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...