Overflow is the first single from Little Majorette’s upcoming debut album “Rifle Heart” (Sweden Music/Universal Music, April 2011). Check out here.
Tag: Swedish Music
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.
New Music: Niva
Expertly crafted, lo-fi shoe-gaze from Stockholm. Check out here.
First Listen: Lykke Li ‘Wounded Rhymes’
Click here to listen to Lykke Li’s new album, Wounded Rhymes, in full before it’s release next week.
New Music: The Pusher
This is a bit huge in Sweden at the moment, and I can totally see why. How do the Swedes get it so right so much of the time!? A rock/pop vibe with a big big sound. Check out here.
New Music: Den Svenska Björnstammen
Some Swedish pop now- title to the track roughly translates to ‘everything will be good’, or maybe ‘everything will be OK’… Even if you can’t understand the words it still kinda makes you feel good! Check out here.
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.
Living the dream…
I really like the Looptroop Rockers. I’ve mentioned them before on here, they’re Swedish hip hoppers with impressive things to say. This song makes me happy a little. Be happy yea.
Mashup: Robyn vs Oskar Linnros
This is a mighty little mashup from two of my favourite songs of last year: Robyn’s ‘Dancing On my Own’ and Oskar Linnros’ ‘Från Och Med Du’, which was one of the reasons I decided to throw myself into Swedish school. It’s just a cute mix.
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
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 Radio Dept. ‘Heaven’s On Fire’
As one of the kids on YouTube said, ‘This makes me forget all my worries for 3:36 minutes’. The Radio Dept. have been one of my favourite bands for a really long time, but I selfishly kept it to myself. I don’t think I told anyone how good I think they are. Sometimes you just have to keep some things that make you happy a little secret, but then, life’s too short to keep things in. Enjoy.
Robyn’s gone off and done something amazing with a computer and one of her songs again
A while back, when Robyn’s first Body Talk album came out, she had this virtual music video thing which customised some graphics depending on what people typed it. It was hot. Now she’s done it again, only hotter. ‘Build your own beat, based on Robyn’s track We Dance To The Beat (from Body Talk), then publish your custom beat and share it with the world via Facebook and Twitter!’ Click here to access the amazingness.
First Watch: Robyn ‘Dancehall Queen’
This song originally featured in Robyn’s first Body Talk album. I have to say though, this whole M.I.A VHS-retro mashup video thing is maybe a couple of years out of date now in my opinion. But song is good!
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.
New Music: Viktorious
Up and coming singer from Sweden- contains all the classic Swedish perfectpop ingredients. Check out here.
New Music: Little Majorette
Swedish trip hop pop luxury. Ginger bearded men and a cute little lady making beautiful beats. ‘Sous Les Etoile’ melts in your mouth. Check out here.
Live: Robyn at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to see Robyn and she rocks it every single fucking time. I do remember seeing her at a tiny venue in Camden more than 3 years ago, before ‘With Every Heartbeat’ was even released and feeling happy for her that she managed to sell out the entire Shepherds Bush Empire tonight. The pics look crap because she moves so much it was impossible to get a decent shot with my camera! Support DJ set by Rebecca & Fiona was also really excellent. More pics on my Flickr.
I think I’ll post up some current favourite electropop Swedish tunes later on in the week.
I’m going to Melodifestivalen Final!
The final of Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s biggest TV show, always airs live on my birthday weekend. And for years, I’ve wanted to go and see the show- the aim is to find year’s Swedish Eurovision entry. But the scale of events is just enormous. Some reckon it’s bigger than Eurovision itself. Unlike other Eurovision countries, Sweden’s selection is a big deal: if you’re not already a huge pop star in Sverige then you’ve got no chance of competing. Regional heats are broadcast from January to March in cities across Sweden (all held in arena’s naturally), until the final in mid March at the Stockholm Globe (home to Eurovision 2000). And I’m gonna be there!
