Song of the Day: Strövtåg i Hembygden

April A-Z Challenge - Melodifestivalen

I know what you're thinking. I already did Eurovision, so why do I need to do Mello too? The answer is going to knock your metaphorical socks off.

I'm doing a separate entry for Mello because - wait for it - it's better than Eurovision. Now, take a deep breath. I'm not saying that I love Melfest better than Eurovision, because there are very few non-living things I love as much as Eurovision. However, the sad reality of Eurovision is that some countries *cough* UK *cough* I did not just say UK, I swear *cough* just don't take Eurovision as seriously as they could. Eurovision can also be very political, what with the voting blocs and Russia writing Ukraine creepy love songs every year like, yeah, one day you will be mine and join me, da and the musical travesty that was Get You.

Mello is different. For a full six weeks, some of the best singers in Sweden take us on a wild roller-coaster ride of ups and downs and semis and second chances and lovably annoying interns and light shows and fireworks and actual fire and kissing! Mello is just pure fun. And, yeah, Eurovision is a ton of fun, too, but the two contests have very different hearts and souls and Melodifestivalen just has a certain je ne sais quoi about it that Eurovision lacks.

Perhaps the best way I can think to explain the difference between the two is this: Eurovision is this great, big beast of a contest that has absolutely everything you could ever wish for in a song contest, from eardrum-shattering vampires to beautiful bearded ladies to songs about cake (and who doesn't love cake?) but Mello is... Well, it's Swedish, which is a word listed in the thesaurus under 'better than almost anything else.'

And on that bombshell, goodnight Europe!

Album of the Week: Say Lou Lou With Lucid Dreaming

My favorite new (well, new-ish) album this week is Lucid Dreaming by two Swedish-Australian twin sisters who call themselves Say Lou Lou.

You can listen on Spotify here. My favourite tracks are Beloved, Wilder than the Wind, Skylights, Everything We Touch, and Nothing But a Heartbeat.

What do you think of the album? Let me know in the comments.

Song of the Day: A Little Forgiveness

Eurovision Review: Sweden with Heroes

First Thoughts: What exactly is the protocol when your favorite Eurovision country sends a song you personally don't like, or maybe just a song that you would like, except you poured your heart and your soul into a different song during that country's national final? Hmm. My mum and my MorMor just seem to take it in stride, but I am not a Casual Eurovision Fan. No, sir, no madam. I am a Hardcore Eurovision Fan, which, this year, has been kind of at odds with being a Hardcore Sweden Fan, a Hardcore Mello Fan, and a Hardcore Joik Fan.

I've avoided the issue thus far by being a dirty, filthy traitor and switching to #TeamNorge and pushing the skip button every time a song, TV show, or person said, did, or hinted at anything vaguely heroic. You have no idea how many 'I rescued ten dozen kittens from trees just last week alone' stories never got told because of my horrible dilemma.

But I cannot run from this anymore. It's my destiny. It's time to decide: Do I stay bitter that my Mello winner came in second, or do I once again drape myself in the flag of Sverige like some victorious Viking warrior?

Let's take a look at my original review of this song:

I love this song. I love the way it begins. I love the staging. I love the chorus. I love the light screen behind him, and I love the little light dude he fist-bumps. I love the message of the song. 

But I don't want it to win Melfest. It'd earn Sweden a top 5 placing for sure, but there's just something about it that I can't quite place my finger on that makes me unhappy it's the bookie's favorite. Perhaps it's just too far-reaching for my taste. We are the heroes? Whose heroes? Certainly not the millions that die of starvation every year. Surely not the billion people who don't have access to clean water. Yes, the world is changing for the better, but I think it's a bit too much to say we're 'heroes.' And on that note, who are the heroes? Am I a hero? Is Sweden a hero? Is Europe a hero? Is everyone a hero? This sounds more like a theme song for the EU than a winning Mello entry. 

Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10 - a great song, but just not a winner for me.

It seems I like this song rather a bit. In fact, I even went so far as to say I 'loved it.' But that doesn't change the fact that it won Mello. 

Best Lyric: The intro is definitely my favorite part. Don't tell the Gods I left a mess. I can't undo what has been done, let's run for cover. What if I'm the only hero left, you better fire off your gun, once and forever. He said, "Go dry your eyes and live your life like there is no tomorrow, son, and tell the others to go sing it like a hummingbird, the greatest anthem ever heard..."

Worst Lyric: We're dancing with the demons in our minds. I like to think that if I do have little devil-lings scampering about in my skull, I'm not dancing the tango with them every night.

Finalist?: Are you kidding? It's the favorite to win. The only way this isn't getting into the final is if someone decides to start the Apocalypse during his semi.

