oneurope.co.uk

Category: Sweden

The Swedish entry is chosen by SVT. Sweden has taken part since 1958 and won seven times.

  • Ahhh Svenska……

    Ahhh Svenska……

    Professional, professional, professional.

    Måns is definitely that and more so, the MF performance is, as with the first rehearsal, exactly the same here sans the character and he can definitely perform the ass off this song.

    My trouble is, to me, It does not scream winner, rather quietly whisper it. I totally understand why this is a fan favourite and a bookies favourite but, for me, the act being centered on background rather than the song takes away from the fact that Måns is singing a very wordy song with a good beat from Avicii. It’s easily Top 5 and has a shot at the top one, but I don’t think it’s that cut and dried.

  • Sweden – really more a technical rehearsal than anything else

    I suspect there’s not going to be too much useful to say here. Måns and his tiny chums are more or less replicating what they did in MF, with the the exception that his chums have new hats and a balloon instead of an umbrella… setting all that up for a fresh stage does need a fair bit of wandering around with a tape measure and a bit of chalk though. Vocals smell of a man with utter confidence in what he’s doing, and I think he has a point.

    As so often with Sweden, it’s nice for the lazy blogger. There’s almost nothing to say except “Go watch Melodifestivalen. It’s going to be that.” Sorted.

  • A Måns explanation and what I think….

    … Well they stopped the clock on the rehearsal to get the projection screen correct and then had another lengthy pause in order to get other things right.

    It’s nothing new on the screen, if you have seen the MF or have seen the video on Youtube you know what you are going to get – and that is what you get. Vocally there were a couple of blips but that is what the rehearsals are for I guess.

    It’s a competent song sung by a good singer… it looks amazing if, and only if, they get the timing slightly better on the graphics it could be the winner that every fan thinks it is. However, it only needs to be slightly off and out of kilter and it could not be as nailed on as everyone expects.

    Qualifying easily – Top 5, definitely. Top 1?? – not so sure.

  • Sweden – really more a technical rehearsal than anything else

    I suspect there’s not going to be too much useful to say here. Måns and his tiny chums are more or less replicating what they did in MF, with the the exception that his chums have new hats and a balloon instead of an umbrella… setting all that up for a fresh stage does need a fair bit of wandering around with a tape measure and a bit of chalk though. Vocals smell of a man with utter confidence in what he’s doing, and I think he has a point.

    As so often with Sweden, it’s nice for the lazy blogger. There’s almost nothing to say except “Go watch Melodifestivalen. It’s going to be that.” Sorted.

  • BREAKING NEWS – SVT Protest against Jury Rehearsal Lighting issues

    BREAKING NEWS – SVT Protest against Jury Rehearsal Lighting issues

    Quick update before bed.

    SVT have attempted to get the Juries to ignore Sanna‘s Evening rehearsal due to issues with the Lighting Rig and how Sannas visuals were portrayed. According to SVT.SE, their request for the juries to vote on the Afternoon’s rehearsal was turned down, however a note has been passed to all juries to explain the problem.

    It is unknown at the moment what effect this will have on Sanna’s jury placing.

  • Estonia, Sweden, loo news and other bits

    Estonia

    I’ve been quite indifferent to this all along forgetting about it but then quite liking it on listening. On watching the rehearsal now I’m again quite liking it. Tanja’s flouncing nicely and singing nicely and frolicking nicely with a nice young man and it’s.. err nice. The backdrop is sunny and bright and I was reminded of the set of the musical Mamma Mia I can’t say wow about it and I don’t think so many televoters will choose it as their favourite. However it’s artistic and I’ve a feeling she’ll be rewarded for that.

    Sweden

    I’ve always been underwhelmed by the song but Sanna looks amazing on camera and sells what she’s been given very well. Lots of perfectly timed camera shots with effective use of the strobe and floor lights. As always so slick from the Swedes but I really can’t warm to the melody and still find it awkward on the ear. It’s straight out of the textbook ‘how to stage a ballad’ and I dare say straight to the final but I’m unsure then how she will fare.

