Anton Ewald: "This time I'm in it to win it"

Photo: Peter Cederling

The Melodifestivalen 2014 is starting on Saturday and im going to start this week with a Melfest interview! He is one of the biggest favorites of this year! Last year he got a 4th place in the final with his song "Begging" and this year he is going to be the "Melodi Nummer 8" in 4th semifinal! Here are the answers of ANTON EWALD:

Name: Anton Ewald
Age: 20
Birthday: August 7
Height: 183 cm
Favorite Color: black
Favourite food: meat with french fries
Shoe Size: 43/8.5
Eye color: green/blue/gray
Where are you right now? -At home in Stockholm
3 things that makes you happy: -Friends, success, family
Home alone and your bored. What do you do? -Play video games 
What are you really good at? -My job, creating music and choreographing 
What are you really bad at? -Checking my schedule
Childhood idol: Michael Jackson
Craziest thing you've ever done: Jumped from a building to another
Favorite movie: Remember the titans
Favorite TV series: Orange is the new black, sons of anarchy
Tell me a super power you wish you had: Flying
What's your favorite part of your body? -My face
What is your guilty pleasure? -Pizza!!
Name a song that never fails to make you happy: The way u make me feel - MJ
Tell me some of your bad habits: I can be very lazy..
If you were a product, how would you sell yourself? -As the best product ever made. what else? haha
Can you teach me some interesting words in swedish? -Rösta på Anton Ewald i Melodifestivalen! - Vote for Anton Ewald in the Melodifestival!

Hej Anton! Welcome back to MF! The semifinals are getting closer, how do you feel right now?
-Im felling alright, not that nervous yet. I usually get nervous a couple of hours before I'm about to perform.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
-One word. Entertainer.

What did you learn from last year experience?
-Talk to the media, haha! 

2013 was a great year for you, what can you tell me about it?
-I did about 50 shows in Sweden that summer and it was amazing to meet all of the lovely fans!

You're coming back to Melodifestivalen after a great result last year, what are your expectations for this year?
-This time I'm in it to win it.

"Natural" is the title of your song. Whats the song about? what did you think the 1st time you heard it?
-I got goosebumps the first time i heard it. It's a great song about never giving up on someone u love.

Describe the song with 4 words: 
Up tempo, soul, happiness, sadness.

Lets talk about the performance, what can we expect to see on stage? are we getting the famous crotch grab dance move in the choreography?
-Haha, well… I choreographed this years number myself again and it will be stylish with lots of power and finesse.

Do you know what you are going to wear for the semifinal? any hint?
-An evolvement from last year. But same ''vibe'' as last year.

What can you tell me about "Close up" and its great video? how fun was to shoot it?
-It was great to shoot it, lots of fun and laughter! And if u ask me its the best song I've ever written so for those of u who haven't heard it yet, go check it out! Its a cool song.

Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word:
2013: Fans
Eurovision: Robin Stjernberg
Bed: sleep
Hashtag: instagram
Begging: me
Fangirling: love
Robin Stjernberg: friend
Love: fans
Justin Timberlake: awesome
The queen: swedens queen
ATeam: my angels

Apart from Melodifestivalen, what are your plans for 2014?
-Releasing an album and go out on a tour

Is there anything you want to say to close the interview?
-I hope everyone will enjoy what i will bring to this contest and vote for me. Take care, much love! 

Thanks to Anton for the interview! If you like him remember what he taught us: Rösta på Anton! Melodi Nummer 8 on February 22! Lycka Till Anton!

Here is his official website: http://antonewald.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antonewaldofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/antonewald
Instagram: http://instagram.com/antonewald

France 2014: The Songs

Yesterday the 3 acts that are competing to represent France in Eurovision 2014 presented their songs and here they are:

Destan - Sans toi

I think the boys need to work on their vocal performance, it wast bad but it can be much better (Quentin had good vocals). Im not a fan of the song yet, i liked it but i think it lacks of something.

Joanna - Ma liberté

She is talented and the song is not bad but the whole act is just blah.

Twin Twin - Moustache

This was the performance i liked the most from the 3 acts and i think their song is the most interesting and its also very catchy! So yeah, right now they are my favs!

