Fredrik Gustafsson – Sida 2

Happy Birthday, Soul Deep

This week in 1987, Roxette entered the Swedish Top 40 at No.18 with ‘Soul Deep.’ The single had ‘Peals of Passion’ as the B-side. It only spent three weeks on the chart, remaining at No.18.

Roxette – Soul Deep

The song was included on the album Pearls of Passion which was released in November 1986. A remix of the song was later included on the remix album Dance Passion. The album peaked at No.19 in April 1987.

Third Single off Pearls of Passion

It was the third single off Pearls of Passion. It followed ‘Neverending Love’ and ‘Goodbye to You.’ The single was released in Canada and select European countries. It only charted in Sweden, unfortunately. Originally it was called ‘Dansar nerför ditt stup I rekordfart,’ i.e. in Swedish.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Roxette’s It Must Have Been Love

In 1991, the track was remixed for inclusion on the Joyride album. The ‘Pearls of Passion’ track was not only a B-side on ‘Soul Deep.’ It returned as a flip side to ‘Queen of Rain’ (1992). Jackie Day’s 1967 hit ‘Before It’s Too Late’ is used as a reference to the song.

Roxette Today

Last year, Roxette releasedthe tenth album. Good Karma was released on June 3^rd via Parlophone. It was the first set to be released under a new contract with Warner Music. The first single was ‘It Just Happens.’ The duo was set to tour from June last year, but due to Marie Fredriksson’s illness it was canceled.

Roxette – It Just Happens

Follow WelcheMusic.com for further updates on Roxette.

The Melodifestivalen Duels Under Fire

Europe wakes up to the fact that Loreen never made it to the Melodifestivalen final. Fans were quick to express their disappointment in the Swedes’ televotes on social media. And part of the blame – according to the artists – are the duels. ‘Had it been an ordinary competition, things would look different,’ says Johan Gunterberg, a member of De Vet Du.

De Vet Du – Road Trip (Lyric Video)

FO&O and Robert John “Mutt” Lange to the final

De Vet Du failed to qualify as FO&O’s won the duel last night. As I previously reported, the ultra-famous songwriter Lange has co-written the track. Famous for Bryan Adams, Shania Twain and Heart tracks – we’ve not seen such a celebrity since RedOne.

18-year-old Lisa Ajax says it a strange situation as you have a 50/50 chance to qualify. And depending on who you meet in the duel, things can go radically different.

It was pretty clear from the get-go that Loreen didn’t have a cakewalk in this competition. As WelcheMusic.com has reported, ‘Statements’ has struggled on Spotify streaming as well as the Swedish Top 40. She finally lost to Anton Hagman, whose Shawn Mendez influenced track will compete in the final next week.

Melodifestivalen producer shrugs off critic

The Melodifestivalen producer Christer Björkman does not agree on duels requiring more engagement or being injustice. ‘It’s a great commitment when more than 7 million televotes are dispersed over 8 acts. All artists have the same possibilities,’ he says via a text message to Aftonbladet.

Will Anton Hagman Beat Loreen?

The Final Contenders

1. Ace Wilder – Wild Child

2. Boris René – Her Kiss

3. Lisa Ajax – I Don’t Give A

4. Robin Bengtsson – I Can’t Go On

5. Jon Henrik Fjällgren feat. Aninia – En värld full av strider (Eatneme gusnie jeenh dåaroeh)

6. Anton Hagman – Kiss You Goodbye

7. Mariette – A Million Years

8. FO&O – Gotta Thing About You

9. Nano – Hold On

10. Wiktoria – As I Lay Me Down

11. Benjamin Ingrosso – Good Lovin’

12. Owe Thörnqvist – Boogieman Blues

Is Carola the Real Swedish Queen of the Eurovision?

As a then 16-year-old, Carola claimed the bronze in Munich with ‘Främling.’ Back in 1983, ‘Si la vie est cadeau’ was the winner. The Luxembourg entry was sung by Corinne Hermès. Runner-up was Ofra Haza’s ‘Hi’ (Israel).

Carola Medley from Melodifestivalen 2003

A star was born and her debut album has sold quantities in Sweden that are unparalelled. Carola went on to record an album with The Bee Gees. In 1986, Runaway saw the light. Released via Polydor Records, it was an attempt to reach a global audience.

She returned to the competition in 1991 when she won the Eurovision Song Contest altogether with ‘Fångad av en stormvind.’

The Rome finale was a real nail-biter. In order to single out the winner, “the 12-points-votes” had to be counted. Unfortunately for France, Amina Annabi lost out to Sweden.

Loreen and Wiktoria aside, Carola has plenty of Eurovision merits under her belt. In 2006, she competed for Sweden with ‘Evighet.’

Andra Chansen Flop

Yet, her last attempt at Melodifestivalen didn’t work out well at all. Performing the duet ‘One Love’ with Andreas Johnson, the duo never reached the finale. Instead they lost the Second Chance battle to Nordman. On paper, it sounded like the perfect fit. Johnson had managed the finale twice before.

Melodifestivalen is a cruel experience for some schlager divas. Former Eurovision winner Charlotte Perelli was eliminated this year.

This Eurovision queen has obviously made a career outside the competition. Becoming one of this country’s leading stars, she was the lead act of Så mycket bättre the other year. In 2011, she was also a judge on Sweden’s The Voice. Over the course of her career, Carola has recorded some of the biggest Christmas albums.

We will never know how Carola would fare this year. No matter what, she is still one of the most successful singers in Sweden!

Follow WelcheMusic for more updates on Melodifestivalen and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Loreen Reaches No.29 on Swedish Top 40

Loreen enters the Swedish singles chart at No.29 on the Swedish Top 40. The track will compete in tomorrow’s Second Chance competition. Only then, we will know if she has a chance to defend her crown in the finale. Meanwhile, Wiktoria is the highest (new) entry from Melodifestivalen. At No.7, she is the only artist from the competition to reach top ten this week.

Swedish Top 40

WelcheMusic.com has previously reported on daily streaming figures from Spotify. On a daily basis, ‘As I Lay Me Down’ is a top 4 hit in terms of streaming. Ed Sheeran rules the Swedish Top 40 with ‘Shape of You’ ahead of Joakim Lundell.

The highest new entry on the chart comes in the shape of The Chainsmokers and Coldplay. Their collaboration, ‘Something Just Like This’ vaults in at No.4.

FO&O climbs 17-11 in its second week with ‘Gotta Thing About You.’ Robin Bengtsson is new at No.15 with ‘I Can’t Go On.’

Benjamin Ingrosso’s ‘Good Lovin’’ is new at No.17. As Anton Hagman advances from 33-21 with ‘Kiss You Goodbye,’ he is well ahead of Loreen. Favorites Nano (No.23), Jon Henrik Fjällgren (No.25) and Mariette (No.40) cleary indicates that the competition is fierce.

Heatseeker Chart

There is another chart that includes many Melodifestivalen entries. The Heatseeker chart consists of tracks outside the Top 100. They have not ever reached the Top 100, but may one day do so. Owe Thörnqvist is at No.2 with ‘Boogieman Blues.’ Roger Pontare and Krista Siegfrieds also climbs that chart.

Swedish Top 40 – Week 9

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
Joakim Lundell – All I Need (featuring Arrhult)
Kygo featuring Selena Gomez – It Ain’t Me
The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – Something Just Like This
Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa – Scared to Be Lonely