Monday, January 22, 2024

Sweden - Loreen - Tattoo

Grattis Loreen!
Congratulations Sweden!
Sweden is the winner of the Liverpool Eurovision Song Contest. She won the jury vote but came second in her semi and the final televote.
But it was enough to fend off the competition (read: Finland) and by winning she's the second artist to win Eurovision twice. And she did it on Johnny Logan's birthday! (see more at end of this page)
Loreen's victory is Sweden's 7th and they now equal Ireland's long standing record.

1 - 583 pts   2 - 135 pts in semi 1

digital single
Loreen is the winner of Melodifestivalen 2023 with her song Tattoo written by Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Loreen, Cazzi Opeia, Peter Boström and Thomas G:son.

The song can be found on the 2023 Melodifestivalen 2CD and was released as a digital single on February 25.
The Acoustic version was released on May 5, although a video was there a week earlier.

A cdsingle is out on June 16.
At the moment it's orderable here, with a signed card for UK customers.
The cdsingle in cardsleeve includes the single version and the acoustic.
(Universal  5588238) Thanks Immo and Marcin.

The Topic remix was released as a digital track on August 4.
For other emixes see versions below.

Vinyl Picture Disc
A 7"inch picture discsingle is released in a limited edition on December 22.
It includes Tattoo and the follow up single Is It Love
It's pricey so I'll skip other Christmas presents. Shop around, some shops have a bonus signed card with the order, some others have a more reasonable price.
Here are links to sellers (through Loreen's website)
also at Platenzaak.nl for Netherlands.
Thanks Jan G.


AVOID: A cdsingle (they even call it promo) including some unofficial remixes is spotted but I'm sure it's not official. First it was even misspelled as Tatoo on the sleeve but a new variation with the correct spelling has also turned up.
It appears to come from the same source as the similar counterfeits of Norway, U.K. and Israel.

Loreen (Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui) needs no introduction and after the first press listening of the MF songs the buzz around her return to Eurovision took off.
But many Eurovision winners have tried for a second win and we all know only one succeeded. At the end of this page is a list of those who tried. We love lists.

Of course Loreen = Euphoria, one of the most succesful Eurovision winning songs of the century. You can read all about the chart success, releases, versions and remixes of that one here at the Baku Collection

Ride 2017
Heal & Ride
Loreen's Euphoria album Heal did reach various album charts in the world but her follow up album Ride (2017) flopped. This is a total injustice as it is a great album, probably overlooked for being too experimental, and dark, and missing a club-banger. (and they should have added Statements on it)
I love it and I recommend you give it a listen. 

The Songwriters
I'm always a bit baffled by how many songwriters you need to write a song for Eurovision. The six people (not even a record this year)* responsible for Tattoo have all wrote several to numerous Eurovision entries. And many pre-selection songs as well.
(Mellopedia is a great source to browse for the Swedish ones).
*The all time record is 11 people for Baila El Chiki Chiki by Rodolfo Chikilicuatre (Spain 2008).

Thomas G:Son has his name under 16 Eurovision entries for 8 countries (wiki) including Euphoria. He's also responsible for 99 pre-selection songs for 12 countries.
Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt has another song this year, the Cyprus entry.
He also co-wrote 2021 Eurovision finalists Adrenalina, Voices and El Diablo.
Jimmy Jansson, once a member of The Poets (MF 2002's What Difference Does It Make is a personal MF fave) co-wrote Yes for the 2020 Eurovision that never happened. He's also got his name under Cyprus 2023.
Peter Boström co-wrote Euphoria and also the #26 of the same year Stay by Tooji. So he came first and last in the Baku final, a feat I don't think will be achieved again soon.

MF 2011
Loreen's Melodifestivalen
2011 My Heart Is Refusing Me 
- stranded in the 2nd round (Andra Chansen) duels
2012 Euphoria 
- winner of Melodifestivalen and Eurovision
2017 Statements 
- lost out in the Andra Chansen duels
2023 Tattoo 
- winner of Melodifestivalen

Fun fact, Loreen is one of four returning artists this year. She met one before, way back in Baku 2012.

Versions:
Tattoo - original single version
- digital 25-2, Melodifestivalen 2CD, cdsingle
Tattoo - Acoustic
- digital 5-5, cdsingle
Tattoo - Topic remix (3:31)
- digital 4-8
- also on DMC CD Dance Mixes 332
Tattoo - Topic remix radio (3:03)
- DMC DJ Promo 294
Tattoo - Topic remix extended (3:54)
- digital at Beatport & DJ Pool's ultimix promo pack
Tattoo* - Ray Isaac remix & extended (DJ only, listen here)
- DJ Pool Ray Isaac remix pack (27-5), also on Crateconnect (6-2)
- both remix packs also include mixes of My Heart Is Refusing Me.
Tattoo - Batiste & Mil remix
- digital 20-12, appears under Batiste & Mil
Tattoo - karaoke (mostly instrumental, some vocal/choral effects
- On the official karaoke album

* I know the DJ only stuff is a grey area but I include those available through (paid for) DJ services.
I don't include remixes that are only on Youtube or soundcloud.

