"Happy New Year" with ABBA

Everything about my year is listed here.
And I mean everything!

Happy New Year, all imaginary readers of this blog!
I have great expectations for 2006.

XXX

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Happy New Year" with ABBA

"I Should Be So Lucky" with Kylie Minouge

Yesterday it was exactly 18 years ago since Kylie released "I Should Be So Lucky".

Wow, time travels fast when you’re having fun!
And tomorrow another year is over.
Wired.
Really wired.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "I Should Be So Lucky" with Kylie Minouge

"Rythm Divine" with Bodies without Organs

The day when the snow hit Gothenburg, the day after it was announced that Bodies without Organs will be jokers in "Melodifestivalen" next year (yeah!) - and the day when you get a sneak peak of the nominations for some of my Best Music 2005 Categories which will be presented at New Years Eve in my Swedish blog.

With reservations for late coming changes I give you:

ALBUM of the YEAR:
Brokeback Mountain Original Soundtrack
Come and Get It – Rachel Stevens
Confessions On a Dancefloor - Madonna
Drama – Bananarama
Electric Blue - Andy Bell
Playing the Angel – Depeche Mode
Sleeping in the Nothing – Kelly Osbourne
Taller in More Ways – Sugababes
X&Y - Coldplay
You Could Have it So Much Better with - Franz Ferdinand

SWEDISH ALBUM of the YEAR:
Alla Vill till Himmelen Men Ingen Vill Dö - Timbuktu
Du och Jag Döden – Kent
The Hjärta & Smärta EP - Kent
In Orbit – September
Jag Ångrar Ingenting - Lena Philipsson
Prototype - BWO
Robyn – Robyn
Rush – Jay-Jay Johanson
Tacking – The Embassy
To Die Alone - Moneybrother

SONG of the YEAR (SINGLE):
Crazy – Andy Bell
Dare – Gorillaz
Don’t Cha - Pussycat Dolls
Do You Want To – Franz Ferdinand
Hung Up – Madonna
Precious – Depeche Mode
Push the Button - Sugababes
The Importance of Being Idle – Oasis
They – Jem
Walk Away – Franz Ferdinand

SWEDISH SONG of the YEAR (SINGLE):
Alcastar - Alcazar
Be Mine – Robyn
Den Döda Vinkeln - Kent
Kall Stjärna - Mauro Scocco
Live Tomorrow – Laleh
Oh Lord - Nouveau Riche
Sunshine in the Rain - BWO
They are Buildning Walls Around Us - Moneybrother
We’re from Barcelona – I’m from Barcelona
Shoreline - Anna Ternheim

SONG of the YEAR (NO SINGLE)
Cry for You - September
I Said Never Again – Rachel Stevens
Let it Will Be – Madonna
Love Never Loved Me - Geri
Love Oneself – Andy Bell
The Maker Makes – Rufus Wainwright
Mannen i Den Vita Hatten (10 År Senare) - Kent
One – Mary J Blige feat. U2
Sorry – Madonna
‘Til Kingdom Come – Coldplay

The BEST MELODIFESTIVALEN SONG 2005:
Alcastar - Alcazar
Gone – BWO
Håll Om Mig - Nanne
Kom Var Mig Nära – Cecilia Wennersten
Om Natten – Jessica Folcker

The winner (and the runner up) will soon emerge in the other blog!
...and the song of today is just a celebration of the Melodifestival-joker...
...and one of the best Swedish albums this year...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Rythm Divine" with Bodies without Organs

"A Big Hunk O Love" with Elvis Presley

Back in Gothenburg and time to summarize 2005.
I just love this time of the year when I get to do “Best of the Year”-lists of everything!!
My blog in Swedish will be filled with these lists the upcoming days (today there is a "My 2005 in Pictures" as a warm-up) and I might do some previews here in this blog!
Tomorrow I will try to present the best Swedish and foreign albums, singles and songs of 2005... ...but today it is another very important category:

2005’s Hunk of the Year!!

...and the nominated are...

Björn Christiernsson (Snickar-Björn)
Chris Evans
Jake Gyllenhaal
Tobias Hysén
Wentworth Miller


The winner (and the runner up) will soon emerge in the other blog!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "A Big Hunk O Love" with Elvis Presley

"Snön Föll" with Peter Jöback

The snow just kept falling down yesterday - today it is about 15 centimetres of snow outside…and it keeps falling down – and last evening the electricity went away for about an hour and it went completely dark.
Right now I’m just hoping the train won’t get stuck anywhere on my home later today…but I guess that’s too much to hope for.
I’m afraid it will turn into one of those "no train but bus and three to four hours of delays" kinda trips.
*sigh*

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Snön Föll" with Peter Jöback

"White Christmas" with Bing Crosby

Boxing Day…and I’m totally knocked out.
Hung-over as hell.
Can’t hardly stand up.
Feeling sick.
Anxiety attacks.
It clearly feels like I missed one day today.

…but ironically enough the weather has changed and snow has fallen all day and outside my window it’s white and beautiful.

Tomorrow I step on the train back to Gothenburg again.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby

"Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul" with Peter Jöback

Christmas Day; More food but better weather.

Since this is a blog about music (nah, really….it was the purpose at the beginning) I use this day to list some important Christmas Music for me.

The Best Christmas Album Ever: "A Christmas Gift for You" from Phil Spector (purley Christmas Classics)
The Best Swedish Christmas Album Ever: "Jag Kommer Hem Igen till Jul" by Peter Jöback (have some of the best "modern" Swedish Christmas Songs ever written – like "Snön Föll" and "Varmt Igen" – and a beautiful simple arrangement through the whole record)
Other Modern Christmas Classics: Wham’s "Last Christmas", Mariah Carrey’s "All I Wan’t for Christmas is You", Band Aid’s (the original of course) "Do They Know its Christmas" and a so on
Best Classic Christmas Songs: "Oh Holy Night", "Silent Night", "White Christmas" and another bunch which I don’t now the English name for.
Crappiest Christmas Album: "Slitz X-mas Dance Party" (ten "models" "singing" classics….)

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul" with Peter Jöback

"Nu Har Vi Jul Här i Vårt Hus" with Agnetha Fältskog & Linda Ulvaeus

Christmas Eve – the most important day of Christmas in Sweden:

Chocolate & a "King Magazine" in a stocking when I woke up * checked out another episode of "House" * got text messages from almost all my friends during the day, wishing me a Merry Christmas * had two walks with my sister (even if the weather suced…rain, rain, rain and about five to ten degrees Celsius), during the second one we spot a Santa walk into a house and scaring a small child * started to read the new book by Brett Easton Ellis called "Lunar Park" * ate loads of Christmas food (this year the official soundtrack was the Christmas CD by Peter Jöback…as it also was last year by the way) looked at the Disney Extravaganza at 15.00 as everyone does every year…but it’s only the first small film with Santa Clause and all the toys that’s funny….and maybe the one with Chip’n’Dale…and Snow White and…well…I guess I know why we’re sitting there with our glögg every year * Ante called (with a very angry Elsa in the background in the middle of "Karl-Bertil Johnsson", but I still managed to hear all the classic lines * got loads (actually 15….and we hade 62 presents under the Christmas tree…for four persons…we’re mad) of nice Christmas presents – probably one of the best years since the average standard was very high – like a yoga-mat, a Pilates ball, four sweaters, a book with short-stories by Colum McCann, a new phone for my flat and trimmer for my ear&nose hair! (I also got a "stavmixer" but I have no idea how to translate that right now) * ate porridge at about eleven o’clock PM * read until it became Christmas Day.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Nu Har Vi Jul Här i Vårt Hus" with Agnetha Fältskog & Linda Ulvaeus

"One" with Mary J Blige feat. U2

As I wrote in the Flip/Flop this week – in UK the most important song of the year is the one that’s number one on the charts at Christmas…
I don’t know if that’s the case with my chart (since this is its first Christmas), but I do know it’s a wonderful song – actually one of my favourites – that has got a new life in this new version, and it is an excellent song to listen to at Christmas.
Go Mary! Go U2! (The band who has dominated this blog its first year.)
The second newcomer is Amy Diamond…and artist who I earlier despised (I can’t stand singing children), but whose latest hit has grown and grown on me…and now it’s on the chart.
The third one is the best song from the latest Girls Aloud album (the girls actually leaving the chart with another song), a song you really can’t resist when Cheryl shouts out "Daaaarling, we’re in fashion, don’t you know!?" in a very British AbFab kinda’ way somewhere in the beginning. As gay as it gets…and as good as Girls Aloud gets (I actually think that it was this single phrase that made the magazine Attitude give their album a five star rating….)
Madonna is still going strong on my chart, by the way.

