Carola will visit Mobilia Köpcentrum in Mantorp, outside Mjölby on December 11. The information on the event is still not official, but we can tell you that it's planned that Carola will move throughout the mall performing some Christmas songs.

Visit back for more information!

Yesterday, November 5, the Swedish TV show "Folktoppen" (SVT1) held a poll to find out who the Swedish people think is the biggest now living star in Sweden. Carola came in third after the athletes Ingemar Stenmark and Carolina Klüft.

Today one of the composers of "Invincible", Henrik Wikström, talks to the local newspaper Norra Västerbotten about the rumours that Carola will sing his song in the Swedish Song Contest next year.

"I actually know very little about this. SVT doesn't want us to discuss the performers before they they announced them.".

When asked about the fact that Carola wants to write new lyrics in Swedish, since she is planning to release an album in Swedish in the spring, Henrik says:
"I don't know if there is any truth to that or if it's a made up story.".

"This is something that will be decided by the record labels and I try to stay out of the discussions. As far as I know Carola has not decided if she is going to participate in the contest or not.".

On November 28, SVT will conduct a press conference. Let's see if the artists will be announced then...

We just have to wait and see!

Link: Article in Norra Västerbotten

In today's paper, Aftonbladet claims that Carola put up demands if she is to sing "Invincible" in the Swedish Song Contest next year.

• She wants to write new lyrics to the song, in Swedish, since she is planning to release a pop album in Swedish during the spring.
  
• She asks for 25% of the future profits. A procent level high above the ordinary, according to the paper.

One of the composers of "Invincible", Bobby Ljunggren says: "I cannot make any comments. But if there was any problem, I am sure we could solve them.".

If this is true or not, I cannot tell you, but Ulrika Hammar at Universal Music says to Aftonbladet: "As far as I know, Carola will not participate in the Swedish Song Contest 2006.".

"Invincible" was offered to Swedish singer Sanna Nielsen, but if this story is true, the offer has now gone to Carola.

I repeat - We just have to wait and see...

Link: Article in Aftonbladet

Just like every year around this time, there are rumours about Carola participating in the Swedish Song Contest.

But according to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Carola tested to sing one of the selected songs; "Invincible" by Bobby Ljunggren, Thomas G:son and Henrik Wikström, a few days ago and really liked the song.

If this rumour would prove to be right, we might enjoy Carola in the Swedish Song Contest next year. But for now we just have to wait and see...

Link: Article in Aftonbladet

On November 9, the DVD box "Melodifestivalen 50 år" is released in Sweden. The box includes two previously released DVD's. Melodifestivalen 50 år - Vinnarna which includes "Främling" (1983) and "Fångad av en stormvind" (1991) Melodifestivalen 50 år - Favoriter which includes "Mitt i ett äventyr" (1990) Link: Pre-order the DVD box

Carola performed at the 50th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen last night. Although she nearly missed the show, due to a friend's wedding...

"I had decided not to participate in this show. I really didn't want to miss her wedding, and she said she didn't want to get married if I didn't sing." Carola rushed from the wedding, but when she got to the airport the gate was closed.
"I said 'please, I have a show tonight'", she says.

Link: Article in Expressen / GT

From eurovision.tv:

"We're about to hear the 14 songs that are vying for the title of 'best Eurovision song ever'. The first to open the competition is 'Congratulations' by Cliff Richard, performed by none other than 1991 Eurovision winner, Carola from Sweden.

Before re-entering the contest and winning with the song 'Fångad av en stormvind', Carola had had also taken part in the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest. Her debut album 'Främling' broke records, not only in her home country but in many European countries too. She remains one of the leading artists in Sweden and is also the first Scandinavian pop star to perform and release an album in China.

Dana International, Carola, Alsou, Fabrizio Faniello, Marie Myriam, Richard Herrey and Tomas Thordarson all appear together on stage for a seven-minute medley full of surprises.

