The Schlagerboys were annoyed with Sweden last week for giving us an opening week of Melodifestivalen 2012 with rubbish songs. Honestly, you wait all year and get all excited from September onwards and then you end up with a shouty rock band, boring girls with guitars, boring old blokes with guitars and a growly vocal, a tedious rapping comedian who just wants a slap and then an ex-presenter without a tune. Afro-dite almost saved the day but despite being completely discotastic and the girls looking totally fabulous, "The Boy Can Dance" just wasn't good enough for the Swedish televoters.
Everything turned around, however with the last song of the evening. We weren't impressed by "Euphoria" from the 30 second clip we heard earlier in the week, but seeing the whole performance with bonkers dance routine, wind machine and snow, and despite lack of key change, the Schlagerboys were sold. Loreen was amazing.
The Schlagerboys have decided that "Euphoria" is being adopted as a new schlager anthem for 2012. Waving your arms about frantically is the new strutting! The Schlagerboys can't wait to grow our fringes and practice looking moody. All hail new schlager icon Loreen.... well she'll do until Lotta and Charlotte in week four, anyway.
There is no question for the Schlagerboys: the wild card for the MGP final next week has to be one of "Shapeshifter", "You and I" or "Euphoria". This year Norway has given us a fabulous line up of songs, but for some inexplicable reason the Norwegian televoting public have chosen some of the wrong ones to got to the Spektrum.
Week one saw yawnsome Disney ballad "Somewhere Beautiful" go through instead of Lisa Stokke's "With Love" and the fabulous Velvet Inc wannabe's "Irresistable" lose out to the obligatory toilet break for the final; "Don't Touch The Flame".
As if that wasn't bad enough, week two saw the worst schlager travesty when Minnie-Oh and Rikke Normann both failed to get more votes than the acceptable-but-not really-good-enough-"Crush" and nice-to-look-at- but-really-not-that-special Tommy Fredvang.
The Schlagerboys assumed Bobby Bare and Peter Øien winning last night's heat was a joke until they started the reprise. At least The Canoes had a sing-a-longa chorus line and a rehearsed performance! But how on earth Lise Karlsnes and Silya were pushed aside by the dreary and uninspired "Things Change" is beyond us!
So next week the Schlagerboys are travelling across the North Sea to a final where all our favourite songs haven't made it (apart from Reidun and Tooji, of course).... but there is a lifeline. The wildcard is being decided by some jury somewhere and announced later this week The jury have an opportunity to save the MGP final by putting the right song in.
So far we have three songs to cheer for next Saturday; "High On Love" is a classic Lord Thomas of G:son schlager stomper; "Stay" is exciting Eric-Saade-esque Eurovision and would be a fab entry for Norway. We also wouldn't be adverse to a Plumbo win; after all they have a key change. But to have "Shapeshifter", "You and I" or "Euphoria" joining them in the final would make it an amazing line up.
Come on, Norway! ou know it makes sense! Choose schlager!
It's the last MGP heat tonight in Florø and it's a fabulous line-up! Kicking off the show is a schlager stomper with the potential for lots for dramatic on-stage dance routines. It's sung by a bloke who's presented Norwegian MTV and looks mean and moody in photos. Oh! My! God! It's Tooji!
Schlagerboys: We love "Stay". Tell us how you got involved in MGP.
Tooji: Well, it's really easy. After working with my music for a loong time and preparing myself to reach out to the rest of the world, I thought: "why not do this with a big bang?". And voilà: I'm here!
SBs: Are you going to be moving around in your performance? Is that bit in the middle where everything stops so you can get your breath back?
Tooji: Hopefully if I have not collapsed until then its definitely a great moment where the grand finale takes place and you can sing along.
SBs: Don’t you think it ends a bit suddenly? Did you run out of time?
Tooji: No way! Never thought about that?
SBs: You've got fab schlager hair! What’s the feather all about?
Tooji: Its Persian baby, Persian persuasion. I have thing for feathers. Feathers are a symbol for freedom, spirit and something out of this world.
SBs: You look a bit grumpy in your photos – were you having a bad day?