Tomorrow it’s Christmas Eve – be nice children!

01/NE/01/01/Mary J Blige feat. U2 - One
02/02/02/02/Rufus Wainwright - The Maker Makes
03/NE/03/01/Amy Diamond - Shooting Star
04/01/01/04/Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away
05/NE/04/01/Girls Aloud - Models
06/07/06/02/Gustavo Santaolalla - The Wings
07/05/01/04/Nouveau Riche - Oh Lord
08/03/03/03/Coldplay - Talk
09/08/01/11/Madonna - Hung Up
10/06/01/07/Madonna - Let It Will Be

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "One" with Mary J Blige feat. U2

"Going Home for Christmas" with Chapman Steven Curtis

In three hours I’m hopefully on a train on my way to Karlskrona for some Christmas celebrating.
I’ve been runnin’ around like crazy all morning packing, wrapping presents and doing the laundry…but now it seems to be all done.
So, whats the expectations for this Cristmas?

Hmmm…
It’s not the presents as it used to be when you was a child…now it’s more an urgent need for some relaxing, meeting my sister and my parents and (hopefully) Daniel (my oldest best friend)…and maybe to get some perspective on the "moving to Stockholm"-thingie that includes leaving my safe world of Fredrik, Johan, Andreas & Co and start something new.
…and of course I will complete my "Best of the Year"-lists and make a NewYearsEve-quiz as usual…

But at first I will look at just one more episode of House.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Going Home for Christmas" with Chapman Steven Curtis

"JCB Song" with Nizlopi

In Great Britain the most important single of the year is the one on the top of the charts at Christmas.
This year the chart-fanatics where afraid the top spot would go to Crazy frog or the Pop Idol winner – but it turned out to be a low key folksong called "JCB Song" by a group called Nizlopi.
Of course that’s the last flip/flop of the year (or forever? Stockholm is getting close).

D-man: Flip
I like it. Have never heard it before. It sounds just like my old favourite Tikka-Tikka-Bam-Bam-Raaas, bet ya know her too? The lyrics were diluted. Something about driving around in a kung-fu man and then sitting in a toolbox. Or perhaps I'm just wicked?

E-man: Flip
Ahh, nice! Starts slow. Smooth guitar, slow but distinct drums. Nostalgic text sung with a rough but competent singer-songwriter voice. Even allows himself a touch of an accent, which is rare (or at least difficult to get away with). The last third picks up the pace and goes all confused, love it! Is that a banjo?
Even gets a touch of Christmas somehow. Well, that could be me longing for Christmas vacation, of course. Me like. With the risk of sounding a thousand years old, it was way too long since anyone made a song like this. Did I mention I like Tracy Chapman?
Flippety-doo-yah!

K-man: Flip
I get a huge Tanita Tikaram-vibe of this song (and in the opposite of the D-man I actually know the works of Tanita and is a huge fan) and that’s a good thing for sure. Still, I think it is a bit boring… Not much happens and even if the lyrics are cute there not much of originality here is it? Normally I’d flop this, but what the heck. It’s Christmas…and it might be the last Flip/Flop ever. Who am I to grudge?

A Christmas flip it is!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "JCB Song" with Nizlopi

"Laughing Gnome" with David Bowie

I just translated my favourite Christmas candy...
...and it turned out to be a perfect name of a band.

Skumtomte = Foam Gnome

It’s up for grabs!
I give it away for free.
Just thank me on your first album.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Laughing Gnome" with David Bowie

"Doktorn" with Agnetha Fältskog

New week.
New obsession!
TV-tip of the day: House, M.D
A fabulous mix of CSI and ER, and with one of the most unlikeable TV-characters I’ve ever seen in an American TV-show: Hugh Laurie’s Doctor House.
In every episode Dr House and his expert team tries to find the diagnosis for a new patient with some strange disease – preferable for Dr House without meeting the patient at all. "Patients lie, symptoms tells the truth!"
It’s interesting, it’s well played, it’s exciting – and it is a total disaster for me to see since I’m a complete hypochondriac…
…but I just can’t stop watching!

Soon my poor friends will find me blabbering about mystical worms in my brain and unknown viruses…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Doktorn" with Agnetha Fältskog

"Sunday" with Stakka Bo

The day started with a sever hang-over from last evening’s Christmas-party at Sjömagasinet…
…but as the Sunday went by it turned out quite well with a wonderful walk in the cold, sunny weather, a nice pizza followed by ice-cream, and the discovery of a very good TV-show ("House, M.D") that I hadn’t seen before.
Everything in the company of my fabulous friend FF.

Damn, how I will miss you when I go to Stockholm, gubben!!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Sunday" with Stakka Bo

"King Kong Song" with ABBA

Hmmm.
Yesterday I saw "King Kong" – the new movie by Peter Jackson.
A short review: It’s too long (some kids left the cinema after 1½ hour, when the big ape really hadn’t emerged from the jungle yet), it has to many dinosaurs for my taste (even if they look way more cool than in either "Jurassic Parc"-movie), and…well…it’s not The Lord of the Rings. But the gorilla is beautiful and every scene with him and Naomi Watts is pure movie magic. Kong is clearly one of the biggest CGI achievements ever, and the scenes from New York in the 30’s are also spot on.
So, to summarize I would give it a very strong 6 out of 10. If Peter Jackson had allowed Kong to spend more time in NYC and with his lovely girl, and less time chasing big insects on Skull Island, the grade would have risen.

The song of today is given. Not one of ABBA's proudest moments though. ;)

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "King Kong Song" with ABBA

"The Maker Makes" with Rufus Wainwright

I’m completely captivated by the soundtrack to the "Brokeback Mountan"-movie. I would never have thought that I would spend a week just listening to Country-music… But hey, I guess I still can surprise myself. The two best songs (oh, how I adore Rufus Wainwright by the way….this songs feels like this years best Christmas song, without being a X-mas song) are new on this week’s chart. "The Wings" is the first instrumental song to hit the chart, and it’s the movie’s main theme by the composer Gustavo Santaolalla.
The other album I discovered recently are Franz Ferdinands "You Could have It So Much Better with Franz Ferdinand". Clearly one of the top 10 albums this year….and I understand that now? Their new single takes the top spot, anyway.
Coldplay and Lene keeps climbing…it’s the sad songs that dominates in time of stress and rumbling thoughts, I guess.
Madonna’s "Hung Up" spends it tenth week on the chart! If that’s not the single of the year (soon my "Best of the Year"-blogs will dominate my Swedish blog) I will eat my….*something disgusting to eat*.

