Melodifestivalen 2010: Semi Final 3 Gothenburg Review

The third stop on the Melodifestivalen trail found us in Scandinavium, Gothenburg last Saturday! After two lacklustre weeks I was still holding out for a hero! 3 of my most anticipated artists were competing this week so I expected them to bring their A-game!
Melodifestivalen has been getting big criticism this year from the Swedish public and music industry. This article explains that the song which will represent Denmark was originally turned down by the SVT jury for Melodi! And how on earth this classic duet by two Schlager princesses was ditched I will never know: Linda Bengtzing & Velvet - Victorious

Isn't that just pop perfection?!?
Well with that in mind, lets see what Göteborg brought to the table...

Melodifestivalen 2010: MIA Predictions

OMG! Tomorrow the Melodifestivalen finally kicks off! I hope you feel slightly prepared from my Melodi posts ett och två!

My photo above shows you my the top 10 contestants I am most looking forward to.
If you have not already noticed, I am a strange one! I love Melodifestivalen but as a strict rule I do not listen to any previews of the songs before the actual show. I judge each song on the staging, performance and emotion as well as on the song itself. I also feel by prejudging it, it looses the mystery and excitement of the live show! I am such a child, this is my Schlager Christmas ha! If you wish you can hear the clips here, however the exquisite ScandiPop warn against it!

So my Top 10 are based on past musical outputs, past Melodi songs, and general excitement to hear their song! Chances are I will be wrong , and the new comers to Melodifestivalen will have better entries! I would have never predicted loving the 2009 Scotts entry last year!

Melodifestivalen Is Starting To Get Wild for Darin!

A few days ago the first Melodifestivalen Wildcard was added to the 2010 list!
For those of you not on planet Schlager, it is the one, the only Darin.. as blogged about here!

Now as I talk about Sweden, Meldofestivalen and Swepop nearly all the time, I have discussed with people before the idea of Darin for Melodi!
He is spectacular, and when I get my ass in gear he will be made officially a MIA legend, but I am just not sure how his style will mash with Melodi!
Even though I was not fully impressed by his newest album Flashback, his efforts have been Swedelicious since his Idol exit!

Viva Darin!

HERE IT IS!!!!
The performance of the cover I have been dying for and the net has buzzing about (well my fav blogs Here Here and Here!)
I've waited up late in order to get the glimpse of the fantastic performance so here we go....

W TO THE OW!!!
Okey Okey the vocal is a bit shaky, but overall the style and performance is Swedelicious!
I'm not sure if you would agree but I think the backing track sounds more Danny Saucedo than Darin!
How cute for Darin to perform and release a song for no other reason but to big up the show from which he started! That's loyalty for you kids!
The wind machine of course is equally amaizng, probably due to it's sheer pointlessness!
He kicked Ola's Körslaget kör hands down!
Also check out Future M.I.A. Legend Camilla Håkansson during the contestant line up! Will she stand like an awkward celebrity on a forgein TV show, clapping and nodding like the some of her fellow contestants? No No No, this kidette has class! Shes singing and dancing like a true Schlager Icon!
I kinda hope Darin doesn't do Melodifestivalen (it's OK I'm feeling fine don't worry, I did really say that!). I think, as this performance shows, he's far too current and potentially international for the contest at the moment!
This makes me even more excited for Darin's UK invasion! BRING IT ON!

Think Darin deserves M.I.A. Legend status after this... so watch this space!