February 15, 2012
The following articles have been tagged with "Eurovision_song_contest":
Lifestyle: 3 Feb 12
As Sweden is gearing up for the fest that is the Melodifestivalen, Swedish living rooms are being prepared for Sweden’s greatest television event invading the country for six weeks every year.
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Lifestyle: 2 Feb 12
Sweden is about to be tossed into the frenzy that is ”Melodifestivalen”, the musical contest where the next artist to represent Sweden in Eurovision Song Contest 2012 will be selected.
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Lifestyle: 16 Nov 11
A book on Gaelic football in Sweden by Stockholm resident and Irishman Philip O'Connor has received award nominations in his home country. Speaking to The Local, he tells of his expat experience and his passion for this little-known sport.
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Lifestyle: 30 Jun 11
The wide flares and glam beats of disco's heyday are here to stay, The Local's Clara Guibourg discovers, as she tags along on an Abba City Walk, and brings us along for the ride on a trip through 1970's Stockholm.
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Analysis & Opinion: 1 Jun 11
The news that Denmark has recently banned Marmite caused widespread panic among British ex-pats there, leaving UK native and Marmite lover Tim Harvey wondering whether the decision may have even more far-reaching consequences.
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Lifestyle: 23 May 11
A recent concert in Stockholm City Hall brought the magic of Azerbaijani music to the Swedish capital.
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National: 15 May 11
After years of disappointment, Sweden’s Eurovision Song Contest fans had cause for celebration on Saturday when Eric Saade finished third in Germany.
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Society: 13 May 11
Eric Saade stepped up to the plate and did his duty for Sweden on Thursday, singing and dancing his way into the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Dusseldorf, Germany.
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Society: 12 Mar 11
Eric Saade, the 20-year-old heartthrob from Helsingborg in western Sweden, was crowned winner of the 2011 Melodifestivalen song contest on Saturday evening.
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Lifestyle: 11 Mar 11
As Sweden gears up for the 2011 Melodifestivalen finals on Saturday, The Local's David Landes catches up with Swingfly, a Brooklyn-born rapper who immigrated to Sweden and may end up re-writing the rules for the Super Bowl of Swedish pop music.
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Lifestyle: 4 Feb 11
What do a drag queen and teen-pop has-beens have to do with Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt? It can only mean the 2011 Melodifestivalen is upon us, contributor Julie Blomberg Gudmundsson explains.
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Lifestyle: 7 Jan 11
Friday night marks the season premiere of one of Sweden's most popular television shows, with viewers chomping at the bit for the chance to watch an odd mix of celebrities strut their stuff on Let's Dance.
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National: 1 Jul 10
Kungsleden, Astrid Lindgren's World, Stockholm Adventure and Åre resort are among the candidates nominated for the title of "Best experience in Sweden" which will be decided Eurovision-style at a gala in the autumn.
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National: 17 Jun 10
Roxette’s Per Gessle, Eurovision contestant Malena Ernman and businesswoman Cristina Stenbeck: the great, the good and the celebrated of Sweden will be out in force at Saturday's royal wedding.
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Lifestyle: 15 Jun 10
Having failed to qualify for the World Cup, Sweden isn’t exactly gripped by football fever. Cue a musical collective of international Stockholmers who are hyping up the tournament with the help of a handful of Swedes. The Local’s Christine Demsteader meets The Grippers.
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National: 31 May 10
Sweden’s entry to the Eurovision Song Contest might have disappeared without trace in last week’s competition, but now a runner up is gaining all the attention for reading the scores.
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Society: 28 May 10
Sweden was dumped out of the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday night at the semi-final stage, the first time the country has failed to qualify for the final.
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Society: 5 May 10
The Swedish Transport Administration has reacted strongly to a music video for the country's Eurovision hope Anna Bergendahl's song This is My Life which features the singer walking along a railway line.
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Society: 15 Mar 10
A bumper week for public broadcaster SVT saw ratings explode for the finals on consecutive evenings of song competition Melodifestivalen and ever-popular game show På Spåret.
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Society: 13 Mar 10
Anna Bergendahl won Sweden's Melodifestivalen on Saturday night with This is my life and will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo in May.
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Society: 12 Mar 10
Is Sweden falling out of love with Eurovision? On the verge of this year's national final, new figures show that while the event still tops the ratings, media interest, viewing figures and public voting are all in decline.
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Society: 14 Sep 09
A crowd of more than 40,000 turned out London’s Hyde Park on Sunday night to celebrate the music of legendary Swedish pop act Abba.
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Society: 17 May 09
Sweden and Malena Ernman could only manage a 21st place and 33 votes in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest. Nordic neighbours Norway however had a perfect start to national day celebrations by claiming the title.
