"The Final Countdown" with Crazy Frog

I love this blog.
I really do.
But sometimes you have to let things you love go away.
And now the time has come for this blog. At least in its contemporary form.
Next Wednesday, one week from now, it is one whole year since I started this blog.
At first it was hard…then my inspiration exploded, and I wrote some of my best stuff ever here I think. Then it became a sort of routine until I invented the chart and (my favorite) the Flip/Flop (Damn, I miss those!) and the inspiration was back again. Some of the best trips in my life have also been reviewed here and also one rainy, boring week at my parents.
But then I moved to Stockholm and things changed.
I started to write more in my Swedish blog and realized that my writing where better and more free there and (most importantly) the readers and the talkbacks where a lot more.
This blog turned into a big stress again, and for the last months or so the blogs here have been poorly written and have almost no meaning at all.

So. This is the last week of the 365Songs blog, and I will use it to highlight some of my best efforts during its only year alive, starting tomorrow.

And as I said: I think I may still write in it sometimes since I love writing in English and since I still love the idea of one song a day…
…but maybe the songs will be presented more seldom instead or something.

Hey ho, here we go. It’s the final countdown.

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

Song of Today: "The Final Countdown" with Crazy Frog

"Boys from School" with Hot Chip

Okay, I picked the wrong single yesterday.
This is the latest single from Hot Chip.
But they are both good.

This song also connects to something I saw today on my way home from work.
It’s graduation time right now, and you can see students in their little white hats everywhere… usually in groups or singing from the back of trucks.

But today when I was waiting for my train home another train in the opposite direction arrived to the platform. People welled out, and amongst them a single male student. He was very tall…about 1.90, had a nice grey suite and he just strolled out the train (and he looked completely sober) – but instead of running towards the exits like everyone else he just sat down on one of the benches and lit a cigarette.

At first I thought; oh poor thing – all alone on graduation with no one to pick you up in a car decorated with balloons. But then I looked at him again and he was glooming with happiness on that bench, looking completely satisfied with his new life just laying before him. It was almost biblical.

Then my train arrived and I turned into one of the welling people.

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

Song of Today: "Boys from School" with Hot Chip

"Over and Over" with Hot Chip

iPod Control Part 4

The iPod control of 2006 continues…
…with the last control (I really HAVE to start writing about something more interesting here soon…) which is the ten most recent added tracks (or albums).

10 Cat5 – You Go Girl
09 Teddybears feat. Iggy Pop - Punkrocker
08 Hi Tack – Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)
07 Shapeshifters - Incredible
06 Da Buzz – Without Breaking
05 September – It Doesn’t Matter
04 Sunblock feat. Robin Beck – First Time
03 The Tough Alliance – New Crimes (EP)
02 West End Girls – Surburbia (maxi singel)
01 Hot Chip – The Warning (album)

So the song of the day of course has to be something from the Hot Chip album…and I pick the single that P3 is playing everyday now.

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

Song of Today: "Over and Over" with Hot Chip

"Celebration" with Kylie Minouge

I know, I know…
I have fallen behind with my English blogging.
But I HAD to blog today you see…

It is Kylie’s birthday!
So hip hip hurray for her – and I hope she’ll be back on the charts with a new unbelievable good album soon now.

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

Song of Today: "Celebration" with Kylie

"Angel of Night" with BWO

iPod Control Part 3

The iPod control of 2006 continues…
Today; the 10-1 most played songs (since I had to refill it some months ago, when it suddenly erased all songs on it). The number in brackets is the number of times the song has been played.
10 Severine Ferrer – La Coco-Dance [31]
09 BWO – Chariots of Fire [36]
08 Carola - Evighet [37]
07 Keane – Is It Any Wonder? [39]
06 BWO - Marrakech [39]
05 Tammys – Egyptian Shumba [41]
04 Pet Shop Boys – In Private [41]
03 BWO – Angel of Night [46]
02 BWO - Juggernaut [52]

01 Queentastic – Absolutely Fabulous [102]

I guess there really was no competition…
Almost every one of these has already been the song of the day…
...but of course I pick one that hasn’t…
…and it is also a BWO song as was the case when I listed my 11-20 list.

