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International superstar competing for Swedish Eurovision spot

29 November 2010 at 22:30 CET

To be one of the world's top songwriters is not enough for RedOne. Now, he also wants to win the Eurovision Song Contest.

When the remaining half of the artists was presented for next year's Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest, one act stood out for it's international flavour. But not because of the Swedish girl band Love Generation, who will perform a song that is yet to be revealed. The main attention was drawn to the songwriter.

Composed with Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson

The Swedish composer Nadir Khayat, born in Morocco, has written music as RedOne for artists like Shakira, Akon and Lionel Richie. His most famous hits are Lady Gaga songs such as Just Dance, Pokerface and Bad Romance, and he has also composed several as of yet unpublished songs together with Michael Jackson.

Now, he has taken on a Swedish project with the girl band Love Generation. They will compete with one of his songs in Melodifestivalen 2011.

“He figured that Melodifestivalen was a great idea and pushed on to get this to happen,” the girls told Eurovision.tv today.



Love Generation flirting with Eurovision.tv. Photo: Gustav Dahlander (EBU)

 

Breaking new ground

In Sweden, RedOne breaks new ground for his layer of songwriters. The country has several internationally successful pop composers who regularly score worldwide hits with artists like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. The team of Anders Bagge, which wrote the song Drip Drop for Azerbaijan in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, is among them.

But until now, these composers have declined requests to compete in Melodifestivalen. The idea has been to rather make it big in USA. Now, RedOne might set a new trend by instead making it big in Europe.

Saade wants to be even more Popular

Another face in next year's Melodifestivalen with a familiar touch to some international observers is Eric Saade. He finished in third position in Melodifestivalen 2010 with the song Manboy, but was the favourite for several fans. The comeback song for young Saade is called Popular, a title to fit his current domestic status.

'N Sync member disqualified

Monday also saw a controversy in Sweden, as the song Don't Stop was disqualified only hours after it was revealed. It transpired that the song was already available on numerous web sites on the Internet. The Swedish rules state that the entries can't be made available public before the contest.

Being written by former 'N Sync member JC Chasez together with Carl Falk and Kristian Lundin, two other Swedish songwriters with a considerable international career, the song was to be performed by Anders Fernette. But the team isn't out of the discussion yet.

“In this specific case we've selected the artist and the composers together, and if they can deliver us a new song as good as this one, they're still welcome to compete,” states Christer Björkman, producer of competition in Melodifestivalen, in a press release.

The full list – here's all the entries in Melodifestivalen

The new entries:

Semi-final 3 – Linköping



Sara Lumholdt – Enemy

Songwriters: Niclas Lundin, Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad



Shirley's Angels – I Thought It Was Forever

(The group consists of Shirley Clamp, Vera Prada and Jessica Marberger.)

Songwriters: Robin Abrahamsson, Alexander Bard, Bobby Ljunggren, Henrik Wikström



Linda Sundblad – Lucky You

Songwriters: Linda Sundblad, Johan Bobäck, Fredrik Thomander, Anders Wikström



Sebastian Karlsson – No One Else Could

Songwriters: Andreas Alfredsson Grube, Sebastian Karlsson



Eric Saade – Popular

Songwriter: Fredrik Kempe



Sara Varga – Spring För Livet

Songwriters: Sara Varga och Fredrik Boström



The Playtones – The King

Songwriters: Fredrik Kempe, Peter Kvint



Simon Forsberg – Tid Att Andas

Songwriter: Fredrik Kempe





Semi-final 4 – Malmö



Linda Pritchard – Alive

Songwriters: Oscar Görres, Fredrik Kempe



Julia Alvgard – Better Or Worse

Songwriters: Julia Alvgard, Manne Hjelm, Ola Holstad, Joar Lenz



Anders Fernette – Don't Stop (disqualified entry)

Songwriters: JC Chasez, Carl Falk, Kristian Lundin



Linda Bengtzing – E De Fel På Mig

Songwriters: Pontus Assarsson, Thomas G:son, Jörgen Ringqvist, Daniel Barkman



Lasse Stefanz – I Surrender

Songwriters: Alexander Bard, Ola Håkansson, Tim Norell



Nicke Borg – Leaving Home

Songwriters: Jojo Borg Larsson, Nicke Borg, Fredrik Thomander och Anders Wikström



Melody Club – The Hunter

Songwriters: Kristofer Östergren, Erik Stenemo, Jon Axelsson, Nicklas Stenemo – Melody Club



Love Generation – [song to be announced]

Songwriter: RedOne





Previously known entries:



Semi-final 1 – Luleå



Pernilla Andersson – Desperados

Songwriter: Pernilla Andersson



Danny – In the Club

Songwriters: Figge Boström, Peter Boström, Danny Saucedo



Swingfly – Me And My Drum

Songwriters: Johan Ramström, Patrik Magnusson, Teron Beal, Swingfly



Le Kid – Oh My God

Songwriters: Märta Grauers, Anton Malmborg Hård af Segerstad, Felix Persson



Jonas Matsson – On My Own

Songwriters: Sari Autio Olsson, Peter Autio



Rasmus Viberg – Social Butterfly

Songwriters: Amir Aly, Henrik Wikström



Jenny Silver – Something In Your Eyes

Songwriters: Erik Bernholm, Thomas G:son, Henrik Sethsson



Dilba – Try Again

Songwriters: Niklas Pettersson, Linda Sonnvik





Semi-final 2 – Göteborg



Anniela – Elektrisk

Songwriters: Johan Alkenäs, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren, Johan Fransson



Babsan – Ge Mig En Spanjor

Songwriters: Larry Forsberg, Sven-Inge Sjöberg, Lennart Wastesson



Sanna Nielsen – I'm In Love

Songwriters: Irini Michas, Peter Boström, Thomas G:son, Bobby Ljunggren



Christian Walz – Like Suicide

Songwriters: Fernando Fuentes, Henrik Janson, Tony Nilsson



Loreen – My Heart Is Refusing Me

Songwriters: Moh Denebi, Björn Djupström, Loreen



The Moniker – Oh My God!

Songwriters: Daniel Karlsson



Brolle – Seven Days And Seven Nights

Songwriters: Brolle



Elisabeth Andreassen – Vaken I En Dröm

Songwriters: Lars ”Dille” Diedricson, Calle Kindbom, Kristian Wejshag

 

Watch Love Generation