"Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" with The Beatles

It was twenty years ago today…

Not just the first line of Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper, but also today’s slogan.
Twenty years ago I was woken by my mother who told me that the prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme, had been murdered.
My responses were (in this order):
* So what, let me sleep.
* My arm hurts
* Fuck. Why have they canceled "Go’morron Sverige" just for that!? (In fact, this response repeated it self through the day when all TV-shows where cancelled)

Some people say it changed Sweden, that it was an end of an era, and that our innocence as a country where completely lost that morning. Well, I guess you might say that I didn’t completely understand the significance of this event…

I also had broken my arm severely two weeks before (it was completely covered in a very, very heavy plaster…this where the eighties…there where no light materials) and I felt (as I still do when I’m sick) very, very sorry for my self and didn’t like that something else stole my pity and cancelled all my TV-shows (I couldn’t do much more than watch TV all day)…

For me Olof Palme was just another politician (and in some ways I guess he still is for me - I know they say he did some good things but it is just to abstract for me to relate to). One of my strangest memories of all times is still when I some weeks after the murder had to witness a "minute of silence" in a class of first graders, and they where all crying and writing poems to Palme ("I miss you!", "I will always remember you" and so on) – a person they hadn’t had the slightest idea existed before he was killed…but they where forced into some sort of national grieving which I’ve never seen ever since in this country.

These where certainly strange times for this country, and we where tumbling around like a newly waked teenager, not knowing where we had our arms or legs.

Well. That said, it is still one of the mornings I remember clearest in my life, and it is still a disgrace for the Swedish police that they haven’t captured the killer (new tips emerge every year the 28th of February…today also) and I guess they never will. Maybe it was Christer Pettersson, maybe it wasn’t. I guess we’ll never know.

At last…something completely different.
Important words of today!

Semla = Semla (dah!) or Cream bun
Fettisdag = "Fattuseday" = Shrove Tuesday
(Thanx F2!)

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

Song of Today: "Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" with The Beatles

"On a Train" with Eskobar

Two reflection on the morning train from Gothenburg to Stockholm:
EVERYONE has to use the toilet…and they’re not just doing "number one" (based on the amount of time each person spends in there) I can tell you…
EVERYONE has to use their mobile phones constantly – even though it is almost impossible to get coverage - so they have to start all sentences by shouting "I’M ON THE TRAIN AND CAN’T HEAR YOU, BUT…."

Internet on trains must be one of the greatest inventions of our time!

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

Song of Today: "On a Train" with Eskobar

"Shake the Disease" with Depeche Mode

Just back from my first Depeche Mode concert.

I’ll try to write a review in my Swedish blog tomorrow (I guess it will be a 6 or 7 out of 10), but the song of today is the best song from the concert tonight.

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

Song of Today: "Shake the Disease" with Depeche Mode

"Marble House" with The Knife

Sneaking on Fredriks broadband...

Go Kikki! Go Magnus!
Correct songs in Melodifestivalen part two went to the final (but it is a total chock that Sonya missed the "Second Chance" contest).

I have to go back to my champagne so I leave you with my chart, which I wrote yesterday on the train to Gothenburg (so no schlagers from today).

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

01/02/01/02/The Knife - Marble House
02/NE/02/01/Kate Ryan - Je T'adore
03/ÅT/03/02/Black Eyed Peas – Pump It
04/NE/04/01/Andreas Johnson - Sing for Me
05/NE/05/01/Linda Bengtzing - Jag Ljuger Så Bra
06/01/01/03/Laydytron – Destroy Everything You Touch
07/NE/07/01/Rhianna - SOS (Rescue Me)
08/06/06/02/The Knife – Neverland
09/03/03/02/Madonna (feat. PSB) – Sorry (PSB Remix)
10/04/03/03/The Knife - Silent Shout

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

Song of Today: "Marble House" with The Knife

"Whatever Happens" with Michael Jackson

In some strange way the broadband returned for yet another day. Crazy… But since I leave for Gothenburg for the weekend (to see Depeche Mode…strangely how little this upcoming concert has effected this blog…I guess I have to listen to DM a little bit before Sunday) the blogging is still off for the weekend.

