¬ Goodbye!
Dear visitors, readers, downloaders - everyone!
Two years ago Chris started this blog. It was then called Sounds of Sweden, a year later I joined him and the blog became Catchy Tunes of Sweden. It's a been a great 2006, we've been mentioned in a Spanish music magazine (how cool is that?) and on several websites for our contributions on this blog.
We're sorry to say that it's come to an end (all good things come to an end.) Lately we've had no inspiration or desire to continue, which I'm sure you have noticed. However, we're not closing the possibility on doing a "comeback" one day.
The blog will remain online for some time, so make sure you download what you want before we delete it from the system.
To celebrate the fantastic music year of 2006 we will make a final update.
Catchiest Tunes of Sweden 2006 - Chris and I have chosen 11 of our favourite songs from last year, and you may download the album and spread it. Swedish music needs to be heard.
Thanks for tuning in!
Alex & Chris.
Download: Catchiest Tunes of Sweden - 2006
Download: Catchiest Tunes of Sweden - 2006
Tracklist:
Marie Serneholt - That's The Way My Heart Goes
Le Sport - It's Not the End of the World
Ana Johnsson - Days of Summer
West End Girls - Suburbia
Linda Sundblad - Oh Father
Firefox AK - Habibi
Melody Club - Destiny Calling
September - Cry For You
N.E.X - Straight to Bed (Mute8 New York Mix)
Veronica Maggio - Nöjd?
Sally Shapiro - I'll Be By Your Side
Roxette - One Wish
Paris - You and I
Emily McEwan - Love Song
Da Buzz - The Ehco
Marit Bergman - No Party
Bosson - You
Amy Diamond - That's Life
Velvet - Mi Amore
BWO - Temple Of Love
Calaisa - Hey Girl
Agnes - Champion
¬ It can only get better!
Amy Diamond - It Can Only Get Better
I've never been a big fan of Amy's music, it's a bit childish but her singles have always been brilliant. Especially her latest 'It Can Only Got Better' which is outstanding. I love it!
I'm curious to see what Amy has in store for us in 2007, she's getting older (15!) . Perhaps a more mature album? Keep your fingers crossed!
Markus Fagervall - Everything Changes
Markus Fagervall is Sweden's Idol 2006, (note Sweden's - not mine) and he is awful. His voice is flat and non-existing, I'm really surprised he won. The runner-up is much better, and he's hot too. So why am I posting this? Well, I sorta like the song. I think it would've been much better with a female artist.. Agnes would have made this song excellent. With Markus it's just OK.
Anna S - Love You ForeverAs promised! The third single from Anna S, released ages ago. It's a sweet little popsong!
I'd like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year! Gott Nytt År!
¬ Goodbye Nina & Kim :(
Earlier today I was devastated to learn that Nina & Kim split up a few days ago. The picture above is from their last gig ever. For those who didn’t know they were, they used to be the front persons of the Swedish pop “dansband” group called Friends, but after they split a few years ago Nina & Kim decided to continue as a duo, doing more dance oriented pop music. They released an absolutely brilliant - and seriously underrated - album back in 2004 called “En Annan Tid”, which along with Lena Philipsson’s “Det Gör Ont..” is my favourite pop album in Swedish ever. They scored a number one hit song in Sweden with “Om Du Stannar Hos Mig”, and a number two hit with “Bortom Tid Och Rum”. And in 2004 they did the official Stockholm Pride anthem, which was an English version of “Bortom Tid Och Rum” called “Universe Of Love”. They also entered Melodifestivalen in 2004 with the excellent "En Gång För Alla", which criminally ended second last in the semi final.
Apparently Nina is the one who decided to split the duo, due to a depression she’s had for a couple of years. She’s going back to school, and will hopefully get to work with animals in a few years. Kim will stay in show business, presenting the Swedish game television show “Postkodsmilijonären”. I say good luck to both of them, but it’ll be sad not to have them around as popstars anymore.
Nina & Kim – Bortom Tid Och Rum [MP3]
Nina & Kim – Säg Det Nu [MP3]
Nina & Kim – Hallå Hela Pressen [MP3]
2006 has been quite a sad year for Swedish pop, seeing the departure of Le Sport, Weeping Willows, and now Nina & Kim. Plus that A*Teens went from being on a “break” to officially split up.
¬ Pop with sugar, please
Steso Songs – The WorseSteso Songs was one of the support bands of Marit Bergman when I saw her live a few months ago. I instantly became a fan, she was really cute and so was her music. On this song she worked with Nicklas Stenemo (former member of The Mo), and I must say they make quite a team – this song is frigging amazing. “The Worse” is her debut single, and I’m sure P3 will pick it up pretty soon and make it massive. It deserves to be, being catchy as hell and poppier than most things on the Swedish indie scene right now. It sounds a bit like Jenny Wilson high on sugar, and her voice is so bright that you could think she’s singing with her lungs full of vacuum. I also love it a little bit extra because while performing it she did an ace dance routine and threw silver confetti all over the place. Very ace indeed!