Tooji: No, just really trying hard to pose...haha
SBs: Have you been watching MGP? Was it a travesty that Minnie Oh and Rikke Normann didn’t get through last week? What songs do you like in the competition?
Tooji: I was really cheering for Rikke. I think she was awesome and got quite shocked that she didnt go on.
SBs: Who do you think will be joining you in the final from your heat on Saturday?
Tooji: Only one way to find out. *scary music*
SBs: Can you do the "Haba Haba" dance?
Tooji: No, but I can shake booty. Feel that's more in the African spirit.
SBs: Have you got a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
Tooji: Let's have fun, party and kick it in true ESC spirit. No haters, only LOVE!
Fabulous! Good luck tonight and see you next week in the Spektrum!
The Schlagerboys have been excited all day about the song snippets released by SVT for the first week of Melodifestivalen but quite frankly we needn't have bothered. In 2011 Sweden came back! Back! BACK!! to schlager with a fab line up including schlager stompers from Jenny Silver in week one, then Sanna and Linda and Eric to follow.
Clips of the first eight songs for 2012 have been released today and they are mostly a bit rubbish.
There is some horrible mess that we had to fast forward, a couple of dirgy ballad things and then right at the end some almost promising Lord Thomas of G:son dancey stuff from Loreen but even that isn't exactly Jenny Silver. Afro-dite give us the best hope of the night with a speeded up version of "Aqua Playa" and a couple of "Shake it! Shake it! bits.
OMG!!! Melodifestivalen 2012 starts this weekend and we are beyond excited!! Making a comeback is a trio of schlager divas who represented Sweden at Eurovision in 2002 dressed in fabulous glittery tinfoil outfits. The Schlagerboys have stalked Afro-dite at various points over the last ten years, the most memorable encounters being outside the toilets in Naglo Bar in 2006 and right down in the bowels of Patricia when we burst in to their dressing room following a performance in 2008 and got them to sing "Never Let It go". Oh! My! God! It's Afro-dite!!! Well, it's Blossom Tainton from out of Afro-dite!!!
Schlagerboys: Is "The Boy Can Dance" a discotastic stomper just like "Never Let It Go"? Is there a great big key-change? And what will your dance routine be like. We're hoping for lots of coordinated strutting and finger-pointing!
Blossom Tainton: Lets just say, you won´t be dissapointed!!!
SBs: Oooh, you big tease Blossom! Have you decided on your outfits for Växjö yet? What will you be wearing? Have you still got the tinfoil outfits from Tallinn? We saw you at Stockholm Pride last year and you looked fabulous! We’d recommend resurrecting those outfits!
BT: Thank you! We had a fitting today and we are very happy about our nice outfits. Were gonna look sexy, glamorous and funky!
SBs: Who on earth was that bloke you were performing with at Stockholm Pride? And why didn't you get to sing on your own?
BT: That was our very good friend Jonas Hedquist and it was he who invited us to be guesting in that number, which actually led to our participation in Mello.
SBs: You've all been doing different things since you were last in Melodifestivalen in 2003. What made you decide to get back together as Afrodite?
BT: We've actually been working together all this time although not full time. Weve been trying go be in Melodifestivalen for a couple of years now. Remember to spell our name right. Its Afro-dite.
SBs: What was your experience like in Tallinn ? What was the most memorable thing you did during your week in Estonia? And have you got any gossip about the other contestants?
BT: I remember slapping a Swedish photographer in the middle of the street. Sorry, it was 10 years ago and I don't even remember the other contestants.
SBs: Obviously you are all bona-fide schlager divas, but who are your Swedish schlager icons?
BT: ABBA of course!
SBs: After the debacle of 2010 when Sweden chose a dull guitar ballad for Eurovision and then didn’t get into the final, do you think Sweden should always choose fabulous disco schlager stompers? Is that what Europe expects of Sweden ?
BT: I love the fact that Swedes votes from their heart in the moment and don't really care about what happens in the Eurovision. They might regret it afterwards but that's kind of the magic of it all. That anything can happen!
SBs: Have you got a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
BT: We´re soooo excited to be back and we promise to give you a good show. We send you lots of love and happiness. Thank you so much for your support. See you in the Eurovision!!! Yiiiihaa
Good luck at the weekend Blossom! We can't wait to hear "The Boy Can Dance" and see your fabulous frocks!