Charts:
Tattoo already spent two weeks at #1 in Sweden before the MF final and also entered the Norwegian top 40, Finnish top 20 and a few other charts including the U.K. sales charts (34, 81). (all before the MF final).
Sweden top 100 (Topplistan): 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 2, 6, 10, 13, 7, 3, 6, 6, 8, 14, 20, 36, 29, 37, 35, 40, 47, 22, 27, 35, 35, 35, 47, 55, 62, 58, 56, 48, 55, 65, 65, 66, 88, -   re: 37, 80, 84, 94, -, 94 (1-44)
Norway (VG Lista): 26, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 19, 15, 14, 9, 2, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 18, 30, 21, 29, 31, 30, 29, 36, 36, -, 36, -, 40, - (2-31)
Finland top 20/50 (IFPI): 13, 6, 6, 10*, 16, 20, 24, 27, 20, 13, 3, 4, 12, 21, 24, 32, 35, 41, 47, -  (3-19)
*Finland changed from top 20 to top 50 in week 13
Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 59, 86, -  re: 45, 3, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 36, 36, 38, 49, 65, 77, 80, 84, 97, 99, - (3-19)
Netherlands top 100: 36, 34, 29, 29, 16, 16, 12, 5, 1, 1, 4, 4, 6, 6, 5, 6, 7, 6, 6, 9, 8, 9, 9, 12, 13, 16, 22, 26, 27, 27, 25, 26, 30, 52, 55, 69, 68, 73, 92, -, re: 71, 76, 84, 83, 91, 99 (1-45)
Netherlands top 40: 36, 25, 24, 23, 22, 19, 16, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 5, 7, 13, 21, 27, 34, - (1-25)
Belgium (Flanders) top 50: 19, 7, 18, 13, 10, 8, 12, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 12, 16, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 20, 19, 23, 30, 30, 34, 22, 33, -  re: 45, 35, 31, - (1-43)
Belgium (Wallonia): 38, 32, 5, 4, 2, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 8, 4, 12, 16, 22, 22, 19, 30, 37, 34, 23, 49, 29, 33, 44, 47, 48, 44, 43, - (1-42)
Switzerland top 100: 100, -, re: 68, 1, 1, 3, 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 6, 8, 7, 13, 5, 6, 10, 8, 11, 11, 11, 12, 10, 9, 8, 13, 13, 13, 17, 25, 36, 32, 35, 80, 21, 21, 26, 29, 26, 37, 51, 46, 46, 50, 46, 45, 53, 57, 58, 68, 55, 67, 62, 48, 58, 59, 68, 84, 76, 86, 94, 96, -, 99, - (1-64)
Portugal top 200: 147, 111, - re: 15, 26, 31, 48, 50, 60, 80, 84, 78, 81, 71, 88, 56, 42, 41, 43, 45, 46, 41, 45, 45, 45, 38, 40, 43, 31, 27, 23, 44, 67, 60, 62, 79, 55, 53, 57, 46, 52, 59, 81, 93, 90, 92, 98, 100, 120, 106, 109, 139, 150, 148, 109, 137, 169 162, 169, 154, 177, 167, 165, 177, 165, 180, 182, 180, 196  (1-69)
Italy top 100 (FIMI): 24, 36, 58, 76, 98, 98, - (24-6)
Germany top 100: 7, 12, 25, 28, 30, 28, 31, 35, 38, 50, 55, 51, 43, 53, 54, 56, 59, 64, 62, 58, 63, 54, 60, 63, 68, 75, 70, - (7-28)
U.K. top 100 (OCC): 2, 4, 10, 7, 11, 12, 16, 24, 20, 60, 75, 94, 69, 80, 79, - (2-15)
France top 200 (SNEP): 34, 36, 31, 28, 35, 21, 14, 25, 14, 12, 12, 7, 8, 7, 8, 9, 19, 16, 20, 15, 9, 12, 13, 13, 12, 13, 12, 18, 27, 30, 21, 34, 21, 24, 26, 44, 54, 59, 59, 79, 66, 76, 72, 67, 75, 94, 96, 85, 100, 98, 99, 90, 115, 97, 131, 146, 122, 121, 112, 107, 116, 124, 131, 122, 128, 136, 129, 131, 152, 167, 188, - (7-70)
Bulgaria top 40: 21, 20, 10, 5, 3, 8, 10, 8, 6, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 12, 14, 18, 18, 25, 26, 28, 35, - (3-22)
Austria top 75: 1, 3, 7, 8, 8, 7, 13, 20, 26, 36, 44, 41, 30, 33, 41, 44, 44, 44, 39, 38, 41, 41, 39, 42, 43, 48, 48, 66, -, re: 72, - (1-28)
Denmark top 40 (Tracklisten): 15, 13, 16, 24, 33, 35, 34, 31, 34, 36, 38, -, 34, 31, 35, 35, - (13-15)
Spain top 100: 22, 27, 40, 52, 53, 57, 89, 98, - (22-8)
Suriname top 40** ?, 4, 2, 2, 4, ?
** at the time only the top 5 was published

