SVT's official website for the Swedish Song Contest has been updated with photos, video and information about all the participants. Click the link below to visit Johnson & Häggkvist's page. JOHNSON & HÄGGKVIST - One Love Lyrics & music: Carola Häggkvist, Andreas Johnson, Peter Kvint Stamina 98% Boldness 86% Show 69% Icon 100% Beginners 0% The composers description of the song: A powerful, suggestive explosion of love and music. (Translation by Carola International) Link: SVT's website Link: Carola Int'l Swedish Song Contest 2008 Special

As reported on January 19, Sony / BMG is planning to release the 1985 album "Happy Days", that never before been released on CD. Your first change to purchase the 1985 album is as a part of the 2xCD "Främling 25 år" that is released in Sweden on February 20. But in September both "Främling 25 år" and "Happy Days" will be released as single-disc CD's with a different tracklisting than on the 2xCD edition. Link: Pre-order "Happy Days" from CDON

Lawyer Pelle Svensson has reported Carola to the police for giving false testimony in court last week when she testified in the ongoing rape case. The lawyer feels that what Carola said in court did not match what she initially told the police in the investigation. Carola's lawyer Michael Niklasson comments:

"She has testified to the best of her ability and stands by what she has said both in testimony to the police and in the court."

(Translation by Carola International)

Link: Article in Expressen

The Dutch version of Carola's "Främling"; "Je Ogen Hebben Geen Geheimen" was a hit in the Netherlands in 1983. In April 2007, Dutch singer Patrick released a cover version of the song called "Geen Geheimen". Link: Patrick's website Link: Buy 'Geen Geheimen' Video: Watch the 'Geen Geheimen' video

We already reported the odds for Johnson & Häggkvist in the Swedish Song Contest 2008 from Svenska Spel, Betway and Nordic Bets. Now, Unibet has presented their odds on the results.

UNIBET

Q: Who will move to the finale from the second semi-finale?
Johnson & Häggkvist 1.05
Ola 1.95
Sanna Nielsen 1.95

Q: Which of the Jokers will reach the best position?
Johnson & Häggkvist 1.15
Amy Diamond 4.55
Eskobar 8.00
Niclas Strömstedt 25.00

Q: Who wins the Swedish Song Contest 2008?
Johnson & Häggkvist 2.50
E-Type & The Poodles 5.00
BWO 8.00

Link: Unibet's website

The album "Happy Days" was released in 1985 as Carola left her old record label Mariann Music for Polydor International. Mariann Music then gathered hits, demos, and live material and released it on this album. "Happy Days" has never been released on CD - until now. CDON has listed the album as "coming" without specifying any date. Visit back for information on release date. Link: Pre-order "Happy Days" from CDON

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" have started its run on the Swedish charts. This week it entered at no 8 on the CDON download chart and no 12 on iTunes.

Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from CDON
Link: Buy "Lucky Star" for your cell phone
Audio: Listen to "Lucky Star"

As Carola International reported yesterday, Carola will perform some kind of 25th anniversary concert at Palladium in Malmö on February 26 - the exact date that she had her legendary breakthrough on that very stage.

These reports have now been confirmed by the people at Palladium.

Exaktly what Carola will do is not clear, but will be announced in a few weeks.

Check back for confirmation and ticket information!

Carola International was the first to report about the upcoming 25th anniversary edition of the 1983 album "Främling". The album is released in Sweden on February 20. Discussions are on the way about a possible release in Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Check back for more info. The 2xCD includes two full albums; "Främling" (1983) and "Happy Days" (1985), plus several bonus tracks.

The album includes the some tracks that never before been released on CD:
- Främling / Je ogen hebben geen geheimen / Love isn't Love / Fremder
- Butterfly (English version of "Som en fjäril")
- Albatross (Demo)
- Let There Be Love (English version of "Ännu en dag")
- Elvis medley (Live)
- What a Feeling (Live)
- Fame (Live)

NOTE! The tracklisting on Ginza is not correct. Below you can see the tracklisting provided by Sony / BMG.

CD1 01. Främling 02. Säg mig var du står 03. Benjamin 04. Gör det någonting 05. Gloria 06. You Bring Out the Best in Me 07. Mickey 08. Se på mig 09. Liv 10. Visa lite mänsklighet 11. 14 maj 12. Du försvinner i natten Bonus tracks: 13. Främling / Je ogen hebben geen geheimen / Love isn't Love / Fremder * 14. Mitt i ett äventyr 15. Fångad av en stormvind 16. Evighet * Previously not released on CD

CD2 01. Sometimes When We Touch 02. Om du törs 03. Butterfly * 04. Säg mig var vi står 05. Albatross * 06. Hunger 07. Tokyo 08. Du lever inom mig 09. I en sommarnatt 10. Let There Be Love * 11. Gospel medley (live) 12. Elvis medley (live) * 13. What a Feeling (live) * 14. Fame (live) * Bonus tracks: 15. Love isn't Love 16. You Are My Destiny 17. Captured by a Lovestorm 18. Invincible

Link: Pre-order 'Främling 25 år' from CDON

According to local newspaper Skånskan, Carola will hold her 25th anniversary concert at Palladium in Malmö on the actual day of the anniversary - February 26.

