This is the Globe arena in Stockholm, an indoor arena that hosts different events such as ice hockey and other sporty things, concerts, the Eurovison Song Contest, TV shows, fairs, charity events, shows on ice and such. Both Nelson Mandela and Dalai Lama have also held speeches at the Globe.
This golf ball shaped globe is the largest hemispherical building in the world and it was completed in 1989. Not exactly an aesthetically looking building, it still kind of grows on you and after nearly 20 years since it's inauguration it is a well known sight of the Stockholm city skyline.
Tonight it hosts the finale of Swedish Idol. A TV-series I admit I was glued to the TV watching the two first seasons of, lots of talents and in the end both winners were my favourites from the start with brilliant voices. Sadly I don't think neither of them have shown their talents at their best afterwards.
The contestants in seasons 3 and 4 were uninteresting hence I was far from glued to the TV for the series. This year however, I did stumble into the auditions episodes and thought both the contestants as well as the jury showed so much more talent as well as congeniality than previous years. And then there was one voice I was in complete awe of from the start, sadly and inconceivably enough - though I'm no embarrassingly silly screaming fourteen year old who have no idea what pure talent and an amazing voice is, so what do I know... - voted out some weeks ago. I will still, of course, buy her first record, I hope it'll include Release Me...
But I do think both of tonight's finalists are very talented, each in their own way and whoever wins deserve it - Kevin Borg or Alice Svensson.
Winner season 1 - Daniel Lindström
Winner season 2 - Agnes Carlsson
Adolphson & Falk is a Swedish duo, two guys who met in the late 60ies while doing their compulsory Swedish military service and there began their musical journey together. They were at their height as a synthpop band in the 80ies and that was of course when I discovered and fell for them. Even if not predominantly a favourite band I've always been very fond of many of their songs and lyrics.
Especially one song which has been a favourite of mine for over 20 years now, it so striked a cord deep inside when I was a teenager and the lyrics has never seized to so aptly describe the inner me. Time might fly, the clock is ticking but that song with its wistful and seemingly simple lyrics still means as much to me, if not more, now as it did then. Then, when my father and I enjoyed listening to Adolphson & Falk's music - enhanced by my dad's magical music machine - each wrapped in our own private little universe, now, when I listen alone.
So when the opportunity rised for getting tickets to one of their very rare concerts I jumped at it - although for some odd reason it wasn't all that easy to find friends who wanted to tag along, either they didn't know who they where *imagine* or they didn't like them *imagine even more* - and even if I perhaps didn't find the show to be top notch and all wonderful it definitely had its brilliant moments. Unpretentious, smallish and personal, not some big fuss in a gigantic arena, but just the way I prefer concerts and shows to be really.
The show also had two guest artists, one of which I knew very little, Ola Magnell, since the political progressive movement ("progg" as we Swedes say) in the 60-70ies was before my time, but let's just say that I was of a tender age compared to the rest of the audience and they happily sang along to his old hits.
The other one I did listen too quite a lot during the 80ies, when he was the front man in the band Freda´ (Friday), not so much since he went solo, but he has a very distinctive and heartfelt voice and has released some pretty powerful songs over the years, Uno Svenningsson. And yes, his performance was really lovely.
The *minor* issue I have with the concert though, is the fact that they didn't play either of my two favourite songs - on the other hand, that could mean I'm pretty unique in feeling so strongly about them and they really are best savoured on one's own.
Overall I thought it was a great evening out and once again I did get the distinct impression that being a musician seem to be such a rewarding, in many ways if not all, occupation. I can't think of any other trade where the professionals seem to have so much fun working at the same time as they bring so much joy to others. I do get a slightly envious, and although I'm well aware of the fact that the world is so much better off not having to deal with my attempts at singing it might have appreciated if I had been a bit more studious when it came to all those years of guitar lessons...
And having said that about musicians I think it was about time the, in Europe, much debated IPRED law went through, as every law it most probably has flaws and needs adjusting, but finally there's at least an acknowledgement on legal paper that the intellectual property right when it comes to file-sharing also needs some sort of, however feeble, protection.
Just because something isn't a graspable object, just because the Internet has brought easy access to so many, too many, things, it doesn't mean one should make use of it all. Common decency, uprightness and the respect for other's work and property never go out of style as far as I'm concerned. Graspable objects or not.
Adolphson & Falk - Blinkar Blå (Twinkle Blue)
Uno Svenningsson - Under ytan (Under the surface)
Freda´- Vindarna (The Winds)
Freda´ - I en annan del av världen (In another part of the world) - from the era of unbelievably tacky haircuts and great music
Ola Magnell - Nya perspektiv (New perspectives)
As I've mentioned a bit here a bit there, Swedish author Carl Johan Vallgren is one of my definite favourite word equlibrists. Ah, he has such a wonderful imagination and has a skillful, amazing way with words. If you haven't read the truly remarkable novel Den vidunderliga kärlekens historia or as it's translated to in English The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-reading Monster Hercules Barefoot, His Wonderful Love and Terrible Hatred - I implore you to! Now.
As far as I'm concerned Vallgren falls in to the snazzy dresser, cool dandy dude category - and very obviously he has the gift of verbiage to match. And not only that, he plays music too. Singer/songwriter style. Admittedly I have been concentrating on his words in books and not when teamed up with music. And for reason this and that I haven't been to any of his concerts.
That is, until yesterday. Up on the rooftop of Kulturhuset - The Cultural House, once home to the Swedish government, now a melting pot of various exhibitions, cultural events, theatre, concerts, workshops, restaurants, reading rooms and so forth - with a smashing view over Stockholm city on a hot sunny evening, it was a really very enjoyable event. Indeed.
I love those kind of unpretentious, homely, like-meeting-an-old-friend kind of concerts - as opposed to the gigantic-arena-lazer-show-extravaganza events, which rarely give me as much pleasure as the smaller dos.
First out was guest-artist Ola Sahlén, sporting yellow pants and shiny red shoes. A bit of singing and playing the piano, but I got the distinct impression, most of all melting away in the sun. Taking the worst heat off CJV and his Midnight Orchestra, one might say.