It's the final MGP heat in Norway this Saturday and it's been the best selection of schlahger fabulousness from Norway since 2007! Taking part this weekend is a Norwegian diva who's been living in New York and loves hats! Oh! My! God! It's Silya Nymoen!!
Schlagerboys: How did you get involved with MGP?
Silya Nymoen: I kinda got "yelled at" that i should make a comeback in Norway and do MGP 2012. Haha. I was in a band about 10 years ago in Norway, but have lived abroad for almost 7 years. At first I hesitated doing MGP, but then I realized it would be a good idea for people to see what I'm up to and also it looked like a lot of fun. It's a great way for people to hear your music and to market yourself.
SBs: What else have you done in your career up to now?
SN: So I was in that band, Multicyde. We did 2 albums.Our big hit sampled a Norwegian movie called Flaaklypa Grand Prix. But I'm an educated contemporary dancer really. And also worked in theatre and was in different street crews and danced for artists, did musicals etc. But then music took over completely. I went to Stockholm and worked with producers. Then got signed to Columbia Records in the US and moved to NYC. Got to work with "everybody". Did a duet with CeeLo. Have had several different live bands over there. Also written for among others Vanessa Hudgens from High School Musical, Vanessa Amorosi, Stefanie Heinzman .It was kind of by accident that I became a songwriter for other people as well. I am first and foremost an artist, but I like having 2 paths. I write superpop songs for others and do a little weirder stuff for myself. I was on a jazz thing and released a semi-live album last year. Right now I'm on an uptempo high energy kick and have a full band in NYC waiting to rock and a bunch of new songs coming! I'm so excited about it!!
SBs: Is New York like being in Sex and the City? Are you Carrie?
SN: Haha. Sometimes. And I switch between Carrie and Samantha...
SBs: Oo-er! We're more of a Miranda... If we come and visit you where would you take us?
SN: U gotta come to NYC and I'll show you. I sing every week at a fancy dinnerclub called The Darby. We would go there. We would go to BoomBoomRoom at The Standard. Also fancy. etc etc.. But seriously I like little weird places in the Lower East Side or Brooklyn. There's always something fun and fab going on so we would play it by ear.
SBs: What’s your performance going to be like on Saturday?
SN: Well the song "Euphoria" I wrote right after a bad time (man) in my life. It's about getting through and coming out on the other side and just feel so f**king happy to be alive really.. So happy you go in to a euphoric state. Also about taking back control of YOUR life. I have fire in my blood. I love to dance. I am a strong female and that's what the show will be...
SBs: Sounds fabulous!We've seen lots of photos of you wearing a hat, what’s your favourite? Will you be wearing it in Florø?
SN: Aaaah I love hats! Obviously. I feel naked when I don't wear anything on my head. My fave right now is a fuzzy one cuz it's cold. In Florø I will most likely be wearing hats at all times. Also on stage. A 'don't mess with me' kinda hat.
SBs: We were outraged "Shapeshifter" didn’t get through at the weekend. Rikke was fab! Was it a shock for you too?
SN: Oh yeah!!! Obviously I rooted for "Shapeshifter" since I wrote it and I think Rikke did a really wonderful job together with the King Wings Crew. She was clearly one of the best of the night. If not THE best! I'm in shock over the peoples votes. Honestly.
SBs:Bobbysocks are fabulous, but who is your Norwegian Eurovision idol?
SN: My fave is the original. Nora Brockstedt. "Voi Voi'. I love that song. And I guess Jahn Teigen for his outfits and showmanship.
SBs: Can you do the "Haba Haba" dance?
SN: Honestly I totally missed that whole thing. I'm sorry, I don't know it. I wasn't here
SBs: Have you got a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
SN: My song may not be a typical schlager but i do put on a show.And am true to my music and myself.I hope you'll enjoy it! Thanks guys! I'm superexcited about this week!!!
Well we're super-excited to see what hat you'll be wearing on stage this Saturday, and actually we're loving "Euphoria!" It's exciting and we like that! Good luck Silya and see you in the Spektrum!
