oneurope.co.uk

Category: Sweden

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

  • Now – This is why I come to the Eurovision

    Now – This is why I come to the Eurovision

    Three songs in a row – and all of them are different but the same.

    Cyprus – Now, it was rumoured that the Cypriots had come on last yesterday as their stage had not arrived – In real life – they need not have bothered. In the UK there is a dog food entitled “Choice” – This would be an adequate description of this – a dogs breakfast. Its lots of things going on on stage. It’s trying to be Romania – with a man and a woman banging oil drums, it’s trying to be Ruslana, by lifted the queen up, it’s trying to be Greek – by attempting to be good – and failing to be any of them It’s “choreography-heavy” and by that I mean that there is lots of thrusting and dancing and stage props and mirrors ( WHY!!) – It is just everything you would expect from a typical Cypriot Entry.

    Spain – Oh dear God no. This, to, is bad beyond belief. It is ear splittingly badly sung, if that is the word you can use. It has no redeeming features and if it wins I will never go to a Eurovision ever again ( This is negotiable however). Franko says that they look like 3 women that have come from a Brothel, and not paying customers!! – Its just too….. Spanish, really. OT didn’t work, The National Final this time, didn’t work… TVE need to do something and it is a bloody good job they can not get relegated.

    Serbia and Montenegro. Now eminent Irish and UK journalists seated with us in the royal box think that this song is excellent. The choreography, however, is a mix of Hitler Jugend and Tito and Stalin all in one!! – Its lots of marching and symbolic drumming and marching and it is everything you would have expected on USSRTV or”propaganda of a certain age.” (PLEASE NOTE : I am *not* likening any of those countries to anything bad – it is purely an observation of styles). The song itself is, also, out of context in this contest. I have heard the phrase “top 5” , the question that would have to be asked is whether the voters of Europe will want to vote for a song that , in choreography and beat, harks back to an older age that the contest has usually forgotten or neglected. I think the answer will be “niet”.

    Sweden – After three piles of shite of different colours – Franko would prefer Gulseren than this – however, again, he is Deluded! Martin prances around and does loads of stuff and is looking good – however, there is something lacking on this performance I think…. In any other year this would give a typical Swedish result – not this year however – Mid to Low table.

  • Late Afternoon Musings

    Late Afternoon Musings

    Sweden – Franko says: “This is the worst thing in this contest by a country mile … I would rather listen to the Bulgarian song on loop for a whole hour than listen to this once.” He of course is a) straight and b) deluded! – Martin is FANTASTIC! – He commands the stage and sings confidently in a style that is not unlike the Melodifestival performance. However, the only issue with this song that I have is that it begins to grate on the viewers of Europe after a couple of minutes – but he does lift this intrinsically weak and normal Swedish song, into probably the usual Swedish position – 5th to 7th. Not a candidate for a winner I think – but we’ll see what happens tomorrow.

    Ukraine – Much as this song means so much to so many people in this country, and I have no problem with that, I think that the dear old lady in a fisherwomans hut in Tromso will not even bother to pick the phone up for it. Out of context of this contest it is very patriotic, even with the rewrite, but that does not make it right for the contest in General. The way it is performed on stage is sort of what you would expect – Grant Mitchell’s twin comes on and points and shouts “DA” a lot down the camera – a beefy man plays the drums and 2 dancers do body popping. The Rehearsals and the Final audience will love it – the televoters, except in the neighbouring area, will probably not.

    Germany… OH MY GOD! Now I know that YLE watch this blog, so if ARD or NDR are doing the same … do NOT, I repeat, NOT do this again. This is awful. Gracia does nothing but tell Europe to “run and hide” – and that is precisely what they’ll do – away from the telephone. This has no redeeming features at all. She can sing, but like so many in this years contest, just not this song. It’s “Diet Wig-wam” – compared to Wigwams “Rock-lite”. It has no substance, the stage performance is very staid with little choreography and a wind machine, making you think that it is 1985 again and light rock is in. It is very lucky that ARD pay to stay up – cos if they didn’t …

    There will probably be only time for a quick look at Greece as the welcome party starts at 7pm Kyiv time – 5pm UK.

    On a side note – the Finnish Lyricist came and found me by name and said “Hello – have my remix CD” – he’s a lovely chap …

  • A few more tiddly bits

    A few more tiddly bits

    Right then, quick sprint though the latest.