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

Song of Today: "Angel of Night" with BWO

"Indifferent" with Sebastian

There where no chart last week...so I spare you the comments and go directly to the chart!

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

01/NE/01/01/Sebastian - Indifferent
02/NE/02/01/Pet Shop Boys - In Private
03/02/01/03/Pet Shop Boys - Minimal
04/01/01/02/Timo Räisänen - Fear No Darkness, Promised Child
05/05/01/05/Queentastic - Absolutely Fabulous
06/NE/06/01/Carola - Jag Lever Livet
07/04/02/03/Pet Shop Boys - Integral
08/08/08/02/Juanes - La Camisa Negra
09/03/03/02/Kent - Nålens Öga
10/10/04/03/Nouveau Riche - Hardcore Life

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

Song of Today: "Indifferent" with Sebastian

"Ascension Day" with Alphaville

Today it’s Ascension Day, or "Kristi Himmelsfärd" as we call it here in Sweden.
That means a red letter day and no work…and at the east coast of Sweden (where I was brought up, and where I live again now) it means "Gökotta"!
Here is an explanation in English of Gökotta, that I found of the web:

A Swedish tradition, on Ascension day, is to celebrate by having a dawn picnic and listening to the birds singing early in the morning. It may be fairly chilly that early, it may rain but if you are lucky you might even see a fantastic sunrise.
Some young people even spend the whole night out in the fresh air around a bonfire, grilling sausages and bread and drinking coffee or something else....

When you listen to the birds you are supposed to listen out for the cuckoo. Apparently he might be telling you something about the future.
The folklore had lots to tell about the first call of the cuckoo in the spring. In what quarter is he cuckooing? And how many times does he call? Coming from west is best, from east is comfort, from north is sorrow and from south is death...
And how many times he is calling can predict things, e.g. ask him how many years you will stay unmarried, and await his answer....

The cuckoo is a migrating bird, moving to the south, usually to Africa, at winter and coming back to Sweden in May for the whole summer.

I just have to add that at the Gökottas I’ve participated in, the goal was more of a "get as drunk as possible and sleep outside in tents" kinda thing…
…but I guess the explanation above is the official one.

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

Song of Today: "Ascension Day" with Alphaville

"Haunted" with BWO

iPod Control Part 1

This week we do some checking of my iPod.
Today; the 11 to 20th most played songs (since I had to refill it some months ago, when it suddenly erased all songs on it). The number in brackets is the number of times the song has been played.

20 The Attic - A Life to Live (Radio Edit) [20]
19 Magnus Carlsson - Mellan Vitt och Svart [21]
18 Carola - Invincible (Soundfactory Radio) [21]
17 Magnus Carlsson - Discodåre [22]
16 BWO - Haunted [22]
15 Le Sport - It's Not the End of the World [24]
14 BWO - Temple of Love [25]
13 Sanna Nielsen - Rör Vid Min Själ [26]
12 Pet Shop Boys - Integral [26]
11 Pet Shop Boys - Minimal [29]

Almost every one of these has already been the song of the day…
...but of course I pick one that hasn’t.

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

Song of Today: "Haunted" with BWO

"Jump" with Kris Kross

I just totally missed blogging today.
Let’s jump directly to tomorrow instead!

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

Song of Today: "Jump" with Kris Kross

"Kärleken Förde Oss Samman" with Ulf Lundell

It was a very nice wedding, they looked very cute (and the bride’s dress was the most beautiful wedding dress I’ve ever seen…and I’ve been to A LOT of weddings) and we had lots of fun at the party.

One question though…
Why does EVERYONE choose to play/sing Ulf Lundell in church nowadays?
When did he win the "wedding songs everyone choose"-battle?
And what happened to "Älska Mig" and "Det Vackraste"?
You know, Ainbusk Singers and Cecilia W don’t have any other hits…so if people stop playing their songs at weddings the might die of starvation!
Do you want that on your conscience hetero-folks??

I wonder what I would play at my wedding if I had one?
"Tragedy" with Steps maybe…and the whole church could do the moves like in the video? Maybe not.
I have to think about this and get back to you!