Clearly Plumbo were always going to go to the Spektrum; they've got penny whistles, a fab chorus and a schlagertastic key change at exactly the right moment. We're quite happy to have a photo with Tommy Fredvang too; after all his song is written by schlager legend Hanne Sørvaag. There needs to be a bit more effort put in to a dance routine for "Make it Better"; spinning round and round while holding a mic stand in the middle of your song does not count. However Tommy is nice to look at and he's got a nice coat.
But there was a schlager travesty last night when the first finalist was revealed to be Malin. "Crush" is all right and it has a nice "Hello" bit in the chorus, but that's about it. How on earth did that weedy effort get more votes than "Shapeshifter" or "You and I"?
Granted Minni Oh's performance was a bit lack lustre, but for heaven's sake she had pointy shoulder pads and neon lipstick! What's more "You and I" is truly schlagertastic. Meanwhile Rikke Norman belted out "Shapeshifter" like there was no tomorrow. This would have been a fabulous Norwegian entry for Eurovision. The most exciting bit in "Crush", on the other hand, was when she stood up near the beginning. .
In order to cheer ourselves up after MGP we held a Lord Thomas of G:son song contest which was duly won by "I'm In Love" with "C'est La Vie" coming in second. The Schlagerboys attempts to rig the votes for "Evighet" to storm the score board were thwarted when no-one else voted for it. During the proceedings we stalk-texted Lord Thomas himself under the guise of congratulating him on "High On Love" going to the final last week, but really to ask him for votes. He declined to name his own douze points but did amazingly text back this morning to ask who won.
There's even more fabulousness in Norway this weekend. An artist described as Norway's Lady Gaga will be performing and we're loving her entry, "You & I". She wears neon make-up and glittery outfits and it sounds like she'll be putting on a huge show! Oh! My! God! It's Minnie Oh!
Schlagerboys: How did you get involved with MGP?
Minnie Oh: I have actually been invited by Per Sundnes and NRK the past three years. This year everything felt right, I wrote "You and I" which I am really proud of and have a crazy plan for the show!
SBs: You’re also known as Miss Harmonica as well as Minnie Oh. Are they two completely different identities? Are they different sides of your personality?
MO: I just changed my artist name now before Eurovision. The reason is that I started to write a bit different music than with the Miss Harmonica project. It´s still much of the same; electronic beats and pop choruses, but the songs are a bit more melancholic than before. Sometimes it just feels good to start from scratch!
SBs: You've got a vintage fashion store in Oslo. If we visited your shop how would you style us? What fabulous 80s things can we buy in your shop?
MO: You would get a lot of great pieces from both the 80s and the 90s! A lot of glitter, gold, bling, prints, sequins and also some good old vintage t-shirts like Fresh Prince, Miami Vice, Star Wars and Milli Vanilli!
SBs: OMG! We could dress up like Belle & the Devotions! What are you going to be wearing on stage in Larvik? Is it going to be all 80s retro neon style?
MO:NRK actually had to order the fabrics for my dress from London because you can´t get them here in Norway. A clue for everything is: glow in the dark! I am inspired by the rave parties in the 90s. I also have a personal jewellery designer, Line Jorddal, who has made some crazy stuff that I will be wearing. The boys in my band will be wearing helmets from the Norwegian fashion designer Vatle. The helmets have actually been on a world tour with the amazing boys in Röyksopp, so they have a lot of pop star dust on them! You just wait and see
SBs: This all sounds completely fabulous! Can't wait to see the show! Have you got a dance routine? Can you tell us what your performance will be like?
MO: I have four wonderful boys that are the most amazing dancers I have ever seen! I won´t reveal too much, but let´s just say that I am really into some of the stuff Madonna's dancers did back in the 90s...! I had this really huge vision of how the show should be already when I wrote the song, and it´s really important to me that everything fits perfect together; the song, the lights, the dancing and the clothes. It´s going to be a holistic show that I can´t wait to show you!
SBs: Oooh, holistic! That sounds posh! Who is your Norwegian Eurovision icon? We love Bobbysocks, how about you?
