For the nostalgia / Frem fra glemselen: Smoke City - Underwater Love

Do you remember this one? Apart from the "foreign" language part this was a somewhat untypical summer hit. Not at all accessible. Beeing featured in a quite sexy Levi's jeans commercial and released in 1997 when Portishead was at the top of their game obviously helped it though. Nothing sums up a Bergen summer more accurately:

"After the rain comes sun, and after the sun comes rain again"

I didn't remember the video was this good. It's class. Unlike most other songs in the genre summer hits this one has stood the test of time surprisingly well. I'm still fascinated how they on this track have managed to capture the underwater mood. Just makes you wanna jump in and lie about floating for a while. Every time the Portuguese parts kick in - still give me the chills! If you like relaxing music like this, I would also recommend you to check out another Smoke City song: It's Amazing. 

Eurovision predicitons

It's that time of year again! Time for Eurovision, and my predictions for semi final 1:

Qualifiers:

Russia
Cyprus
Romania
Greece
Ireland
Iceland
Denmark
Austria
Moldova
Albania

Loreen - My Heart Is Refusing Me

I'm not all excited about Melodifestivalen anno 2011. In true swedish style the best songs have been voted out a long time ago. I miss Sebastian, Le Kid, Dilba and Melody Club in what could have been a grand national final. The fact that Loreen was voted off in the last round doesn't make me any less grumpy. It is The Song of the national final season for me. Miss Talhaoui, who actually is a 2004 Pop Idol looser, delivered a stunning performance of this hertz&schmertz dance track:

I can not be the only one who gets this, as she is actually topping the swedish iTunes chart at the moment, despite losing out in the tv voting. The only thing she needs now are more Twitter followers. She sure does not tweet much, but she clearly deserves to have more than 72 followers.

The world needs more colours

It is not often an artist sticks to the same theme for several videos in the same way as The Sound of Arrows does. The duos' beautiful, brand new video for Nova is a perfect sequel to the equally fabulous Into The Clouds 

They welcome us into a fascinating pink, yet stylish wonderland. I just wait for unicorns and that fluffy monster from The Neverending Story to jump out of my screen any time. Nova as a song is about as good as it gets in my book. If there is any justice in the world of pop these days, this should be the anthem for Spring 2011.

Sit back and enjoy!

Margeret Berger is back on track!

"I've put my hair up 'cause I want to dance"

The week starts off on an extremely good note as the fabulous Silver Fairy Margaret Berger announced on her Twitter that her new single will be released in just 21 days! Whatever happened to earlier rumoured songs "You Make Me Wanna Cry on Fridays" and "Lost in London" no one knows, but hopefully they will end up on her highly anticipated third album. I'm so excited to hear her new songs! If they are only half as good as earlier singles "Samantha", "Robot Song" and "Will You Remember Me" I will be in pop heaven!

Let's celebrate with this partypopper. Recorded back in the Silver Fairy era "Girls" was for some reason not included on the album. It appeared on an anti piracy promo cd compilation sold in stores only.

Girls by alesta81

Something to vote for: Girl Happy - SOS

The overall quality of Melodi Grand Prix is quite good this year, but few songs really excite me. Girl Happy's SOS is as close as it gets. This song will for sure get my vote on Saturday if the guys know how to work with the camera. Why are robot lyrics so irresistible? Margaret Berger's Robot Song, Röyksopp & Robyn's The Girl And The Robot and Simon Curtis' Fell in Love with an Android are fine examples. Having robot lyrics in an MGP-song is of course the best way to get my approval. And not to forget there is also an 80's beat, a super catchy sing-a-long chorus and hand claps! 

Click here to hear the song (requires Media Player)

Or here if you have Spotify 

 

I wanna feel the air on my machinery

A touch of love inside my circuitry

Come one and save me from my own technology

I’m losing control, I need to switch mode

Hear me, I am transmitting a distress code

Soothing Sunday: Jamie Woon - Night Air

This is the perfect soundtrack for a sunday. A song that cures hangovers! The beautiful, blue video is an unusually perfect match for the song. I'm waiting patiently for Jamie Woon to get his norwegian release.

On my radio

Eva & The Heartmaker - Signals

 

Eva Wheel Skram and her husband are releasing their 3rd album next month. Things are looking good as they continue where Mr. Tokyo left off with this radio flirt of a song. When I first heard it on my radio I misheard it as something by Marit Larsen - a sign of approval if there ever was one! Getting quite a lot of airplay this one, and deservedly so. This is pure pop, sparkling with life. Bring on spring. 

Top 10 of 2010

Since everyone seems obsessed with year-end lists, I might as well do my own list of favourite songs from 2010. Hear the full list on Spotify.

1. Melanie Fiona – Monday Morning 

Technically a 2009-song, but I discovered it in 2010 when it became a hit in Sweden. This was the most played song on my iTunes this year. A perfect pop package with a dash of retro soul. I didn’t think they made music like this any more! With her 2^nd album coming up, 2011 should be Melanie Fiona’s year.

2. Private– My Secret Lover (new radio edit)

This song, from Private’s 2007 debut album of the same name, was re-edited for its 2010 UK release, and for once the remixed result turned out even better than the original. Who knew danes did groove?

3. Robyn - Indestructible 

2010 was without a doubt Robyn’s year, and this is in my humble opinion her best single release to date. Sparkling, uplifting pop doesn’t get much better than this.

“I never was smart with love, I let the bad ones in and the good ones go. But I'm gonna love you like I've never been hurt before. I'm gonna love you like I'm indestructible”

4. Scissor Sisters – Fire with Fire

A song that when the chorus finally kicks in just makes me want to dance. Every time. The album Night Work had the most memorable album cover of the year.

5. Pain Of Salvation – Road Salt

The only ballad in my list. It is a subtle, restrained effort no one would have guessed came right out of the spectacle that is Melodifestivalen. The best MF-song in years. 

6. Miike Snow - The Rabbit 

With this one I feel some resemblance to Sam Sparro’s Black & Gold. Not just music-wise, but also in the fact that none of them achieved the stardom they really deserved.

7. Bjørn JohanMuri – Yes Man

The moral winner of Melodi Grand Prix 2010. Despite having one of the biggest radio hits in Norway this year, his debut album surprisingly flopped. The other singles +  Iron Love is also worth checking out.

8. Madcon – Glow

Choreography of the year. Endless hours of fun doing the funky chicken. Bow and arrow, bow and arrow! In retrospect this is probably what Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo will be remembered for.

9. Mariah Carey – Oh Santa

Christmas IS merrier with Mariah. Just as All I want For Christmas Is You this new song also flirts with some 50’s / 60’s sound and boosts enough glitter and cheers to make yet another joyful december. The world needs more up tempo christmas songs.

10. The Wombats – Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)

A partly norwegian band with one of the most energetic traks of 2010. Another band to look out for in the year to come.

My 1st choice for festive music

  
My very first blog entry should of course focus on music. Alienhits - #1 hits from a Another Planet was the first music blog I started following on a regular basis, and it still is my preferred place to discover new, fresh and up-beat music.  

The blog is run by Nick James, an american with a rare fixation on music from the alien planet of Scandinavia. He shares my love for all things festive. In music that means big choruses, strong melodies, unforgettable hooks and beats that makes you want to turn up the volume and jump with joy. This is the site where an album is jugded by how many up tempo tracks it includes. Of course I approve. 

Alienhits.blogspot.com