    Sweden – Grudgingly OK. Sounds massive, he struts around like he’s as good as he thinks he is, and the girls look great. Should be there or there abouts.

    Ukraine – Great! Maybe not your bag of chimps, but of all the songs this week, this is the one I’m most looking forward to seeing performed in the hall on the big night. Just imagine the outpourings of abandoned joy. The place filled up with all the nippers from the food stalls out the back and it was all jolly lovely. Also have a couple of dancers doing the “in chains” thing. Top!

    Germany – Y’know, I wanted to dislike this chunk of pop rock hyped up as hard rock, but it does have its charm. Could well do far better than people suspect. Has a bit of that faux skate rock that that midget Canadian pop girl whose names completely escapes me at the mo does moderately well. Oh good heavens, Greenjolly are press conferencing. Best duck out of the rush!

    Peace!

  • Eurovision 2003 – Second Rehearsals Part One

    Eurovision 2003 – Second Rehearsals Part One

    Netherlands

    Well she has been practicing!!. The more that I look at this, the more that I get the sense that this could well be the one, and if its not the one, it could be in the top five. She is polished and the choreography is foot perfect. She doesn’t make love to the camera, but she does probably smothers it in kisses and tells it she loves it!!. She still looks happy on the stage and it makes a great impact. All of the mics are balanced in the hall and it is a genuine contender. The only thing it would suffer from is After the break syndrome!!

    Mark out of 100 : 384097.948

    UK

    Well it has improved slightly.. well it would have to wouldn’t it??? It still looks like the top of the bill at the local high school… They have been straining to get the notes and the choreography looks slightly better and they don’t look totally happy and neither do i. The guitarist that ISN’T playing is so out of place its ridiculous. The high campness that they promised is more like bottom of the barrel. IF they drop the guitarist and the singers and indeed the choreography and replace it with the Croatian backing singers (who know ALL the songs and can sing them better than the UK) then we might stand a chance of winning. If not, then its middle table at best.

    Mark out of 100 : 1.1

    Ukraine

    This has a contortionist in a box … It is fabulous!! Oleksander has one of the best voices in the contest. Singing in blue and white he does minimalist movements while they dance round him on stage. His voice is so powerful it carries this song which without him would probably have died on its arse a long time ago. He has the look as if he doesn’t care less, but blatantly does!!! the woman on the box is something to look out for, if you liked Goran Karan’s woman, you’ll love this … as do I …

    www.paddypower.ie has 66/1 about this winning…… now don’t all be greedy ;o)

    Mark out of 100 : 2382938 ( and extra points for her!)

    Greece

    I must admit, neither I or my representative went to this one in person, but we did see it on a screen. She looks impressive but the song still lacked a certain something …

    Hard to give a score as we were having lunch … sorry!!

    Norway

    This is very sweet … Jostein has had some sort of training, probably how to look soppy and beg for loving into the camera. Unfortunately LTV cant spell his name OR the title of the song correctly on the caption.. much sniggering and a person dispatched to LTV from NRK…

    Back to the performance, he’s still flat as a pancake, and still strains to get the high notes, but it is getting slightly better … but not by much.

    France

    Lovely strong strong, shame the dress shows her armpits too much. She looks dis-interested and a bit non fussed through the performance, but some would say that’s just French. A fellow judge for the forks remarks it was ‘competent but unremarkable’ … and that sums it up, really. Boring and uninspiring.

    Mark out of 100 : cos 0

    Poland

    This just gets better and better. It has everything … It has a man with an odd voice, a woman with a great voice, the comedy potential for him to break both legs at the end of it, AND the potential to win!! The set looks fantastic with the earth on the bottom of it. The only thing I am worried about is whether he shocks the elderly in Reykjavik too much for them to vote … but at 200/1 it is well worth it!!!

    Mark out of 100 – Infinity!! ( and £10 each way at 200-1)

    Russia

    Well they turned up … Sorry it’s been delayed, but I have been trying to find the words … I think the closest I could come up with was “ugnh!!?? ”

    It isn’t really a song, it’s a performance. One of them has a sore throat, but could you really tell? I couldn’t! It’s still very shouty, and just a mash of everything. I’m sure it’s a good rock song, but not in this context!

