Swedes in London

We've been busy getting settled into our new life in London. Only recently have we been able to start visiting further afield.

When we lived in the UK before, we went to Marleybone and visited the Swedish pub in 2010 to watch the Melodifestival live. Sooz went back to that part of town today, and brought me back a quart of my beloved filmjölk! (Here I am smiling at breakfast this morning.)

She also reported all sorts of restaurants, stores, shops and general Swedishness in the neighbourhood. It is fun to think that we are so close to a proper Swedish enclave, and we will definitely take advantage of it.

The Swedish Embassy runs a great page of information for Swedes in London, as does the Swedish Church. There are lots of other online resources, as well.

I have bookmarked all of these, and I plan to keep a close eye on nearby Swedish events!

The Melodifestival continues

Last night's was in Malmö, and this show was top-heavy with a range of well-endowed singers. The winners were Malena Ernman, an opera signer who hit high C frequently, and Agnes (pictured), who wore a gold lamé catsuit for her disco number.

Next week is the 'second chance' round, and then the grand final the week after. A Swedish pub in London is broadcasting all of the shows. I'm trying to talk Sooz into going..!

Only to be found in the men's room of a Swedish pub!

We're ready for the Melodifestival final!

Last night was the "second chance" show, which is my least favourite of the six-week process. None of those acts are as good as the winners, in my highly-educated opinion at least. What is good is that SVT has now put up video of all the performances, so please take a look.

My favourite is still Loreen's "Euphoria". There's also the Don Draper breakdancing wannabe David Lindgren with a classic Eurodisco/Eurovision song that might play well in Baku. And for sheer head-scratching entertainment value, check out "Mirakel" with Björn Ranelid & Sara Li.

My second fave is Danny Saucedo's catchy song with has some very inventive staging. He is also going last in the running order next week which is usually helpful.

I wish we could be at the Swedish pub in London once again to watch the big final!!!

Oh My God

...is the title of one of the Melodifestival finalists this year, by the Moniker. I don't have the critical skills to describe it properly. Take a look and see for yourself.

The rest of the final ten to compete at the Globe this Saturday are almost as goofy. There's Swingfly's dual-rapper "Me and my Drum" with the bizarre drumming-girl break at 2:05.

And there's the lavishly-tattooed Nicke Borg, a long-time punk rocker who sings a power ballad in English. (Think Poison's "Every Rose has Its Thorn"). The tats come out around 1:25. Still don't get the trousers though.

The Playtones are a bunch of middle-aged guys doing a rockabilly number which should be a German entry, actually.

Danny's "In The Club" might have won in 1989.

I think the winner might be Erik Saade's catchy "Popular". It goes last in the final's running order, which is good. All the girls love him. Good thing it's not a lyrics contest, though, although the shattering-glass trick is pretty cool.

I will miss going to the Swedish pub in Marylebone to watch it, that's for sure.

Here at the Harcourt Arms

....the Swedish pub in Marylebone. The show's about to start and the place is packed!!!

The Melodifestival final!

We'll be returning tonight to The Harcourt Arms, the Swedish pub in London which hosts a huge melodifestival party.

Last year, Sooz had to blag our way in, but this time, I bought VIP tickets in advance. I plan to use twitter this year rather than mini-blog posts. You can access my account here, and there's always a link on the right.

Remember, my pick of the lot is Timoteij, although I have a bad feeling about Erik Saade and "Manboy".

Stay tuned for twitter updates around 6PM London time. I can't wait!!

Melodifestival: Halmstad

Last night was the 'second chance' show, this time from Halmstad. (I had to look it up; it's on the western coast, between Gothenburg and Malmö.)

The format was new. Each of the eight acts were pitted one-on-one against each other. Four duels, four winners through to the final.

Much to Sooz's pleasure, Samir and Viktor made it through to the final show. It is a catchy tune, but watch the video all the way through to understand just why she likes this duo:

The bookies have put Frans as an early favourite. I thought this song was a bit droopy at first, but it is growing on me:

Next Saturday is the big final and we'll be watching live at a local pub. The best news is that Marcia and Rutger will be visiting London this weekend, and they'll be joining us for the show! I feel a little bad that my Swedish friends come to England and I make them watch the Melodifestival, but they're good sports and I'm sure it will be a fun time.