Ten Swedish Entries in the ESC 2012 – Here’s the List

ESC '12
ESC '12

There are ample opportunities for a Swedish ESC victory come Saturday. Remember that Stefan Örn and Sandra Bjurman wrote the winning Azerbaijani entry ‘Running Scared’ last year. They have also written this year’s song ‘When the Music Dies.’

In addition to Loreen’s ‘Euphoria,’ no less than nine other entries in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest includes Swedish credits. Thomas G:son has written both Loreen’s song as well as the Spanish entry. The other co-writer of ‘Euphoria,’ Peter Boström, also co-penned ‘Stay’ for Tooji.

Thanks to DN and TT Spektra for compiling.

• Ireland. Jedward: ‘Water Line.’ The song is written by Swedish Nick Earl and Sharon Vaughn.

• Italy. Nina Zilli, ‘L’amore è femmina.’ The song is written by Nina Zilli, Swedes Christian Rabb, Christopher Sjökvist and Frida Molander and the American Charlie Mason.

• Norway. Tooji ‘Stay.’ The song is written by Norwegian Tooji along with Swedes Peter Boström and Figge Boström.

• Spain. Sols Pastora ‘Quédate conmigo.’ The song was written by Thomas G:son, Tony Sanchez-Ohlsson and Erik Bernholm.

• Greece. Eleftheria Eleftheriou, ‘Aphrodisiac’ The song is written by Swedish songwriters Dimitri Stassos, Mikaela Stenström and Dajana Loof.

• Cyprus. Ivi Adamou: ‘La la love.’ The song is written by Alex Papaconstantinou, Björn Djupström, Alexandra Zakka and Viktor Svensson.

• Malta. Kurt Calleja. ‘This Is the Night.’ The song is written by Kurt Calleja, John Jämtberg and Michael Gunnerås.

• United Kingdom. Engelbert Humperdinck: ‘Love Will Set You Free.’ Swedish Martin Terefe is one of the songwriters.

• Azerbaijan. Sabina Babajeva: ‘When the music dies.’ Written by the Swedes Anders Bagge, Sandra Bjurman, Stefan Örn and Johan Kronlund.

 

Loreen’s Euphoria Smells Baku Victory in the Eurovision 2012

Loreen
Loreen

Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ has turned out to be the pan-European favorite as the ESC final in Baku draws to a close. The singer will, however, need to qualify for the final this Thursday. Few question that. In an interview with Aftonbladet’s Torbjörn Ek, the surging interest for the singer is quite taking its toll. “I just felt to be on my own today, I did not anyone around me,” the singer told Aftonbladet. Being a favorite obviously mounts pressure on the singer. Loreen did get 670,551 tele-votes upon winning the Swedish final.

Remember Carola’s Invincible in 2006?

Long-time Swedish ESC general Christer Björkman hasn’t experienced such interest in the Swedish winner since Carola’s performance in Athens. In 2009, Norwegian singer Alexander Rybak was close to collapse and actually canceled all interviews ahead of the final. He finally won the whole competition with ‘Fairytale.’

Christer Björkman, to Aftonbladet:

“I do not feel that Loreen is in the same condition as Rybak. But we will support her a lot as we see how much attention she gets compared to the other artists. We will need to be vigilant. A bit like what we did with Carola in Athens. To support her with air so fans won’t get too close.”

Baku Eurovision Song Contest Party Flops

According to a recent Aftonbladet article, a party in honor of the ESC participants turned out to be a flop. The artists were kept waiting for three hours in buses, food wasn’t complimentary and the highlight was fireworks that only lasted for one minute. The Swedish delegation with Loreen at the front left after 20 minutes.

Today, Sweden’s news daily DN publishes an article with Loreen where the singer reveals that she sets her sight on Svalbard. Alone. There’s not much serenity in the midst of ESC euphoria, she’d like to go there alone and see the glaciers before they melt. She finally share a piece of wisdom on what she absolutely do not want with her life.