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Society: 16 May 09
At least for a day, Eurovision Song Contest fever is making bigger headlines than swine flu. Almost a third of Swedes will be glued to their televisions today to watch opera singer Malena Ernman in her bid to bring the country its fifth Eurovision victory.
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Society: 15 May 09
Swedish Eurovision fever spread across the continent on Thursday, as Abba enthusiasts gathered in London for a world record crooning of Waterloo and a second Swedish vocalist helped Azerbaijan advance to the 2009 Eurovision finals.
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Society: 13 May 09
Swedish opera star Malena Ernman took another step toward solidifying her pop-music credentials on Tuesday night by sailing through the first semifinal of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
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Society: 12 May 09
Malena Ernman is in Moscow preparing for her semi-final heat of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday. Meanwhile Swedes are gearing up for the party, hopeful that the opera singer can bring home the glory.
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Science & Technology: 11 May 09
The Swedish fire-bellied toad choir has retained its crown in the European Bombina Song Contest.
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Analysis & Opinion: 9 May 09
"If you tried to market the EU as an aphrodisiac, it would rate up there with a nice pair of socks," writes Sweden's EU Commissioner Margot Wallström. But, she adds, May 9th is Europe Day and there's much to celebrate.
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Society: 17 Apr 09
A song labelled "disgusting" by the Russian Embassy in Stockholm remain on top of the Swedish pop charts for the fourth week in succession.
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Society: 14 Mar 09
Pop opera sensation Malena Ernman claimed the Melodifestivalen 2009 title on Saturday night in a nail biting finish.
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Lifestyle: 11 Mar 09
Every week, we ask a regular panel of readers to discuss a particular aspect of life in Sweden. This week: Melodifestivalen.
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Lifestyle: 1 Mar 09
Sweden has a thriving music scene with acts achieving international acclaim and a number of exciting new artists hoping to follow in their footsteps, writes Keith Moore.
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Analysis & Opinion: 19 Feb 09
Abba may have gone the way of Napoleon, but their music and the Eurovision Song Contest retain their phenomenal popularity thirty-five years after the Swedes first faced their Waterloo, writes Peter Vinthagen Simpson.
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Society: 15 Feb 09
Idol favourite Måns Zelmerlöw and rockers H.E.A.T. won the second Melodifestivalen heat on Saturday evening.
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Society: 6 Feb 09
As Swedes struggle to make it through the final throes of a dark and dreary winter, millions are hoping to forget their troubles at the weekend with the start of this year’s installment of the Melodifestivalen, that shining spectacle of musical magic which inexplicably lifts the country’s forlorn spirits.
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Lifestyle: 5 Feb 09
What's on in Sweden: African cinema festival and Cullberg ballet in Stockholm; Eurovision and Bollywood in Gothenburg; Soundtrack of Our Lives in Malmö.
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Society: 10 Dec 08
Blogging teenager Isabella 'Blondinbella' Löwengrip was Sweden's most sought after celebrity in 2008, according to a new list released by Google.
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Lifestyle: 28 Nov 08
Looking for some tips about where to go for live music in Sweden this winter? Omri Grinberg offers a number of enticing options to warm up the cool Swedish winter, including Abalone Dots, Katy Perry and Sebastien Tellier.
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Lifestyle: 11 Sep 08
What’s on: Johnny Logan and American Football in Stockholm; Ukulele orchestra and psychobilly legends in Gothenburg; Cinema Bizarre and dance fusion in Malmö.
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Lifestyle: 1 Aug 08
You would need a heart of stone not to smile at the sight of tens of thousands of gay men screaming at middle-aged ladies singing Eurovision ditties, says James Savage.
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National: 6 Jun 08
Sweden’s National Day is off to a hotter start than usual with temperatures set to rise up to 30 degrees across most parts of the country.
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Society: 25 May 08
Charlotte Perrelli finished a lowly 18th in Saturday's Eurovision song contest in Belgrade. Russia won for the first time.
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Society: 23 May 08
Sweden's Charlotte Perrelli has qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, due to be held in Belgrade on Saturday.
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Business & Money: 20 May 08
Sweden’s domestic qualifying competition and the Eurovision song contest finals which follow are big cash cows for TeliaSonera, regardless of who wins.
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Travel: 28 Apr 08
In his book Cycling Back to Happiness, English journalist Bernie Friend covers 6,000 kilometres of northern Europe on a bicycle in a bid to overcome his paranoia. In the last of our three excerpts, Bernie and his pal Rhys get unexpectedly Eurovisioned in Gothenburg.
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Society: 16 Mar 08
One time Eurovision winner Charlotte Perrelli is to attempt a repeat performance after winning Sweden's Melodifestivalen competition on Saturday.