This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/02/01/03/Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away
02/NE/02/01/Rufus Wainwright - The Maker Makes
03/06/03/02/Coldplay - Talk
04/05/04/04/Lene Marlin - Leave My Mind
05/01/01/03/Nouveau Riche - Oh Lord
06/04/01/06/Madonna - Let It Will Be
07/NE/07/01/Gustavo Santaolalla - The Wings
08/07/01/10/Madonna - Hung Up
09/08/05/04/Girls Aloud - Biology
10/10/03/04/Tiga - You Gonna Want Me

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "The Maker Makes" with Rufus Wainwright

"See the Day" with Girls Aloud

Since Stockholm is getting closer the Flip/Flop-sessions might soon come to an end…but I guess they at least will manage to survive through 2005. Let’s see if the same thing goes for the new single from Girls Aloud: "See the Day".

D-man: Flop
Boring. Doesn't do anything for me. I could imagine it being dull store music while shopping even duller x-mas gifts at Kappahl (which I don't). :(
Play some Ray Charles x-mas tunes now, will ya? :)

E-man: Flip
Yes yes, very nice. Flippetyflip. Oooooh..

K-man: Flop
I really love my Girls Aloud…but not this loud… Why?? I understand the importance of the "X-mas Number One" in Great Britain…but this is soooo boring. Nothing special at all…and I really don’t now if the video will help this time around either. Release "Models" as a single right now instead!

I guess we have to change the E-man soon…
Not only because he have the wrong opinion every week, but we really need some one who can take two minutes off from their busy and important work and write something more inspired than different sounds for our final sessions if we should try to go out with a bang…
…but I guess bang is sort of a sound?

Anywho.
Girls Aloud get their first flop here.
Gör om och gör bättre!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "See the Day" with Girls Aloud

"Varför är Bussar Så Långa" with Doktor Kosmos

The same week as England takes away its famous double-deckers from the streets of London (Bye, bye! I’ll miss you next time I’m in London!) the city of Gothenburg decides to make something about its problem with over-crowded buses:

Yes. This is for real.
Apparently they haven’t been to London...
It will be fun to see these buses in traffic in two metres of snow. Especially in reverse in case of a stop or a sudden redirection since no bus-driver I’ve ever been transported with has had the slightest idea how to drive the current busses that way...
I feel that it might be a good time to leave for our capital in so many non-expected ways right now...
Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Varför är Bussar Så Långa" with Doktor Kosmos

"Santa Lucia" with Tremoli

This day is so filled with words that I don’t know how to translate...so I guess I don’t.

Lucia
Tärna
Stjärngosse
Lussekatt
Staffan Stalledräng
Strutmössa
Lusse Lelle
”fålar fem”

Have a nice Lucia!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Santa Lucia" with Tremoli

"Strange Day" with The Cure

Very strange day at work...
The project got even more complicated (I guess this is the biggest mess I’ve been a part of in my whole career...and I have nothing to do with it...but have to solve it) and my boss offered me the easiest way out:
Move to Stockholm and start working with something completely different!
It’s a big leap.
Just now I really don’t know what to do.
I will miss my friends. My workmates. My everyday life.
At the same time 2006 might be the year to try something new...
...and the work situation as it is now is clearly unbearable.
*sigh*
I’m not good at big decisions.
Not good at all.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Strange Day" with The Cure

"Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Shirley Bassey

Movie tip of the day: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" by Shane Black

A very cool movie, directed by the man who wrote all the "Lethal Weapon"-movies.

A film noir about a petty thief who by coincidence is mistaken for an actor an brought to Los Angeles for a movie-part. Suddenly he finds himself in the middle of an murder investigation with his high-school dream girl, and a gay detective who’s been training him for his upcoming role.

Downey and Kilmer (has he ever been this good?) are very cool…sometimes maybe a bit too cool even…as is the film. An enjoyable two hours with 2005’s sharpest dialogue.

It won’t fit all moviegoers…but if you’re in the right type of mode it fits perfect.

…and no, the song of the day has nothing to do with this movie. It’s the Bond song from "Thunderball" that never got released. But well…the movie took it’s name from this Japanese nick name for James Bond and it fitted too well to be ignored.
…and I saw such a funny sketch with the guys behind "Little Britain" the other day, where one of them where Shirley Bassey (and the other one where Tom Jones…the guy who got to sing the theme-song for "Thunderball instead of Shirley….but I’m getting WAY off topic now) so it is a tribute to that also…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Shirley Bassey

"Main Theme from Corpse Bride" by Danny Elfman

Movie tip of the day: "Corpse Bride" by Time Burton and Mike Johnson
I steal the plot-summary from a girl called Kate on IMDB:

Blue-tinted, eye-ball-popping, maggot-infested beauty Emily (Bonham Carter) has become known as the Corpse Bride after waiting for her fiancé where the couple planned to rendezvous before getting hitched. When her groom arrives, he kills her, and she rests in the ground to wait for her soul mate, whether he knows he is the Corpse Bride's groom or not. It's a cold dark night, the moon is full, the stars are bright and the forest is a little bit creepy. Wandering through the black mangled trees, Victor (Depp) just can't memorize his wedding vows. Victor's hesitance towards marriage causes him to jumble the words. Two prominent families have arranged their children to be married in order to overcome financial difficulties. As the objects of betrothal, Victor and Victoria (Watson) met for the first time the night before their wedding. It only makes sense that Victor, a groom with cold feet, would have trouble remembering tedious wedding vows. Thus Victor ends up in the dark forest ringing his hands and muttering his vows, the vows that the Corpse Bride hears, bringing her out of the grave. Victor suddenly finds himself married to another woman, a voluptuous bombshell bride who also happens to be dead. Whisked away to the Land of the Dead, Victor finds out that living amongst corpses is not as easy as it seems. Heads easily loose their owners and eyes never seem to stay in their sockets, an adjustment that Victor seems reluctant to accept. Once taken into the Land of the Dead, it is nearly impossible to return, causing Victor to choose between risking Victoria's life or giving up his own.

It may not be as good as "A Nightmare Before Christmas" – but it's really not that far from it!
It’s excellent, beautiful, superbly casted and funny as hell…and even if the songs are not as catchy as in "A Nightmare Before Christmas" it is still Danny Elfman at his best’s…so who am I to complain?
From now on Mr Burton has to live with to stop-animated films on my "The Best Movies with Tim Burton Involved in some Way"-list:

1. Batman Returns
2. Edward Scissorhands
3. A Nightmare Before Christmas
4. Batman
5. Corpse Bride
(6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 7. Mars Attacks!, 8. Ed Wood, 9. Sleepy Hollow, 10. Big Fish)

So, run away to the cinemas children! Downloading is illegal…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Main Theme from Corpse Bride" by Danny Elfman

"Oh Lord" with Nouveau Riche

Strangely enough it seems like the more work I get, the less music I have the time to listen to… It might seem logical, but since my major music-listening-time is on the way to and on the way home from work, that time is actually constant.
My theory is that my brain is so full of work nowadays that it hasn’t have time to register the music, even if its there…
Well. Two new songs have managed to overcome those obstacles at least.
At number two there yesterday’s Flip from Franz Ferdinand. I love this one. I really have to go back to the album. It wouldn’t surprise me if I find it to be one of this years best when I give it a try…and the same thing for Coldplay (new at number six) whose album I also dismissed a bit to fast, but which has managed to produce a load of hit singles (which I have liked) ever since - even if this one shouldn’t have had the chance to get on the list with that really, really embarrassing commercial spot included in the last episode of CSI: New York…
Nouveau Riche takes the number one spot which had been theirs a week ago if it hadn’t been for the final of Idol2005. They dominated last week’s pre-party before GS2H, and they dominate the chart this week.
Madonna’s Hung Up is actually going up on the list again…after nine weeks on the chart.
If that’s not the single/hit of the year I will eat my underwear.

