A blog that hopes to spread some of the music of Europe to North America. I'll try and share some of the "hidden gems" that deserve to be making a splash on this side of the ocean.
There isn't much to talk about when it comes to One as it's pretty hard to find much of any information on Jay Ko (or Anya) unless one speaks Romanian. When it comes down to it, nothing more is really necessary than the track itself.
It's one of a continuing huge number of tracks out of Romania with a bit less of a harder house edge to it and of more of a dance/pop vibe which is why it certainly stands out from the rest of the Romanian dance music we're hearing now. There are some remixes out there but the original really is the best version to me.
The official video online is for a remix so I've got a fan video below as well as a link to download the track.
Maybe the best way to describe Eric Saade is Darin meets Zac Efron. He's been involved in Disney-type stuff in Sweden for a few years including their version of Camp Rock. He has gone and released his first solo single, Sleepless, just in advance of his participation in Melodifestivalen 2010 which will decide Sweden's representative at Eurovision this year in Oslo.
Eric's entry to Melodifestivalen is called Manboy (should be interesting) and has been written by Frederic Kempe who has been responsible for many Melodifestivalen hits, including both of Mans Zelermlow's entries. And with Sleepless adding some idea of what Eric might be presenting, it appears that it should be pretty good!
Sleepless really is a bit of a Darin meets Disney. Probably more comparable to some of Darin's earlier tracks with a bit more of a pop edge, I am figuring this one has all the teeny-boppers in Sweden excited and I can't lie - it's pretty addictive. The video is simple enough but certainly is trying to cast Eric in the Twilight-vibe. Definitely worth a view!
Linda Sundblad is a Swedish artist who started her music career at the ripe age of 15 fronting the pop-rock music group Lambretta with whom she released three albums and had two top 10 hits in Sweden as well as success in some neighbouring countries. In 2005 she left the group and went solo. This proved a great move and she pulled out a #1 and #2 single in Sweden from her 2006 release Oh my God!.
Throw in some modelling and acting and hosting a radio show, and fast forward to 2009 when Linda released her most recent solo single, 2 All My Girls, an electro-pop leaning on the side of electro and sounding very Robyn-esque which only managed to reach #50 on the Swedish singles charts.
Skip to single #2 from the "comeback" and things look to be working out much better. Linda has released Let's Dance in 2010 which is also the theme song for the Swedish version of Dancing With the Stars (won by Mans Zelmerlow in 2006). It entered the Swedish charts this week at #16 and as the show continues to draw in viewers looks primed to make the top 10.
Still sounding a bit like Robyn but a lot more pop with a hint of Gaga, Let's Dance has a great chorus that is Swedish pop at its very best and although the verses are a bit lacking something, the wait for the chorus is all worth it. I can totally see it working as the theme for the show and any one of the many dance-related reality shows making it around the world.
Among all of the Swedish artists that have managed to catch my attention over the past few years, Gathania is certainly one who stands out brighter than the rest. Her 2008/2009 release Blame It On You, is one of my favourite songs from 2009 and with its UK release still on the way there should be more talk about this track to come. She's also stunning and is working with the same people as September which means that we can expect great things. She's also signed to September's label in the UK, Hard2Beat, so who knows if a release for North America might even be in the works?
While waiting for the UK release of Blame It On You it is nice to see that Gathania hasn't gotten lazy and hasn't left her Swedish fans hanging. Her latest release for 2010 has made its way out and Spinning certainly does a very good job of living up to the reputation that her previous work has set for her. I would say she sounds a bit more like September with this one although the song also has a bit of an 80s-esque vibe to it too.
With Gathania's past releases in Sweden not faring incredibly well it will be interested to see how this one performs on the charts. A video has yet to be released, so we're left with a montage of some photos as well as a link to the track.
Velvet is another one of the Swedish dance music veterans who has been around in the industry for quite some time and who is coming into her own both in Sweden and elsewhere around Europe and even North America. She's one of the few from the pre-Idol times who has taken part in Sweden's Melodifestivalen three times as a solo artist and has even done backing vocals for several Swedish entries at Eurovision in the past.
Velvet has had seven top 10 songs in Sweden and also been quite successful in Poland and with some other hits in Russia, Romania and efforts in the UK. Her 2009 album, The Queen was one of the best albums of the year and included some of her previous hits like Chemistry and Take My Body Close and some other unreleased winners like My Rhythm and Radio Star. Included in the album was My Destiny which was a ballad on the album and wasn't too memorable but which has been given the remix treatment courtesy of Pitchline and now stands on its own quite nicely.
With one of the remixes being called the Pitchline UK Remix, it appears as this is might be being released in the UK but time will only tell on this one as nothing has been said yet. The remix is a bit more in line with some of Velvet's previous disco-house sounding tracks like Take My Body Close and Come Into The Night and consequently less similar to Chemistry and Fix Me but all are great in my opinion so you can simply add My Destiny to the list of hits!