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National: 16 Mar 08
One time Eurovision winner Charlotte Perrelli is to attempt a repeat performance after winning Sweden's Melodifestivalen competition on Saturday.
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Lifestyle: 13 Mar 08
Looking for something to do this week? Attend the St Patrick's Day parade in Stockholm, the World Figure Skating Championship in Gothenburg, Canadian electro pop in Malmö.
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Lifestyle: 3 Feb 08
Sweden's newly crowned best-dressed woman, BWO keyboard player Marina Schiptjenko, has a wardrobe that stretches from punk to princess, writes David Bartal.
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Lifestyle: 25 Jan 08
Something for the weekend: Learn how to dance the tango in Stockholm, learn about the lives of the Swedish settlers in the US in Gothenburg and satisfy your taste for the baroque in Malmö.
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National: 11 Jan 08
The trial has begun in Ystad of opera star Tito Beltran, who is accused of raping an 18-year-old nanny.
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National: 21 Aug 07
Sweden could soon have some new world champions in an unconventional but hotly contested competition: the World Beard and Moustache Championships.
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Society: 30 Jul 07
Stockholm Pride, the largest gay pride festival in the Nordic region, opens on Monday. Organizers have selected sport as the theme of the festival, with ex-footballer Glenn Hysén a controversial speaker.
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National: 26 Jul 07
Author and member of the prestigious Swedish Academy Lars Forssell died at his home on Thursday morning. He was 79.
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Lifestyle: 26 Jun 07
Lots of people gathered in a big park, clutching songbooks and singing songs about flowers and waterways and general goodness. First televised in 1979, just a couple of years after punk broke, what exactly is Allsång på Skansen?
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Lifestyle: 18 May 07
Tipping Point:Kathleen Harman gets a taste for the glamorous side of Stockholm gay clubbing, but is disappointed that in dress-down Stockholm, her efforts with leopard print are not matched by an abundance of well-oiled, shirtless, six-packed torsos.
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National: 13 May 07
Swedish band The Ark came 18th in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, despite being one of the favourites. Whoever represents Sweden next year will now have to qualify for the final.
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Lifestyle: 8 May 07
Yes, it's that time of year again: the eyes of Europe will be on Helsinki on Saturday for the annual kitsch-fest that is the Eurovision Song Contest. And The Ark have put Sweden in among the favourites.
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Lifestyle: 7 May 07
They're the bell-bottom wearing, glam-rocking sons of Sweden following in the footsteps of Abba to defend Swedish pride in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest. Paul O'Mahony takes a closer look at The Ark.
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Lifestyle: 30 Apr 07
Sweden's answer to Martha Stewart, Tina Nordström mixes southern charm with a cheeky sense of humour. Paul O'Mahony takes a closer look at the woman everyone calls 'Food' Tina.
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Society: 11 Apr 07
The leader of a neo-Nazi group in southern Sweden has been jailed for three months for an attack on the local headquarters of gay rights group RFSL.
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Lifestyle: 10 Apr 07
It takes a special kind of man to be an Pentacostal preacher, a tireless Stockholm socialite and Carola's ex-husband. But Runar Sögaard takes it all in his stride, as Paul O'Mahony explains.
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Society: 28 Mar 07
Swedish artist Pandora is furious about the United Kingdom's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, claiming that Scooch stole the chorus to one of her old songs.
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National: 10 Mar 07
The favourites before the contest proved to be the experts' favourites and the public's favourites: on Saturday evening The Ark won Melodifestivalen 2007 with 'The Worrying Kind' and will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in May.
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National: 10 Mar 07
The Local's predictions | Who gets your vote?
All of Sweden is abuzz with anticipation of the year's big television event: the Melodifestivalen final, in which the country's musical standard-bearer will be selected for the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Lifestyle: 5 Mar 07
He's a hirsute cross between Richard Clayderman and Europe who can fill a concert arena better even than Elton John. Paul O'Mahony rhapsodizes about Robert Wells.
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Society: 1 Mar 07
The Polish ambassador has reported ageing Swedish rocker Magnus Uggla to the discrimination ombudsman for his reference to "dodgy Poles" in the song he has entered in Melodifestivalen.
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National: 10 Feb 07
They're one of the favourites to win Melodifestivalen and represent Sweden at Eurovision in Helsinki. But a well-known songwriter has accused The Ark of stealing his song.
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National: 6 Feb 07
Swedish band the Rednex have been thrown out of the contest to represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Lifestyle: 5 Feb 07
As Melodifestivalen kicks off, Paul O'Mahony takes a look at last year's winner – the charismatic Christian who has become Sweden's uncontested Eurovision queen.
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National: 4 Feb 07
Sweden votes for tradition, sending schlager veterans Anna Book and Tommy Nilsson to the final of Melodifestivalen in Stockholm.
