Sunday, September 30, 2007

An honesty with a pleasant surprise

I wasn't planning to open this special with this group--I was going to go with something poppier in a traditional sense--but I wanted to prove this special doesn't mean people who don't see themselves as fans of "Swedish pop" (how can you not be?) shouldn't turn off. Of course, there will be a little bit of schlager (not much, though, I think) and loads of the poppy melodies you expect from Sweden, but today's group--well, if I had to compare them to anything or anyone, I think I'd go with (and don't hurt me for this, OK? I lack reference points) the Beatles. In a really cheery, poppy, young, more modern way.

The Wallstones are made up of two Fame Factory contestants, Karl Martindahl and Johan Becker. The group competed in Melodifestivalen 2005 with "Invisible People." Today's song, a single from 2004, is better, though, probably because it's so relentlessly upbeat in a more genuine, committed way.

Good Old Stonecake--don't ask me what the title's referring to; I have no idea. What I do know is that this song takes a while to get going, but that chorus is pure joy and by the time we're two thirds through, I'm in full "can't get this cheesy grin off my face" mode. I think it's the high-pitched "whyyy-yyy-yyy" that seals the deal. The "na na na"s help too, definitely.

To buy the Wallstones' album Pleasure and Pain, go here (physical) or here (digital).

Next up: a female singer, I think.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great way to start the FAME FACTORY special. Now I'm all excited for the rest of the first attempts by some of my svenska favoriter--Linda, Mathias, Anders, Jimmy, Jessica, and the rest.

Paul said...

hmmmm, great song, I feel stonecake could be something not quite innocent. EG, once when i was in amsterdam, i purchased a brownie with my coffee and spent four Hours throwing up while everyone else wAS just really mellowed out. THat was called stonecake. That's all i'm saying

Alexander said...

Um, a stonecake is an LP-record.

Poster Girl said...

Len, look at you! You listed almost all of my favorites!

Paul, I think you have stories to go with everything!

Oh, it's a record? That makes so much sense! I've never heard the word before. I tried to google it, but all I got were references to a band called Stonecake and this song. Not that not knowing was really stopping me from singing along, but it's good to know.

Anonymous said...

Paul, I've always heard THOSE referred to as "spacecake". PosterGirl, I forgot the two Sandras...

Adem With An E said...

I would like to go to Amsterdam one day.

Paul said...

len! Spacecake yes! I was confused! But only cos i took some nyquil for my cold... thanks for the clarification!!

Poster Girl said...

I'd love something more from Sandra Oxenryd--ESC Today was saying she was competing in Norwegian Idol, which seems strange. And more from Sandra Dahlberg, but at least we know she's writing song (with Jimmy) that she's hoping to get in Melodifestivalen, even if she's not performing them.

Adem, I think the key would be to go to Amsterdam with Paul--I swear, it sounds like it's never boring with him around! Bloggers' field trip, I think...