Happy Midsummer – or Summer Solstice! If you happened to go to a Swedish midsummer celebration and was wondering what it was all about and how to make the most out of it – see this – a practical guide for next time. Swedish Midsummer for Dummies…
Happy frog dancing!
Enjoy the long summer days!
Johanna
One of the highlights of the Eurovision Song Contest Final from last night was the program in the intermission: The Swedish Smorgasbord, by Petra Mede, Swedish comedienne, dancer and television host.
This is her presentation of Sweden and Swedes for all those of you who are curious – and Swedes to be entertained. Our relationship to church, the need of consensus – even at the combat zone, the talent of doing compost, Carola and many more goodies at the smorgasbord.
Any surprises?
Enjoy,
Johanna
This morning, I was talking to the world. And the world started talking back to me.
Both of us were lonely, a little angry. Both of us looking for a friend.
We were saying how we’d never be alone again.
All I heard was two little words: love, me. Love, me. Love, me.
And that the end of the note, that I wrote to the world:
Can you here me? Are you listening?
Love me.
These are the first lines from one song on the U.S. debut by Swedish singer Anna Bergendahl. On the record label Decca Records website you can read: (more…)
November 10, Saturday morning in San Francisco. The weather temperature changed from 27 degrees Celsius earlier this week, to 12 degrees right now. I woke up early, put on the largest and warmest sweater I have, soft pants and socks, and started to clean up and fiddle around – clean the light holders in the window… while singing Christmas Carols. “Oh ye be faithful…” to be more precise.
Mm… hot tea, nice breakfast – let me play that song on youtube… And this is what I found. (more…)
Went to the best concert last night. More about that later. We started singing on the way home in the car. With this one song, the lyrics didn’t really come to mind, more than the title section… “Gimme Gimme Gimme….” Do you remember?
So, what would we do without google, or youtube?!
Found it! And I later found myself this morning, brushing my teeth, with the iPhone earphone plugged into my ears, door closed, brushing in rhythm, singing along in my mind, and dancing away – remembering the year of… 1985.
No, it is not ABBA – this time. Here it is:
Wohoo! So good! 🙂 No? I actually think it was the year when I was in 3rd grade, one too low to go to the “Mellan stadie disco” for grade 4-6 in the Parkhem School. Without false ID (:O – no, we didn’t even know what that was) – I did go. And came in. And I won the dance competition with the comment “Lillen vinner”. The kid wins.
Young grows old, small grows tall, and these days… the big ones are the winners. LLXLLQ – need no more. The size is a plus!
Enjoy,
Johanna
If you want to get your venture done – it’s all or noting. If you start a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter – it’s all or nothing. Either you reach the finish line – or you don’t. Either you receive all the funds – or none.
The benefits of supporting a Kickstarter project? Well, let me give you an example…
Nicolas Bearde and Bobby McFerrin
These are two great local musicians in the Bay Area, Nicolas Bearde and Bobby McFerrin, normally singing together in the Bobby McFerrin’s renowned vocal ensemble “Voicestra” as well as having their own solo careers. I am going to have a vocal class on stage presence and performance technique with one of them! And receive an Autographed Pre-Launch CD. For $100. Why? As a “Thank you” for supporting the production of the next CD?!?!
Who should thank who?
Anyone else signing up? Check it out! You might prefer a different bonus… (House concert, catered dinner with entertainment, concert tickets, CDs and more).
Click here for the latest update I received from the #YouAreSensational campaign this morning.
So… either Nicolas Bearde reaches his finish line – or I don’t get my vocal session! :O Please like, share and or pledge if you would like to support this. Every act counts. – Thank you!
What does music mean to you? Just saying… oh yes – here is the address: http://kck.st/N0h9X4.
Johanna
To me? I think music is the beat of love and life. Something to support and enjoy.
Smile, is the dance of the face.
Dance, is the smile of the body.
If you are not experiencing that – take a turn!
About Face!
Johanna
The founder of About Face was the one who shared the poem – here they are.
“Operation Artificial Swedener
Sweden lets one citizen tweet for the country every week, but Stephen finds that he is 100xs more suited for this than the entire nation of Sweden.”
I vote yes! for Stephen Colbert to be a @sweden forteign rep for a week. That would be hilarious! Watch the movie, if the code translates properly…
Hubedobedo!
Johanna
Seems like the @sweden followers doubled since this show was aired. Tag on you too! Follow: @sweden
Things often come in three. That is a good thing. Do you want me to share?
The Richter Scales, Rapid Transit, and Keeva A Cappella in concert! Three sets of 30 minutes each. $10 at the door includes all the drinks and Mother’s Circus Animals you want. Doors open at 7:15PM. Singing starts at 8:00PM. Be there!http://rapidtransitacappella.com/
http://www.richterscales.com/
http://www.keevasings.com/2222 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Enjoy,
Johanna
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard them talking about the ongoing series of American Idol. The view numbers are decreasing, and they claimed an American Idol fatigue – the number of artists having performed the same covers starts to be too many. It’s not new any longer.
I know what might be the next big thing. It’s recently been pitched in Sweden. And I won’t say more. Just yet. Can’t wait for it to be created and cross the boarders.
What is similar to American Idol, and is still going strong, is the Eurovision Song Contest. The difference is that the artists participating compete with a new original song, representing their country, voted by the countries and the populations. I wouldn’t say that it is as ingrained in our Swedish culture to watch the national Melodifestivalen, leading up the Eurovision Song Contest Final, as it is to watch Donald Duck 3pm Christmas Eve – but very close.
Here in the U.S., a Norwegian friend hosts an annual party the evening of the final with a replay of the event. Norway won 3 years ago. There are clear and strong instructions to stay out of Social Media and news, so that we don’t know who the winner is… With the new feature of starred Facebook friends, and automatic notifications of their updates on my phone, I didn’t succeed to avoid my cousins shout out real time in Sweden… but it was fun to watch.
There is a sweet rivalry going on in-between Sweden and Norway – but they didn’t deserve to fall that far down the list…
And here is the winning song, “Euphoria” with Loreen from Sweden.
Enjoy,
Johanna
Lyrics: Euphoria
Why, why can’t this moment last forevermore?
Tonight, tonight eternity’s an open door…
No, don’t ever stop doing the things you do.
Don’t go, in every breath I take I’m breathing you…
EuphoriaForever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
We are here, we’re all alone in our own Universe,
We are free, where everything’s allowed and love comes first,
Forever and ever together, we sail into infinity,
We’re higher and higher and higher, we’re reaching for divinity.
Euphoria
Forever, ’till the end of time
From now on, only you and I
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria
An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Forever we sail into infinity,
We’re higher, we’re reaching for divinity…
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria….An everlasting piece of art
A beating love within my heart
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
Euphoria, euphoria
We’re going up-up-up-up-up-up-up
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