This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/02/01/02/Nouveau Riche - Oh Lord
02/NE/02/01/Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away
03/01/01/02/Agnes - Right Here Right Now
04/03/01/05/Madonna - Let It Will Be
05/10/10/03/Lene Marlin - Leave My Mind
06/NE/06/01/Coldplay - Talk
07/08/01/09/Madonna - Hung Up
08/05/05/03/Girls Aloud - Biology
09/04/04/03/September - It Doesn't Matter
10/09/03/03/Tiga - You Gonna Want Me

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Oh Lord" with Nouveau Riche

"Walk Away" with Franz Ferdinand

Work is crazy.
Lets flipflop the new Franz Ferdinand single.

D-man: Flip
It grows on me. Not that I would play it at home, but at work I gladly sing along (forcing my roomies to desperately flee as my trembling voice brings down the roof and all hard-edged floor teilings). This sounds a bit as Brolle Jr, Jr in Dallas (playing country), and Elvis combined. Somehow it also reminds me of Pulp. It is kinda catchy... he loves the sound of (her?) walking away. Intriging. Hmm.. perhaps I will play this at home once or twice.

E-man: Flop
Hellooooo wittle tweety boyd. Tweety tweety tweety...teeheee.....
Uh? Wuh? Oh, right. Kinda dull. Nice guitars and rock feeling, but doesn't wake me up, and OH MY GOD how I need to be woken up right now. If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to crying and drewling on my desk. Flop. Oooohhh...pwetty boyd....teeheee.....

K-man: Flip
When I first heard Franz Ferdinand’s latest album I thought it was quite boring after the first listening, and I didn’t give it much attention. Unfortunately I guess, because as time went by I went almost addicted to their first single “Do You Want To” - but I still dismissed it as pure luck. I might have to reconsider now... This new single is easily as addictive as the last one, and I guess I have to put the album in my iPod and give it another chance.

Work sort of sucks today.
But Franz Ferdinand sort of doesn’t.

Now I’m walking away from here.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Walk Away" with Franz Ferdinand

"Can-o-Corn" with Coolio

Yesterday was a busy day, and when I got home I hade to make some food. The plan was to wok some grained meat with some Thai-spices, and add some onion, mushrooms, beans, and corn. So far so good.
When I got ready to add the corn I looked at the best before date at the one can I was ready to use it said: 05-01-01.
That’s a while ago of course...
But the thing is that I really don’t have a gut feeling for corn expiring dates like I have for example with milk (one day over the time it is bye-bye) so I opened it and tasted it and it was totally okay.
After eating my meal I started to wonder for how long that corn had been in that can.
Not that it had any greater value than mending my curiosity, but anyway, I searched in my larder and found a can I bought some weeks ago...and the best before date said: 08-11-01.
That’s about three years from the date I bought it I guess...which would mean I had just eaten corn from 2002!

It also means that the last time these yellow corns saw the light of day the Twin Towers had recently fallen, there wars in Afghanistan or Iraq hadn’t begun, Astrid Lindgren and the old pope was still alive, Star Wars: Attack of the Clone hadn’t been released (and people were still hoping that Episode I were just a one time mistake) and George Bush would soon choke on a pretzel...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Can-o-Corn" with Coolio

"Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius

Today it’s the national day of Finland.

So, congratulations to neighbours in the east.
Arja Saijonmaa, Helsinki, and saunas.
Yeah!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius

"Zoo Station" with U2

My favourite joke right now:

A man goes to the zoo, but when he arrives there is only a dog on display.
It was a Shitzu.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Zoo Station" with U2

"Bad Day" with Daniel Powter

I have a terrible hang-over and my broadband/internet access is down (and the support-guy really had no clue).
Tomorrow it’s Monday again, and everyone seems to find someone except for me.
It's completely dark outside and its raining.
Could life really get any worse now?
Unfortenately I guess it probably can...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Bad Day" with Daniel Powter

"För Fet (För Ett Fuck)" with Svullo & Electric Boys

The song of today is partly a bit of an R.I.P for Micke Dubois (a.k.a "Svullo") who was found dead by suicide this morning. I guess I wasn’t the worlds biggest "Svullo"-fan, but I actually saw him live when he was at his peak in the beginning of the nineties at a disco far, far out in the woods (‘case it was the only palace you where allowed to go to when you where under 18 in Karlskrona), eating cat food, and singing his only hit about three times…
The song is also partly a reminder of my state for tonight’s party at GS2H…
"To fat (for a Fuck)".
I have to turn up the frequency of my gym visits…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "För Fet (För Ett Fuck)" with Svullo & Electric Boys

"Right Here Right Now" with Agnes

Time for my chart again, and this Friday it belongs to Agnes! The winner of "Idol 2005", and my favourite in the contest from the beginning. Her first single (and the song both she and her competitor Sebastian sung in the final) is a classical Elofson-ballad, and it feels almost written for her. Of course it is music to consummate fast ad forget even faster…but as I said: This Friday belongs to Agnes! Congratulations. And congratulations Sweden for having such a good taste.
The song that clearly had topped the chart if it wasn’t for Agnes is "Oh Lord" with Nouveau Riche – the new band from some of the creators of "Army of Lovers" and with Dominica from Army as one of the members. The song sounds exactly as you would think AoL would sound today…it’s gay, it’s fun – and I can’t stop listening to it.
The last new entry is Embassy’s latest single "It Pays to Belong" – one of several good songs on their splendid new album.
Otherwise it’s still a lot of Madonna (even if "Sorry" leaves the chart today) where notably "Hung Up" has hung in there for eight whole weeks now!

This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/NE/01/01/Agnes - Right Here Right Now
02/NE/02/01/Nouveau Riche - Oh Lord
03/01/01/04/Madonna - Let It Will Be
04/05/04/02/September - It Doesn't Matter
05/06/05/02/Girls Aloud - Biology
06/02/02/04/Madonna - Jump
07/NE/07/01/Embassy - It Pays to Belong
08/04/01/08/Madonna - Hung Up
09/03/03/02/Tiga - You Gonna Want Me
10/10/10/02/Lene Marlin - Leave My Mind

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Right Here Right Now" with Agnes

"13" with Håkan Hellström

Håkan Hellström.
His new single “13”.
Flip or Flop?
Let’s find out!

D-man: Flop
Mix mashed potatoes with sausage and you'll get close to this (figure you're accustomed to have the mashed potatoes as a side order, but nevertheless indulge in this pile of edibles and find out that it all tastes the same in the mouth, side order or not). I bet this tune will be played a lot on the radio, but never on my newly bought Tivoli PAL (it's blue and, next to my extremely sharp knifes, king of the kitchen thingies). I'm not a big fan of Mr HH.

E-man: Flop
Nope, won't fly with me. He needs to reinvent himself a bit. I liked this when he first did it, but he's just doing it over and over (stop grinning, I'm not talking about sex). I need something fresher, especially today. That's a flop from me.

K-man: Flop
I contrary to most opinions, I have no trouble at all with Hellströms voice. I find it honest, cool and maybe a bit naive, and if you’ve ever been to one of his concerts you’ll find it impossible to not like this man. But I guess even I have a sort of limit... 'Cause this isn’t good. It’s boring. The lyrics are ridiculous. And I know this is a track from his forthcoming album "Nåt gammalt, nåt nytt, nåt lånat, nåt blått" (which consists of material that’s been left behind from previous recording) and rumour says it’s a spontaneously translated cover... Well, I don’t care actually. As a single this is a mile from "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg" and possible a light year from "Ramlar" and "Kom igen Lena". I think Håkan needs his upcoming parental leave more than his unborn child...