MO: I do love Bobbysocks as well. I love the 80s, and their pink sequin jackets are legendary! I have a lot of sequin jackets myself, so we´re a good match! I also have good memories from the Swedish guys in The Herreys. Who can forget their song "Diggiloo Diggiley" and those amazing gold boots? Of course I also have a pair of my own
SBs: OMG! You really are a schlager icon! Can you do the "Haba Haba" dance?
MO: No, unfortunately, but I can sing the chorus!
SBs: Have you got a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
MO: I really hope people will enjoy my song and my show. It´s a tribute to everyone who feels a bit different and to encourage people to follow their dreams. Who dares wins!
OMG! Minnie Oh, you are FABULOUS!! Good luck in Larvik and see you in the Spektrum in a couple of week's time!!
After all last weekend's excitement in Norway it starts all over again with the second MGP heat in Larvik on Saturday. One half of a diva duo who took part last year is returning with an electro-schlager anthem and she's still got fabulous hair! Oh! My! God! It's Rikke Normann!
Schlagerboys: How did you get involved with MGP again?
Rikke Normann:Per Sundes, the host of the Norwegian finals came to my album release concert in October 2011. He was so happy with what he heard that he said, "Rikke, call me tomorrow, I have a plan!" So I called him the next day and he asked me if I wanted to be in MGP again, only this time alone, 100% myself.
SBs: What’s happened to Åste? What have you been doing since being in the MGP final last year?
RN:Åste is doing fine, singing and working on her own music and other exciting things! Actually, we are singing and entertaining together during the first semifinal in Norway, at Ørland, which we won exactly one year ago! Yeay! We're having a blast, it's great to be back to meet all the cool people!
SBs: We’re loving the little Rikke character on the video game in your "Superstar" video. Did you design her? Will she appear on t-shirts and all sorts of items of clothing?
RN: Thank you! That's so sweet!! Yes I designed her myself, together with a friend of mine, great drawer - Franky Dmiedo – she's wearing an outfit I wore on a concert one time, and in the second verse she also wearing my favorite sunglasses! "Little-Rikki" currently appears on caps and as a USB-album Check it out on my website in the merch shop! She will soon be avaliable on other stuff as well!
SBs: It looks like you've still got the lop-sided Princess Leia hairdo! Hurrah! Is that your signature look? And will your hair be like that on stage in Larvik?
RN: Yeah, I love that hair, and it has been my signature look for the last year. Can't spoil the suprise regarding my hair in Larvik, but I pretty sure you'll recognize me...
SBs: What can we expect from your performance in Larvik? Will you have lots of dancers on stage with you? What’s your dance routine going to be like?
RN:Larvik's going to be kick ass!! I have 6 male break dancers (they're awesome!) from the King Wings Crew and I get to do stunts I've only imagined before... It's going to be FUN FUN FUN and I only hope I get to do it again.
SBs: What is your outfit going to be like on stage?
RN: My outfit is super cool, I love it!! It's a dress, from the same designer as last year, so there is a little resemblance there.. The rest you'll have to wait and see..
SBs: Can you do the "Haba Haba" dance? Wasn’t it a schlager travesty that Stella didn’t make it to the final in Germany?
RN: Of course I can! And yes, a shame Stella didn't make it to the final in Germany, I love her!
SBs: Have you got a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
RN: Hey Schlagerblog readers, I hope you guys are enjoying great songs and great music for this years eurovision, I know I am! Hope you like my song, I can't wait to perform in Larvik! You guys are great! Love Rikke.
Thanks Rikke! Good luck on Saturday and see you in the Spektrum in February!
The songs for the final heat of the Icelandic selection for Baku are available to have a listen to on the RUV website. And after two weeks of mostly dull rubbish, ballads and guitary nonsense there's something that could be almost be described as schlager. Hurrah! Here's "Eilíf ást" by Herbert Guðmundsson....
The best bits are obviously the ones with the woman wailing along in the background.
It all kicked off in Norway last night so here are the best schlager bits from Ørland ;
1. Irresistible doing a bit of choreographed cane waving whilst strutting around stage. It was clear that the lessons with one of Velvet Inc had paid off in the dance routine department.
2. Reidun's magically appearing catwalk that enabled her to waltz off her podium straight into the gusts of NRK's strategically placed wind-machine.