Having a minor hang-over (there was some sort of farewell party for a colleague last night) and no inspiration at all, I leave you with a (very good looking) picture from the upcoming Spider-man movie which has left me very frustrated since the text on the site I found the picture says:

"Take note that this artwork is NOT in black and white, yes that is Spidey in a black costume - and we all know what happens with Spider-Man's black costume."

No we don't!!! What happens?? Tell me!! Dammit!!
I have to talk to my comic-obsessed friend Mr Kanth this weekend.

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

Song of Today: "Whatever Happens" with Michael Jackson

"Alla Flickor" with Linda Bengtzing

Damn! I’m out of broadband again. Until week 10 at least.
HOW can it take SIX weeks to move (actually, it’s ME who moves the fu*king modem…the just turn on a switch) a broadband connection? Absurd.

I guess I have to blog off-line and put it here when nice friends (or 7Eleven) let me use their Internet...

Other things I’ve done today: been to the yearly book-sale (just bought two children’s books as future presents for Elsa) early in the morning and been to an interview (so I hopefully will get another assignment) so I can stay here in Stockholm for some more months.

By the way; one of the worst things of being off-line is not being able to download the new episodes of America’s Next Top Model (turn 6), which starts in the beginning of March… *sniff*
But at least I can look at the new girls already!


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

Song of Today: "Alla Flickor" with Linda Bengtzing

"Gold" with East 17

An incredible day for Sweden in the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin!

Tre Kronor advanced in the hockey league.
The female Curling Team advanced to the final (at least a silver medal!!)
Thobias Fredriksson took bronze in Men's Sprint.

And then the big ones!

Björn Lind took his second gold medal this Olympics in Men's Sprint (he took the first in Men's team sprint)! At last a fairly good looking (for being a)winter sporting Swedish guy! And what a guy… Two gold in one Olympic is very rare (Stenmark, Gunde and a few more) and he surely is the world's best sprinter in Cross-Country Skiing.

Anja Persson! Anja Persson!
Anja Persson! Two bronze medals already and now a gold medal! She has taken medals in 11 out of the 14 Olympic or World Championship contests she has taken part in… I can confess I almost cried when "Pillan" (our former Alpine Skiing queen) gave Anja her medal and "Du Gamla Du Fria" played out…
And she still has the chance for more medals.

This is Sweden's best Olymic Games in ages, and the best part?
The ABSOLUTELY fu*kin' great part is that we STILL are in front of Norway in the medal standings!

Let's take another gold tomorrow Curling-ladies!

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

Song of Today: "Gold" with East 17

"Je T'adore" with Kate Ryan

About this time last year I heard what was supposed to become the Greek entry in Eurovision Song Contest – Elena’s "My Number One" – and I immediately thought it might be a winner…and after seeing the video EVERYWHERE for about a month before it was even decided that Sweden would send that awful song with the Ken-doll…
…well… I guess it might happen again now.
This weekend it was decided that Belgium will send Kate Ryan (she might, by the way, be the only Belgian artist I know of) to ESC, and the video is out now.

OK.
She’s not Elena, but in ESC her two international (cover)hits makes her a HUGE star and success.
The song is more like something Sweden (it's actually written by two Swedes, so I guess it shouldn't be a surprise) would send with (let’s say) Fame-Jessica and sounds more like Texas (the pop group – not the U.S State) than Ryan’s previous Mylène-covers…but it works.
Just add a nice stage show, and the Belgians might have a top 10 thing going on.

Now I just have to find Fabrizio Faniello’s song from Malta which is supposed to sound "very, very Swedish"…

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

Song of Today: "Je T'adore" with Kate Ryan

"Silver" with Wilmer X

Well…
Let’s not forget that a Silver is also a very, very good medal in "Ice Hockey Women" for Sweden!

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

Song of Today: "Silver" with Wilmer X

"I Want You Back" with Jackson 5

Having FF here for the weekend almost makes it feel like you have a life here in Stockholm…but when he’s gone again I can’t help but feeling rather lonely – even though my Sis is living here and all the new colleagues are nice as hell...it's not my life.
At least not yet. I guess it’s just not the same without any of your best friends around.