    On other business, the coffee machine is taking a pounding today, I’m on my fifth. I can report that the portaloos here in the tent village are very clean. Cleaner than some permanent ones I’ve had the misfortune to visit.

    The earlier EBU press’s conference was interesting in that they gave us a sneak preview of three of this year’s postcards, Austria, Belarus and my own glittering performance in the UK’s one. I’m thirteenth poncho from the left by the way. Conchita forms the Austrian flag from a collection of red and white frocks of course and Teo forms the Belarussian one from hundreds of ice hockey pucks. I’m guessing that’s how you spell puck?!

    Also provided was a sneak preview of a video they will use during the live shows showing a montage of the singing clips they’ve requested people send in. It’s very nice and is mix of Teardrops morphing into a rousing ‘join us’ ending.

    They also revealed that they are monitoring closely the situation in Ukraine and that the intention will always be for the winning nation to host the next year’s contest. Funding will be available for any broadcaster that is financially under strain. A lot of mention of transparency here in relation to the jury members and the revealing of their names yesterday. I applaud their intent here but doing so they have opened a can of worms. People are now dissecting the lists of jurors and highlighting that some age ranges are under represented and others over. Certainly having this information is better than not but perhaps next year they will need to prescribe rules about the gender and age split of the juries? Food for thought. Ooh on the topic of food, I’ve a half eaten pulled chicken bap to get back to….

    More soon.

    Rosé

  • Sweden, definitely not undone

    Sweden, definitely not undone

    Sanna from Sweden (or Sanne, as she’s misspelled in the official programme) is ready to go on Tuesday night. The’s little here that needs further rehearsal from her side. It’s as sleek, polished, professional, fragile, dated, dull, or brilliant as your personal bent.

    I’ve warmed to this a lot. There’s both an improved power and brittleness to her vocals since Melodifestivalen which enhances the performance hugely. It’s simply, and slightly dramatically, staged with the cone of spotlights caging her until they fall away to span over the audience in the second chorus. It’s dark, with Sanne today in a short black dress, her Scandinavian blonde bob picking out her face against the moody backdrop.

    It should be a safe top 10 or so for the Swedes. It will continue to divide opinion too.

    Monty x

  • Sweden – Undo my good god!!

    Sweden – Undo my good god!!

    It could be argued that SVT have taken the MF video and just played it on the screen in front of me. I don’t know if thats a good thing or a bad thing – however the press centre was quiet in referential silence while they prayed at the temple of Bjorkman.

    She has a fair pair of lungs on her, mind, and polishes this, quite frankly, terdlishious Kempe song and makes it into a semi decent song. but thats the best thing I can say about it – The cone of lights look overblown and it almost looks like the coronation of Queen Sanna….

    They think they have already won….. I think that it stands a chance but, on how that looks, Not sure.

  • Good draw for Bonnie!!

    Hot footing from the arena back to the press centre to see the German conference before back to arena for Sweden! I’m jiggered and I’m not sure if I’m coming or going, there’s nothing new….

    Our Nat from Cascada has English parents (Essex and Hampshire) and was brought up in Germany and she just said that if this all goes horribly wrong, at least she’ll be able to work in a hotel!! Good girl! She’s drawn first half of draw along with France and Spain so we have our opener? Bonnie guaranteed second half now…

    Robin Hghwgherneberyhieh… that’s the pronunciation right? Sweden a lot tighter and slick now and this is a nice presentation now. I’m getting the mound in the middle now also, it gives them scope to vary the dancing and give extra dimensions to the camera shots. This will go huge in the hall clearly and yet more pyros, fab!

    Right Bonnie now, the director just said make room for the legend…

  • Sweden second rehearsal

    Sweden second rehearsal

    I’m seeing Sweden in the press centre. This needed work and it’s had it. It looks and sounds much better on screen with the cameras picking out the right moves and some good angles. The top 10 is looking quite crowded at the moment so I can now realistically see a middling placement for the hosts come Saturday.

    Monty x