2010 looks like is starting off on a good note so far! :)
As if this wasn't already a 'given', it is still necessary to talk about Agnes and about this song which really was without any doubt the best of 2009 - despite being released in 2008. My love affair with Agnes started with On and On (my favourite song of 2008) and after a trip to Sweden in late 2008 and hearing Release Me three times in one night it all really began to sink in. This song was amazing.
Release Me was the second single released from Agnes' third album in Sweden, Dance Love Pop, and it reached #9 in Sweden which was a bit of a disappointment compared to her previous successes in her home country. With eyes set beyond Sweden for Agnes, Release Me was released throughout Europe in 2009 and found massive success just about everywhere it was heard. It all started in the UK where Agnes reached #3 on the singles chart and has sold almost 400,000 copies. From Germany to Italy to France to Belgium the song has charted in the top 10 and the song even made it to #1 on the Billboard Dance Charts in the US. A full-on release to the US (and hopefully Canada) is slated for 2010 so it is quite possible that we haven't heard the last of Release Me.
After the failed success of I Need You Now in the UK, On and On has been picked as the next single to be released in early 2010 and Agnes' debut album in the UK should be out around the same time. I see no problem with old favourites sticking around for another 'go' at it - and I am sure Agnes doesn't either!
Release Me has even re-charted in Sweden this year and although not bettering its #9 position from 2008, it is quite an accomplishment. This was probably helped by Agnes' performance of her worldwide hit song this past December at the finale of Swedish Idol 2009 where it all started for her. Without getting too teary-eyed it is really a pretty amazing performance to watch. From Agnes who started off performing a little shy and unassuming in the UK, it's amazing to see what a year of success can do. She looks as phenomenal as ever, sounds as great as she always does, and commands that stage like she has never done before.
Here's that performance to enjoy and here's to Agnes and a phenomenal 2009 of Eurotrash music!
Happy New Year to everyone and I look forward to some more amazing music to talk about in 2010!
Gathania Holmgren is yet another former contestant from Swedish Idol having taken part in the 2007 show and finishing in the top 10 that year. After a slight break, her first single in Sweden, Get It Out was released in 2009 and reached #27. The follow-up single, Blackout was also released in Sweden in 2009 and failed to match the success of her first effort, barely making the Top 40.
The above doesn't really sound like much to talk about, however, Gathania's (and specifically Blackout's) performance in Sweden does absolutely nothing to represent the quality of her music. Gathania was picked up by Hard2Beat Records in the UK (who have been responsible for the release of many Swedish artists in the UK, including September) and a new video and even a new title for Blackout are probably a better representation of what this song is capable of. Enter Blame It On You and you are sure to fall in love!
Jonas van der Burg was responsible for Blame It On You and as he is the mastermind behind the success of September maybe this will help add some more perspective. Blame It On You is a September single and even so much more! From the little piano solo that starts it off and the build-up into the first chorus the song is Swedish pop at its absolute finest! Along with having the perfect lyrics for someone wanting to get back at an ex that they hate, the video really hits it home and it's a great way to be 'bitchy' while singing along to an infectious pop song :)
The release for the UK was supposed to happen this year but has instead been postponed for 2010 while Gathania has already released a new single in Sweden, Spinning. Gathania is beautiful (which can't hurt her chances) and although new to the stage performance 'thing' and maybe needing a bit more practice, with a little luck Blame It On You could (or at least should) be huge for her in 2010!
Eurovision might be the highlight of my year musically and it is a bit hard to believe that only one song from this year's content in Moscow has made the Top 20 for the year. Although it may be the only one, Always certainly is right up there at #3.
Aysel is an artist from Azerbaijan who was unknown outside of her country before Eurovision while Arash is an Iranian-Swedish artist who has had massive success throughout the world with songs like Bora Bora and Suddenly. When Arash was named as one of the contributors to the Azerbaijani entry for 2009, good things were expected, but I don't think I expected anything this good!
The song is to many just a typical-sounding ethnic pop song, but it certainly stood out in Moscow this year among the rest. Along with a great stage performance and effects, Always is easily the most memorable song from Eurovision 2009 for me. Although Arash looked and sounded pretty ridiculous on stage, Aysel certainly made up for it looking and sounding great and impressing the voting jury and public to a very respectable 3rd place finish in the contest.
The song did very well across Europe after the contest, reaching #2 in Greece, #3 in Sweden and #4 in Ukraine (a diverse enough mix of countries) as well as top 20 in Norway and Turkey and even charting in the UK Singles Chart and the European Top 100 charts.
Enjoy the live performance from Eurovision this May - and here's to Eurovision 2010 in Oslo and hoping there are more than just the one song making the Top 20 in 2010!
I have already posted about Alcazar and also Burning which is #4 for 2009. Alcazar are a Swedish group that have been around for almost a decade and have undergone several band member changes. Two of the current members are original while the remaining current member joined in 2008.
Alcazar took part in Melodifestivalen 2009 in Sweden with Stay The Night which finished 5th in the contest and reached #2 in Sweden. Although Stay The Night just missed out on the top 20, Burning has managed to fit right into the top 5 despite not charting in Sweden in 2009. Along with a perfect video and the 'just right' blend of disco and pop, Burning is that kind of song that can't help but make you smile.
