FO&O – WelcheMusic.com

Loreen’s Sweet Success on iTunes

Loreen’s ‘Statements’ may have missed out on a spot in the Melodifestivalen final. But iTunes download fans rush to the store. The track sits at No.3, far ahead of Anton Hagman’s ‘Kiss You Goodbye’ at No.19.

The current iTunes chart in Sweden is packed with Melodifestivalen hits. Ed Sheeran tops with ‘Shape of You.’ Then we have Wiktoria (2), Loreen (3), Nano (4), Robin Bengtsson (5) and Mariette (6). Jon Henrik Fjällgren’s jojk song sits at No.8 That means six out of ten songs comes from the competition. Adding the rest of the chart, most entries can be found.

Winners Not Benefitted on iTunes

The winners from Saturday’s duels does not seem to have sparked downloads. I would have expected Boris René (16), FO&O (17) and Anton Hagman (19) to see experience a surge in sales. Lisa Ajax ‘I Don’t Give A’ only manages to come in at No.40.

The Melodifestivalen Duels Under Fire

While downloads and streaming are very different, so does the Spotify chart. For example, Benjamin Ingrosso is No.10 on streaming (while No.29 on downloads). As before, Wiktoria is the biggest hit on Spotify (4).

On Spotify, Loreen is now well ahead of Anton Hagman. She’s actually at No.17 while ‘Kiss You Goodbye’ falls to No.30.

Loreen Reaches No.29 on Swedish Top 40

Much can be said about the competition, we’ll know the results on March 11^th. Make sure to follow WelcheMusic.com for more updates.

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

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

Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s Ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest

Don’t be surprised if a Robert John “Mutt” Lange track ends up as Sweden’s entry in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. He has written hits such as ‘All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You’ and ‘You’re Still the One.’ Lange co-wrote FO&O’s boyband-esque track ‘Gotta Thing About You’ together with Tony Nilsson.

FO&O didn’t qualify directly for a Melodifestivalen final ticket last week. Instead they will compete in the Second Chance the upcoming Saturday. Felix, Oscar and Omar was previously the act The Fooo Conspiracy. As one of the O’s exited the group, the name had to be changed leading to a new boy band act. Other entries include Loreen’s ‘Statements.’ That song didn’t manage to win a final ticket last night. As WelcheMusic.com previously reported, Loreen was a favorite.

FO&O – Gotta Thing About You

The Career of Robert John “Mutt” Lange

Robert John Mutt Lange has written and/or produced hits that have touched millions of fans. Lange was born in Mufulira, Zambia today. He was raised in South African Durban and currently resides in Switzerland.

Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s debut came in October 1978. ‘Rat Trap’ for The Boomtown Rats reached No.1. It is far from the sound of FO&O’s boy band hit.

One of the songwriter’s greatest legacy is the song Lange co-wrote and produced for Bryan Adams. The soundtrack theme to Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You.’ It topped the UK singles chart for 16 consecutive weeks in 1991.

In 1997, Lange produced the hugely successful album Come on Over for Shania Twain – the best-selling country album.

He also won five Grammy awards, including Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still the One’ (1998 – Best Country Song) and Muse’s Drone (2016 – Best Album).

Tony Nilsson’s Melodifestivalen Entries

Tony Nilsson, on the other hand, has contributed several tracks to Melodifestivalen throughout the years. Among Nilsson’s entries include tracks for Marie Serneholt, Alcazar and Behrang Miri. Today, he Tony Nilsson is an internationally acclaimed songwriter with ‘Hit the Lights’ for Selena Gomez & The Scene in 2011 to his credit.

WelcheMusic.com will continously report on the future success of Lange and his entry.