"Lucky Star" did not make in into the top 20 on the Tracks chart this week either, but get a THIRD chance on the chart since it was close to breaking it into the chart!

On October 26, long before it was announced that they would do the Swedish Song Contest together, Carola and Andreas Johnson recorded the TV gameshow "Så ska det låta".

The episode will air on Swedish SVT 1 on March 21 at 8.00 pm, and not the date previously reported.

Thanks to Peter Karlsson for photos and info.

The emails are flooding in about the tickets to Carola's anniversary celebration at Palladium in Malmö on January 26. PLEASE DO NOT send multiple emails. It WILL NOT improve your chances on winning the tickets.

An update on the competition. It has been extended a few days so as many can take part as possible. The competition now ends on WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13, and the winners will be notified via email and be presented on this website on FRIDAY FEBRURY 15. Good luck!

Link: Enter the competition

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" drops one spot to no 4 on Swedish radio P4's Most Played Chart this week.

P4 - MOST PLAYED CHART

1. AMANDA JENSEN - "Do You Love Me"
2. TIMBALAND & ONE REPUBLIC - "Apologize"
3. NIKLAS STRÖMSTEDT - "Vi vet"
4. JOHNSON & HÄGGKVIST - "Lucky Star"
5. WESTLIFE - "Something Right"
6. KENT - "Columbus"
7. COLBIE CAILLAT - "Bubbly"
8. LEONA LEWIS - "Bleeding Love"
9. MARQUESS - "Vayamos Companeros"
10. BROLLE JR - "Solo i Stockholm"

On the website labyrint.nu, "Lucky Star" climbs two spots to no 8. The chart is based on votes, so please take a minute to vote for Carola (see link below).

LABYRINT - TOPP 20

1. AMANDA JENSSEN - "Do You Love Me"
2. MÅNS ZELMERLÖW - "Brother oh Brother"
3. KENT - "Columbus"
4. LARS WINNERBÄCK - "Innan mörkret faller"
5. TIMBALAND & ONE REPUBLIC - "Apologize"
6. MARIE PICASSO - "This Moment"
7. BRITNEY SPEARS - "Piece of Me"
8. JOHNSON & HÄGGKVIST - "Lucky Star"
9. LEONA LEWIS - "Bleeding Love"
10. COLBIE CAILLAT - "Bubbly"

If you know of any other chart where we can make a difference, please email us.

Link: Vote on Labyrint here

Don't miss this opportunity to win tickets to the 25th anniversary event at Palladium in Malmö on February 26. You can win tickets by clicking the link below.

A Special offer from Carola International:

Nearly 25 years have passed since Carola performed "Främling" for the first time, on February 26 1983 at Palladium in Malmö. It was a night that would change her life forever.

This is your opportunity to celebrate with Carola on February 26 2008 at Palladium in Malmö. The event will kick start this the 25th anniversary celebrations, and will include many suprises. The event goes on from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm. Come dressed for party!

NOTE! Competition ends on Friday February 7.

Link: Enter the competition

Andreas Johnson is getting ready for the Swedish Song Contest. Photo: Suvad Mrkonjic / Expressen

Andreas Johnson gives an interview to Swedish newspaper Expressen about his song "One Love" that he will perform in the Swedish Song Contest with Carola next weekend. This is the third time Andreas participates in the Swedish Song Contest in three years. This is his comments:

"It feels odd to be back. Two years ago I could barely imagine taking part. But I am convinced that it was the song that brought us here. I believe in this song. (...) The Song Contest is a side project for both of us, and as such it brings a lot of energy to other projects."

(Translation by Carola International)

Link: Read article in Expressen

"Lucky Star" enters the "Sverige Topp 40" this week at no 39. The chart is based 50% on sales and 50% on airplay.

Link: Sverige Topp 40's website

"Lucky Star" did not make in into the top 20 on the Tracks chart this week, but since it was close, the song gets another chance...

Carola and Andreas Johnson at a rehearsal for the Swedish Song Contest.
Photos: johnsonhaggkvist.com

Today it's two weeks until Johnson & Häggkvist competes in the Swedish Song Contest with "One Love", and the preparations are under way. So far, Carola and Andreas have rehearsed together twice. Yesterday, they posted an article and photos on their official website johnsonhaggkvist.com:

"Hope you had a good week. We did. But oh so much to do... Lots of decisions to be made about our performacne of One Love. Clothes, colors, and concept.... We want to give this fantastic song justice in every way. We've had the chance to rehears the performance twice in a dance studio in Stockholm. Well, it won't be much of dancing but rather staging, deciding positions and directions. It's good to know how to move on this big stage that we've only seen in pictures so far...

Since we started working on this project everything have felt so good - we have incredibly fun together! We can reveal that at the rehearsal today we were fooled around a lot, hihi..."

Read the article in full (in Swedish) on johnsonhaggkvist.com.

(Tranlation by Carola International)

Link: Johnson & Häggkvist's official website

All major betting firms hold Johnson & Häggkvist as winners of the Swedish Song Contest. We have previously reported the odds from Svenska Spel, Betway, Nordic Bets and Unibet. Here are the odds from Ladbrokes:

LADBROKES
Johnson & Häggkvist 3.00
Charlotte Perrelli 5.00
BWO 6.00

NOTE! When Carola competed in 2006, Ladbrokes gave up completely and stopped the betting on her as the winner. Instead people could bet on who would be no 2.

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" is doing well on Swedish radio. This week it has been added to Rix FM's playlist and is the third most played song on SR P4.