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

Song of Today: "I Want You Back" with Jackson 5

"Sing for Me" with Andreas Johnsson

How strange was that…the two best songs of tonight’s Melodifestivalen actually were the two who made it to the final. When did that last happened?
Could have lived without Electric Banana Band in the Second Chance-show, though.

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

Song of Today: "Sing for Me" with Andreas Johnsson

"Destroy Everything You Touch" with Laydytron

It’s Friday, Fredrik is on his way to Stockholm on a train, and tomorrow Melodifestivalen 2006 begins!
So…before my world completely turns into schlager (and I know it will…it always does) I have to deliver a new Friday’s Chart for the first time in a while.
Just so I, in the weeks to come, remember that I used to listen to something else than songs with key changes that are exactly three minutes long…

…and well…
I have to confess that it is mostly a fake chart, at least the fakeiest one I’ve ever written, since the only three songs that OWNS my iPod now are the Top3 ones.
I adore these three song…over and over again on the tube in the morning and on my computer at work...
…but a chart requires ten songs and here they are!

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

01/08/01/02/Laydytron – Destroy Everything You Touch
02/NE/02/01/The Knife – Marble House
03/NE/03/01/Madonna (feat. PSB) – Sorry (PSB Remix)
04/03/03/02/The Knife - Silent Shout
05/NE/05/01/Moby – Slipping Away
06/NE/06/01/The Knife – Neverland
07/05/05/02/Milky - Be My World
08/02/02/02/Texas feat. Paul Buchanan - Sleep
09/NE/09/01/The Knife – Like a Pen
10/05/01/03/Mary J Blige feat. U2 - One

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

Song of Today: "Destroy Everything You Touch" with Laydytron

"Miss You Much" with Janet Jackson

I know they have a wonderful time (since I can read their stories here) and I really don’t envy them that much (of course I’d like to relax and have some sun and salty swims…but all that flying?? No way, José!), and I really don’t begrudge them some time off from work…
…but I still want them to come back right now! Pronto!

Who am I going to talk all Melodifestival-trivia with (the new stage, the new rules, and things like that) now, when Arne isn’t in Sweden?
With who can I discuss whether Marble House with The Knife is the best song right now, and the outrageous scandal that NO TV-channel in Sweden (cable or not) are going to send the Academy Awards the year of the Brokeback, if Andreas isn’t somewhere I can even send him a text-message?

Get back home right now guys! I miss you!!
(You can bring some pineapples and umbrella drinks if you have to, I won’t mind.)

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

Song of Today: "Miss You Much" with Janet Jackson

"Stupid Girl" with Pink

Had to write two articles for QX Magazine this evening…and try to set up curtains in my bedroom (it didn’t work)…and update my work-profile so they can try to sell me to anyone here in Stockholm so I can stay (please, please)!!!

Anywho. No time for some extended blogging, therefore. I just pick the song of today from Pink. Not that I like her (or this new single) very much…but the video is a true hit. Especially when she dresses up like Shakira (I really don’t like Shakira, by the way…or well…her songs that is…and way of singing...I guess she's kinda cute though) and tries to look sexy while washing a car. Fantastic!
Bite that sponge, girl!

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

Song of Today: "Stupid Girl" with Pink

"Valentine" with Beautiful South

A very nice Valentine’s Day…and a much better day than yesterday. Thank god...
Had a beer with a guy I hadn’t seen for eleven years. A guy from Chalmers who also had turned out gay (lived with his boyfriend since eight years or so) and who had some very fun and interesting stories to tell over some food and alcohol. Fantastic! ;)

I guess I should list people I love today since it’s Valentine and everything…but if I start doing that I only miss someone or get anxiety attacks over in which order I should put them…
…so I guess I have to hope the people I love already know that since I try to tell them (in different ways) as often as I can.

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

Song of Today: "Valentine" with Beautiful South

"Bad Day" with R.E.M

What was it about this day?