    Just a quick techie point, they are using the more orchestral backing tape, but does it matter??

    Mark out of 100 : -4932894283409.4398

    Belgium

    Unlike last time, there was a break and THEN the Belgians. However there are only 10 people here, cos they are all at Tatu press conference. They are a very competent performance, but it is very dis-interesting. It could be the Tatu rehearsal factor that is negating the effect of this ethno fest. I think they should get another golden fork, but the jury is out… They perform well and play live instruments (!) and for the pedants, they are allowed to ( so nurrr!)

    Mark out of 100 – 3 billion and 7

    Estonia

    Well NICK, what are your biased and totally un-newsworthy thoughts on this one?? hmmmmmmm??

    “There are no words. They look like a proper group and they sound good and they are brilliant and fab. And great. They coped fantastically with the stage crew playing the Romanian backing tape. Vaiko Eplik was particularly good by singing his song over it.”

    Seriously they were very good and we think the pianist is playing live. Vaiko still gets on his knees to beg for your forgiveness of this shite at the end, but it might get some votes. They still sound like a pub band … but a better one than Tuesday

    Mark out of 100 (by Nick) Infinity squared (!)

    Romania

    Well apparently she doesn’t wanna cry … but from this performance she doesn’t wanna win either. They still prance around on stage taking clothes off backing singers and holding records (you’ll have to trust me on this one) … They are very average and may well not do very well.. but it certainly bounces along, but it will confuse the hell out of Europe!! It is well performed but confusing

    Mark out for 100 – 3 bananas!

    Sweden

    Its *still* polished and typically Swedish but it seems to be missing something. For a couple that are supposed to be giving each other their love , they don’t appear to be doing much of that. It has in their favour that it IS typical and formulaic, but among this half of the draw that could be a bad thing. They do look good on stage, as you would expect, but its missing something…

    Mark out of 100 : 43738927

    Slovenia

    She was brilliant!!! She can still nanananana with the best of them. A vision in purple, she did really, really well. Choreography still seems to be lacking, but overall an excellent performance.

    Mark out of 100: Nanana.

  • Sweden First Rehearsal

    Sweden First Rehearsal

    Its Sweden by numbers…. it is formulaic and terribly well presented… and well that’s about it… A workmanlike performance fro the swedes and will probably get to their usual standard… but it doesn’t say winner to me… but i know those who like it!!

    Minimal movement from backing singers and they do hit all the notes, but you would expect that from two TV show winners… wouldn’t you??? ;o)

  • Eurovision 2002 – Second rehearsals – Wednesday

    Eurovision 2002 – Second rehearsals – Wednesday

    Cyprus

    A source close to me said, ” This one is staring the big R in the face.” What is “The big R”?? said I. ” R for Relegation” was the reply.. and I seem to agree… this song only has one thing for it.. the lads.. and half of Europe will not see the attraction. The chorus is REALLY starting to grate now and it is repeated far FAR too often. The Choreography is the only decent thing.. but even that is awful… they are trying to sell a really weak song to Europe.. Unfortunately Europe will see through it in the same vein as they will their clothes. Sorry to all the Cypriots but….well.. NO… NEXT!!!

    United Kingdom

    Well as you lot know, as far as the UK are concerned, objectivity is a word that is not in my dictionary, but this *is* getting better and better as the day. Jessica really belted the song out to the assembled press all of whom were, as usual, suitably impressed. the ending has changed slightly it has slowed a little but you lot wont notice any difference from the CD version. On the monitors she does look very good, very assured and the backing singers get a look in too at the key moments. Still minimalist choreography, but that is not a problem because the song speaks for itself. If she gets it right with an audience in here.. then Germany and the other contenders should beware of the Welsh lass.

    Austria

    Once again another objective review (!). No seriously this just keeps getting better. Manuel, as we know, is good looking, but he does keep attacking this song. I must say that the similarities to “All Right Now” is very limited, and people should not hark on about it and judge the song on its merits. He still puts his arms in the air and the backing singers still sway around copiously but they do not distract from him and the song. It is strong and of course it stands a chance of beating Switzerland ( VOTE FOR AUSTRIA, I HAVE MONEY RIDING ON THIS!!),. But seriously it is a good performance. As long as he doesn’t wear what he wore today, a vile leopard-skin esque top which showed off his body…..