Certifications
Diamond in France (333.333 certified units)
3x Platinum in Poland
2x Platinum in Belgium, Portugal, Greece
Platinum in Spain, Italy
Gold in Switzerland, Denmark, U.K.


Melodifestivalen 2023
The 2023 Melodifestivalen 2CD is out since Februari 27. Next to many familiar MF names we have Loreen (Sweden 2012), Victor Crone (Estonia 2019) and Loulou Lamotte (2020's cancelled contest entry with the Mama's
Tracklist with some additional release info below.
(Universal 0602455141033)
I bought mine at Bengans



Links and sources:
Loreen: Website (coming soon), FB, Insta
The Sweden post at the Tel Aviv Collection has all the chart trivia you need about the Melodifestivalen and Eurovision hits in the Swedish charts, Updated to 2023
Mellopedia is a treasure trove of Swedish pre-selection and Eurovision facts and figures. It has everything.


Melodifestivalen 2023 tracklist
CD1
Rhythm of my show – Tone Sekelius
- also released a "sped up" version (digital)
Inga sorger – Loulou LaMotte
Haunted – Rejhan
- also released an acoustic version (digital)
Raggen går – Elov och Beny
Diamonds – Victor Crone
Länge leve livet – Eva Rydberg och Ewa Roos
Where are you (Sávežan) – Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Arc north feat. Adam
 Woods
- Also released acoustic and remix (digital)
All my life (Where have you been) – Wiktoria
Comfortable – Eden
Grytan – Uje Brandelius
On my way – Panetoz
Now I know – Tennessee tears
Never give up – Maria Sur
- also released an acoustic version (digital)
Mer av dig – Theoz
- also released a "sped up" version (digital)
CD2
Royals – Paul Rey
- also released a "sped up" version (digital)
Så kommer känslorna tillbaka – Casanovas
- also released a remix (digital)
For the show – Melanie Wehbe
Släpp alla sorger – Nordman
- also released a remix (digital)
Sober – Laurell
Låt hela stan se på – Ida-Lova
Air – Marcus och Martinus
Where did you go – Kiana
Edelweiss – Signe och Hjördis
- also released a remix: EPA remix by Lia Larsson (digital), also as sped-up remix
Six feet under – Smash into pieces
- also released a remix
One day – Mariette
Mera mera mera – Emil Henrohn
Gorgeous – Axel Schylström
- also released a "sped up" version (digital)
Tattoo – Loreen  

Returning Eurovision winners
Loreen was the 15th Eurovision winner to try for a second victory. Only one of them succeeded before her, Johnny Logan. 
Lys Assia and Gigliola Cinquetti managed to add a 2nd place to their palmarès.
Here's a list of all who tried.
1956 Lys Assia, 8th in 1957, 2nd in 1958
1957 Corry Brokken*, 9th in 1958 (last)
1961 Jean-Claude Pascal, 11th in 1981
1962 Isabelle Aubret, 3rd in 1968
1964 Gigliola Cinquetti, 2nd in 1974
1973 Anne-Marie David**, 3rd in 1979
1978 Izhar Cohen, 5th in 1985
1980 Johnny Logan, 1st in 1987
1991 Carola*, 5th in 2006
1993 Niamh Kavanagh, 23rd in 2010
1998 Dana International, failed to get to the final 2011
1999 Charlotte Nilsson / Perrelli, 18th in 2008
2009 Alexander Rybak, 15th in 2018
2010 Lena, 10th in 2011
2012 Loreen, 1st in 2023
* Corry Brokken & Carola also entered the contest before their winning year.
** Anne-Marie David won for Luxembourg and came 3rd for France 6 years later.
 
