Interview With A Schlager Fan

Ok so everybody is in Belgrade warming up for Euro fever. We're not. We're back here in the UK! We are sure Euro will be fab, but there's only one Sweden and we do find it very difficult getting excited about that eastern block thing! Let us introduce Kevin to you. He is from Paisley and he is a HUGE schlager fan. This is the our first interview with a schlager fan, which we hope will become a regular feature.

Q: Whats Your Name?

A:Kevin

Q: Age?

A: 29

Q:Tell the us about yourself

A:…. Erm well i do like talking about myself abit in person but i dont know what to answer here. I have been obsessed by sweden and swedish music since 1991!

Q: Name your top five Schlager artists.

A: This is hard! 5. Lena Ph 4. Shirley Clamp 3. Charlotte Perrelli 2. Sanna Nielsen 1. Carola

Q: Tell us your top 5 schlager anthems AND why they mean so much to you.

A: 5. Alcazar - Alcastar (The hand claps in this are amazing! i liked Alcazar alot, but the whole production of this musically and vocally had me hooked after the first listen its as camp as tits and i love it) 4. Lena Ph - It Hurts (I liked this song as soon as i heard it but i didn't think it was amazing 'til i was in Newcastle a few years back and one of the bars played it and it was so loud and then it hit me what a great song it is), 3. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero (There seems to be a mixed reaction to this but i love it. I think its really powerful schlager. Very anthemic. I told my friend this was goin straight in near the top of my schlager faves list. I get tired of songs very quickly but i think this will be one of a few songs that i still get excited about hearing), 2. Magnus Carlsson - Live Forever (Hmmm This could really be my number one but i've thought hard about it and decided to put it to number two but its very close. Yes the key change is disguised but everything else about it is just so uplifting and camp schlager at its best. The kids singing at the end and the bass change in the last chorus just excite me. A schlager anthem and gay anthem! 1. Carola - Invincible (Another song which had some mixed reactions from schlager fans but i love it more and more everytime i listen to it and i listen to this alot. The BBC used the intrumental for the theme tune to the coverage of the European Athletics which suited it really well as i think this is such an anthem. I never ever get tired of watching the eurovision performance either i prefer the semi final one though...even though she does forget the words abit she pulls it off. Me and my friend are always saying we'll dress up us her, drag a wind machine out of the cupboard and do our own send-up of it but it's not happened....yet!)

Q: Did you follow Melodifestivalen 2008?

A: of course

Q: Who were your favourite acts and why?

A: Sanna, Linda and Charlotte...totally different songs but i loved them all but Charlotte's performance amazed me. L oved the stage the lighting the costume everything. There was some ok songs from Amy Diamond and Ola, but i was dissapointed with most of the other acts.

Q: If you could meet any of the Schlager stars, who would it be and what would you say to them?

A: This is another hard one.......can i just say them all? Lol well i would love to tell Carola how much i love invincible (evighet) and her performance at eurovision but not only would that be quite boring for her i'm sure she'd probably spit on me for being 'A Gay'....no im only jokin....oh this is so hard....I guess it would ultimatley be Alexander Bard. Army Of Lovers started my obsession with Sweden and Swedish music. Army of Lovers were the ultimate band for me. Like no other, but to be honest i would probably be so amazed at meeting him i wouldnt be able to talk even the thought of meeting any schlager star makes me nervous.

Q: What is your ultimate Schlager fantasy?

A: Well .... all my swedish favourites putting together a huge sparkly shiney UK tour for us fans! Not in a nightclub but in an arena, preferrably in Glasgow lol! They might not fill it but i'd take as many people as i could and make as much noise!! A 2 hour extravaganza, each artist performing 3 or 4 songs, then going backstage meeting them all drooling all over them then inviting them out for a night on the tiles!

Well thanks for that Kevin! Schlager is not just music, it's a way of life!