Sorry Håkan. It's a huge flop.
But suite yourself.
Try to release something that’s actually good next time.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "13" with Håkan Hellström

"Banankontakt" with Electric Banana Band

Book tip of the day: "Bananflugornas Herre" ("Lord of the Banana Flies") by Fredrik Eklund

It’s hard to start with a new book when you just have finished such a good book as McCann's "Dancer", but just to make the jump a little bit smaller (well…), I choose Fredrik Eklund’s (alias Tag Ericsson) book about how he decided to be the world biggest gay porn star.
It’s not at raunchy as it sounds though, since it is much more a book about a very unsatisfied and worried soul, a search for identity, and a revenge for being denied a normal childhood by being a homosexual child.
Even if the book feel quite schizophrenic (it feels like Eklund can’t decide whether this story should be told as a drama or by humor), and it is hard to know what is true and what is made up (for instance the names of persons and movies are changed, but are the experiences true?), it is a nice little read and I guess every homosexual will recognize some of Eklund’s anguishes and frustrations.
So, well worth reading!
…but now I have to read something strict heterosexual to pull myself out of the world of decadent gay-clubs in New York for a while…
Ironically enough that would be a book by a guy named Gayle. =)

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Banankontakt" with Electric Banana Band

"Priest of Evil" with Stormwitch

This was the day when a report was published that stated that the hate-crimes against homosexuals in Sweden have risen with 117%, and also the day when it was decided that Åke Green has been right all the time and that it is OK to preach and agitate against us.

...and the snow melted away and was replaced by grey, wet mud which helped us to realize that the world had become an uglier place to live in...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Priest of Evil" with Stormwitch

"Titta Det Snöar" with Povel Ramel

Today was the day when I once again had to give up a massage due to I started to feel sick.

Today was the day when I found out that the tickets I bought for 420 SEK a piece to see Melodifestivalen will give me the following songs and artists in March:
"Don´t try to stop me" – Laila Adéle
"Invincible" – Carola
"Jag tar det jag vill ha" – Sandra Dahlberg
"Like fire tonight" – Günther & The Sunshine Girls
"Silverland" – Roger Pontare
"Under your spell" – Evan
"Älskar du livet" – Björn Kjellman

Today was the day I returned to the gym after a long absence due to that bloody cold

Today where the day when the first snow fell, and the whole world – at least for some hours - went a little bit brighter and a little bit more beautiful.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Titta Det Snöar" with Povel Ramel

"Life is a Rollercoaster" with Ronan Keating

It’s night
I should sleep.
It has been a evening like rollercoaster.
It started well (my lasagne turned out nice, The Embassy’s new album is great, and the wine was good)…and actually the whole day had been a success previous to the evening with a nice day on the town with Johan and Fredrik.
Then it hit an all time low when this f*ckin’ computer crashed and we couldn’t look at "Americas next Top Model".
Then we fixed the computer and everything where nice again…until Kim was sent out by Tyra. More wine!
…and then it ended well with "Little Britain" and lots and lots and lots of Eurovision Song Contest classics and vanilla Glögg.
I’m so fortunate to have F2 when the computer breaks down…and F3 to keep me calm during the process.
Well. Time to sleep.
I hope the caffeine has lost its grip a bit by now.
God Night!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Life is a Rollercoaster" with Ronan Keating

"Shame Shame Shame" with Izabella Scorupco

My god.
I feel awful.
Today I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten my best friend’s birthday!
That’s a really, really ugly thing to do…and you can never get it undone.
I don’t think Ante is dying for this…but I do.
I’m not a person who forgets people’s birthdays!!
Am I??
When did I become such a person??
Am I too egoistic? Too overwhelmed by work right now? Too stuck in the gay world (forgetting my previous, hetero one)?
I don’t know…
But I know I always dislike when people forget mine, and I take pride in remembering people’s birthdays even if we haven’t met or talked for a while…
…and then I forget the birthday of one of the most important persons in my life.
That’s really low.
And it really can’t be undone.
Shame on me.
Shame.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Shame Shame Shame" with Izabella Scorupco

"You Gonna Want Me" with Tiga

Thank god it’s Friday…and that means chart day!
Madonna keeps her grip of my chart…and even if it’s starting to loosen up just a bit, she’s still at number one, and "Hung Up is still at the top half of the chart for the seventh week in a row.
Newcomers then; Tiga’s "You Gonna Want Me" has been sneakin’ up on me with all it’s air play and in the end I couldn’t resist it anymore - and of course everything that contains Jake Shares from the Scissor Sisters are destined to end up on this chart…
September’s album has grown into one of the most played albums on my iPod, and that reflects on the chart as she now got two songs on it. "It Doesn't Matter" feels like something pet Shop Boys might have forgotten when they visited Östersund, and it oozes of Swedish summer, disco and low-alcohol beer in the bushes.
Girls Aloud’s "Biology" did we desiccated yesterday. Not much more to say. It’s fun for the moment.
I just got my hand on the new album from Bananarama, and it was surprisingly good. It contains everything from soft disco to Bossa Nova (!?), and "Lovebite" is the song which has been stuck in my mind after the first two or three listenings.
At the bottom on the list we have Lene Marlin, with a song that was a tip from a colleague of mine. We had a discussion and he had two solutions for me to choose – both of them illustrated by Lene Marlin songs. I actually choose the other solution, but this was the song I liked the best. I do not now if it is, has, or will be a single – but I do know it is a good tune which makes me feel like I’m in an episode of "Felicity" every time it goes on the iPod…and in my world that’s a good thing!
So, I give you…the chart!

This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/01/01/03/Madonna - Let It Will Be
02/04/02/03/Madonna - Jump
03/NE/03/01/Tiga - You Gonna Want Me
04/03/01/07/Madonna - Hung Up
05/NE/05/01/September - It Doesn't Matter
06/NE/06/01/Girls Aloud - Biology
07/02/01/03/Madonna - Sorry
08/04/02/04/September - Cry for You
09/NE/09/01/Bananarama - Lovebite
10/NE/10/01/Lene Marlin - Leave My Mind

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "You Gonna Want Me" with Tiga

"Biology" with Girls Aloud

It’s Thursday.
It’s raining like hell.
And it’s time to Flip or Flop the latest single from Girls Aloud.

D-man: Flip
This is a smash hit stompin' away to a rhythmic beat the same way a helluva lot of disco-outfitted elephants would stomp locked up in a Saturday Night Fever disco national park. These are not animated elephants, mind you. These are the raw freakin' fully alive and pooping elephants we are happy to watch on TV but wouldn't wanna get to know any better than that, if you know what I'm sayin', dude. Dude! Sufin' elephants next time, perhaps?

E-man: Flip
Man, I'm too tired. I'll have to keep this short and sweet. Flip. Why? Because I like it. That's all you need to know, goddammit! If it's good enough for me, it should be good enough for you, you spoiled brat!

K-man: Flip
Three singles for the price of one. This might be the most diverting song since Queens "Bohemian Rhapsody", and a song that had been impossible to release if you where a single from a new artist/group instead of a bestselling docusoap-girlyband's second single from their third album. But now it's Girls Aloud, it's a cool video (acknowledging the fact that it's three-songs-in-one)...and even if it's not at all as good as their previous singles...there’s something in it I can't deny that I like. So...since it's just a month to X-mas and I really need a lot of presents I'm gonna be nice. Flip-a-do-do!

Well, well, well.
The girls are flipping like a horny seal on weeds.
Sweeet.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Biology" with Girls Aloud

"Roma" with Cameron Cartio

Yesterday I watched the last episode (of this season) of HBO’s TV-series "Rome". Not surprisingly Caesar was murdered...BUT he didn’t say "Even You My Brutus" as you would expect...
Especially since Brutus really was one of his murderers.
I guess this must be a quote I have misunderstood then.
...or the writer of the TVF-series had it wrong...
But I guess it’s me.
It might be something like the “Play It Again, Sam”-line from "Casablanca", that everybody think is in the movie but which doesn’t exist either.

