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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hits are Lady Gaga songs such as Just Dance, Pokerface and Bad Romance, and he has also composed several as of yet unpublished songs together with Michael Jackson.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