Collette Roberts AKA Collette was an Australian pop singer in the late 80s/early 90s who had a huge hit with a cover of “Ring My Bell” and was well known for turning lycra bike pants into a fashion craze.
Well, let’s face it, lycra never was and never will be fashionable in my view. I must confess to being rather underwhelmed, especially by “Ring My Bell”. I mean, I should have liked it but it came across as rather lacking. Maybe I was just too wedded to the Anita Ward version.
For Collette’s second album “Attitude”, she went for a change of image and this time I fell in love.
I remember seeing “Who Do You Think You Are?”, the lead single on one of the music video shows and being totally captivated. The new image and hair cut totally transformed Collette. And the song (co-written by Collette) was amazing. Still dance pop but more sophisticated and dare I say, sexy.
I took a punt on the album and was very surprised. Most of it was written by Collette herself along with Peter Bowman. There were two covers, infectious versions of “Upside Down” and “Give It Up”. It’s still an album I can play today from time to time and get a lot of enjoyment from. Sophisticated dance pop with a fun edge.
Sadly, it seemed that I was the only one in love with the new incarnation of Collette. The singles didn’t do particularly well and the album sank. Tragically, Collette decided to leave the music business. A great injustice IMHO. How do these things happen?
Anyway, I suppose some of you came here looking for the Collette of old so here she is when she redefined Australian fashion.
Ted Gärdestad from Sweden is one of my favourite singers. Enormously popular in his homeland, it was decided to launch him internationally in 1978. The result was the English language album “Blue Virgin Isles” (his previous albums had all been in Swedish) which was even released here in Australia.
The lead single from the album was the song “Take Me Back To Hollywood” and I remember seeing the clip once on Countdown. Unfortunately, the song wasn’t a hit and I never saw the clip again – until five minutes ago for the first time in over 30 years.
You Tube is a wonderful invention and allows one to see things that you would never dream of seeing. This is one of them.
A young Molly Meldrum (minus the hat) intro-ing and outro-ing “Take Me Back To Hollywood”. He mispronounces Ted’s name terribly!
Long before the musical “Kristina från Duvemåla” was devised, another Swedish artist had already used Vilhem Moberg’s Emigrants series of novels as a musical inspiration. Harpo released the song “On The Other Side Of The Atlantic” in 1986, both as a single (in Swedish and English) and as an album track on the under-rated “London” album.
I was surprised to find the English version of this beautiful song on Youtube. Someone has done a great job of putting together a slide show of scenes from the Emigrants movie as well as modern day immigrants.
They were poor, didn’t have anything Hunger and thirst, what else could the future bring They left the old world far behind Didn’t know what they would find
On the other side of the Atlantic They were looking for a new kind of life Maybe it’s the same today We are looking for a new kind of life On the other side of the Atlantic They were looking for a new kind of life
They never gave up, so it seems Bright hopes, impossible dreams The bible has said, search and you will find So they left the old world far behind
On the other side of the Atlantic…
Maybe it’s the same today We are looking for a new kind of life
On the other side of the Atlantic…
Maybe it’s the same today We are looking for a new kind of life
Congratulations to Eric Saade for being chosen to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011. His song “Popular” won by an overwhelming majority and sees Sweden with a real chance to win in Dusseldörf.
Tonight, Swedish time, sees the final for Melodifestivalen which will select Sweden’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. It seems that the two favourites, Eric Saade and Danny Saucedo, are getting overly friendly in the picture above. This shot has been appearing on schlager blogs all over the net so how could I resist such a shot. Sadly, as the following video shows, it’s just the two guys mucking about at a press conference. But it does embody the spirit of Melodifestivalen. The friendly rivalry and the fun that the participants bring to the atmosphere, one could almost say a sense of family.
I have read quite a few schlager blogs complaining about the final line up of songs. I actually think it’s a good and varied line up, a bit of something for everyone. The Swedes actually have a range to choose from which should make it more interesting.
I have already commented on Sara Varga (my favourite in the final) and Eric Saade (the one that should go to Dusseldörf) but I thought I would give my impressions of the remaining eight songs for what it’s worth.
Danny – In The Club
Eric Saade’s closest rival, I think this club tune will give Eric a run for his money. It’s modern and would appeal to a younger audience (as long as they are the ones voting). I’m not that keen on it myself (I must be getting old) but I’m sure it would do well at Eurovision.