But it was a good TV-show.
Sex, brutal violence, bitchy women, and dirty men wearing amour.
If you’d added some dildodrinks it would have been a lot like GayStraight2Hell.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Roma" with Cameron Cartio

"När Det Lider Mot Jul" with Carola

This evening I decorated my Christmas tree, warmed a small Glögg, and sat down with my laptop in front of the TV and worked a little.
I guess I’m looking forward a lot to Christmas after all...

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "När Det Lider Mot Jul" with Carola

"Alias Theme" by J.J Abrams

Some TV-news today: From the 7th of December "Alias" will move to Wednesday at 22.00. That means that ABC is pulling out "Invasion" from that slot, and gives "Alias" their old spot (right after "Lost") back!
Good news for an "Alias"-lover as myself, since they where killing the show against "Survivor ", "The O.C", "Joey" and "Smallville".
Now they just have to resurrect Vaughn and bring back Lena Olin, and everything would be dreamy…but I guess I have to be satisfied with the return of Mr Sark for one (?) episode. And that’s OK. He is also an "Alias" favourite.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Alias Theme" by J.J Abrams

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with The Crystals

Yesterday I took a trip into town to buy a present for my friend Arne who had a (very fun…and the reason for why have yet another hang-over today) birthday-party later in the evening.
The chock was huge.
The Christmas-rush is already here! And people haven’t got their November salary yet…
Strange.
People everywhere. Loads of them. It wasn’t even possible to go in to Nordstan or on Kungsgatan.
My god. The upcoming weeks are gonna be hell!!
…and I haven’t bought one Christmas-present yet…
Gah!
But this week I will put up my Christmas-tree. That might at least give me some Christmas-spirit and inspiration.
At least I hope so, because right now I feel tired of Christmas already…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with The Crystals

"All That She Wants" with Ace of Base

It’s about 2 a.m. and I’ve just seen the new Harry Potter-movie. Quite nice, but since they cut about half of the things in the book, I guess you’ve had to read it before (as I have), because otherwise you might have missed a lot.
I'll give it a 6 or 7 out of 10.
Anyhow; now I’m home at last after a very long, hang-over day (we played virtual bowling yesterday at Hard Rock Café) and want to sleep…
…and then my neighbours upstairs have decided that tonight was a goodnight for partying and playing "All That She Wants" with Ace of Base at a very loud volume.
My god - these guys really must have missed the nineties.
I guess it’s an earplug/sleeping-pill night tonight.
Good night!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "All That She Wants" with Ace of Base

"Super Pop" with Madonna

Back again with a rather strange chart this week, since Mrs Richie dominates 50% of it...

Not much to say about it I guess... Britney is this week’s highest placed new entry, with the new single from her forthcoming remix album, and the other new entry is another Madonna-song – but not from her "Confessions on a Dance Floor" album this time, but a single released exclusively to members of her fan-club. It’s not as good as many other songs on her album (in contrary, it is rather easy to see why it didn’t make it), but it has been played a lot on my iPod... that is what this is all about.


This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/02/02/02/Madonna - Let It Will Be
02/01/01/02/Madonna - Sorry
03/03/01/06/Madonna - Hung Up
04/07/04/02/Madonna - Jump
05/04/02/03/September - Cry for You
06/06/06/04/Lena Philipsson - Det Ringer på Min Dörr
07/NE/07/01/Britney Spears - And Then We Kiss (Junkie XL Remix)
08/05/03/03/Kent - Vi Mot Världen
09/NE/09/01/Madonna - Super Pop
10/08/05/03/We're from Barcelona - I'm from Barcelona

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Super Pop" with Madonna

"Ugly" with Sugababes

Too much work for it to be healthy, so let’s make this weeks Flip or Flop quick and easy.
The Sugabaes releases their second single from their “Taller in More Ways”-album, and it’s called “Ugly”.

D-man: Flip
Sounds just like Sugababes, perhaps it is? Reminds me of another very politically correct song from TLC (a girl freaks out at a surgery and rethinks her decision of enlarging da boobies). This is similar, with the theme that we're all the same, in a positive way. The radiomix is a flip, but perhaps not the remix I like the most out of the seven that exists. Not a rollercoaster when it comes to the arrangement, but nice easy listening in the office environment or anywhere else, for that matter.

E-man: Flip
Wut?! Me, a pop-hater? Naa, man, I dig! I just hate BAD pop! This is sweet. This is what I'm looking for. Not only is the music, the voices, and the feeling awesome, but the 'Babes also manage to exceed my expectations almost every single time I hear them. And that's impressive, given how much I like "Round Round".
I'll skip the detailed analysis, this is just friggin' honey down my spine.
A-flip-a-WHOOOOO!

K-man: Flop
It’s time to get ugly...literally. This is a nice song and I completely love and adore the Sugababes...but I’m gonna Flop this. Why? ‘Cause I want my Babes to be more disco&party. ‘Cause I think Dallas Austin already written this song (TLC’s "Unpretty") and I don’t understand why he had to write it again. ‘Cause (even if I know there has been a debate in England that the Babes aren’t good looking enough to be pop-stars) I think little girls who have seen Mutya, Keisha & Heidi in the "Push the Button" video will be more than a little confused by this girls singing that people are calling them ugly.
But it’s mainly for the disco-part. Release "Red Dress" as a single instantly and I will Flip you to mega-hit heaven, girls!

It’s a Flip...and even if it’s a 2/3 one, I think we all agreed on that it’s a good song and that it probably will give the Babes some fine new chart-experiences.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Ugly" with Sugababes

"Toes" with Norah Jones

Best gossip of this week (since Runar and Micha Barton wasn't an item): Halle Berry has got six toes on one of her feets!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Toes" with Norah Jones

"He's The Greatest Dancer" with Sister Sledge

Book-tip of the day:
"Dancer" by Colum McCann

As the publisher comments on Powells.com says:

A Russian peasant who became an international legend, a Cold War exile who inspired millions, an artist whose name stood for genius, sex, and excess — the magnificence of Rudolf Nureyev's life and work are known, but now Colum McCann, in his most daring novel yet, reinvents this erotically charged figure through the light he cast on those who knew him.
Taking his inspiration from the biographical facts, McCann tells the story through a chorus of voices: there is Anna Vasileva, Rudi's first ballet teacher, who rescues her protege from the stunted life of his town; Yulia, whose sexual and artistic ambitions are thwarted by her Soviet-sanctioned marriage; and Victor, the Venezuelan hustler, who reveals the lurid underside of the gay celebrity set.
Spanning four decades and many worlds, from the horrors of Stalingrad to the wild abandon of New York in the eighties, Dancer is peopled by a large cast of characters, obscure and famous: doormen and shoemakers, Margot Fonteyn and John Lennon. And at the heart of the spectacle stands the artist himself, willful, lustful, and driven by a never-to-be-met need for perfection. In ecstatic prose, McCann evokes the distinct consciousness of the man and the glittering reflection of the myth. The result is a monumental story of love, art, and exile.

