Category: Swedish Music

New Music: Vanbot

If you like Robyn then you’ll probably love Vanbot. Makes me wanna go back to Stockholm so bad. Check out here.

First Listen: Robyn feat Teddybears ‘Cardiac Arrest’

Teddybears have previously worked with Robyn on ‘Cobrastyle’ from *that* album which shook the pop world crazy side. They’ve collaborated with her again on ‘Cardiac Arrest’- it’s got a cheeky upbeat poppy vibe to it which is just perfect to listen to on one’s birthday! Buy it here.

Stockholm: Melodifestivalen & Schlager

I went to Stockholm this weekend to watch the Melodifestivalen final, Sweden’s biggest TV show and a dream-come-true for any Eurovision fan. It was also a good excuse to check out Sweden. Stockholm was way bigger than I imagined it to be, and just take a look at the place we stayed in!

Melodifestivalen was at the Ericsson Globe Arena (known for hosting Eurovision in 2000), which is a giant ball shaped venue that is absolutely huge on the inside. The winner of the show goes on to represent Sweden in Eurovision- this year it was this song by Eric Saade:

Pretty spectacular, albeit the lyrics are a bit on the weak side… But judging by the bars and clubs around town, it seemed that this song by Danny Saucedo (which came runner up) was the favourite amongst Swedes:

After the show we went to a Melodifestival party at a club tucked away in a really odd part of the city. One of my favourite songs from this year (which didn’t get through to the final) was this tune by Jenny Silver:

It was heaven. Now back to the real world and new music! More pics on Flickr.

First Listen: Erik Hassle ‘Are You Leaving’

Erik Hassle, one of my favourite Swedes of late, is previewing his first new single here (wait for the Swedish ad to finish then it plays straight after). It’s out in Sweden tomorrow. It’s excellent. An electro transition from the older Hassle stuff. Love it. Nothing this man does is wrong at the moment.

A bit of shameless Swedish pop…

Click here to check out Lena Philipsson’s new single, ‘Idiot’. It’s a really classy bit of pop, very mellow but upbeat at the time. It’s not had great reactions but I like it. If anything, I just love the way she sings ‘Idioot’. I might start saying that now. Lena is a huge pop institution in Sweden by the way, she’s been around for a crazy amount of time, and she’s represented Sweden in Eurovision.

Robyn wins bigtime at the Swedish Grammis!

The Grammis are the major Swedish music awards. Sweden makes a lot of good music so this is probably one of the more important music award shows. Is it any surprise Robyn won 4 gongs, seeing as she is just about the biggest export from Sweden right now (bar IKEA)? Full list of winners is:
Best album: Robyn – Body Talk
Best artist: Robyn
Best song: Robyn – Dancing On my Own
Best group: Johnossi – Mavericks
Best folk/visa: Blandade Artister – Sonja Åkesson Tolkad Av
Best hardrock/metal: Watain – Lawless Darkness
Best jazz: Dan Berglunds Tonbruket – Tonbruket
Best songwriter: Klas Åhlund & Robyn – Body Talk
Best female artist: Robyn – Body Talk
Best male artist: Håkan Hellström – 2 Steg Från Paradise
Best newcomer Oskar Linnros – Vilja Bli
Best producer: Red One
Best international success: Red One
Best lyrics: Håkan Hellström – 2 Steg Från Paradise
Best urban/dance: Familjen – Mänskligheten
Best Innovator: Iamamiwhoami

The top 10 most illegally downloaded albums, tracks, and music videos of 2010

Albums:

10. “Aphrodite” ― Kylie Minogue
9. “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” ― Kanye West
8. “Recovery” ― Eminem
7. “Body Talk” ― Robyn
6. “Speak Now” ― Taylor Swift
5. “Can’t Be Tamed” ― Miley Cyrus
4. “Pink Friday” ― Nicki Minaj
3. “Teenage Dream” ― Katy Perry
2. “Bionic” ― Christina Aguilera
1. “Loud” ― Rihanna

Tracks:

10. “We R Who We R” ― Ke$ha
9. “Roman’s Revenge (ft. Eminem)” ― Nicki Minaj
8. “Can’t Be Tamed” ― Miley Cyrus
7. “Only Girl (In The World)” ― Rihanna
6. “Whip My Hair” ― Willow Smith
5. “Not Myself Tonight” ― Christina Aguilera
4. “Love The Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna)” ― Eminem
3. “California Gurls (ft. Snoop Dogg)” ― Katy Perry
2. “Greatest” / “Then You Love Me” ― Lady Gaga
1. “Telephone” ― Britney Spears

Videos:

10. “Commander” ― Kelly Rowland
9. “Runaway” ― Kanye West
8. “Love The Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna)” ― Eminem
7. “Can’t Be Tamed” ― Miley Cyrus
6. “Whip My Hair” ― Willow Smith
5. “Baby (ft. Ludacris)” ― Justin Bieber
4. “California Gurls (ft. Snoop Dogg)” ― Katy Perry
3. “Not Myself Tonight” ― Christina Aguilera
2. “Alejandro” ― Lady Gaga
1. “Telephone” ― Lady Gaga & Beyonce

The full list can be found on iLeaks website here.

Swedish hip hop gets political

By Looptroop Rockers: ‘ Following the latest election in Sweden (September 19) we wrote, and recorded this song – responding to a racist party being voted in to the Swedish parliament in particular, and to the extreme right wing winds blowing over European and world politics in general. The feelings of frustration and anger had to be channeled some way, and the very day after the election we met in the Wax Cabinet studio to voice our opinion about history repeating itself, and Sweden being an even colder country this fall…’ Check out here.

Robyn covers the best Prince song of all time

Wow. Woow. Wooow. When Doves Cry is probably the best thing to come out of the 80’s, and Robyn is probably one of the best things to come out of the 90’s, so you know… I don’t know where this sentence is going to be honest, I’ve had some wine. This is pretty amazing though.