The Moniker – Oh My God
A lot of people seem to hate this very happy pop song but I quite like it and certainly won’t be skipping it when I get the CD. Kinda like Mika but not done as well, still it’s fun. I don’t think it’s a contender.
Brolle – 7 Days and 7 Nights
I really like this slice of rock pop from Sweden’s so-called answer to Elvis. I find myself singing it a lot. I have a feeling it will do well at the final but not well enough.
Linda Bengtzing – E Det Fel På Mig
Linda has entered Melodifestivalen a number of times in the past but this would have to be her weakest entry yet. I know I should like it but I just can’t. I think the only reason it made it to the final was the general low standard of the songs in the fourth semi final, one of the worst semi finals since they introduced the semi final format.
Nicke Borg – Leaving Home
I don’t like this rock ballad from the lead singer of the internationally known Backyard Babies. I think there will be an audience for this song but I just don’t think that the fans of Backyard Babies are the kind of people to watch Melodifestivalen or Eurovision.
Swingfly – Me And My Drum
Although I don’t normally like rap, the chorus of this song is so damn catchy it could get through. It would be one of those annoying summer hits that Europe seems to love so much. If it does get through, it could even manage a decent placing at Eurovision. Certainly not a favourite by far but not the end of the world if it ended up representing Sweden.
Sanna Nielsen – I’m In Love
Although Sanna does have a loyal fan base and this schlager number is quite listenable, I don’t think it will do too well. Nothing wrong with schlager of course, but voting audiences seems to be moving away from it.
The Playtones – The King
This rock ‘n roll pastiche is catchy and should do well but I think it would be regarded as too much of a novelty song by European audiences.
Part of the fun of Melodifestivalen is and Eurovision is not really knowing which way the voters will swing. Since the semi finals were brought in, the eventual winner of Melodifestivalen has always come first in their respective semi final. This would mean that only Danny, Sanna, Eric and Linda are in the running. But the real unknown factor this year is that for the first time, 11 international juries will be voting and will make up half the vote with the general public making up the other half. Watch the sparks fly in the Swedish media if the jury vote changes the general public’s choice!
Still, all things considered, I think Eric Saade will be eventual winner and that he could very well take out the Eurovision crown for Sweden. I guess that time will tell.
This is my favourite song in this weekend’s Melodifestivalen final and my second out of all the entries for 2011. Sara Varga sings this sad but slightly upbeat number about escaping domestic violence and self-empowerment in a laid back, jazzy style which is hard to resist. It is one of only two songs to be sung in Swedish at the final. It is called “Spring för livet” or “Run For Your Life”.
While I don’t think it’s the best choice to represent Sweden at Eurovision, it is still a wonderful song, deserving of a wider audience. I had a go at translating the lyrics so apologies if I stuff any of it up or miss any of the nuances.
Run for your life
You say that you have changed
That you never meant to hit
You say that everything has changed
If I wanted to then I would understand
You don’t hurt the one you love!
The one you actually say that you do
I live with my memories
And the wounds that no one can see
I live with my memories
Trying to forget is no use
You don’t hurt if you love
The one you actually say you do
Run for your life if you hold yourself dear
It’s not worth it to hit back
You cannot change
You will never understand
The only thing you can do is go
The only thing you can do is go
You totally broke my spirit
You said that I always did wrong
You complained about my whole existence
Until I was no longer whole
You don’t hurt if you love
The one you actually say you do
Run for your life if you hold yourself dear
It’s not worth it to hit back
You cannot change
You will never understand
The only thing you can do is go
The only thing you can do is go
And I love life
You may not take that away from me
For if hatred is now the motive
There is no hatred within me
Run for your life if you hold yourself dear
It’s not worth it to hit back
You cannot change
You will never understand
The only thing you can do is go
The only thing you can do is go
It’s no secret that Sweden hasn’t been going too well at Eurovision in recent years but hopefully that’s about to change.
Eric Saade is hot favourite to win Melodifestivalen, the Swedish heats to select the artist to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest and if he is not selected, the Swedes must be crazy.
This year’s Melodifestivalen has been rather lack lustre. The format is becoming tired and the quality of songs just hasn’t been there. I really haven’t enjoyed the show that much this year and the fourth semi final was one of the worst since they introduced the semi final format. The hosts have been boring with no chemistry and the comedy sketches have been decidedly unfunny. Melodifestivalen is in desperate need of a revamp.