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National: 2 Feb 07
The trend at the Eurovision Song Contest might be towards the weird and wacky, but judging by the line-up in Saturday's Melodifestivalen, Sweden's entry looks likely to be from one of the old favourites.
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Lifestyle: 20 Nov 06
Her Eurovision victory in Athens earlier last year confirmed Gothenburg siren and former swimsuit model Elena Paparizou as Europe's Number One. Now Elena has become Helena, and she is taking her Greek charms stateside.
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National: 10 Oct 06
The waiting is over - the songs set to compete to be next year's Swedish entry to the Eurovision Song Contest have been unveiled at a ceremony in Stockholm. And there are some familiar names on the list.
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Politics: 16 Sep 06
Centre leader Maud Olofsson grabs the microphone in a last minute attempt to woo voters. "We need a government that has faith in the future," she tells Stockholm crowds.
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National: 28 Jun 06
Nanne Grönvall, one of Sweden's most popular singers, has cancelled a summer tour after discovering she has breast cancer. "I'm going to take it one day at a time," the singer said in a statement.
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National: 21 May 06
The song was 'Invincible', but Carola wasn't. She failed to live up to the billing of favourite, while Finnish monster rockers Lordi turned the contest on its head as they romped to victory.
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Smörgåsbord: 20 May 06
SEE ALSO: LOVE SWEDEN, LOVE EUROVISION
Allegations of a sex scandal, a Swedish-Finnish beauty and the beast battle and a frosty reception at the last rehearsal: controversy courts Carola before the Eurovision Song Contest final.
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National: 18 Mar 06
SEE ALSO: LOVE SWEDEN, LOVE EUROVISION
Carola sweeps all ahead of her at the final of Melodifestivalen, winning the Swedish public's votes to take her to the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens. "I'm very grateful," she says.
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Lifestyle: 16 Mar 06
As Carola, Kikki, Magnus et al warm up to take their place in the pantheon of European music greats, Christine Demsteader explains how Sweden brainwashed her into becoming a Eurovision addict.
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Lifestyle: 13 Mar 06
Rednex and Magnus Bäcklund bagged the last two places in Saturday's Melodifestivalen final after winning the 'second chance' competition on Sunday evening.
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Lifestyle: 12 Mar 06
As if carried on the breeze of her trademark wind machine, Carola left her troubles behind to sail into the final found of Melodifestivalen. She will be joined there by balladeer Björn Kjellman, while the Rednex get another chance.
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National: 10 Mar 06
Melodifestivalen is always guaranteed to give good tabloid fodder. This year proves no exception, where Carola once again encounters sticky questions about her attitude to gays.
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Analysis & Opinion: 2 Dec 05
Well, if you did, chances are it wasn't another Swede who told it. At an Anglo-Swedish wedding, our Stockholm Syndrome correspondent wonders why Swedes never tease each other.
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National: 14 Jul 05
'Victoria Day' has become part of the Swedish calendar: a thousand well-wishers, a bunch of sports stars, and a stage full of celebs join the fun as Crown Princess Victoria turns 28.
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National: 28 May 05
Love thy neighbour - except if they happen to have the Eurovision song contest turned up too loud on their radio. Stockholm Bishop Caroline Krook now faces a fine after slipping into her neighbours' apartment to switch off their radio.
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National: 22 May 05
Damn shame she wasn't singing for Sweden. Elena Paparizou from Gothenburg takes the big prize back to Athens, while the other Swede, Martin Stenmarck, is left mopping up his tears.
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National: 19 May 05
"No chance for Martin", "We could be relegated": these have been some of the uplifting headlines for Martin Stenmarck as he prepares to sing for Sweden at the Eurovision final on Saturday.
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: 18 May 05
Sweden is sophisticated, stylish and one of the most musically advanced countries in the world. And yet, without a trace of irony, the country adores the Eurovision Song Contest. Why? Answers please.
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Business & Money: 17 May 05
Four million of Telia's mobile customers can now watch live TV broadcasts on their phones. And you thought it was annoying listening to conversations on the bus.
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Lifestyle: 8 Sep 04
Shame the same can't be said for most of the competitors. Anyway, the best way to find a singer to win the hearts of Europe is apparently to stop the Swedish public from making the choice.
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Lifestyle: 30 Jul 04
...although they say if you have to explain it, it's not funny. Plus more scandal from Skansen and why this year's summer TV may seem familiar.
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Lifestyle: 23 Jul 04
Sweden's favourite summer show is "facing catastrophe", Swedish film is "shit" and the countdown to Eurovision 2005 begins. Well, they say trouble comes in threes...
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Lifestyle: 14 May 04
Shine your sequins, fluff up your chest wig and stick in your earplugs - it's Eurovision weekend.
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As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »
Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »
"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »
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fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
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