    Spain

    Another Big 4, another Big Rosa and another big failure. The “feminine” section of the press were creaming themselves over this song, but she slid up to the highnotes and missed most of them, the backing singers pranced like pixies on speed doing choreography that does not fit the song and didn’t help her, mind you.. I dont think Pavarotti’s vocal chords can help her now. I’m not saying that its dire.. but I have seen more talent in a cattle market. She has no presence on stage at all and doesnt utilise any of it except the right hand corner of it., and at times it is apparent that in the back of her mind that she is going through the motions. For all the hype she will disapoint a great deal of the Iberian Peninsular on Saturday Evening.

    Russia

    Well after an abortive run through where everything failed, they restarted. Dressed in their outfits for Saturday, White shell suits with Hoods ( yes it’s Russian Essex boys!), they still sound like there is only one of them singing. The harmonies are still not coming off and it still falls flat on its arse I am afraid. The choreography is now limited to a few hand movements and some swaying but even that is too much in my opinion, though some members of the delegation think that was the best bit, either way it was still shite!! They look when they start like a White “Boyz II Men“, but they sound like an out of tune East 17 or BoyZone rather than acomplished performers. Another one to dismiss, but what do I know.

    Estonia

    Well it was everything that was expected from this song.. and certain things that we didnt expect. For Example.. we expected a very strong, confident..almost over confident performanvce and that is what we got. What we didnt expect was the song to sound really twee and high in places and for the backing singers to sound way too high for their own good, earsplittingly so in places. Having said all of that, the balance of the song was really good and still expect this to do great things on the night. She now has the look of a winner … and perhaps you should make a little wager, but only each way.

    Israel

    Be Careful…. Even with all of the problems in the country, Sarit has got a damn good song and people should be encouraged to vote with their ears and not their pre conceptions. On the monitors she looks straight into the camera, almost pleading.. but then again she is asking for peace in the world. All of your typical Israeli choreography is there… sideways steps, hands in the air, and candles on the background screens, even added violinists as moral support. She is a very confident performer and looks very good, the long notes are hit with an accuracy rare in this particular contest but I am afraid that the good public of Europe will see Israel and not vote for it BECAUSE it is Israel. Listen to the song and make your own mind up, but from this distance it is a strong contender for the crown.

    Switzerland

    Ah.what a performance (!). I could well win my bet on this one. She was still very French and tried too hard again… It is very sweet but it has the potential to be the televoters 2nd favourite song and therefore get nothing at all. Switzerland seem to have lost their way somewhat and perhaps need to go back to the drawing board as to how they pick their songs and what songs they chose. She does have a good voice, I feel, She waves, pleadingly, for your televotes.. but be brave Europe.. she isnt worth it.. go for Austria instead!!

    Sweden

    To compliment the gold boots, they now have brown and silver outfits!! It still doesn’t scream “winner” like the majority of Europe think… but they do perform it well and they have a damn good presence. You know it still might. But for me, it lacks attack!!

  • Eurovision 2002 – Rehearsal Reports – Monday

    Eurovision 2002 – Rehearsal Reports – Monday

    Cyprus

    What can one say….. It will certainly get the blood flowing in the old ladies in Europe!! Ladies, and the odd man will be jumping around with excitement!! They do strip off thankfully. You see now, Bucks Fizz and their velcro have nothing on these lads. However, vocally it is somewhat strained but they do charge on to the stage…. but as for their dress sense… it looks like they got dressed in the Nicosia branch of Oxfam. Very brightly-coloured costumes with bits hanging off, which fall across the stage, and the straps that remain after they strip off do make it look like the lads have broken a rib. It wont be the chest muscles of Europe that these lads will be straining on Saturday.

    UK

    This gets better and better, as Maian Anne Karmas said to me, not bad for 10am in the morning! The Pop Idol tour has done her for the world of good. She is very confident and a very assured performance. The doubts about the draw and the backing singers mix being too loud fade away as Jess starts to warm a very cold hall. Even the detractors should be careful about this one. She walks on to the stage, looking sulky but she cheers up later on. No problem with any high or long notes, which she hits perfectly every time. The vocal range is perfect and you know, she just might on this evidence. I’m not saying mortgage the house, just mortgage the dog kennel as life insurance.