“Live a lie. I do not like illusions, to be a piece in a someone else’s puzzle. I’d like to be the boss in my own life. To be my own manager.”

No Compromises

Loreen will compete in Thursday’s heat. Always driven by the mantra to make it on her own. In an interview with Svenska Dagbladet’s Harry Amster, Loreen says that “it’s a deliberate choice not to release an album. I am not somebody else’s product. I follow my own flow and have turned a lot of offers down. It’s about have the courage to be yourself in your own energy. You shouldn’t compromise. It has taken me seven years to realize that.”

A debut album is waiting in the wings, where Loreen has worked with the Swedish producer Kleerup. A superb choice, back in 2007 Kleerup managed to place Robyn atop of the UK singles chart with ‘With Every Heartbeat.’ In 2008, he released the No.7 hit ‘Longing for Lullabies’ with Neneh Cherry’s half-sister Titiyo.

Also read:

Will Loreen’s Euphoria Take the Eurovision 2012 by Storm?

Google traffic from almost 50 countries for Loreen
Loreen is set for Baku this May as Sweden's participant in the Eurovision 2012

Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ is the most successful winner ever in the history of Melodifestivalen. With 670,551 votes according to the news daily Aftonbladet, the singer easily took home top honors last night ahead of Danny Saucedo’s ‘Amazing,’ and is now set for Azerbaijan’s Baku this May.

Visitors from Almost 50 Countries Search for Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’

I’ve had visitors from almost 50 countries, ending up on my blog after a Google search for Loreen and/or ‘Euphoria’! This includes the UK, Netherlands, Norway and non-Euro countries such as the US and Ecuador.

More Than 2m Viewers Followed Melodifestivalen Last Night

Melodifestivalen hasn’t been this popular since Carola won with ‘Evighet’ (dubbed ‘Invincible’ in the Eurovision). More than 2m viewers watched the contest according to news daily Dagens Nyheter, where Loreen both won the hearts of the international jury as well as the Swedish tele votes.

Loreen is currently working on her debut album, which is slated for release this September. I was disappointed in ‘Euphoria’ ‘only’ making it to No.12 in its first week, the single vaulted to No.1 on Friday, adding another week on the digital songs chart Digilistan.

Loreen Competes in Melodifestivalen (courtesy of SVT)

 

International Jury Chose Eric Saade’s ‘Popular’

Letting an international jury vote for a winning track is a clever way of getting acceptance in the Eurovision. Last year, ‘Popular’ managed to win bronze and already Sweden is a top favorite with international betting companies. The use of ‘Euphoria’ in the Spanish promo for Gossip Girl, is just one indication that the track has a pan-European potential.

I will make sure to cover Loreen’s way to Baku and hopefully she will take the Eurovision by storm. I predicted that ‘Euphoria’ was the path to success upon Loreen winning the first heat in Växjö last month. Sure hope that you agree with me.

Also read:

Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ Tops the Swedish Digital Songs Chart

Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ Highest New Entry on Hitlistan

Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ Path for Eurovision Song Contest Success

Loreen’s Euphoria Tops the Swedish Digital Songs Chart

Loreen tops the Digital Songs chart
Loreen knocks Michel Teló off the Top

As I predicted earlier, Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ manages to dethrone Michel Teló’s ‘Ai se eu te pego’ on Diglistan, which is solely based on downloads and streaming. Following the countdown on the radio, I was thrilled to hear that Loreen sold by far more than her competitors. Danny Sacuedo’s ‘Amazing’ bows at No.2, while Lisa Miskovsky’s ‘Why Start a Fire’ enters at No.4. Both of them will compete against Loreen come Saturday when the final of Melodifestivalen takes place at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm.

According to a recent Aftonbladet poll, Loreen is leading by far (getting almost 40 percent of the votes). Fingers crossed!

Loreen – Euphoria

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