But Eric was a breath of fresh air with his song “Popular”. Yes, some of the other songs have been very good (Dilba, Sebastian, Jenny Silver and Sara Varga all leap to mind) but Eric is the total package. Memorable performance (Eric crashing his way out of a glass box), memorable song, easy to sing along to and Eric himself. Not only is he is easy on the eye but he does come across as an all round nice guy. He ticks all the Eurovision boxes in a way that none of the other contenders do.
Eric still has to win the Swedish final which is being held in Stockholm on Saturday 12 March 2011. Ahead of the final, the single for “Popular” is being released in Sweden today in both a digital format and physical CD format (cover above).
Lets hope Sweden get it right this year and select Eric to represent them. I am sure that Sweden will rank highly and could even win in Düsseldorf.
There has been a lot of hype about the new Lady Gaga song “Born This Way” which was finally released tonight (Australian time). When I first heard the song title, I immediately thought of the Dusty Springfield song from 1990 with the same name. It was included on her “Reputation” album and a rather good remix was a bonus track on the “Arrested By You” single.
It amused me to discover that a supposed leaked snippet of the Lady Gaga song was in actual fact Dusty Springfield.
I don’t mind the Lady Gaga song but it is nowhere near as good as Dusty IMHO.
This is a question that has started to perplex me. In recent times there have been a glut of video clips from Swedish artists that have seen the lead singer perish.
The first hint happened back in 2006. The lovely Martin from BWO keeps getting killed in a car accident in the clip for “We Could Be Heroes”. I remember being surprised and feeling a little uncomfortable although in the final replaying of the scene, the car misses him.
Flash forward to 2010 and it seems that every clip is out to get the star. The manboy himself, Eric Saade released “Masquerade” as a single. The storyline features Eric as a lowly stable boy who falls in love with one of the rich folk. The forbidden romance gets discovered which means curtains for poor Eric in the form of an execution. Although you don’t get to see it, the sound effects leave little room for doubt that he has lost his head!
Darin released a great song called “Lovekiller” and like Eric’s clip, it runs like a mini movie. Unlike Eric’s clip, it starts with Darin murdered by the Lovekiller in a scene reminiscent of CSI Stockholm. Not for the squeamish since you do get to see blood and the big knife.
Even our darling September cops it. She ends up on an operating table in “Resuscitate Me” and promptly flatlines. She spends the rest of the clip as a ghostly vision. A miracle does happen right at the end so it’s not all doom and gloom.
Finally, a clip I featured recently – NEO with the song “Underground”. Like Martin in “We Could Be Heroes”, he gets repeatedly killed by a car, stares in a mirror and screams at the heavens. In the final moments, he discovers that he has super powers so there is a happy ending of sorts (but not for the driver of the car).
All great songs with great videos but what is it with with the death theme? Is it a Swedish thing?
Swedish singer Petra Marklund aka September is the buzz at the moment. On the eve of releasing her new album “Love CPR”, September just can’t put a foot wrong. Her participation in the TV program “Så mycket bättre” has raised her profile and given her a smash hit single in Sweden which will shortly be launched internationally.
September has already tasted international success with hits like “Satellites” and “Cry For You” charting in the US and Australia.
September’s two albums “In Orbit” and “Dancing Shoes” (and their respective variations and compilations) are regularly acknowledged and praised as I’m sure “Love CPR” will be.
But what seems to have been forgotten along the way is that September released her self-titled debut album in early 2004. No one ever seems to mention this album which is why I only discovered it recently.
I guess the fact it was on a different label is a contributing factor to it being overlooked. Plus it has been deleted and I was only able to score a second hand copy. It is surprising since the album sold reasonably well and did spawn three hit singles that all reached the top 10.
I love this album. It is very much pop in the vein of her later stuff. In some ways, I think the album works better as an album than the others do. It seems to fit together and flow a lot better. Or it could just be the fact that I discovered a batch of new (to me) September songs.
Anyway, here are the video clips for the three singles so you can get a feel for the album. If you have the UK only “Cry For You” album you may recognise the latter two songs since new versions of these songs were included there.
PS. I love the album cover too. Simple but classy. :~)
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