Here’s a little extra list of winners who won with their second or third participation but didn’t return after that.
1966 Udo Jürgens, 1964, 1965
1972 Vicky Leandros, 1967
1992 Linda Martin, 1984
2008 Dima Bilan, 2006

To be complete: 
Helena Paparizou won in 2005 for Greece, she had already entered in 2001 with duo Antique (ending 3rd)
And then there’s Elisabeth Andreassen and Hanne Krogh. They won as duo Bobbysocks! In 1985. Their La Det Swinge was written by Rolf Løvland who won with his own band Secret Garden in 1995 (Nocturne)
Andreassen sang with Chips in 1982 (8th), Duetted with Jan Werner Danielsen in 1994 (6th) 
and sang solo in 1996 (2nd). Hanne Krogh entered solo as a 15 year old in 1971 (17th) and with Just4Fun in 1991 (also 17th).
 
Johnny Logan, Udo Jürgens and Duncan Laurence also returned as songwriters. Logan even winning in 1992.
Did I miss any?, let me know in the comments.
(but I didn't include returning songwriters, backing singers, conductors or make up artists)

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Latvia - Sudden Lights - Aijā

digital single image
11 - 34 pts in semi 1
Sudden Lights have won the 2023 edition of the Latvian Supernova contest with their self penned song Aijā. (more or less translates as rockabye).

The digital single was released on January 27.
A remix by Makree was released on March 3.
The [Ex] Da Bass remix was released on March 15.
The Leon Somov remix was released on March 31.
The MarkMate remix was released on April 7.
The acoustic version was released on April 28
Two live versions are released on the digital album Zaļais teātris (Live) out December 18. This album also includes 2018 Supernova entry Just Fine.
A different Live LP version with less tracks and only one Aijā is available here

Sudden Lights are Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis, Mārtiņš Matīss Zemītis, Kārlis Matīss Zitmanis and Kārlis Vārtiņš. The band formed in 2012 and have released three albums so far.
They already tried in Supernova 2018 with Just Fine and ended 2nd.


[Ex] Da Bass mix
Versions:
Aijā - single version
- digital 27-1
Aijā - Makree remix
- digital 3-3
Aijā - [Ex] Da Bass remix
- digital 15-3
Aijā - Leon Somov remix
- digital 31-3
Aijā - MarkMate remix
- digital 7-4
Aijā - Acoustic
- digital 28-4
Aijā (live)
Aijā (live acoustic)
- both live versions on digital album Zaļais teātris (Live) 18-12
- One version on the LP version (probably the regular live version)
Aijā - karaoke
- On the official karaoke album (digital)
A slightly different mix was used in the Supernova preview video (see comments)

A few links about the mixers:
[Ex] Da Bass also remixed the Latvian entries by Aminata, Justs, Triana Park and LauraRizotto 
Makree also remixed Aminata and Justs 
Leon Somov also remixed Run With The Lions (Lithuania 2019).

Links and sources:
Sudden Lights WebsiteFB, Shop
Remember Aminata, Justs Sirmais and personal favorite Triana Park.

Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart

12 - 126 pts / 7 - 94 pts in semi 2
Andrew's Australian adventure 2022

Andrew Lambrou (
Άντριου Λάμπρου) will represent Cyprus in Liverpool
His song, Break A Broken Heart, was released on March 2.
The song is written by Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Jimmy Jansson, Thomas Stengaard and Marcus Winther-John.

The sped-up version was released on April 21.

A live version was released on the digital album Panik Concert 2023 (Various artists, October 22). Duetting with Klavdia (Κλαυδία Παπαδοπούλου)

Fellow country mates Voyager released a coverversion of Break A Broken Heart on April 21.

Lambrou participated in the Australian selection for Eurovision 2022 with the song Electrify and finished 7th.
Break A Broken Heart is his fifth single.

The writers: 
For Thomas Stengaard it's his 2nd entry for Cyprus after the fab El Diablo (2021) and his 7th Eurovision entry overall, including a winner. 
Thörnfeld co-wrote Tusse's Voices (Sweden 2021), the aforementioned El Diablo and Adrenalina (San Marino 2021) plus many Swedish Melodifestivalen songs.
Jimmy Jansson co-wrote 33 Melodifestivalen songs but no Eurovision entry, but that could change....
Marcus Winther-John co-wrote the very last entry for Andorra.
Jansson & Thörnfeld are also co-responisble for this year's Swedish entry.

Versions:
Break A Broken Heart - single version
- digital 2-3
Break A Broken Heart - karaoke
- On the official karaoke album (digital)
Break A Broken Heart - sped up
- digital 21-4
Break A Broken Heart (live) - With Klavdia
- digital album Panik Concert 2023 (22-10)

Charts
Finland top 50 (IFPI): 42, -
U.K. top 100 (OCC): 92, -

Links and sources:
Andrew Lambrou FB, Insta

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