Link: eurovision.tv

Carola was interviewed in the Saturday's Metro: What has the Eurovision Song Contest meant to you? That was my breakthrough and the beginning of my career, and exceeded all expectations. When I think back at singing "Främling", I get a feeling of amazing enthusiasm and adventure, that everything can happen. How much do you prepare before a big event like this? Not as much as people think. I am a sprinter who does everything at the last minute. Now I have to figure out what to wear. ESC is being criticized for having less "schlagers", what's your opinion? That's good. ESC has to evolve with time. The challenge is that the songs must catch on at once, but that might make you get tired of them quickly. The really good songs are good the first time you hear them, but grows with time.

Don't miss "Celebration" - the special two-hour show that will be broadcast live from Copenhagen, Denmark, tonight at 9.00pm CET in over 25 countries across Europe. Carola will participate as a presenter, and perform a medley of winning songs.

The show will be broadcast on:

• SVT 1 (Sweden) 9.00pm Link
• NRK 1 (Norway) 9.00pm Link
• DR 1 (Denmark) 9.00pm Link
• YLE TV 2 (Finland) 10.00pm Link
• SVT Europe (Europe) 9.00pm CET

Link: eurovision.tv (All ESC news)
Link: congratulations-info.com (Congratulations offical website)

Today, Universal Music re-releases the album "18 bästa" in a limited edition version. This album will be be sold as a mid-price item. (ginza.se is selling it for 69 sek). The album includes the exact same tracklisting and cover art as the original "18 bästa" from 2004, but does NOT include the cd booklet. Link: Album info Link: Buy the CD

Eurovision.tv writes the following on their website:

Copenhagen, 17 October 2005

Carola Häggkvist is just one of the famous Eurovision stars who will be in Copenhagen to take part in 'Congratulations'.

The red carpet will be a busy place, when DR presents 'Congratulations' on Saturday, 22 October. Eurovision stars from all over Europe have agreed to participate in the show, in which the ultimate Eurovision song will be chosen from the 14 songs already nominated by Eurovision fans.

Swedish singer and former Eurovision winner Carola Häggkvist scooped first place in one of the most exciting votes in Eurovision history. In 1991, Carola and her song 'Fångad av en Stormvind' finished joint first with Amina from France. The two songs received the same number of points and the same number of 12-point votes, and not until the 10 points had been counted could a final winner be crowned. The winner was Carola, who had received five 10-point votes to Amina’s two.

It was in 1983 that Carola participated in the Eurovision for the first time. She was only 16 years old and came in third with the song 'Främling'.

Link: eurovision.tv

The CD's and DVD's "Congratulations - 50 Years of Eurovision Song Contest 1956-1980" and "Congratulations - 50 Years of Eurovision Song Contest 1981-2005" are released all over Europe today, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest.

On the CD and DVD that covers the years 1981-2005 (pictured above), Carola's 1991 winner "Fångad av en stormvind" and the 1983's 2nd runner up "Främling" are included.

Link: Buy the CD
Link: Buy the DVD

Carolas latest album "Störst av allt" fell out from the Swedish album chart last week. That doesn't mean that Carolas music isn't selling well at the moment. On the Swedish album chart for compilation CD's, we find no less than FOUR albums that includes Carolas songs;

Mysiga stunder (No 2 on the charts), includes "När löven faller" (2003)
Tjejfest vol 2 (No 7 on the charts), includes "Fångad av en stormvind" (1991)
Lugna favoriter vol 2 (No 8 on the charts), includes "När löven faller" (2003)
Svenska ballader vol 2 (No 14 on the charts), includes "Det regnar i Stockholm" (1984)

Carola has spent some time in the south of the USA lately. A couple of days ago she performed in a benefit concert for the victims of hurricane Katrina. And now she is in the process of recording a new song in Nashville, Tennessee called "Bridge of Love" with the Williams Brothers (see picture above).

The song will be released in the US on the Williams Brothers' new album early 2006, and Carola has plans to release it as a single in Sweden around Christmas. She has also invited the Williams Brothers to perform on her Christmas concert tour.

In interviews for the projects, Carola also admitted that she is currently working on "the ultimate pop album".

Link: Article in Aftonbladet
Link: Article in Expressen / GT