Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ bows at No.12 on this week’s official Swedish singles chart, becoming the highest placed Melodifestivalen entry as well as the highest new entry. Loreen also places ‘Sober’ at No.60, a track that initially peaked at No.6 on the digital songs chart Digilistan upon its release last September.
Earlier, I predicted that Loreen would replace Michel Teló, whose ‘Ai se eu te pego’ remains atop for a second weekend running. Fingers crossed that this will be the case in due course. Danny Saucedo’s ‘Amazing’ enters at No.20. Sean Banan’s ‘Sean den förste banan’ also enters the chart, albeit a low position (No.45).
I’m pretty confident that the Melodifestivalen songs will climb next week as they haven’t enjoyed a full week of sales yet.
Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ was illicitly used in a Spanish promo for Gossip Girl.
Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ was illicitly used in a Spanish promo for Gossip Girl.
iTunes was the first chart to reflect total Melodifestivalen domination as Loreen bowed atop with ‘Euphoria.’ Expect both the official singles chart Hitlistan and the digital songs chart Digilistan to follow in the same footsteps.
In less than two weeks, Sweden will choose which song will represent us in Baku come May. 32 songs have competed in four heats over a four week period, eight finalists are already qualified. This weekend, a second chance will be offered to those who almost made it.
Looking at the latest iTunes top ten, eight of the songs have competed in Melodifestivalen. Almost all of them are finalists, apart from Sean Banan’s ‘Sean den förste banan’ (No.8). This clearly indicates that Sean Banan could very well qualify for the final as he will get another try this Saturday.
Following the Melodifestivalen bonanza throughout the season, Loreen has generated most buzz and it was expected that her song was in demand. Partly since she was the first song to actually qualify for the final, partly since interest for ‘Euphoria’ includes the unauthorized use of the song in a promo clip for Gossip Girl on Spanish TV. The runner-up is Danny Saucedo’s ‘Amazing,’ and Lisa Miskovsky’s ‘Why Start a Fire,’ who both qualified in last week’s heat.
Some say that the current iTunes top ten very well could reflect the final results, yet purchasing the à la carte download track is not the same as voting for the song in the actual competition.
The only two songs not to be associated with Melodifestivalen is Far East Movement’s ‘Live My Life’ (featuring Justin Bieber) (No.5) and Michel Teló’s ‘Ai se eu te pego’ (No.7). The latter currently reached the top of both Hitlistan and Digilistan last. It is mostly unlikely that he remains there when the new charts are made available later this week.
Loreen – Euphoria
The iTunes Chart (as of week 9)
Loreen – Euphoria
Danny Saucedo – Amazing
Lisa Miskovsky – Why Start a Fire
Molly Sandén – Why Am I Crying
Far East Movement featuring Justin Bieber – Live My Life
Loreen’s ‘Euphoria’ was one of two winner’s in yesterday’s Melodifestivalen heat
28-year old singer Loreen won the hearts of the Swedes with the seductive dance pop track ‘Euphoria.’ Alongside Dead By April’s ‘Mystery,’ Loreen is qualified for the Melodifestivalen 2012 final at the Stockholm Globe Arena next month.
Same Songwriter As Norway’s Tooji
I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll see Loreen on the stage in the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan and she might be joined by Tooji, whose ‘Stay’ qualified in the last heat of the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix. Sweden’s Peter Boström has written both ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Stay,’ the latter sounding very similar to Eric Saade’s ESC top three hit ‘Popular’ from 2011.
Née Lorine Zineb Noka Talhaoui in October 1983, Loreen is of Moroccan-Berber descent. The singer made her breakthrough in 2004, as one of the finalists of Sweden’s Idol. She was actually picked as a wildcard by the judges, not immediately winning the public’s heart. Singing, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and P!nk throughout the competition, her first single was ‘The Snake’ with the duo Rob’n’Raz. Loreen also worked as a television presenter at TV400, which has changed its name to TV11.
Phenomenal Reaction in Social Media
‘Euphoria’ did not only win the first Melodifestivalen heat, the reaction on Twitter and in social media channels were nothing short of phenomenal. A tremendous performance, leaving many viewers breathless and questioning whether it was live or playback (it was live, believe me!).
Last year, Loreen made her Melodifestivalen debut with ‘My Heart is Refusing Me,’ co-written by her with Moh Denebj and Björn Djupström. Despite not qualifying for the final, the single peaked at No.9 on the Swedish singles chart and spent 19 weeks on the tally. I wrote about her chart success last year in Loreen’s Sweet Revenge. According to the Scandipop blog, Loreen calls ‘Euphoria’ very mystical and dynamic.
Watch Loreen’s performance of ‘My Heart Is Refusing Me’ at last year’s competition
CHART SPOTLIGHT. Loreen failed to qualify for the Melodifestivalen final tonight, but the ex-Idol contestant got her sweet revenge earlier this week. Her “My Heart Is Refusing Me” crashes into No.9 on the Swedish singles tally.
Only finalists Eric Saade and Danny Saucedo chart higher. This means that Loreen beats finalists such as Linda Bengtzing, The Moniker and Sara Vargas. Loreen also manages to oust competition from Love Generation, whose “Dance Alone” enters at No.26 and Jenny Silvers’ ABB homage “Something in Your Eyes,” which bows at No.59.
