state of drama

As we continue on our tour of the Swedish pre-selection, we come to a star-studded and exciting semi-final for the year. Onwards ever striving onwards.

Outtrigger – Echo
=> Andra Chansen

It’s no wonder that there was support for this song to take it to the second chance round. While it’s not my cup of tea musically, the presentation is very unique with cages and a straight-jacket, and what comes across as a very “clean” main hard rock singer. Having someone that is not covered in tattoos, blonde, beautiful, is something that is very unique and I think that’s what appealed to me, cause frankly the lead singer has style. The song is melodic enough to have appeal from all areas, and it transitions in a very well produced production. It’s rough around the edges, but actually quite good!

EKO – Red

Take some electronic music, a redhead, and some minimalism and you get this piece of music. What is seemingly inspired by past years of electronic music, this one is an interesting choice for an entry featuring a pretty good singer and band in a way that is simple, and still relatable. The frequent “break out” dance moves and geeky hot piano player and drummer make for a positive music experience, even if it’s a bit “out there” for me. I want to be held now, because really, I am fading! Kind of sad that it comes dead last tho, probably because we don’t know who the heck it is! There is something to be be said of familiarity.

Oscar Zia – Yes we can
=> Finalen

Former dancer turned singer (seems like there are a lot of those), Oscar comes with his sassy man dancers to talk about how they can. I find that the vocals and the presentation is quite teenage focused and as a such since I’m no longer a teeny-bopper, it doesn’t appeal to me. Too young, too generic pop, it just didn’t sit well with me. The dancing is by far the best part of this entry, and as far as I’m concerned it needs to die in the final. There will be no partying in our underwear, just sayin’!

Shirley Clamp – Burning alive
❗ Personal Favourite

The diva is back, this time in English with her epic ballad about burning alive. Always singing about love, and the profession of her trials and tribulations with Melodifestivalen, she brings the wind-machines to a whole new level from start to finish. With the vocals of a true diva, and impeccable ability, she gives ‘er and gives a performance that is very intense. The song isn’t terribly accessible because it’s a ballad, but her vocals and presence on stage is enough to be a winner in any flat year of music. As usual she has that super high note that she holds forever, and then grabs her dress and flys in the wind machine which is kicked into high-gear.

State of Drama – All we are
=> Andra Chansen
❗ Personal Favourite

Back for another go, is State of Drama, with their super charismatic lead singer who looks like he hasn’t aged a day and is super young-looking. With a very good radio hit, this song is a nice accessible song that is fun and just features a bunch of guys dancing and singing around and using a megaphone to get his message across for effect. We all just want to raise our arms and say “hey” when instructed, because really t’s just charming. Too many rings and accessories though. It even has a key change so it just makes is even more fabulous! On a side note, I think he’s kind of a lookalike of the YouTube celebrity Philip deFranco.

CajsaStina Åkerström – En enkel sång

In the 90s she had a hit, and then in 2014 she had a flop. She wrote it herself which is fabulous and all, but really I didn’t connect to this song at all. She looked a bit out of sorts on stage and with strange eye-contact. The fact that it’s a bit country just really made me hate it even more. It’s a simple song, a it’s title suggests, but it just wasn’t for me.

Ace Wilder – Busy doin’ nothin
=> Finalen
❗ Personal Favourite

If there was any hype about a song that is so typically not Swedish, this is it. It’s catchy and something that you would imagine to come out of the creativeness of the Eastern Bloc, but really it’s an unknown singer named Alice Gernandt who surprisingly released an album previously to little attention came out with this simple and super catchy song that would be a great selection to send to Copenhagen this year. If this doesn’t win the whole thing, I’d be really surprised, but she’s got tough competition from Sanna and others in this wide open contest.

Dr. Alban & Jessica Folcker – Around the world

Every time that I see Jessica Folcker on stage I get confused and don’t really understand what’s going on. Now she’s got a Nigerian born Swedish artistic speaking English with an African accident, and Jesscia adding the interesting parts. Tons of confetti, and outfits that make me uncomfortable and not sure what Jessica is trying to pull off, I don’t really know where to look or what to think. It’s catchy, but really it’s just bad, sadly. Why is he a doctor, cause I feel like it’s really a disgrace to use in academia where people actually earn their Dr status.

So after this weeks entries I see a possible winner, and a few other songs that are alright but popular and will be heard on the airwaves for a time to come!