3. Lisa Stokke's glittery frock, the backing vocalists who appeared from nowhere and the dramatic head down and head up movement on the second key-change followed by the fabulous firework curtain
We could also mention Per Sundnes talking to some German air-force bloke who was twice at tall as him and persuading him to wear an MGP badge.
It's clearly a travesty that the shouty rock band and the boring ballad got through to the final, although the triumph of Reidun's Lord Thomas of G:Son schlager stomper means we'll have at least one song to support in the Spektrum. Hurrah!
Ovi and Lord Thomas of G:Son are in Ørland supporting Reidun Sæther, who is singing their schlager stompathon "High On Love" in tonight's first MGP heat. And it looks like they're already planning next year's entry. Creating schlager fabulousness like "Samba Sambero" takes a lot of hard work.
The years 1984 to 1986 are iconic Eurovision years for the Schlagerboys and we always get really excited when an artist from that era returns to a National Final, so the news that one of Dollie de Luxe was coming back to MGP this year was greeted with much schlager celebration at Schlager Towers. It was all about the head scarves, the white jump suits, the frantic arm waving dance routine, the one finger keyboard playing and that fab screechy note at the beginning that made "Lenge Leve Livet" a schlager anthem. Oh! My! God! She's back! Back! BACK!!! It's Benedicte Adrian!!
Schlagerboys: What is your song "Little Bobbi" like? Who are the two boys in United and what will they be doing while you’re singing?
Benedicte Adrian:United is Haji ("Barman" on YouTube,- for info), Kristian Rønning who uses the pseudo "Sirius" on stage (won Norske Talenter 2010 with his own rap) and me.
SBs: Why did you decide to make a comeback to MGP?
BA: The song is so cool. The fact that it is ESC doesn't matter. The song feels good to do.
SBs: What memories do you have of Eurovision 1984? Do you remember The Herreys and did you get to try on their golden boots?
BA:The Herreys were charming and we got along fine! Never tried their boots though...
SBs: Wasted schlager opportunity!Can you remember Belle & the Devotions from the UK ? Did you share make-up and costume ideas?
BA: Didn't really get to know the UK girls. They did their thing, we did ours.
SBs: Stop it! Our dreams of fabulous 1984 schlager parties where everyone sings along to great big gay hands-in-the-air-dance mixes of "Ein bißchen Frieden" while supping cocktails in some dody gay club in deepest darkest Luxembourg City are disappearing before our very eyes! Do you still keep in touch with Ingrid from Dollie de Luxe? Will you ever perform together again?
BA:Ingrid is one of my closest friends and always will be. Who knows if we´ll ever perform together again.
SBs: Get her on for the interval act this Saturday! It worked for Wenche Myhre a couple of years ago (actually it didn't but don't let that put you off...) You've done a lot of classical singing. How did you get into doing that? Did singing the high notes in "Lenge Leve Livet" prepare you for the screeching in Mozart's "Queen of the Night"?
BA: From the age of 15 to 18 I went to music school with singing as main subject for me. Mozart prepared me for "Lenge Leve Livet"!
SBs: You were a judge in Norwegian Pop Idol in 2007. Were you the Simon Cowell nasty judge? And some of the contestants from your year (Åste Hunnes Sem, Bjørn Johan Muri) have gone on to compete in MGP. Did you encourage them to do it? Have you given them any advice?
BA: I was more like Paula Abdul without the dancing, he-he... I gave lots of advices but we never discussed the ESC. These people know what to do themselves I think. Talented and hard working as they are!
SBs: Obviously you are a total Norwegian Eurovision icon yourself, but do you have any Eurovision idols yourself?
SBs: She certainly knew how to wear a pair of gloves. Shame about the funny bloke she had to put up with. Do you have a message for the readers of Schlagerblog?
BA: Hope to see you in Azerbaidjan! Have to practice on the spelling of that land... Did I get it right? Hope you like our song! It think it sounds "new" and surprising. Love, Benedicte
Don't worry about the spelling, love. No-one's going anyway this year- we're all watching it on telly! Good luck in MGP and see you for a photo in the Spektrum