Overall i think the whole selection is not bad but there is no Eurovision winner over here! I have no idea who is going to win but im on Team Twin Twin and Team Destan! We will know the winner on March! Good luck to all of them! 

A Dal 2014: Heat 1 - The Results

Here are the results from the 1st heat of A Dal 2014:

Qualifiers by the juries

Viktor Király - Running Out Of Time

Marge - Morning Light

Leslie Szabó - Hogy segíthetnék

Qualifiers by the public

Ibolya Oláh - Egy percig sztár

Group’n'Swing - Retikül

Depresszió - Csak a zene

Photos: Samu Mihály Galos, Zoltán Nagy (MTVA)

Here are the videos and some comments:

Josef Johansson: "My music is both simple and complex at the same time"

Happy Sunday to everyone! Here is a new Melodifestivalen interview! He is a very interesting artist and i cant wait to listen to his mello song! Here are the answers of JOSEF JOHANSSON:

Name: Josef Johansson
Age: 19
Height: Im a shortie!
What is the strangest thing you have in your room? I have some strange african instruments that sounds like whales roaring.
Tell me some of your bad habits: I am a diet-coke junky! 2 gallons a day! 
Can you teach me some interesting words in swedish? Hmm... "Ambivalent" is a beautiful word in my opinion. 
I guess you can translate it as feeling uncertain and almost scizophrenic towards something.
Out of all the diffrent emotions we humans are able and sometimes forced to feel, my state of mind just happens to be one of "ambivalens" 98% of the time I'm awake.

Hej hej Josef! The Melodifestivalen is getting closer, how do you feel right now?
Im fine thanks!

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I am most of all a fan of music, my music is both simple and complex at the same time.
I hope to be a fresh breeze in the category of young male performers.

"Hela natten" is the title of your song and its written by Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Peo Thyrén and yourself. How did you feel working with them?
I adore them, everybody brought their flavor to the song in my opinion. Boström & g:sson really knows the formula of a hit.

What can you tell me about the song? whats the story behind it?
I think everyone can find their own interpretation in the song but to be perfectly honest it's about two things: sex & space.
Yeah, I know it's a fucked up combo, but who would have known pizza and pineapple would work so well together? haha

It's kind of funny though, how big impact watching documentary-series like "planet earth"  had on me. Not to mention being in Iceland, a country which has this raw energy to it .
It's almost like there is a pre and post iceland in the timeline of my songwriting.
Before it was all about love from a realistic & human point of view ... But now it's more about pre:destined love from an otherwordly  & sometimes physiological angle... I'm drawn to metaphors of landscapes, changing seasons and weather.
I guess i have always been kind of spiritual in a non-religious way, but I haven't really embraced that part of myself until recently.

Describe the song with 4 words:
Sex, Winter, Spring, love

Lets talk about the performance, what can we expect to see on stage?
I think you can expect alot of heart and soul, but as far as  explosions, gold confetti and pyro goes i'm kinda allergic to that.
I want to keep it simple and minimalistic, the focus should be on me and the song itself.

Do you know what you are going to wear for the semifinal? any hint?
I am actually VERY privileged to work with stylist Naim Josefi for my outfit. He recently styled Lady Gaga, but is also working alot with swedish singer Laleh and Icona pop.
We are in the process of putting together a moodbook for the outfit, so I can't reveal more that that 

Did you watch eurovision 2013? any favorite?
I'd have to say the swedish entry (:0 haha!

What do you like about eurovision?
The fact that anything goes! hungarian folk-music? why not! Danish flute-pop? Sure! Finnish hardrock? well yes please!...That's kind of unique for eurovision.

Tell me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word:
2013: change
Fear: nothing
Watermelon: green
Stage: fun
Night: bugs
Hair: head
Christer Björkman: nice!!!!! 
Clones: Twins
Bed: Night
Dream: Bed

What are your plans for 2014?
Oh! we'll have to find out! you never know 

Is there anything you want to say to close the interview?
Thanks for the questions! they were great! 

Thanks to Josef for the interview! Lycka till in Melodifestivalen! He is part of the 4th semifinal on February 22! So if you like him, vote for the melodi nummer 5!

Here is his official website: http://www.josefjohansson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Josef-Johansson/341632512615887
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosefJohansson1
Instagram: http://instagram.com/josefjohanssonofficiell/