The people of Sweden have spoken and, to my great surprise, they agreed with the eleven international juries and Sweden sends Eric Saade off to Düsseldorf.
Eric Saade - Popular (Sweden 2011)
Popular is something Sweden has failed to be lately and has not made top ten since 2006. Last year, Anna Bergendahl was a few points short of reaching the final.
Eric Saade is a much better choice for a number of reasons. He is young, he is handsome, he can dance and he can sing reasonably well during his über-choreographed number.
He is also determined to do well and make an impression internationally, which is way better than most Swedish performers who just say it is fun to take part.
The song is OK, not revolutionary. But like Hungary, a simple pop song, easy to grasp and get a hold on, could work wonders in a year where many countries have sent slightly more complicated songs. Or soothing midtempo numbers.
The things that could really work against this entry is the composer Fredrik Kempe, who until now has been cursed in the ESC, getting dismal placings three years in a row.
When we get the final versions of all songs, it is easier to guess how far Eric Saade will get in the end. But I almost dare promising that Sweden will at least make it out of the semi this time.
Well, if Greece came 8th last year with three minutes of a mobile tone, this one might make it slightly better :)
ReplyDeleteWe can keep our heads high this year, at least... last...
ReplyDeleteThat is great! I mean, I like the entry and I had a kind of feeling that he would win this time! :)
ReplyDeleteI see him as the biggest contestants to win the competition in Düsseldorf!
does any one have the feeling that the drum beat at the beginning was the same to the drumming from the song for rasputin by boney m?
ReplyDeleteLiam:
ReplyDeleteThis is assembled from various bits and pieces from all over the place. If you hear Rasputin you are most probably right. (I hear it too, come to think of it...)
This song has too many elements that won't work on Eurovision stage: they barely let them spread broken glass all over the stage, and Eric's energetically dancing supporting act can hardly provide such a solid backing vocals as they are supposed to at the same time. So they will have to be major changes, again, for Sweden.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand I would love to see Sweden win. They produce year after year such a spectacular Melodifestivalen tour, so I'd love to see how magnificent Eurovision Song Contest they would produce.
Mikko