At first it might happen that I have to move back to Stockholm again, since the work I should have been doing here in Stockholm suddenly fell trough… So from April I might move telephone, broadband and all my stuff back to Gothenburg again (for a additional cost of XXXX SEK). Zzzzzzzzz.

My coffee-situation is beyond all criticism. I have no coffeemaker at home (and I didn’t find anyone at a reasonable prize), I loath instant coffee, and the coffee at work tastes like shit.

After being to IKEA (going there with my Sis might have been the only nice thing with this day) and a HUGE food market, the bag I was carrying all the food in just broke, and all food fell out on the floor of Systembolaget…

…which by the way hadn’t got the wine I was there to buy (to drown my sorrows of having to move back before being able to experience the Stockholm summer at the lovely balcony in my apartment).

And when I got home and tried to get my key to unlock my door my pants just broke….they ripped from my knee to my ass – which leaves me with two pairs of fully functional - not ripped nor to tight pants here in Stockholm.

And tomorrow it’s another fu*king Valentines Day to spend by my self. Jippie! And the cards I should have sent weren’t even bought today.

The only thing left now might be the angry neighbor…

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

Song of Today: "Bad Day" with R.E.M

"My Name Is…" with Eminem

I’ve just been seen carrying a ladder through a very snowy Stockholm…
Not your everyday sight I can tell.
On my way from a very tasty Sunday-dinner cooked by my sweet Sis.
Otherwise this day has been a lot of packin-travelling-unpacking…

…but the best moment of the day has to be when my favorite kid of all times – the little sunshine called Elsa – for the first time learned my name for real.
I’m not sure she will remember it/me when we meet again…it might take a month or so now when I’ve left Gothenburg…but today she clearly remembered it and I might have been the proudest fake-uncle in the village.

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

Song of Today: "My Name Is…" with Eminem

"A Different Corner" with George Michael

Strangest thing; my broadband still actually works in Gothenburg!
I don’t now what that means exactly (haven’t they understood that they should have start to transfer it?) but it has had me locked in front of this screen much more than I originally intended this weekend…
OK. I’ve had a lot of fun also.
Yesterday I had some beers with my friend Javad and a colleague at a new hotel bar in town (Quite nice bar, actually….located at the train station. Future place to be when I arrive from Stockholm maybe?) and today me, FF and J had brunch at Egg&Milk (my new favorite place to eat in Gbg), then J and I walked around town a bit – and tonight me and F have eaten a little food, had a little wine and looked at some TV (and also a bit of the movie "March of the Penguins").
…and then I have packed, and packed, and packed….
And it turned out to be just clothes this time around also… I guess I have to by the stuff I need in Stockholm instead.
Like new sheets.

I also got a very nice birthday present from J!
"Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of George Michael" the DVD with all his music videos! Very cool. I have been nostalgic all afternoon.
The song of today is therefore obviously from that DVD, and an old favorite I rediscovered today.

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

Song of Today: "A Different Corner" with George Michael

"Long Train Running" with Bananarama

My birthday yesterday turned out quite well in the end, when me and my sister went to Populära Sibirien and drank wine and ate some food. Very nice.
Right now I’m writing from X2000. How high-tech…
…and in five minutes I will leave cyberspace for two days (no broadband left in Kålltorp) and not return until I’m back on this train on Sunday.
*gulp*
I’m like an internet addict.
This will be tuff.
But I will try to keep the blog up anyway… ;)

Be good in my absence, children!

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

Song of Today: "Long Train Running" with Bananarama

"Happy Birthday"

"Sick & Tired" with The Cardigans

Funniest thing today. The logo for The Brazilian Institute for Oriental Studies which won the "Phallic Logo Awards"!

At home sick. Boring.
And in the new apartment…with almost no stuff or things to do…except work a bit…but after that? This had been a good time to sort all the papers laying all over the flat down in Gothenburg.
God, my throat hurts. Not as bad as last October, though.
I really want to be well tomorrow…it’s my bleedin’ birthday.
And there is an After Work with my new colleagues planed.
I really don’t want to be sitting here all day, then.
And I could have been at IKEA now. Or been fixing some kind of drape in my bedroom so the whole neighbourhood wouldn’t be able to watch me sleep.

