on escunited.com. Imagine if they're actually in! xD That would be awesome but I'll also be pissed coz they'll definitely be in Gothenburg's semi (again!). And neither Helena or my Alcazar will be in "my" semi! Grrr!

Melodifestivalen 2014: Artists to be announced next week

Next Tuesday, 26th of November and Thursday, 28th of November at 9:50 CET, SVT will announce the artists that will compete at Melodifestivalen 2014! There will be a live webcast (here).

On Tuesday, we have the press conference of the artists that will compete in Malmö and Linköping! Fingers crossed that Helena Paparizou will compete in Linköping's semi! I got my ticket (first row!) so I really want her to compete in Lkpg but I doubt it. I bet they put her in Gothenburg's semi! And yes, I am 100% sure that she's in. I know it. I can bet my life on it. ;)

I'm also pretty sure that YOHIO (meh), Sanna Nielsen (yay!) and Linda Bengtzing (yay!!) are in. But I don't bet my life on these 3. I don't know it for fact. ;)

And on Thursday, we have the press conference of the artists that will compete in Gothenburg and Örnsköldsvik.

Tick tock, tick tock...

Melodifestivalen 2014 - The hosts

Photo: Johan Paulin/SVT

"I'll try to keep up with everything from now on." The last phrase of my last post. On September 18th. Obviously things don't always go as planned.

So, earlier today SVT announced the hosts of Melodifestivalen 2014. Nour El Refai and Anders Jansson. Uhm... where is Petra Mede?! I don't know... The first impression wasn't good. Anders is a giant, Nour is "tiny". Sure, that's not a reason for not liking them. But if we just focus on their looks and how they look together when standing next to each other, well, it's not a good picture. I have no idea about their professional lives even though they both played their own parts in Melodifestivalen 2008. I can't say I remember them though... 

Right now I'm really skeptical... We'll see... I'm mostly interested in the artists. There's a lot going on and I really wanna talk about it but I will wait until the 25th of November. That's when we'll have the official announcement! The artist I mostly wanna talk about is Helena Paparizou! Obviously! Less than two weeks left!