Loreen: Euphoria + My Heart Is Refusing Me + Idol 2004 performances

The 2012 Eurovision Song Contest was held May 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan.  It is a huge TV event in Europe, but one which US audiences are virtually unfamiliar with.  ABBA kickstarted their career in 1974 when they won with "Waterloo", and French-Canadian superstar Celine represented France long before she became famous.  (Most countries now choose to participate with a song in English, not in their native language; this has sparked some debate over the years.)

Last night Sweden won with the song "Euphoria", performed by singer/songwriter/producer Loreen. Born Lorine Talhaoui in Stockholm in 1983 to Maroccan parents, she placed fourth in the first season of the Swedish version of the American Idol talent show in 2004, performing as Loren Talhaoui, and singing mostly R&B songs, including an impressive cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" (skip to 15:55 in the third video below to watch "I Wish").  A single was released in 2005, followed by a career in Swedish television as a producer/director.  A new single co-written by Loreen entitled "My Heart Is Refusing Me" became a hit in Sweden after her performance in the 2011 Swedish qualification rounds of the Eurovison Song Contest despite her not winning.

It is interesting to see how much Loreen has grown and matured as a performer since 2004: she has clearly found her own voice and style which is paramount for an artist wishing to stand out, and has gone from being a 20 year-old eager-to-please, somewhat shy, yet bubbly, costume/hair style chameleon to a confident grown woman, whether bringing down the house with 'Euphoria" barefoot, hair and gown flowing, or doing an exquisite unplugged version of "My Heart Is Refusing Me" in a leather jacket and red lipstick.

Note on "Euphoria" video:  Dallas born dancer Ausben Jordan has recently relocated to Sweden from New York City.  Also a singer and songwriter, he has danced with Snoop Dogg, Madonna, MC Lyte, and more.

Note on "My Heart Is Refusing Me" video:  the Ney flute is played by the Swedish-Turkish musician Ahmed Haci Tekbilek; the guitar is played by Moh Denebi, Loreen's frequent co-writer. (info courtesy of YouTube user 'Pyrsus').


www.facebook.com/LoreenTalhaoui

www.loreen.se/index.html

Drake: Take Care (Featuring Rihanna) + Woodkid: Iron

Two stellar songs brought to powerful visual life by way of stunning, seamless videos directed by French director, graphic designer, and singer-songwriter Yoann Lemoine who goes by the name Woodkid when recording his own music.

Born in 1983, he splits his time between Paris and New York City, and has directed videos for Katy Perry (Teenage Dream), Lana Del Rey (Blue Jeans, Born To Die), Moby (Mistake), Mystery Jets (Dreaming of Another World), The Shoes (Wastin' Time), and more. Lemoine has also done commercials, informercials, and shorts.

www.yoannlemoine.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Woodkid/57436954848


 

Wake Me For Coffee: Dogville

Now a quintet,  Danish band Wake Me For Coffee was originally a solo project started by grown up wunderkind Thorbjørn Nyander Poulsen whose resume reads like that of a renaissance man for the 21st century: musician, singer, producer, maker of musical instruments, toys and effect devices, Gameboy music expert, technology hacker, circuit bender, medialogist, former employee at Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center in NYC, philanthropist.

Here is what he writes about the  'The Mulder Ties', the album which was self-released on May 8:

"The title is inspired by X-Files character Fox Mulder’s colorful neck ties. Thus the album reminisce Mulder’s unstoppable course towards unexplainable phenomena on the verge of the rational, the arbitrary and the supernatural. All eleven songs are individual atypical pop art collages. The musical style is explorative, like a curious child crawling in a cellar or attic surrounded by tucked away LPs, boxes of electronics, photo slides and cross country skis. I call it Rhythm 'n Cruise. Besides being explorative and exciting, the music is characterized by that David Duchovny sarcasm and coolness as well. I make my own electronic instruments and effects by hacking and repurposing technology. That's where many of the sounds originate from."

You can listen to and download the full album on Bandcamp:
www.wakemeforcoffee.bandcamp.com/album/the-mulder-ties

www.facebook.com/wakemeforcoffee

www.wakemeforcoffee.com

The 'Dogville' music video was recorded by Signe Høi Jensen & Thorbjørn Nyander Poulsen and edited by Thorbjørn Nyander Poulsen.