The song has also managed to chart in Germany and there is also a UK release slated for 2010. Alcazar have had some success all across Europe in the past and let's hope they can follow in the steps of their Swedish compatriots to the UK charts!
Agnes Carlsson is definitely my woman of the year in 2009 and there seems to be no sign of this ending in 2010 with plenty still on the go. There is reason to save some discussion of her and her successes and we'll start first here with I Need You Now which is #5 for 2009.
Agnes won Swedish Idol in 2005 after being saved by the jury wild card and not being eliminated from the competition. She went on to win it all and released two albums in Sweden before 2008's Dance Love Pop which was the album which spawned the first of her international releases, including I Need You Now.
After the success of Release Me in the UK, Agnes' UK label was unsure about releasing On and On (which had been her first single in Sweden and her release in other European markets) because they felt it sounded too 'euro' for the UK. Agnes had released Love Love Love in Sweden in early 2009 but this didn't seem able to cut it either. The answer instead became to take one of the album's ballads, I Need You Now and give it the remix treatment.
From the string intro at the start it was pretty evident that this one was going to be a winner. I instantly fell in love with it with Agnes' vocals sounding great (as usual) and the track seemed enough "Agnes" while still being unique enough from her previous hit. Initial reactions were mixed, however, and it was unsure how well the track would be received.
In the end, I Need You Now was basically a flop in the UK. Although reaching #6 on the UK Dance Charts, it only managed to reach #40 on the UK Singles Charts and also managed #24 in Poland. The surprise might be that in Sweden, Agnes managed to get another Top 10 hit with a digital release only and no physical single. Surely Sweden feels slightly forgotten as Agnes has been taking on the world and this was a bit of their appreciation for her.
Regardless of the performance of the song in the UK, I Need You Now was a huge song for me in 2009 and slides into the Top 5 ahead of the similarly "remixed for the UK market"-September. Enjoy a great video and the beautiful track in all its glory!
Probably the first of all of the Swedish popstars to make the break into both the UK and the rest of the world was September. When Cry For You made it big all around the world (including #1 on the Billboard Dance charts) it seemed like it was the opportunity for all kinds of Swedish artists to get picked up first in the UK and then even some into the US. September had a great 2008 and what started off as a great 2009 only to end with her anticipated first album release into the UK being canned and getting no physical release and her follow-up single to Can't Get Over, Until I Die, being cancelled as well. It's unfortunate 2009 had to end this way for September but she is in the studio working on new material for 2010 and with her track record she will surely not disappoint!
Onto Can't Get Over then. It was first released in Sweden as the first single from her latest 'new' album, Dancing Shoes in 2007 and in the Netherlands in 2008. The song has always been my favourite from this album and I was excited to hear that it had been chosen as a single for the UK after the success of Cry For You and Satellites. Along with the re-release came a new remix which was used for all markets the song was released in in 2009. It is quite a bit different than the original and definitely made to sound a lot more similar to Cry For You after its massive success. It was a great decision and the song has been made much more palatable for the rest of the European market.
Can't Get Over had a pretty good run and reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart (Cry For You reached #5) along with the Top 10 in the Czech Republic, Denmark and Slovakia. Reaching #12 on the US Billboard Dance Charts means that you might even be able to hear this one in North America!
All the best for September in 2010 - here's to a new incredible single to start off the year right!
Mans Zelmerlow is a Swedish popstar who, as most of them do, found his way to stardom begin on Swedish Idol in 2005 (the year Agnes won the competition). He took part in their version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006 and won that time around on the reality tv front. It then was time to take it to the reality tv mecca in Sweden (I guess we can call it reality tv) - Melodifestivalen! In 2007, Mans took part with his song Cara Mia and finished 3rd that year. He then released his first album, Stand By For... which reached #1 on the albums chart and also included the great single Brother Oh Brother along with Cara Mia.
When the list of participants for Melodifestivalen 2009 was announced and Mans was one of them - people were expecting great things. And let's just say that Hope and Glory lived up to anyone's expectations. Throw in probably the performance to remember from 2009 and it is easily understood how this song made it as one of my favourites of the year. It's the typical Swedish pop song and that's pretty much enough on its own to make it great!
Despite winning the jury's vote, the public opted not for Mans and in the end he wound up 4th in Melodifestivalen 2009. As has been the case in the past, the Swedish public opted for the wrong choice (in my opinion) and their Eurovision entrant ended up at the bottom of the pack this year in Moscow. Let's hope for a different story this year!
Mans continues to ride his fame in Sweden. He is part of the Swedish popstar power couple as he has been dating Marie Serneholt (#9 below) since 2008 and his latest album, MZW also reached #1 on the Swedish album charts with Hope and Glory reaching #2 on the singles charts. He's also one of the three hosts for Melodifestivalen 2010 - which will surely hold at least a few entries for 2010's list!
Enjoy the fabulous performance from Mans below and a link to the song.