NOTE! This is NOT yet confirmed!

Link: Read the article in Skånskan

Today, Carola gave her testimony in a court room in Ystad in the south of Sweden, in the rape case we reported about in December.

In 1999, Carola toured with the man who is now accused of raping a girl who was working as a nanny on the tour.

Carola's testimony is official and you can read it in Swedish papers.

Link: Read article 1 in Aftonbladet
Link: Read article 2 in Aftonbladet
Link: Read article 3 in Aftonbladet
Link: Read article in Expressen

Carola's debut album "Främling" from 1983 is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and there is reason to celebrate - "Främling" is still Sweden's most sold album in history. On February 20, SonyBMG releases "Främling 25 år" - a 2xCD that includes the 1985 album "Happy Days" and several bonus tracks. Link: Pre-order 'Främling 25 år' from CDON Thanks to Maria Lagervall for the info

As soon as Johnson & Häggkvist were announced as wild cards in the Swedish Song Contest 2008, there reached the top on the betting charts for the win. This is very early though and the odds will change over time. In 2006, when Carola competed with "Evighet", one betting firm actually stopped people from betting on her as a way of not losing money.

SVENSKA SPEL
Johnson & Häggkvist 1.60
BWO 7.50
Charlotte Perrelli 7.50

BETWAY
Johnson & Häggkvist 2.00
E-Type & The Poodles 6.00
BWO 7.00

NORDIC BETS
Amy Diamond 3.50
Johnson & Häggkvist 4.00
E-Type & The Poodles 4.25

Watch three videos from yesterday's press conference, where Carola and Andreas Johnson were revealed as wild cards for the Swedish Song Contest.

Web-TV: SVT - press conference
Web-TV: Expressen - press conference
Web-TV: Aftonbladet - press conference

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" gets mixed reviews in Sweden. Anders Nunstedt (Expressen) rates the track 3 (out of 5) and writes: "I'm sorry, but I am shocked. Maybe I'm even prejudiced - I'm sorry for that as well - cause my state of shock has to the with that I never seen the point of fusing 'the big C' and 'mini-Bono'. Time to repent, as Carola might have put it, because this might be the smartest thing since Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson started their collaboration (...) Perhaps this is the beginning of something big." Link: Read review in Expressen Link: Read review in Aftonbladet Audio: Listen to "Lucky Star"

Johnson&Häggkvist at the press conference this morning.
Photos: SVT

Early this morning, even before the SVT press conference where the four wild cards (jokers) were supposed to be revealed, Carola's official website published a statement announcing that Carola and Andreas Johnson will participate in the Swedish Song Contest as the duo Johnson & Häggkvist. Their song is titled "One Love" and is written by Carola, Andreas Johnson and Peter Kvint.

Statement on carola.com:

"We're wishing love and happiness to everyone that listens to us. For that is what we feel when we sing this song together! And we hope as many as possible will experience the power in 'ONE LOVE'. I am so happy to work with Andreas and Peter Kvint that I am convinced will generate lots of musical collaborations in the future. It was when we tried to perform the song all alone on a stage that 'ONE LOVE' convinced us! Now we want to convince the audience...! :-) Join us on new, unexpected adventures. See you in Västerås!"

At 10.00 am the four wild cards were presented at a press conference, and it was the four acts that many had predicted: Johnson & Häggkvist, Amy Diamond, Eskobar, and Niklas Strömstedt.

Web-TV: Interview from the press conference
Link: Carola International's Swedish Song Contest 2008 Special

The song that Carola and Andreas Johnson performed in "Svenska idrottsgalan 2008" last night; "Lucky Star", is released as a download single in Sweden today. As a duo, Carola and Andreas call themselves Johnson & Häggkvist. Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from CDON Link: Buy "Lucky Star" for your cell phone

It will not be official until later today, but rumors claim that Carola and Andreas Johnson in fact will compete in the Swedish Song Contest 2008!

In the second semi-final in Västerås on February 16, the duo Johnson & Häggkvist will sing "One Love" according to Swedish newspaper Göteborgsposten.