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

Song of Today: "Kärleken Förde Oss Samman" with Ulf Lundell

"Never Let You Go" with Dima Bilan

Well, what can I say?
I LOVED Lordi. I’m happy for Sweden’s top5 placement - and for the first time for "I-don’t-know-how-long" I actually liked (and in a way predicted) the top5 songs.
Many of them (as the Finish winner) have already been the song of today, and I leave this year’s ESC-week here at my blog with the Russian entry which turned out to take home the silver medal...and whose singer look like this.
…but today it is all Lordi!!
HARD! ROCK! HALLELUJAH!!!!

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

Song of Today: "Never Let You Go" with Dima Bilan

"Layla" with Hari Mata Hari

Well…
I’m going to try to write something in my Swedish blog about how I think the result will look tomorrow…but I think this will end up top 5!
…but maybe not in this order…

Bosnia Herzegovina.
Greece.
Sweden.
Ukraine.
Romania.
But I still cheer for Finland and I hope they will win…
…and I guess Russia may have something to do with it as well.

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

Song of Today: "Layla" with Hari Mata Hari

"We are the Winners" with LT United

I’m stunned. Lithuania? LITHUANIA??

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

Song of Today: "We are the Winners" with LT United

"Alvedansen" with Christine Guldbrandsen

Today it’s the International Day Against Homophobia.
It also coincides with the Norwegian national day.
Interesting.
What can be better than a Norwegian Eurovision Song as the song of the day then?
I’m among those who think "Alvedansen" might be dangerous if Europe turns out to be in their most ethnic mode on Saturday…
….but it might also disappear and land among the last bottom five.
I guess we’ll have to see.

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

Song of Today: "Alvedansen" with Christine Guldbrandsen

"Tornero" with Mihai Traistariu

This evening the last "Inför Melodifestivalen" was broadcast on SVT, and this is the result of our jury (My votes/MrT’s votes) regarding the songs already qualified for the final:

Switzerland 1/0
Moldova 0/0
Israel 0/1
Latvia 1/0
Norway 3/2
Spain 2/0
Malta 3/5
Germany 4/4
Romania 5/5
Great Britain 3/3
Greece 5/4
France 1/3
Croatia 3/0

Well. What can I say?
MrT likes classic schlager from Malta. I love Anna Vissi.
And we both like Romania (which makes him the song of the day…even though I fear he might be this year’s Xandee and get lost in an overheated performance).

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

Song of Today: "Tornero" with Mihai Traistariu

"Twist of Love" with Sidsel Ben Semmane

"Songs I’m a Little Embarrassed to Admit that I Like Part 3"

…and today we’ve come to this years’ ESC-entry from Denmark…
I know, I know…
It is a twist…with a twist (drum-roll).
But they sent a home made reggae last year and it made a minor success (they already qualified for the final you know), so of course they try something strange – and okay, okay….terrible dated – type of music this year also. A twist.
And I don’t know why…but I like it.
I think it is catchy.
Well, I don’t like it in the same ways as the previous song in the Songs I’m a Little Embarrassed to Admit that I Like-series…but in a I would never admit I like this ESC-song kinda way. But well…once again I’ve spilled my inner-song-thoughts for You honorable reader.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it will be very successful this Saturday if you believe the guys in this superb blog (from which I illegally nick all photos from the repetitions…) who has seen Sidsel Ben Semmane perform today and writes:

"I worried that Denmark and Germany coming back to back might damage both songs, but not based on this performance, because this was just so awful that it actually helps Germany. Sidsel and her four female backing dancers go through the basic routine, not twisting, not line dancing, but rather pointlessly shuffling along. Then a break dancer jumps on stage and rolls around on the floor. This suffer badly from what my friend Chig calls "Afrodite Syndrome", after the Swedish girls in 2002. "Afrodite Syndrome" is where someone goes completely OverTheTop and decides to shout the song rather than singing it, losing any sweetness and sounding strained and desperate. It was Bosnia last year and this year it's Denmark. This is going to do badly unless it improves, and I mean VERY badly. "

Well…I guess I have to keep admire liking this at a distance then!

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

Song of Today: "Twist of Love" with Sidsel Ben Semmane

"Invincible (Soundfactory Radio Remix)" with Carola

Okay. It’s Eurovision-week. And even if I think I have had "Invincible" as my song of today before (or maybe I haven’t…I’ll choose the best remix anyhow) I just HAVE to show you Carola’s new outfit from the rehearsals in Athens.