Bonus:
Flip Flop (ft. Bobby Baby) – This song is a bit crap to begin with, but after a few listens you’ll discover how tremendously ace it is. The synths, the brilliant lyrics and the growing melody make the song very interesting. Just listen to the chorus; “I went to the beach in my flip flops // to take the time to listen to some hip-hop // tonight I will go to the disco // and dance my feet away to the blip blop”.
Koop – Come To MeI’m usually against everything jazz. With the exception of Amy Winehouse it’s just generally crap. But I’ve been loving this little jazz number ever since I first heard it. Despite the fact that it obviously is very typical jazz, it feels quite modern and catchy. Though the biggest reason I like it has to be the extreme jolliness of the track, I get happy whenever I hear it. Give it a few listens and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it also! Koop is an androgynous jazz boy-duo with a lot of make-up and interesting outfits, and “Come To Me” is the first single from their second album “Koop Island” which was released here in Sweden last month.
¬ Jingle bells!
Günther & The Sunshine Girls - Christmas Song (Ding Dong)What would christmas be without the bells, snow, Santa Claus.. and, eh, the horny Günther with the German accent? Not as fun! Now this is what you should play at your grandmother's house. It's absolutely christmassy and jolly!
Jill Johnson - Christmas On My Own Jill has many times been called the Swedish Shania, and without a doubt she is. And we're all very proud of her too. She's an excellent singer and artist, with a personality that would put Mother Teresa to shame. This is a nice xmassy popsong!
West End Girls - Always On My Mind
Not even the WEG can keep their claws away from the holiday spirit. I don't know the story behind this song, but it's available on The best kids Christmas album in the world ever ever ever!!!-CD! In the UK, I believe. However, it does remind me of another song.. but can't put my finger on it.
Basshunter - Jingle Bells
Did you actually think you would get away from Basshunter? I can't really say this is a favourite of mine, but if people were dumb enough to like "Boten Anna" - then why not this?
Anyhow, I suppose this version won't go down to history.
¬ And it hurts with every heartbeat
Kleerup feat. Robyn – With Every Heartbeat (Meat Boys Remix) It bothers me a bit that we’ve heard the best single of 2007 already. “With Every Heartbeat” is euphoria from start to finish. Almost too good for me to handle. It gives me a feeling only a few pop songs have given me in my entire life. It’s so amazing I can’t obsess over it enough. But, you’ve probably heard it so there’s no point in posting it again. Therefore I’m posting this fantastic remix which I might even like better than the version we’ve already heard. It includes some drums and blips and other ace sounds, and just makes the fact that this is an amazing song a bit clearer. Love it.
Bonus:
This One’s For You – A new track she’s done with the (rather shit) group The Flesh Quartet. The song is really good, though!
Laleh - NovemberIt’s almost criminal that we haven’t featured Laleh on here before, because she’s released some really good pop music. I’ve been meaning to forever but haven’t for some reason. Stupid me. If you haven’t already, you have to check out “Live Tomorrow”, “Hide Away” and “Forgive But Not Forget”, all from her debut album released last year, they are all frigging amazing. Especially “Hide Away” which was in my top five of the best songs of last year. Laleh was the big winner of the Swedish Grammis Awards along with Robyn, and deservedly so. Now she’s back with a new album, and “November” is the first single. Despite not being as good as her previous singles, it’s still very beautiful, and I think it'll make her new album a hit.
¬ SwePop Xmas!
Sally Shapiro – Anorak Christmas (Dyylan Remix)
It’s a little over two weeks left for Christmas eve and we still don’t have any snow here in North Sweden which, quite literally, has never happened before. At least as long as I can remember. But since snow can’t give me that special Christmas feeling, Christmas themed pop songs are going to have to do the trick. And out of the new ones I’ve heard this year, “Anorak Christmas” by Sally Shapiro is my favourite. It’s much like her other songs, sweet and amateurish, but very catchy. You probably have the original version so I’m posting this ace remix which is even more Christmassy than the original.
The Knife – Christmas ReindeerWho else would make the weirdest Christmas song of all time than The Knife? I don’t really know what to write about this song other than it has a good little melody and weird little lyrics. And that it’s not a new track but from 2003. I wouldn’t recommend you to play it at your grandmother’s house this Christmas, but I suppose it suits well as your personal Christmas iPod hit, or something.