I really can’t put that book away.
A true must-read!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "He's The Greatest Dancer" with Sister Sledge

"Cut My Hair" with The Who

Good-looking guys with short hair:

1. Jake Gyllenhaal (in the movie "Jarhead")
2. Wentworth Miller (in the TV-show "Prison Break")
3. Snickar-Björn (in "Äntligen Hemma" on TV4)
4. Parlamentet-Magnus Betnér
5. E-man (my fellow room-and-Flip/Flop-mate at work)
6. Fredrik Ljungberg


Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Cut My Hair" with The Who

"Son of Dad" with Mando Diao

Today it’s Father’s Day here in Sweden, so the song of the day id dedicated to all the daddies I know; my own (of course), and all my friends who have become daddies in the recent years and are doing a splendid job.
Keep up the good work, dads!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Son of Dad" with Mando Diao

"The Escape" with Lena Ph

I’ve just learned a new thing about oatmeal:
If you try to do it in the microwave while speaking to a friend on the phone - it might explode all over the bloody micro!
*joy*

…and any minute I have to step out in the rain to step into one of my best friends car and go to Vetlanda (the birthplace of the divine Lena Ph, in the deep forest of Småland) to attend and party (with bowling) this evening.

No time for blogging, then.
I have to clean out the micro.
Or maybe I just shall leave it here and take care of it when I get back…

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "The Escape" with Lena Ph

"Fanfanfan" with Thåström

Sorry Siss (she hates my charts), it’s that time of the week again!
And I guess I can’t keep it as a secret any longer – the new Madonna album is out there, and I’m completely in love with it….
….and of course this reflects on the chart!

This Week/Last Week/Peak/Weeks on Chart/Artist - Song

01/NE/01/01/Madonna - Sorry
02/NE/02/01/Madonna - Let It Will Be
03/01/01/05/Madonna - Hung Up
04/02/02/02/September - Cry for You
05/03/03/02/Kent - Vi Mot Världen
06/06/06/03/Lena Philipsson - Det Ringer på Min Dörr
07/NE/07/01/Madonna - Jump
08/05/05/02/We're from Barcelona - I'm from Barcelona
09/NE/09/01/Thåström - Fanfanfan
10/04/04/03/Lena Philipsson - Jag Sover Hellre Ensam

Well, what can I say?
Three new Madonna-tunes this week - it’s a brilliant record…
…and I wouldn’t be surprised if they stay on the list for awhile now, falls out – and the have some glorious returns when they are released as singles (and re-appears in fantastic remixes).
But the song of today is this week’s only "non-Madonna" new entry: Thåström’s new single "Fanfanfan".
My best friend Daniel made me listen to Ebba Grön and Imperiet (and Thåström’s first solo album) when we went to school together, and I have several fond memories from that time, and of course I really liked the music to. After his first solo-album though, Thåström (and Peace Love & Pitbulls) made music that I couldn’t even listen to - in my ear it was clearly horrific; industrial punk-rock with no melodies and so far from his previous work.
But now his back in his old, good ways – and funny enough this single is his first number one hit in Sweden ever! Kind’ a strange for a man that have been in two of this countries most successfully bands (at least domestic) – but clearly a good choice for a song of today. Welcome back Pimme!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Fanfanfan" with Thåström

"Jo-Anna Says" with Son of a Plumber

It’s Flip/Flop-day once again, and my intention of today where to scrutinize the new single from Per Gessle – who has stopped using his own name out of fright of not be able to follow up his major success with the "Mazarin"-album, and now calls himself "Son of a Plumber" (since *it’s a chocker* his father was a plumber!) – called "C’Mon"…
…but since it was impossible to buy this song in some other format than the crappy wma-format, we decided to Flip/Flop the "other A-side" (words taken from plumber’s son himself) on that single called "Jo-Anna Says

Boys! What do ya think?

D-man: Flop
This is Son of a Plumber (SP). SP also stands for Sodding Poop and Source of Pain. The most scary part of this whole thing is that I actually enjoy the song. If I didn't knew this was Per Gessle I guess I would have flipped it. If this was Robbie or Madonna, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelins, Queen, or any other band I would probably, I say probably, flip this thingie. My left foot danced. But since I hear Gessle's voice I'm thrown into display and press the big red FLOP button.

E-man: Flop
Quite listenable as any half-assed Beatles copy is, but other than that quite a waste of ear-space. I expect it'll get played a lot since this entire country seems to enter a state of mass hysteria as soon as this guy even sneezes, but that doesn't give him any credit in my book at all. He sucks, and so does this song. Ahh, that felt gooooood...

K-man: Flop
At first I thought: "Hey! Let’s not be prejudice. Even if this is Gessle (and you are so tired of him that you could puke) give it a shot!"…and at first I actually like this; It’s so harmless, it’s a little bit (OK, understatement of the year) Paul McCartney; and it is very easy to sing-a-long with while working, driving, masturbating or whatever… But then I suddenly got a very painful "Wallflowers"-feelin' (you know these two Muppets from "Fame Factory" who started a "hey, we can sound like the Beatles"-band and participated in "Melodifestivalen"). And really…that’s not a good grade for one of the most popular and richest men in Swedish pop-history - whatever he chooses to call himself.

It was on its way to be a tiny, tiny Flip…both D-man and K-man liked initially (of course the E-man hated it from the start…it is a lot of pop-music hate in that little man)…but I guess it failed miserably at the end.

Bye, bye Plumber!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Jo-Anna Says" with Son of a Plumber

"B-L-O-S-S-A" from the Blossa Commercial

One of my favourite things about Christmas in Sweden is "Glögg".
Glögg is one of these things that you can’t translate to English, since it doesn’t exist anywhere else (as far as I know) than here in Sweden.
OK, there’s Glühwein…but that’s not exactly the same…
…and my dictionary, if you look up "Glögg", says "mulled and spiced wine" – which really is more of a recipe than a name isn’t it?

Anyway; I adore "Glögg", and I my favourite is the original "Blossa’s Wine Glögg"…but since three years back they (and by they I mean "Blossa" – the major "Glögg"-brand) also releases one special flavour every year (in a very nice looking bottle) called ’03 (spiced with Seville bitter orange), ’04 (spiced with winter apples) and so on.

Today ’05 arrived, flavoured with cloudberry & armangac, and I run to the Systembolaget after work and bought to bottles!

My judgement: It tastes just like "Glögg"….
Nothing more. Nothing less.
I really can’t tell what happened to those poor cloudberries…
…but the bottle is much more expensive than your average "Glögg", though ii contents taste the same.

I guess that’s what the call a typical case of the emperor’s new clothes.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "B-L-O-S-S-A" from the Blossa Commercial

"And Then We Kiss (Junkie XL remix)" with Britney Spears

What do you do when you got a bad cold, to much to do at work, and really have no time to find something interesting to blog about?
You call in the guys and get them do an extra Flip/Flop of Britney Spears upcoming single of course!

D-man: Flip
I like it, a like it a lot (as another famous h-being once sang). I say it just once. Didn't know it was mrs B though. I was totally surprised and stunned to the floor by this revelation. My guess had been Kylie, though it sounds just like Madonna (now K-man has played every song possible with Madonna the last week; I knew for a matter of fact this wasn't she). Soft tune. I'm happy for the new pop-mum. Let's flip/flop Rammstein next time, shall we?

E-man: Flop
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it September? Is it t.A.t.U? Is it a flip? Is it a flop?
All right, I'll stop now. This is nice, a lean-back-and-relax remix of something. I could work late in the office with this playing.
A few problems bother me: It barely sounds like Britney, but not because it's new and innovative. Rather, it's because it sounds as if she's copying the sounds that are popular right now (such as the sounds of, say, September or t.A.t.U).
Also, at some points I am expecting a heavy beat to kick in, but instead face Britney's legendary porn voice (tm).
Hmm, I really don't which way to lean on this. On one hand, it's nice. On the other, an artist of Britney's magnitude (c'mon, whatever you think of her she's HUGE) should deliver more. Shouldn't she?
OK, done now. I'll give this a VERY hesitant flop based on the fact that I don't think it'll get much airtime, and that Britney missed the opportunity at several points to lift this tune onto the dance floor.