SR P4 - MOST PLAYED CHART - w 4
1. AMANDA JENSEN - "Do You Love Me"
2. TIMBALAND & ONE REPUBLIC - "Apologize"
3. JOHNSON & HÄGGKVIST - "Lucky Star"
4. NIKLAS STRÖMSTEDT - "Vi vet"
5. MÅNS ZELMERLÖW - "Brother oh Brother"

RIX FM - ADDS - w 5
JOHNSON & HÄGGKVIST - "Lucky Star"
DAUGHTRY - "Over You"
ELIN LANTO - "Speak'n'Spell"
JAMES BLUNT - "Carry You Home"
MIKA - "Lollipop"

Yesterday, Andreas Johnson was a guest on "Go'kväll" on Swedish TV. He talked about two upcoming concerts he will perform with John Lennon's music, but of course he was also asked about the Swedish Song Contest. This is what he had to say:

"I feel pretty calm about the Swedish Song Contest. It comes with a lot of responsibility, but I don't have to do it all by myself this year... Me and Carola have had so much fun with the two songs we worked on together. I don't think there will be a continuation to our collaboration, but we will give it our all! It's just a couple of weeks to go. I need to find something to wear."

(Translation by Carola International)

Video: Watch "Go'kväll"

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" didn't manage to break into the Rix FM "Topp 6 kl 6" chart, but instead enters the Labyrint chart where visitors of the website cast their vote. "Lucky Star" is the highest new entry this week at no 10. Thank you all for voting! Please vote for "Lucky Star" for next week's chart! Click the link below! If you know of any other chart where we can make a difference, please email us. Link: Vote on Labyrint here

The dance music producers SoundFactory will remix Johnson & Häggkvist's "One Love" that competes in the Swedish Song Contest this year. SoundFactory also created the remixes for Carola's 2006 Swedish Song Contest winner "Invincible".

Thanks to Peter Karlsson for the info

As reported on January 28, the 2xCD "Melodifestivalen 2008" will be released in Sweden on March 16. The album will include all 32 songs from this year's Swedish Song Contest including Johnson & Häggkvist's "One Love". Later this year a DVD will also be released. Link: Pre-order 'Melodifestivalen 2008' from CDON

Carola and Gert Fylking in the studio after an interview in 2006 Photo: Rix FM

Radio host Gert Fylking at Rix FM has been taken off the air temporarily after he harshly criticized Carola in a radio show. Fylking and Carola have met several times as she has been a guest on his show over the years (see photo above).

"Carola is stupid and full of herself. We have had her on the show several times, but won't have her back anymore. It's impossible to have a normal conversation with her."

Fylking's boss, Christer Modig about the decision of taking him off air:

"He is free to have his own opinions, but just because he works in radio, he cannot make any statements."

(Translation by Carola International)

UPDATE! Gert Fylking was NOT taken off-air, rather just given a warning by the bosses on the radio station.

Link: Read article in Expressen / GT
Link: Read article in Expressen / GT
Link: Read article in Aftonbladet

On February 6, the 2xCD "Absolute Winter Hits 2008" is released in Sweden. The album includes Johnson & Häggkvist's hit single "Lucky Star". Thanks to Mikael for the info Link: Pre-order 'Absolute Winter Hits 2008' from CDON

Johnson & Häggkvist - the official website

The new super duo Johnson & Häggkvist that will compete in the second semi-finale of the Swedish Song Contest in Västerås on February 16 has launched their own official website. On the website you can read news, info, blogs, listen to the new single "Lucky Star" and see several photos. To visit the site, just click the link below.

Link: Johnson & Häggkvist's official website

All songs that participates in this year's Swedish Song Contest will be released on the 2xCD "Melodifestivalen 2008" that is scheduled to be released in Sweden on March 16 (according to megastore.se). This of course includes Johnson & Häggkvist's "One Love" that competes in the second semi-finale in Västerås on February 16.

NOTE! This is not yet confirmed!

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" is doing well on the charts so far. On Thursday we could report that the digital single entered the Swedish single chart at no 13 as the best newcomer of the week. Suddenly, the song has jumped from no 16 to no 9 on the Swedish iTunes chart (see chart to the left), which is its best position to date. On CDON's download chart the song has been among the Top 3 since it was released and sits steadily at no 3. Its best position so far has been no 2. On Telia's download chart, "Lucky Star" is currently at no 2. Right now the song is being tested on the Swedish Tracks chart, and you can help by voting on their website (click link below). You can also vote for "Lucky Star" on the website labyrint.nu (click link below). Link: Vote on Tracks here Link: Vote on Labyrint here Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from CDON Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from iTunes Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from Telia Link: Buy "Lucky Star" for your cell phone

2008-01-27

"Lucky Star" - released in Finland

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" has been released as a digital single in Finland. If you live in Finland, you can buy the single by clicking the link below. Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from MTV3 Audio: Listen to "Lucky Star"

Andreas Johnson writes on his website that he was back in the studio last weekend to work on the single "One Love". He also shares his thoughts on an ongoing collaboration with Carola:

"This weekend I was in the studio to record some vocals and changing some of the lyrics for 'One Love'... after that the mixing of the song awaitens... many thoughts are running in my head at the moment... and that seems to be true for many people... ha ha... already the day after the press conference the speculations began about our collaboration and changes to win, odds etc. I get exhausted... just like I said somewhere... we got a good feeling... it's not more complicated than that! it felt fun and cool to sing the song together... and too good not to give this song a chance... but we didn't have, a do not have any longterm plans. not at the moment anyhow, ha ha..."

(Translation by Carola International)

Link: Andreas Johnson's website

Johnson & Häggkvist's "Lucky Star" continues to climb on the CDON download chart (from no 3 to no 2), and drop on the iTunes chart (from no 15 to no 16). Let's see if this is enough to get into the official Swedish Singles chart this week that combines downloads and sales. Link: Buy "Lucky Star" from CDON Link: Buy "Lucky Star" for your cell phone Audio: Listen to "Lucky Star"