Erik Grönwall – WelcheMusic.com

Tove Styrke Hailed by New York Post

A year ago, Tove Styrke was one of the Idol finalists in Sweden. This July, she issued her debut single – “Million Pieces” – which peaked at No.18 on the Swedish singles tally. Last month, she spent a sole week at No.21 with “White Light Moment.” The latter track has caught the eye of New York Post, which includes Styrke in the 10 Artists to Know in 2011. The news paper names her the next Robyn, stressing that producers Patrik Berger and Jan Kask have previously worked on tracks for Kylie Minogue, Hillary Duff and The Sounds. WelcheMusic says congrats and promises that we definitely will look out for Tove Styrke next year.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuft7oCmRqg

ABBA is Back on the Chart

Due to the New Year’s celebrations, ABBA’s “Happy New Year” re-enters at No.9. It’s the third year in a row, as the song has re-entered the chart in Sweden both 2008 and 2009. It was orginally issued as single in 1980, following “Super Trouper.” As WelcheMusic previously reported, Linda Sundblad is on her way to get her biggest hit in a long time. “Let’s Dance,” is the sole new entry on this week’s singles tally in Sweden. Erik Grönwall remains atop with “Higher,” trailed by Darin’s renditon of “Viva la vida.” Ke$ha moves 4-3 with “TikTok,” and make sure to download WelcheMusic 2 with the follow-up hit “Blah Blah Blah.” Rihanna returns to the top ten with “Russian Roulette.” In a typically slow week, the album chart has little change. Erik Grönwall remains at No.1 with his eponymous debut, while Black Sabbath enters at No.5 with Greatest Hits. Other newcomers includes Hästpojken’s Från där jag ropar at No.7 as well as Smokie’s lead singer Chris Norman, entering at No.17.

Chart-Topping Erik Grönwall Has Four Entries on Singles Tally

Due to the New Year celebrations, the final edition of the Swedish sales chart were delayed until today, according to industry source Mi. The tally show that the two Idol finalist keep a stronghold of the chart’s top positions. Erik Grönwall’s eponymous debut stays atop of the album chart, but hes trailer by Calle Kristiansson who lost the final. His eponymous debut rushes straight in at No.2. Both sets include songs that they performed on this year’s Idol. Melody Gardot’s My One and Only Thrill moves 2-3 in its 22nd week. Mary J. Blige’s set Stronger withEach Tear debuts at No.43, while much-hyped debut set from former Broder Daniel member Daniel Gilbert enters at No.59 with New African Sports. He was a member of the group on its debut set Saturday Night Engine, which was issued in 1995. Other members from the group are Håkan Hellström and Theodor Jensen, who both pursued solo careers.

Erik Grönwall’s Idol hit “Higher” remains at No.1 on the singles tally, while another album track – “Is it True? – enters at No.35. Collectively, Erik Grönwall has four entries on the chart as “The Show Must Go On” re-enters at No.23 and “Run to the Hills” at No.34. The Iyaz track featured on the first WelcheMusic compilation playlist enters at No.37.

Boy band E.M.D makes a 15-3 leap with the Xmas track “Välkommen hem.” The success is fueled by a TV broadcast of a charity concert for homeless people, for which this track was produced. As previously reported by WelcheMusic, their Xmas album is ineligible to chart as its only sold at the retailer ICA. Ke$ha returns to the top ten, moving 12-4 with “TikTok.”

Erik Grönwall Commands Both Singles and Album Chart in Sweden

In Sweden, Idol winner Erik Grönwall remains atop of the singles chart for a second week with “Higher.” The final chart of the year shows little change as Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Darin’s “Viva la vida” remain at No.2 and No.3. Coincidentally, Pet Shop Boys enters the chart at No.32 with another cover of the Coldplay hit. The track is included on the duo’s Christmas EP, headed by the track “It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas.” On PSB’s new version, “Viva la vida” is mixed with “Domino Dancing.”

Pet Shop Boys – Viva la vida (Domino Dancing)

The Black Eyed Peas spends its 20th week on the chart with “I Gotta Feeling.” Spotify recently announced that this was the most streamed track in 2008. Idol runner-up Calle Kristiansson won an album deal as well, and his live cover version of the Marc Cohn classic “Walking in Memphis” moves 7-5.

Alicia Keys has three tracks on the singles chart this week. The Jay-Z duet “Empire State of Mind” falls 10-11, while “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” vaults 32-19. “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” enters the chart at No.59.

As expected, Erik Grönwall’s debut album Erik Grönwall immediately enters the No.1 position. The Priests are pushed back 1-3, while Melody Gardot remains at No.2 with My One and Only Thrill. Peter Jöback’s Xmas set Jag kommer hem igen till jul tops the midprice chart, followed by Il Divo’s The Christmas Collection.