3,440 SONGS FOR MELODIFESTIVALEN!

WOW! 3,440 songs have been submitted for Melodisfestivalen 2009. Surely 1,000 are fabulous schlager stompers! Even though Lena Ph has said she won't be in Globen on March 14th many schlager names are already been rumoured to be in with a shot. Nanne, Alcazar, Caracola, Danny, Nina Soderquist and Sonja Alden!

With Bulgaria kicking off Eurovision season next week it's getting very exciting!!

Finish artists announced!

YLE have announced the names of the 12 artists taking part in Euroviisut 2009.

1.Janita
2.Tapani Kansa
3.Kwan
4.Passionworks
5.Remu
6.Riikka
7.Sani
8.Signmark
9.Jari Sillanpää (Eurovision 2004)
10.Tiara
11.Vink
12.Waldo's People

Intesting to note that heavy rock has been ignored this year! Yeah!

Having listened to all of the artists Waldo's People a 90's dance group have grabbed my attention. Check out their song '1000 Ways' HERE.

Plenty of schlager potential!

Cruise with EMD!

Charlotte Perrelli, E.M.D., Lotta Engberg and Magnus Backlund are lined up to perform on the Viking line ship Cinderella during October!

Lucky Swedes! I really need to examine my schlager cruise needs for the future!

De Toppers to Moscow!

De Toppers join Sakis as being the 2nd act confirmed for Moscow. Rumours began last year about Gerard Joling returning to Eurovision following his 1988 entry 'Shangri-La' which ended in 9th position.

Judging from what I have heard from these three guys I am happy with this news. Many have compared them to Estonia 2008 but I disagree. They are not a comedy act and are certainly not painful to watch as Kreisiraadio were. They remind me of Christer 'I love Europe' Sjorgren!

Netherlands have always been one of my favourite Eurovision countries and I would love to see them qualify especially since Edsilia and Hind both deserved a spot in their respective finals. Whether De Toppers can buckle this trend remains to be seen.

So nothing came of Anouk or Bearforce 1 for another year! Don't you just love the rumours..Did you hear that Afro Dite have submitted a song for Melodifestivalen?

Today is my 25th birthday!!

It is my birthday today!!!

I just realised that I almost share my birth date with Carola!

Maybe next year we should have a big schlager party with wind machines and flags and windswept Carola cocktails?!

(Nordman may not be receiving an invitation!)

Juries back in Eurovision for 2009!

Juries will play a pivotal part in the final of Eurovision 2009. The reference group of the Eurovision made this decision in reponse to broadcasters and fans concerns regarding the current voting structure of the final.

Svante Stockselius, EBU Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest states: 'Nothing is more democratic than the vote of the public. But a jury takes the opportunity to listen to the songs several times, before they make up their minds. In Belgrade, we saw a difference in judgment of the public and the back-up juries, and we believe a combination will make the show more interesting'

What percentage of Jury votes will be part of the final is yet unclear. Discussions also took place regarding the automatic entry of the Big 4. It was proposed that the Big 4 would enter the semi final but this was rejected.

I am thrillied that this step has been taken and I feel it is a very positive step forward for Eurovision. Without the juries in place this year Sweden wouldn't have qualified for the final so we owe them a lot!

What do you think of this development?

Melodifestivalen stays in Globen!

After much speculation that Melodifestivalen would be moving to the new 15,000 seater arena in Malmo, SVT announced yesterday that the final will take place in Globen on 14th March 2009! How exciting!

The dates and cities are as follows:

1st Semi Final - 07 February 2009 - Scandinavium, Göteborg
2nd Semi Final - 14 February 2009 - Skellefteå Kraft Arena, Skellefteå
3rd Semi Final - 21 February 2009 - Ejendals Arena, Leksand
4th Semi Final - 28 February 2009 - Malmö Arena, Malmö
Second chance round - 07 March 2009 - Himmelstalundshallen, Norrköping
The final - 14 March2009 - Globen, Stockholm

SchlagerQueen has checked his diary and is off work on Monday and Tuesday the 16th and 17th...It is definately a sign! A long weekend of schlager...a weekend watching Linda vs Sanna vs Alcazar vs Lena Ph...stalking Charlotte/Carola opportunities a plenty...

Caption Time again!

Any excuse to post something about Ms. Bengtzing really!

Add captions below. Thanks!

Abba in your living room!

As a result of the popularity of the movie 'Mamma Mia' Song Playstation are releasing 'Singstar Abba' allowing us ordinary folk to camp it up to 'Dancing Queen', 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and our course the classic 'Waterloo'!

I think they need to release anther schlager version in time for the new format of Melodifestivalen 2009 with containing schlager hits such as 'Evighet', 'Det ger ont' and 'Hero'! Any other ideas?

Happy Birthday Carola!

Tomorrow schlager queen Carola celebrates her 42nd birthday and she is looking good!

Happy Birthday Carola!

What kind of birthday gifts do you give someone like Carola? Apparently she wants people to donate to an orphanage but I was thinking more along the lines of a swarovski encrusted microphone or a cruise liner named after her 'The Carola of the Seas'!
Yahooo all aboard! Ok, think I need to lie down....

Poland win Eurovision Dance Contest!

Poland took home the trophy from Glasgow last night after performing a dazzling fusion of Rumba and Cha-Cha with Modern Jazz Dance flavour! Phew, that's a mouth full!

Ireland failed to recreate the 3rd position they received last year and Danny Saucedo and his partner didn't score very high either.

Graham Norton was excellent as always however Claudia Winkleman came across as sarcastic and rude at times.

What did you make of it all?

Eurovision Dance Contest 2008 coming soon...

Eurovision dances to Glasgow this weekend and I hope Ireland samba/jig to victory or Sweden (They have Danny after all!)
Shake shake shake!!!

Kirkorov to host in Mosocow!

According to rumour Eurovision's eccentric Philipp Kirkorov is close to signing to present Eurovision in May!

Kirkorov is the lyricist behind 'Shady Lady' and 'Work Your Magic' and performer of the Russian entry 'Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana'in 1995. He has rarely avoided scandal with Russian media loving his outspoken nature and unpredictable antics.

The most notorious scandal followed an incident in Rostov-on-Don, 2004.

At a press conference he insulted a female journalist who had asked why so many of his songs were remakes of American and European hits.
Kirkorov, responded to the question by telling the female reporter he "bored with her pink jacket, tits, and microphone" and demanding that she leave the room immediately! Miaw!

What do you think? Do you think he would make a good presenter could somebody else do a better job?