    Austria

    Everything we have come to expect from the Austrian song. A total babe running around the stage flouting his “talents”. The song itself seems to have been beefed up somewhat with a decent backing track and he urges us to clap with him towards the end of the song. It has potential to do well, but I get the feeling that it will be swallowed up by the end of the song. Manuel’s voice is very strong but it might not be good enough.

    Greece

    What can one say that has not already been said? Dressed in leather, they goose-step their way around the stage, while stomping their feet acting like members of the Greek national guard. This gets painfully worse every time I hear it.

    Croatia

    Vesna really tries so hard to do her sex kitten impression, but. No. not really. She will be wearing a black little number which will no doubt get the blood flowing, but the song is, like so many others, weak. The performance that she gives is VERY strong and she stands at the front of the stage and pouts. Her props this year include a diamond-studded whip (evidently to smack the audience into submission and to threaten the televoters ). Vocally she is strong, but the song is intrinsically weak … though I reckon it will still do well. (Confused? I am).

    Russia

    How can an organsiation get it so badly wrong. ORT had a perfectly decent song … but then forgot that the contest is a live event. The song still stands out as a decent song that Boyzone would have covered, but they seem to be shouting the words out a great deal. There is no mix or harmonies to the backing track and they seem to have followed the “how to dance” manual. They have not yet resorted to putting the cardboard feet and arrows on the floor, but its getting close. They have an appearance of 80’s Rap acts in Baggy trousers.. though in the final they will be wearing white outfits, which doesn’t help the performance along. I’m sure it will get better….

    Estonia

    Now she gets her chance. Having progressed from the backing singers, Salhene, the new Swedish darling of the contest has the host nation’s hopes on her shoulders. I know there is not supposed to be any national broadcaster bias here, but ETV really do seem to have gone to town with the lights and the set staging, possibly better than any other song so far. She is only the second performer to utilise the front of the stage. As you would expect it is a very good performance from her, but there were some dodgy notes and the harmonies are not quite spot on as the CD version, but that is only to be expected as this is a live song. Having said that, she does have a certain something that makes it so … well … potentially irresistible to the voters. The more I look at her though the more she looks like Billie Piper crossed with Brittany Spears and, in one final hark back to 1999, she even ends with the same hair flick. Will ETV win? Perhaps … but don’t tell them.

    Macedonia

    Oh Dear….. Karolina stomped around the stage link another brooding Vesna but without the talent. From the run through that I saw, she did not seem to be trying very hard for the first half of the song, and then burst into some semblance of life towards the end. Cynics would say that she was holding herself back for the rehearsals to come, but I seriously think her heart is someplace else. She has a good voice…. but its too broody I think for the rest of Europe to pick the phone up and vote for.

    Israel

    Politicking aside, this is everything you would associate with an “normal” Israeli song. Strong ballad with “hands in the air” but this is anything other than a normal entry as we all know. Despite your political affiliation, when Sarit opens her mouth you HAVE to feel for her, for what it meant to her when she wrote it, and what it means now after what has gone on. This is still a very strong song and it has a something… call it heartstrings being tugged, call it me being soppy.. but with her singing, the candles on the background and the whole red hall.. it might not be a winner, and it might not get its share of the votes… but it damn well should.

    Switzerland

    The singer, Francois, is trying to be more French than Swiss. She is trying to give a typical “chanson” performance to the song, which frankly isn’t coming off as yet. The Backing singers just stand and sway a bit and as has lost any appeal that the song had. She does, on the positive side, have a good voice and from our position hits all of the notes and answers any questions that the song poses of her vocal range, but their is no choreography, no movement as such (just the aforementioned swaying and a bit of hand gesturing) and just no overall rhythm to it. Is this song a successor to Gunvor? is the question that we are all wondering here. Dressed in an terrible spangly red skirt and what appears to be a see through liberty bodice from Marks and Spencer’s, she looks bad and it will come across to the televoters as a song that is “decent, but not worth voting for” and that I am afraid is her downfall.

    Sweden

    Now I personally don’t get this song, but however there is a certain something that goes with this song. I think that it could be the soul/funk rhythms, it could be the semi good looking females, or it could be the infections beat. Infectious like a disease mind. It isn’t too bad and they do attack the song and they move quite well. However be warned, the Swedish have resurrected the Golden Boots, but this time, thigh height.. you have been warned!!