NOTE! This is NOT yet confirmed! A press conference will be held today at 10.00 am.

Link: Read the article in Göteborgsposten
Link: Carola International's Swedish Song Contest 2008 Special

Carola's Christmas album "I denna natt blir världen ny - Jul i Betlehem II" was the 6th most sold album in Sweden in 2007.

TOP 20 MOST SOLD ALBUMS SOLD IN SWEDEN 2007

1. Kent - Tillbaka till samtiden
2. Paul Potts - One chance
3. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
4. Lars Winnerbäck - Daugava
5. Markoolio - Värsta plattan
6. Carola - I denna natt blir världen ny – Jul i Betlehem II
7. Per Gessle - En händig man
8. Peter LeMarc - Peter LeMarc
9. The Ark - Prayer for the weekend
10. Norah Jones - Not too late
11. Salem al Fakir -  This is who I am
12. Magnus Uggla - Pärlor åt svinen
13. Nelly Furtado - Loose
14. Mika - Life in cartoon motion
15. Sahara hotnights - What if leaving is a loving thing
16. Eagles - Long road out of Eden
17. Elvis Presley - The Essential
18. Amy Winehouse - Back to black
19. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising sand
20. Jill Johnson - Music Row

Link: Read article in Expressen

Johnson&Häggkvist - on the red carpet before performing their new single at "Svenska idrottsgalan 2008". Photo: Expressen

If you missed the new super duo Johnson & Häggkvist perform their new song "Lucky Star", click the link below and fast forward to 46:24.

Video: Svenska idrottsgalan 2008

Don't miss Carola on Swedish TV tonight. She will perform a duet with Andreas Johnson in "Svenska idrottsgalan 2008" on SVT1 at 8.00 pm. Is this a clever way of promoting a possible run in the Swedish Song Contest? The Swedish media seems to think so... The wildcards (jokers) - the last four songs in the Swedish Song Contest - will be revealed tomorrow at 10.00 am.

Link: SVT's website

According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Carola is planning a show at Palladium in Malmö to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her legendary breakthrough in the Swedish Song Contest at that very theatre on February 26 1983.

Link: Read the article in Aftonbladet

1983 - Främling (Sweden no 1 / Eurovision no 3)
1990 - Mitt i ett äventyr (Sweden no 2)
1991 - Fångad av en stormvind (Sweden no 1 / Eurovision no 1)
2006 - Evighet / Invincible (Sweden no 1 / Eurovision no 5)
2008 - One Love - in duet with Andreas Johnson ???

No Swedish artist has a more impressive history in the Swedish Song Contest! Carola competed in the Swedish Song Contest four times, of which she won three (in 1990 she was no 2). She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991, came in at no 3 in 1983 and no 5 in 2006.

Is she really coming back this year? Rumors say that Carola will sing "One Love" in a duet with her friend Andreas Johnson in the Swedish Song Contest 2008 - 25 years after her legendary breakthrough in the same contest!

Even though we don't know if these rumors are true, we will present a Swedish Song Contest 2008 section where you can find all the information you need about the competition!

Link: Carola International's Swedish Song Contest 2008 Special

The recent rumors that Carola will perform the song "One Love" in a duet with Andreas Johnson, has stirred a lot of interest among fans. We won't have to wait long until the truth is revealed...

The four songs and their artists that will be wild cards (so called "Jokers") in the Swedish Song Contest 2008, will be revealed on January 15!

"One Love"

That's the title of the song Carola and Andreas Johnson will perform as a duet in the Swedish Song Contest later this year. All according to Swedish newspaper Expressen. It all seems like a very clever marketing when you see all the pieces fall into place...

On January 14, the duo will perform together on "Svenska Idrottsgalan 2008", SVT1 8.00pm, and on March 14 they compete together in SVT's gameshow "Så ska det låta".

NOTE! This information is not confirmed!

Link: Read the article in Expressen

As Carola International reported on December 9, Carola will testify in court in a rape case against an internationally renowned Swedish singer. Carola toured with with the man in 1999, and the young girl who is now accusing the man of rape was working as a nanny for another artist on the tour. Now, Carola's initial statements to the police have been published in Swedish media. This is some of the things she told the police:

The day after a concert Maria Lundqvist told Carola that her nanny had been raped or sexually abused. The atmosphere among the artists changed dramatically, and from that day Carola did not enjoy performing with the accused man.

"I guess he had talked her into following him to his room and did his 'tricks'. She was probably charmed by him"

Carola talked to the young girl herself, and they might have prayed together. The girl said she felt abused.

Link: Read article in Expressen
Link: Read article in Aftonbladet