K-man: Flip
Britney is back with a remix-album and a new single...and I quite like this. I don't think it will dominate the charts as she use to do in the past, but it has a laidback charm that I can't resist...and I think it's better when she stays to doing pop-songs, rather than moaning R'n'B tunes with some confused rap in the middle. Maybe not a grand comeback, but a comfortable "please, don't forgive me while I'm playing a mum" single.

I guess some things never change…except for maybe the hit-potential of Britney Spears singles.
This is one a little shaky.

Does Dolly Parton sleep on her stomach?
Does the new pope have a funny hat?
Do the gay bear men fuck in the woods?
Is it another "two-flips-and-a-flop-flip"?

Yepp.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "And Then We Kiss (Junkie XL remix)" with Britney Spears

"I Don't Like Mondays " with Boomtown Rats

Oh, it’s just one of these days when you where supposed to stay in bed all day:
It’s pouring down rain outside, you wake up with a cold (that you know will never get rid of since it’s October…and that also mean you will not be able to go to the gym this week…or next….which means I might end up with several extra kilos even before the "Eat! Eat! Eat! It’s Christmas"-period begins), work is totally screwed up as usually now-a-days, and on top of everything it never gets bright outside since the sun isn’t strong enough to reach through the compact, grey clouds…

I guess it’s just so much Monday you didn’t believe it was possible.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "I Don't Like Mondays " with Boomtown Rats

"Stig In och Ta en Cocktail" with Magnus Uggla

I had a fantastic evening yesterday at GS2H – with a lot of dancing, drinking, and tasting the dildo-drink: "Cock-o-Lada" - mostly due to my fab partners in crime; FF, H-babe, and J-man.
Hmmmm. I guess this picture of us having the "Cock-o-Lada" looks rather disgusting and strange for an untrained eye...but I can tell you as a defense that it didn't taste good at all. Wait...maybe that's not a defence at all...eh.

Anyway; Love you guys!
Let’s do it again in December.

Today my life feels harder though…
I’m so tired I can hardly stand up.
But the brunch went nice, so I guess I’ve deserved my right to just lay on the sofa watching TV.

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Stig In och Ta en Cocktail" with Magnus Uggla

"Like it or Not" with Madonna

OK. Here it is. The inevitable "Confessions on a Dance Floor"-review.

I have to state right away that even if I am as much a Madonna fan as your average gay guy (I’ve done my share of Vogueing and the movements in "Express Yourself", I’ve seen the "Blond Ambition Tour on VHS so many times the tape broke, and I have all her albums in one way or the other), I can’t say I know every song she’s done, and I haven’t cared much of her albums since Ray of Light"…and before that I guess the last record I bought with her Madgesty where "Dick Tracy"…
…so the complete flow of unconditional love that will flush over you in this review is not some kind of "Madonna is my goddess" type of love…is just my love for pure, danceable pop-music.
Just so you know….here we go:

Hung Up
Madonna, Stuart Price, Björn&Benny
Everybody knows it by now, and I’ve already talked about in this blog. It’s a huge hit, it’s as gay as a tune can be, and I guess its only flaw is that you might get tired of it sooner than you expect. But it is a great start of this album, and a great come-back single for Madonna.
Get Together
Madonna, Anders Bagge, Peer Åström
Not one of my favourite tracks, but I really can’t say why. I guess that even if the base is nice as hell and it is very well produced, I think the song never takes off. It just goes on…which can be nice….but I wouldn’t have put this as number two on the album…it’s more like a number eight or something…and it also has the unfortunate placement between two of the albums best and most catchy songs…
Sorry
Madonna, Stuart Price
…since this is one of the best dance/pop-songs of 2005. It’s the next single, it is pure Madonna, pure pop, and pure fantastic. Once again (last time was "Material Girl") she borrows the base from Jackson Five’s "Can You Feel It" (but this time it’s actually another loop) and the result is amazing. The text is cool (it’s more important to act decent than be an idiot and the say you sorry), and it is impossible to tell what’s most catchy; the verses or the chorus. Your feet can’t possible stand still when you here this, and I can hardly wait for the remixes… The only thing I miss is a "Förlåt!" when she says "Forgive" me in different languages…but I guess you can’t have everything.
Future Lovers
Madonna, Mirwais
I’m not a big fan of Mirwais, but I am a big fun of songs where people talks in the beginning. And even if this song never reaches the heights you might suspect in the beginning, it is a distant cousin of Kylie’s "Light Years" – and you can have a lot worse relatives than that. You just keep on dancing.
I Love New York
Madonna, Stuart Price
The first line ("…I love New York, other places makes me feel like a dork") and the strange decision to sing "F-off" rather that "fuck off" makes this song a little hard to love…and as I read somewhere: this song is more fun than good. But at the same time the beat is fantastic and it grips you by the balls and makes you dance your head off while shouting "Get off my street!"…and oh; I love the siren at the end. That’s really New York!
Let It Will Be
Madonna, Mirwais Stuart Price
You might have guessed that I love most of the songs on this album – but this is one of my three favourite songs among the twelve (the other two are "Sorry" and "Jump"). The strings are fantastic, Madonna almost hisses out the text and sounds incredible, the production is impeccable, and once again there’s a chorus that makes you want to throw your t-shirt off and dance until you get unconscious. This must be a single?? I demand at least three or four fabulous remixes.
Forbidden Love
Madonna, Stuart Price
Madonna tells us a story about forbidden love and manages to revive the voice-coder that Cher killed in the nineties. If the previous songs have been songs you dance yourself to death in clubs at – this one has more of "lets-do-something-very-nasty-while-dancing-to this-how-about-something-as-close-as-sex-as-it-gets"-kind of wibe. And I love the countdown at the end, which leads us right into…
Jump
Madonna, Joe Henry, Stuart Price
…this favourite of mine. This song sounds like Madonna-in-the-eighties meets the production of the 21st century, and it borrows its synth-loops from Pet Shop Boys and adds some well placed hand-claps. I loved it from the first time I heard it…I guess this is how I want my music.
How High
Madonna, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winberg, Henrik Jonback
One of the songs written by Swedes on this album; a disco-march with a heavy beat and a text about success and fortune and if it all matters in the end. Not bad at all, but not the strongest pupil in this school.
Isaac
Madonna, Stuart Price, Yitzhak Sinwani
The song that has infuriated Madonna’s kabbalah-gang (we all know that religious people have no sense of humour or self-distance, so what did she expect?) starts of with a male Ofra Haza and the crashes into something reminding of her previous hit "Frozen". A very intense guitar and a heavy beat lifts this song from just being bizarre to be a favourite that stands out from the rest of the gang.
Push
Madonna, Stuart Price
Slow, oriental, and constantly repeating the line "You push me" makes this my least favourite song of the album…a bit like how Guy Richie (Madonna’s husband, which the lyric is all about) is one of my least favourite directors now a days. What saves it from being a total disaster in my book is the chorus, which in some way reminds me of a slow-beat "Like a Prayer".
Like It or Not
Madonna, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winberg, Henrik Jonback
"Better the devil you know" she sings, but I don’t think that is a tribute to Miss Minouge, more than the lines "…sinner, not a saint" is a tribute to Alcazar… This is just a very nice ending of a marvellous album, and it is a cool, heavy-beated, Swede-written tune about who Madonna is – and that we can love her or leave her; she don’t care. Well, I love you Madge! And if I like this album or not? Well, tuff call…I love it! 10 disco balls out of 10!

Keep readin’
Tomorrow’s a new day and a new song.

Song of Today: "Like it or Not" with Madonna