When a girlfriend of mine went to Mexico to study Spanish, I thought it might be a good idea to learn it as well as we were planning on moving to Spain on her return.
I enjoyed it so much I also decided to learn Japanese, as I've always had a fascination with the Japanese culture and one day hope to move to, or at least visit, Japan.
Me and the girl broke up last year, whilst she was still in Mexico. It was an amicable break-up so we've both stayed friends. She now goes out with a very nice Swedish guy so I thought I'd make an effort to make him feel more at home.
Also, his sister is quite hot, a proper Swedish blonde, so I thought it might impress her!
First semi final in a couple of weeks(9th Feb) so plenty time to chew over the lineup...
Semi final 1 - Göteborg 9th Feburary
1. E-Type & The Poodles - Line Of Fire
2. Face 84 - Alla Gamla X
3. Velvet - Deja Vû
4. Brandur - Lullaby
5. Michael Michailoff - That's Love
6. Amy Diamond - Thank You
7. Suzzie Tapper - Visst Finns Mirakel
8. Christer Sjögren - I Love Europe
Semi final 2 - Västerås 16th February
1. Ola - Love In Stereo
2. Lasse Lindh - Du behöver aldrig mer vara rädd
3. The Nicole - Razborka
4. Alexander Schöld - Den första svalan
5. Rongedal - Just A Minute
6. Sanna Nielsen - Empty Room
7. Andra Generationen - Kebabpizza, Slivovitza
8. Carola and Andreas Johnson - One Love
Semi final 3 - Linköping 23rd February
1. BWO - Lay Your Love On Me
2. Mickey Huskic - Izdajice
3. Frida feat. Headline - Upp o Hoppa
4. Thérèse Andersson - When You Need Me
5. Patrik Isaksson - Under mitt tunna skinn
6. Caracola - Smiling In Love
7. Ainbusk - Jag saknar dig ibland
8. Eskobar - Hallelujah New World
Semi final 4 - Karlskrona 1st March
1. Niklas Strömstedt - För många ord om kärlek
2. Calaisa - If I Could
3. Daniel Mitsogiannis - Pame
4. Linda Bengtzing - Hur svårt kan d va?
5. Nordman - I Lågornas Sken
6. Sibel - That Is Where I'll Go
7. Fronda - Ingen mår så bra som jag
8. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero
Featuring a huge drum set on a raised platform, the first song of Melodifestivalen 2008 is rehearsed on stage. The chemistry between E-type and The Poodles grows with each run through of the song. The performance will feature pyrotechnics and it's a big opening to the competition. The song is uptempo, and features both The Poodles' traditional rock sound and E-type's dance vocals.The performance makes use of the traditional Melodifestivalen catwalk into the audience.
Song 2: Alla gamla x - Face-84
The girl band appear with guitars and are the first act of the year to walk us around some of the new areas of the stage set. The melodic mid tempo pop song, the first of the year in Swedish, features some traditional Eurovision dance steps and the debutants at the competition look anything but overwhelmed. It's a strong performance from the first run through of Alla gamla x and the band have a sound that reminds a little of The Bangles.
Song 3: Deja vu - Velvet
The wait for schlager fans is over. Velvet is back at Melodifestivalen with a big schalger song. This is uptempo, powerful and Velvet is showing that she's still developing into a fantastic performer. There's crafted choreography with modern dance moves, powerful vocals, a catchy chorus, big hair and the welcome return of the wind machine. This song will please fans of the show and Velvet could be one of the artists in the final shake up with this song.
Song 4: Lullaby - Brandur
Brandur makes his Melodifestivalen debut with a strong but simple ballad. There are similarities between his voice and style and Will Young, and the song makes a huge statement by its simplicity. A black grand piano is the feature of the stage and the backing vocalists add power and feeling to the performance.
Song 5: That's Love - Michael Michailoff
Another Melodifestivalen debutant, Michael's song is a mid tempo rock/pop song reminiscant of Sebastian and Andreas Johnson. Her performs with backing singers with guitars and a keyboard to stage right whilst taking up mid stage position alone. The song is well produced but is not one of the favourites to reach the final according to the bookies.
Song 6: Thank You Amy Diamond
The wildcard entry in this semi final has a powerful euro-pop song, and takes to the stage like a duck to water. With solid choreography, vocal talent and perfect use of the cameras, she shows a performing maturity that few artists ever achieve. The song is uptempo, poppy and is definitely in contention to win the competition. Many comparisons with a young Carola have been made and the artist that turns 16 just a month before the Eurovision Song Contest may take the title of youngest ever Melodifestivalen winner away from the MF Queen 25 years after her own teenage victory.
Song 7: Visst finns mirakel - Suzzie Tapper
Suzzie Tapper, the lead singer of 1980s band Suzzies Orchestra is back and takes her place in the Melodifestivalen lists for the first time. The song is simple, slow and sultry with a performance to match. There is tonnes of character and it comes across nicely.
Song 8: I love Europe - Christer Sjogren
This is pure Swedish danceband, the lyrics make this a shortlist candidate for the EU's much anticipated European national anthem and the song is raising laughs and eyebrows in the arena. A big bang style performance with lots of trumpeting, feathers, feathered bikinis, this song could surprise a few people and go straight to Globen. After 30 years as a performer, Christ finally makes his debut bow in the competition, it is likely to live long in the memory
Final now decided - final is 15th march so time to start going through the songs...
Amy Diamond - Thank You
Popular artist in Sweden but this is a bit of a dirge in bubbly pop terms - she's an ok singer but it lacks that catchy chorus that the Swedes are a sucker for.
Another Swedish Eurovision darling - sure to turn on the tears in the final as she did in the semi(where they looked a little 'staged' and get plenty votes, there's just a few too many flaws in the singing for my liking.
Stock verse, nice touch with the lighting, and the usual Swedi pop chorus. Bit samey with plenty that have gone in years past - not the worst tho. Former Eurovision winner too.
That's the business - big voice, massive backing track, sweeping chorus - she's stolen Mika's 'Grace Kelly' verse but that aint a bad thing...early lead for me, altho these type of songs have a good record of 2nd places in this.
Melodifestivalen 2008 - 9th Feb - 15th March
Whats that pillock upto in the kilt?