Isn’t that exactly the same outfit she had when she sung "Främling" – but she has just outgrown it??

Go! Go! You religious freak!
We love you!

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

Song of Today: "Invincible (Soundfactory Radio Remix)" with Carola

"Hard Rock Hallelujah " with Lordi

Well, we are entering the week of Eurovision Song Contest, and the songs of the upcoming week will reflect some of my favorites (or dislikes) from this contest.
I’ve already blogged about Kate Ryan months ago, and of course about Carola – and my personal favorite (which I hear is terrible live in Athens during the rehearsals) Séverine Ferrer has been two weeks on my chart with Monaco’s "La Coco-Dance".
Well, today I give you a very, very unexpected favorite off mine: "Hard Rock Hallelujah", with the Finnish monster rockers Lordi.
The got latex masks. The have never showed their faces. They play hard rock (which I normally never listens to). But this song…well…it is pure genius!
It’s like someone has kidnapped a disco-tune and turned it over to some rocking monsters. Cool! I sincerely hope Finland will qualify to the finals and that they will get twelve points from Sweden (their first since the 70ties in that case…from ANY country).

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

Song of Today: "Hard Rock Hallelujah " with Lordi

"Fear No Darkness, Promised Child" with Timo Räisänen

Friday! But without trains this time.
I’m staying in Stockholm this weekend, and it feels good not traveling half my free time…but I’ll miss FF and the others of course.
The chart is surprisingly conservative if you consider all the new music that turns up in my iPod right now, but I guess it is just too much for me to find the pieces of gold right away.
You’ll see that the Norwegian transvestites are climbing once again, that there are only three new songs entering the chart - and you shall know it was very, very close you could have found Günther’s song from Melodifestivalen here this week…
…but instead I give you a fabulous song from Timo Räisänen that finally caught my eye (ear) this week, a new song from one of my absolute favorite bands Kent, and a P3/summer hit from Juanes.
Have a nice weekend!

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

01/NE/01/01/Timo Räisänen - Fear No Darkness, Promised Child
02/02/01/02/Pet Shop Boys - Minimal
03/NE/03/01/Kent - Nålens Öga
04/02/02/02/Pet Shop Boys - Integral
05/10/01/04/Queentastic - Absolutely Fabulous
06/05/05/02/Keane - Is it Any Wonder?
07/08/07/02/Séverine Ferrer - La Coco-Dance
08/NE/08/01/Juanes - La Camisa Negra
09/06/06/02/Magnus Carlsson - Discodåre
10/04/04/02/Nouveau Riche - Hardcore Life

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

Song of Today: "Fear No Darkness, Promised Child" with Timo Räisänen

"The Resurrectionist" with Pet Shop Boys

It’s one of these days when I don’t feel like writing something in English at all…
I guess this blog will die on its first birthday if no-one objects.
So…what will I choose as the song of today?
Will I tell you about the Danish song I’m a Little Embarrassed to Admit that I Like?
Nope.
Will I tell you about the Tomas Ledin debacle in Sweden this week, when he decided to take the money and run (code for "re-use an old hit as the official UEFA World cup championship song")?
Nope.
Maybe choose the song me and F2 had discussions about today, and which I made the song of yesterday in my Swedish blog?
Nope.
But the new Kent-song I found yesterday? That must be something to talk about and highlight since I love Kent?
Well, yes.
But nope.
I will choose the B-side from the new (well…almost) Pet Shop Boys single "I’m with Stupid".
Not because it is a wonderful upbeat song, that clearly could have fit on the album.
Not because Johan loved it and told me about it and its remixes.
Not because it has the most disturbing and strange ending of any song this year (it just stops).
Nope.
This song is the song of today since I love the title!
I don’t know if the word "Resurrectionist" even existed before the boys started singing about it…I’m certainly sure there isn’t a correct Swedish word for it. (yeah, we do also have a word for "resurrection" – but that’s not the point here)
It just such a funny occupation to imagine.
Love it.

…and that was a large blog for someone without inspiration…

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

Song of Today: "The Resurrectionist" with Pet Shop Boys