"Melodifestivalen" in sunshine

I'm a "schlager"* fan** (to my Husband's horror) (but hey, he still married me...). Every year the European countries will send one "schlager song" to compete in the grand finale, Eurovision Song Contest, broadcasted live all over Europe. So every year, there is a domestic competition, the "Melodifestivalen" in Sweden, on who will get to compete for Sweden.

Since I was a kid, I've been watching the "Melodifestivalen" and the Eurovision Song Contest, giving the competing songs votes, commenting on performances, mostly thinking the wrong song won.

That is, until I moved here. The first few years I lived here, you could only listen to these programs online on Swedish radio. And you sort of have to see it too... even though it should be about the music and the songs rather than the artists, you need to see the performances. It's like listening to the Oscars on the radio...

Yesterday I watched Melodifestivalen online. Since it was in the middle of the day, I hooked up my laptop to my iPod amplifier in the kitchen while having lunch, letting the kids dance and eat waffles. We had a blast. Even though it feels weird to watch it with sunshine.

The important question afterward is always - did the right song win (the tabloids will use a lot of space trying to answer this question the next couple of days)? Well, I didn't really have a favorite, but the song that won probably will have a decent chance in Belgrad, where the Eurovision Song Contest will be held this year.

Here is this year's winner - Charlotte Perelli with Hero;



*A definition of schlager according to Wikipedia: Typical schlager tracks are either sweet, highly sentimental ballads with a simple, catchy melody or light pop tunes. Its lyrics typically center on love and relationships, and feelings.

** I admit... I have a "schlager-playlist" in my iPod...