Final Thoughts: Nah, I'm still bitter.

Score out of 12: Zero, because I cried a waterfall over Jon Henrik. No, really, it's called the Weeping Waterfall and it's just west of here and... Oh, all right. I give it an 8. You're not getting anything more from me, though.

Kaija's Favorite Genre of Music

I'm sure my loyal subjects are all anxiously awaiting to hear what Princess Kaija's favorite genre of music is.

Surely a princess as poised and graceful as Kaija spends her days listening to classical music, oui? Non!

Well, then perhaps Her Majesty enjoys alternative music. Princess Kaija is as unique as a rainflower; it would only be logical. Nope, not alternative either.

Okay, I'll give you a hint: At our last kingdom-wide dinner party, the Their Majesties the Queen and Princess Kaija served a dessert named after this obscure genre of music. What! You missed our dinner party? Well, I can't give you the recipe, because it's a Super-Duper Classified Royal Secret, but I can tell you the name: scandipop.

Yup, that's right. My mum, AKA the Queen, thought my favorite music genre sounded like a dessert (which it totally does), so we consulted with the royal chefs to create our Awesomely Amazingly Yummy Scandipop Dessert!

You can listen to some scandipop here (do it for the princess) and eat some Scandipop at the next kingdom-wide feast, which will take place in the Royal Courtyard on the first day of the Month of Crimson Flowers! Both myself and the Queen look forward to seeing you there!

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 22 - Best Thing to Happen This Year

The best thing to happen this year was, without a doubt, Melodifestivalen! #GoSverige!

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 21 - Favorite Foods

My top 10 favorite foods are as follows:

1. Cupcakes
2. Sushi
3. Candy
4. Gyros
5. Mustard Herring
6. Avocados
7. Swedish meatballs
8. Olives
9. Tacos
10. Empanadas 

Melodifestivalen Final Results

So, Måns Zelmerlöw won Melodifestivalen. Am I happy for him? Ja, very. Do I think Sweden picked the best song for Eurovision? Ultimately, and honestly... Ja.

But I wanted Jon Henrik or Eric Saade or Linus Svenning or Magnus Carlsson to win so badly! Linus would have done amazing in Vienna, and I loved Jon's joik. Am, yeah, maybe I'm bitter. You let me down, Sverige.

Please excuse me while I repaint my castle in the colors of #TeamNorge.

Melodifestivalen Countdown: Three Hours Left

There's only three hours left until Mello, and things are getting exciting. I can hardly stand the excitement.

Melodifestivalen Countdown: Five Hours to Go

With only five hours to go until the final of Melodifestivalen, I've already had fika and hung my Swedish flag on the banister. Måns Zelmerlöw is the heavy, heavy favorite, but I'm still rooting for Jon Henrik. Between the international juries and the televote from Luleå to Malmö, I think it's anyone's game at this point. May my favorite the best song win.

Melfest Review: Magnus Carlsson - Möt mig i Gamla Stan

Let's end this thing with a bang and dive straight into what makes this song so dang awesome.


Things I Like about Möt mig i Gamla Stan:

• The song. All of it. Beginning to end. It's just great.
• Magnus' stage presence. He is there, and you know it.. 
• The dancers. Super hip.
• The light show. Awesome, but not dizzyingly so. Dazzling, but not seizure-inducing. 

Things I Don't Like about Möt mig i Gamla Stan:

• What's not to love?

Verdict: 9/10 - I love it, but I think we all know it's not going to win. 

Vad tycker du? Who's your Mello winner 2015? Tell me in the comments!

Melfest Review: Hasse Andersson - Guld Och Gröna Skogar

I like this folksy little number. I think it has about as much chance of winning Eurovision as the UK does every year, but I like it. (Sorry, Britain.) I love the dancers, I love the stage set-up, and I love the way he's got that fun-morfar thing going for him. I also love Violin Girl in the background, and her cool little instrument. In one of the Balkan countries, he'd have a great shot of winning, but Sweden takes Eurovision far too seriously to send him to Vienna.

Sorry, Hasse. You might not be Popular, but I think you're super cool anyway.


Verdict: 7.5/10

Melfest Review: Jessica Andersson - Can't Hurt Me Now

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this song. It starts out pretty terribly, gets slightly better, and finishes with a decent ending. The beginning reminds me of Sanna's Empty Room, except with poorer vocals and worse lyrics, and there's very little that I actually like about the song. Let's break it down.

Things I Like About Can't Hurt Me Now:

• The lighting. Honestly, it's the best part of the performance.
• "All by myself, I'm letting go. I have to find strength in what I know." Best lyric in the song.