Other things you notice when you home all day in your new apartment:

• An empty refrigerator is really empty. And clean. (Mental note: Clean fridge in Gothenburg this weekend).
• Today DN stopped showing up (good day for that…). I guess the girl who owns the apartment has given up her prescription and mine hasn’t kicked in yet.
• If you don’t close the bathroom-door while peeing (or showering or whatever) people will see you right through the kitchen window.
• To get out and buy breakfast in the middle of a capital like Stockholm is nothing like getting out in Kålltorp… The amount of things you’d like here is huge!
• Not having a coffee-machine makes me crazy – I have to get down to 7Eleven soon for another cup.
• I got several other peoples mail…but one was actually for me!

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

Song of Today: "Sick & Tired" with The Cardigans

"Son of a Gun" with Bodies without Organs

BWO have just won the Grammis for Pop-group of the Year, and Alexander thanked some people and said: "Then we have to thank our original fans; the synth-nerds and the disco-fags. When you stop listening and only the other remains…then we have done something wrong and you have to tell us! "
Hahahaha
Love him.

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

Song of Today: "Son of a Gun" with Bodies without Organs

"Sod the Neighbours" with Toy Dolls

The Film Festival is over for this year.
It has been very nice as always, but the best one did I catch outside the festival.
Strange. It's been ten years sice that was the case last time.

Snowy as hell.
Back in Stockholm – and now with an apartment on my own!
Very nice.
Too bad the neighbour living in the flat under me seems to be mad or something.
She went berserk when I watched The West Wing at 10.30 PM and had to come up and shout outside my door.
Strange…

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

Song of Today: "Sod the Neighbours" with Toy Dolls

"Springtime for Hitler" from The Producers

Interesting night last night.
In many ways…
But then…going out with F, J and H is always a hit!

The movie The Producers is not, though…not in my world anyway.
Uma Thurman rules as Ulla of course, and the musical in the musical is still a hit (like in the original movie)…but the rest is mostly over-acting and boring show tunes.

Easy to find a song of today, though.
There were some to pick from.

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

Song of Today: "Springtime for Hitler" from The Producers

"A Love That Will Never Grow Old" with Emmylou Harris

C.R.A.Z.Y – fantastic gay/coming out movie
Everything is Illuminated – good looking first movie from Live Schreiber
Junebug – Amy Adams rules this one and is sooo Oscarsworthy
But that doesn't help much…
…when I’ve seen a future classic today!

Brokeback Mountain.
My god.
The actors, the directing, the actresses, the good-looking actors, the cinematography, the music, these bloody hot hot hot actors…

It’s my first 10 grader ever.

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

Song of Today: "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" with Emmylou Harris

"Vampire Theme" by Anthony Lledo

Well…what can I say about the two movies I’ve seen today?
One fantastic movie about some people around a train accident (with animated thoughts) and one very strange comedy/bad acted Swedish vampire movie…
Unfortunately I didn’t find a song from the good one…so I will leave you with the bad!

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

Song of Today: "Vampire Theme" by Anthony Lledo

"TV is the Thing This Year" with Dianne Reeves

Not that many movies left at this years festival now.
And so far there have only been about 2-3 that I will keep with me for a while, and which might be on my top 10 list at the end of this year.
Am I getting picky?
Are the movies a little bite worse this year?
Or is it so simple that it is only just like Dianne Reeves sing in the song of today (taken from George Clooney’s Oscar-nominated film "Good Night and Good Luck" that I saw yesterday)?

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

Song of Today: "TV is the Thing This Year" with Dianne Reeves

"I Believe in the Good Life" with The Hidden Cameras

Took the morning off and caught a queer-themed movie called "Whole New Thing".
Great movie! Great music sung by the Hidden Cameras and written by Joel Gibb.
I have three additional movies this evening, but I guess the song of today has to be from this one!

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

Song of Today: "I Believe in the Good Life" with The Hidden Cameras