Tonight is the Second Chance round for all the artists who made it further in the competition but did not grab the top two spots in their qualifying rounds. There are two places left in the final and the artists will fight hard to get those spots.
The remaining contestants include:
Robin Stjenberg - You
Eric Gadd - Vi Kommer Aldrig att Förlora
Caroline af Ugglas - Hon Har Inte
Behrang Miri - Jalla Dansa Sawa
Erik Segerstedt and Tone Damli - Hello Goodbye
Anton Ewald - Begging
Cookies 'N' Beans - Burning Flags
Martin Rolinski - In and Out of Love
One difference between the Second Chance and the qualifiers is the duel round. Once these choices are narrowed down to the top four selections, they will go on to a final duel round. They will be seeded. Number one will meet number four. Number two and three will duel it out. The two big winners from the duels will stamp their ticket to the final in Stockholm on March 9.
You can watch the program tonight at 8 pm Central European Time here: svt.se/play
Showing posts with label Eric Gadd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Gadd. Show all posts
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Melodifestivalen Celebrities
I'm sitting in the Middle of the City. That's the name of the shopping center in Karlstad where several artists will appear. The first artist up is Eric Gadd and he will be on stage shortly. People are milling about waiting for the show to begin. I have a good seat next to the stage and two semlor at my side. They're from the grocery store, so they're smaller than the bakery versions. That's right - semlor and song.
What happens when celebrities from the biggest show of the year appear in person? How do people in Sweden react?
They react mildly.
An orderly crowd of young teenagers and students wait in line to get a look at the artists. Guards stand around. They chat with each other, since there's not much to do.
The host for the show walks into the waiting crowd, asking if there are any big fans of Eric Gadd. The orderly crowd looks away. She walks into a group of waiting teens and attempts to get someone to chat. She has difficulty getting them to talk with her in front of the onlookers. The host finally succeeds in getting a few adults to talk with her. Maybe she will have more success when introducing teen heartthrobs like Robin Stjernberg.
She tries to pep the crowd again. A few people shake their head and tap their feet to the music. That's the extent of their celebration. She attempts to get a yell from the crowd and succeeds on the second try. It's not an easy job.
I might suggest this reaction is a part of Swedish culture. Swedes just don't go crazy over celebrities in the same way the United States does. They're interested and will stop to watch. They might stare, even. The really "crazy" ones might ask for a photo or autograph. They usually don't go crazy with a red carpet and screaming fans. They leave that to America. And Americans like me.
What happens when celebrities from the biggest show of the year appear in person? How do people in Sweden react?
They react mildly.
An orderly crowd of young teenagers and students wait in line to get a look at the artists. Guards stand around. They chat with each other, since there's not much to do.
Looking on from the top balcony
She tries to pep the crowd again. A few people shake their head and tap their feet to the music. That's the extent of their celebration. She attempts to get a yell from the crowd and succeeds on the second try. It's not an easy job.
Walking by the stage. Quite empty a few minutes before the first artist is to appear.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Artists - Second Chance
Second Chance: Eight artists will compete. Two will make it out. These artists want the last two spots in Stockholm. They are prepared to fight hard for it.
Eric Gadd - An R&B guy with success both in and outside Sweden's borders. He's been asked many times to compete in the contest, but this year everything fell into place and he said yes. He describes his song, "Vi Kommer Aldrig att Forlora" as a fighting song for dreamers and those who live with heart in the logical and rational time we live in. He says the contest is something he watches every year from home.
Cookies 'N' Beans - A group composed of three women who sing and play their own instruments. They competed in 2009 and remember the huge stage, the audience and their signs. "Burning Flags" is described as a dramatic and powerful number with a warning in the lyrics. They don't call their style country music and don't want to set a stamp on their sound because they are influenced by many different styles.
Anton Ewald - An accomplished artist within the Mello world already at 19 years of age. He was a dancer, choreographer and backing vocalist in previous contests. This is his first competition where he is front and center. He is a little nervous but excited. His song, "Begging" is an electro-pop number with a memorable chorus.
Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli - A duet between Norway and Sweden. Erik has been in the contest before with boy band EMD and Tone started her career in Norway's Idol when she was 16. She has released 5 albums already. The two first met last winter and have already grabbed a place in the second chance round with their ballad, "Hello Goodbye".
Martin Rolinski - A native of Gothenburg and former lead singer of BWO, a group with considerable success in other European nations and previous experience in Mello. BWO was formed by Alexander Bard, a part of Army of Lovers. Rolinski has Polish roots and can speak the language fluently. He received his ticket to Karlstad with his performance of "In and Out of Love" which featured glass cages and colored yogurt.
Caroline af Ugglas - A woman who marches to her own beat who sings a bit like Janis Joplin. Caroline took part last year with a well-received ballad. This year, she is competing with "Hon Har Inte", a ballad with a slightly faster pace written by her and her husband. The song reflects the differences between an established long-term relationship and a new relationship, "She has not had the chance to fight, to say things she shouldn't"..."She hasn't cared for you like I have, so what does she have that I don't?" Caroline says the listener will either love the lyrics or think they are too upfront.
*Clips can be found on YouTube, but broadcaster SVT works hard to have those videos taken down in accordance with contest rules which says advancing songs cannot be played on the radio, TV,or internet. This rule is meant to level the playing field for the artists still involved.
Eric Gadd - An R&B guy with success both in and outside Sweden's borders. He's been asked many times to compete in the contest, but this year everything fell into place and he said yes. He describes his song, "Vi Kommer Aldrig att Forlora" as a fighting song for dreamers and those who live with heart in the logical and rational time we live in. He says the contest is something he watches every year from home.Anton Ewald - An accomplished artist within the Mello world already at 19 years of age. He was a dancer, choreographer and backing vocalist in previous contests. This is his first competition where he is front and center. He is a little nervous but excited. His song, "Begging" is an electro-pop number with a memorable chorus.Erik Segerstedt & Tone Damli - A duet between Norway and Sweden. Erik has been in the contest before with boy band EMD and Tone started her career in Norway's Idol when she was 16. She has released 5 albums already. The two first met last winter and have already grabbed a place in the second chance round with their ballad, "Hello Goodbye".Martin Rolinski - A native of Gothenburg and former lead singer of BWO, a group with considerable success in other European nations and previous experience in Mello. BWO was formed by Alexander Bard, a part of Army of Lovers. Rolinski has Polish roots and can speak the language fluently. He received his ticket to Karlstad with his performance of "In and Out of Love" which featured glass cages and colored yogurt.Caroline af Ugglas - A woman who marches to her own beat who sings a bit like Janis Joplin. Caroline took part last year with a well-received ballad. This year, she is competing with "Hon Har Inte", a ballad with a slightly faster pace written by her and her husband. The song reflects the differences between an established long-term relationship and a new relationship, "She has not had the chance to fight, to say things she shouldn't"..."She hasn't cared for you like I have, so what does she have that I don't?" Caroline says the listener will either love the lyrics or think they are too upfront.*Clips can be found on YouTube, but broadcaster SVT works hard to have those videos taken down in accordance with contest rules which says advancing songs cannot be played on the radio, TV,or internet. This rule is meant to level the playing field for the artists still involved.
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