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The Swedes are very Eurovision minded. Their national final is the biggest one around: Melodifestivalen. Each year big national and sometimes even international artists line up to take part in the biggest production SVT, the Swedish broadcaster, has to offer annually.  After a few years of not too good results in the Eurovision Song Contest, last year Anna Bergendahl did not even manage to qualify for the final, this year they were big where they belong. Eric Saade reached the top, his Popular got a well deserved third position. Yes we admit it: We love Melodifestivalen!

While Jedward are still doing well in charts around the continent, their new single Bad behaviour entered the charts in their home country Ireland at #1..The single will be on their new album. Victory will be released on 5 August in Ireland. American gossip blogger Perez Hilton i featured in the video clip accompanying Bad Behaviour. You can watch it below.

If you have not yet made plans for this summer, consider Stockholm. Stockholm Pride will be full of Eurovision again. Lili and Susie stand for the Pride Song of this year, Bailamor, Euroschlager like it has to be. Watch the clip below, by the sisters that first appeared in Melodifestivalen 1989 and had their come back last year with Show me heaven.

Calling Stockholm the Eurovision capital of Europe is not exaggerated. Nowhere is the Eurovision national final bigger than in Sweden. Not in any other countries are big local and international stars lining up to be part of the contest. Taking a look at the Swedish charts in the weeks after Melodifestivalen, the national Eurovision final, would make any Eurovision fan elsewhere in Europe quite envious, as at least two thirds of the hit list will be filled with Eurovision related songs then. 

Last Saturday famous Swedish popstar won the first heat in Melodifestivalen with his In the Club. The song written by Fredrik Boström, Peter Boström and Danny Saucedo strongly resembles a song we got pointed out on Youtube: En en club, by Myla Vox, from 2010. Listen to the song down below and tell us if you think Danny's song should be disqualified.

News Round-up of the day. Saade meets a princess and Junior Eurovision heats up.

Eric Saade performed three songs, including an acoustic version of "Popular" for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Unfortunately, the queen of Swedish schlager, Charlotte Perrelli, was not in attendance. 

Azerbaijan has issued some conflicting statements lately. First all hotel bookings are not able to be made in the country around the dates Eurovision takes place, but the Culture and Tourism Ministry has promised improvements in their local tourist sites before Eurovision. 

San Marino has confirmed itself as the twelfth contestant in this year's Junior Eurovision, according to eurovision.tv. Latvia and Serbia have withdrawn this year thanks to ongoing financial crises.

And don't forget articles you may have missed here on 12points.tv:
Go here for Eurovision song chart action for this week.
Go here for Louis' profile of amazing San Remo diva Anna Tatangelo

News Round-up of the day. Cause there is something in your eyes, we love Jenny Silver's remix! Listen below.

The Swedes seem to love Jenny Silver, as do we. Her Something in Your Eyes, didn't do as well as deserved during this years Melodifestivalen though. One of the big summer shows on Swedish television, Lotta på Liseberg staged her this week. If you want to hear the newly produced CJ remix, watch it below.

News Round-up of the day. Go gay this summer with your favourite Eurovision stars.

Hello all of you out there. While the heat disappears from Europe, 12points gives you some warmth with news of your favourite Eurovision stars.

We feature an instant Melodifestivalen classic - it's a shame it didn't go to Germany.

Considering yours truly lives and works in Sweden, I am immersed in their ESC national finals every year. This song appeared in the first heat of Melodifestivalen 2011, and being Sweden, didn't get enough votes to get out of the semi-final. When I say "being Sweden", the public's voting patterns tend to head towards big stars and crap songs that aren't offensive. Le Kid, a newish band, was probably just too much for the locals to handle, but here it is in all it's glory for you to enjoy.

Here are the results of the 12Points jury - did singing licorice affect the points below?

Song/Lyrics - 8/12
This was clearly aimed towards those aged 18 and younger and their text messaging voting skills. The lyrics are very cute and the music immediately catchy, but there isn't much tension or action on the whole. Still, lyrics like "baby, I go 'oh my God'" is far better than "I kinda liked a girl I knew".

Performance - 10/12
Very solid with good Eurovision tricks all the way through - singing candy that gets up and twirls around, a quick close up on some pink leopard skin shoes, and really slick vocals.

Choreography (including Arm-ography and Hair-ography) - 8/12
Not much going on here, with the exception of something that is important to Swedes - jerky arm-ography at the start of the chorus. Performers like Nanne Grönwall and Charlotte Perelli do this best, but a few jerky hand moves go down well here.

Key Change Effectiveness - 0/12
This song has everything in it except a key change.

Camp Factor - 12/12
Everything and the kitchen sink in this one - bright colours, dancing All Sorts, bow ties, and the keyboard player dressed as a sexy nerd. Who could ask for more?

TOTAL: 38/60.  A great effort from a new Swedish act, giving Melodifestivalen a much needed dose of something young and fresh. Would have never ever beat Eric Saade in the 2011 final, but if a song like this went on to represent Sweden... good things would probably have happened.

We would like to present the Dutch version of Linda Bengtzing's last MF entry. Because we think it is fun! Enjoy.....

The lyrics are quite witty too by the way. The song is sung by Kristof Urbain and is entered in a song contest taking place every year among the different of Dutch gay right association COC.... that possibly explains why it is all about Swedish men!

Before her upcoming Melodifestivalen appearance, Swedish artist Loreen sits with 12points to discuss art, music and transformation.

In 2004, an outgoing 20-year old made an appearance on Sweden's first season of IDOL, taking an unknown singer and placing her squarely in the public eye. She then embarked on an adventure where she searched for her purpose as an artist and how to be the most complete musician that she can be. The result of this journey were her two incredble Melodifestivalen performances in 2011 and 2012, along with a satisfaction on her part that she is able to push herself in radical new directions. On 10 March, Loreen appears in the Melodifestivalen final with her song "Euphoria". Her performance is simply astonishing. Loreen spoke with 12points.tv about her long journey to today and how she had to start from the beginning to re-introduce herself to the public.