Things I Don't Like About Can't Hurt Me Now:

• The beginning. 
• Jessica's stage presence. She sort of just stands there and rocks back and forth while waving her arms about. 
• The dress. That slit is way too high, and what is it with the capes this year? Seriously. 
• The rest of the song. 

Overall verdict? 3/10. It could have been better. A lot better. 

What do you think? Tell me in the comments!

Melfest Review: Mariette - Don't Stop Believing

I don't particularly like this song, but I like its message. I'm also rather fond of her dancers and the light show behind her. Even her cape dress has grown on me since the first semi-final of Mello.

That being said, I don't see a Top 5 placing in her future. There are much better songs in Melfest this year.

Verdict: 6/10

Melfest Review: Linus Svenning - Forever Starts Today

Linus, Linus, Linus. I love this song. From the first few opening chords to the explosive chorus and the fiery drums to the uplifting ending, I am in love with this song. I've been playing it on repeat since he released the official audio of it, which you can listen to right here:

I'm probably a little bit biased, because I've loved Linus since he first sang Bröder in last year's final. I've listened to all the covers and original songs on his channel (which I highly recommend, by the way) and I love the way his voice has evolved over the years.

Unfortunately, I don't think Linus is going to win Mello this year. He's way down in the odds, and there are a lot of other good entries as well. I do hope he tries again, though, and I hope he sets his sights on releasing an album sometime soon.

Let the world know, never let you go... To the end of days, forever starts today.


Verdict: 10/10. I love you, Linus.

Melfest Review: Dinah Nah - Make Me La La La

Please don't Make Me listen to this song again. But, hey, it's not all bad, right?


Things I Like About Make Me

• Dinah's hair. Pink is so her color. 
• The electro beginning, and the first few lines. 
• The dancers are pretty cool too.

Things I Don't Like About Make Me

• The rest of the song.
• "Make me la la la." La la la-ing isn't a proper verb. Does this dude make her sing? Does he remind her of Cyprus with La La Love? Does he inspire her to utter random syllables?
• "Like a plane in the sky, you bring me so high." I really hate height/plane/highness references in songs. They just feel lazy, you know? Why can't someone be as high as a spaceship for once? Like a starship in space, you are my light... (Hey, I never claimed to be a good songwriter either!)
• Those flashing lights should come with a seizure warning.

Verdict: 5/10. I will probably be pushing the mute button when Dinah comes on in the final. Sorry, love.

Music Shuffle Games Part Four: Zombies

1. Border Song - Elton John

2. I Belong in Your Arms - Chairlift

3. Why Don't You Get a Job? - The Offspring

4. Monster - Skillet

5. Something Better - Softengine

6. Penny Lane - The Beatles

7. Take a Giant Step - The Monkies

8. If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

9. Not Alone - Aram MP3

10. Jag är fri - Jon Henrik Fjällgren

That would be the strangest dang zombie apocalypse ever. It starts out as a comedy, then I become a monster by killing my loved one, then I decide that there are better things in life than another group of survivors, then I realize that even if I turn into a zombie, I'm not alone. And then I discover freedom in death.

Melfest Review: Samir och Viktor - Groupie

This song kind of reminds me a little of a new song by those two Dutch twins who competed in JESC a year or two back.

Back to Mello. The song is kinda catchy, and kinda annoying. I have a very vague idea of what it means, and perhaps I'd like it better if I understood Swedish, but as it stands now, Groupie just is not my cup of tea. It's one thing to take selfies and 'groupies' with those ridiculous sticks; it's another thing to sing an entire three minute and twelve second song about it. I like the rhythm, and the dancing too, I guess, but that's about it. I also don't think it has a shot of winning, but maybe that's just me.

Verdict: 2/10

Vad tycker du? Leave a comment with your verdict!

Melfest Review: Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes

I love this song. I love the way it begins. I love the staging. I love the chorus. I love the light screen behind him, and I love the little light dude he fist-bumps. I love the message of the song.

But I don't want it to win Melfest. It'd earn Sweden a top 5 placing for sure, but there's just something about it that I can't quite place my finger on that makes me unhappy it's the bookie's favorite. Perhaps it's just too far-reaching for my taste. We are the heroes? Whose heroes? Certainly not the millions that die of starvation every year. Surely not the billion people who don't have access to clean water. Yes, the world is changing for the better, but I think it's a bit too much to say we're 'heroes.' And on that note, who are the heroes? Am I a hero? Is Sweden a hero? Is Europe a hero? Is everyone a hero? This sounds more like a theme song for the EU than a winning Mello entry.

Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10 - a great song, but just not a winner for me.