Contemporary Medley from G4, Örebro
Hello everybody in Khavaborsk, and thank you for your very interesting questions and answers and comments on our latest entry! We enjoyed reading about your country very much and would like to know more.
A little bit of Group 4 (G4)
We are at the moment sitting on the top floor in one of the many houses on campus and looking out on all the snow, waiting for spring and the birds to return. Our winter this year is extremely snowy and cold and we can't do much more than stay inside and watch tv. One of the biggest television events in Sweden is the "Melodifestivalen", that is our competition when we decide who will compete for Sweden in the Eurovision song contest. We have several semifinals and it is a long process that goes on for about two months, and more than a quarter of our population watches the show. It is very democratic and we all have to call in and vote several times.
We, personally, are not very big fans of the event, but in Sweden it is impossible to avoid it, everybody always knows who won every semifinal and who qualifies to the next level. It is a media feast! If you would like to more about this strange phenomena you can check out this web page http://svt.se/melodifestivalen/. How big is Eurovision song contest in Russia? Do you vote or do you have a jury that decides for you?
We thought we would write a little bit about this because many of your questions for us was about Swedish music. Many of the artists that compete in the Melodifestivalen are popular contemporary artists, but we have our own favorites in other genres aswell.
Alisa, you asked for some Swedish artists. As for Abba and Roxette, we listened to them 15 years ago or when we are very drunk, but we love them anyway, as classics:) Some of our favorite contemporary artists are Sahara Hotnights, Lykke Li, Melody Club, Lazee, Markus Krunegård (he sings in swedish), Robyn and of course many more. As for the rock music, Gleb, we recommend Hellacopters and Sabaton, or if you like heavy rock Hannes recommend In flames, Arch enemy, Meshuggah, Falconer and Burst.
The most famous band from Örebro is Millencollin, a great punk band.
You also had som othe questions we thought we would answer. The most difficult question, we thought, was Alisas question about why the corruption level in Sweden is so low. Maybe it's because our society is so open and without censorship, and all information is so easily accessible. All information regarding authorities can be accessed by anyone and the media is very liberal and independent, at least if you compare with most other countries.
We also saw your pictures, Alisa, and they were very nice. It would be great if all of you posted more pictures, we would love to see what you look like!
Nadia, you asked about which sports are big in Sweden, and we assume it's about the same as in Russia. A lot of soccer, ice hockey, skiing in the winter, motor sports, track and fields...
You told us that your part of Russia is very much influenced by Chinese and Japanese culture, in what way? Clothes? Food? Arts? Is the laguage differend in east Russia? Is it difficult to understand the people that live in the western parts?
We would love to hear more from you soon!
Unfortunately Bengt is not here today, he was probably up all night watching House MD, and Ronald is at a meeting with his union, so here's another picture of us that are here writing today, playing with Photobooth!
Best wishes from David, Maria and Hannes in G4!
Comments
Wow. It's a nice blog. Nice to meet you. Salam.
Posted by: mbak maya | March 4, 2009 03:42 PM
Hello!
Answering the questionon Eurovision song contest in Russia, i may say it either doesn't exist ot it is possible yo avoid it, because i haven't heard of any open voting or smething. Even if i have i did not noticed, because actually i'm not the one hwo likes russian music. We have some nive bands and singers, but i somehow like foreign music.
You spoke about music, and i would like to ask about movies and TV shows. You already mentioned House MD, Dexter shows. What others are popular? I like House MD, Jeeves and Wooster, Robin Hood, Dr Who shows very much!
And what are your favourite films?
I also want to learn about your attitude to fine arts. Is this sphere of culture popular? Do you preserve you national traditions in it?
Thanks!
Dmitry
Posted by: Dmitry Galenko | March 6, 2009 04:03 AM
Hi David, Maria and Hannes!
We really enjoyed reading your post! We were interested in the singing competition you mentioned. We have a very similar one in the States called American Idol - we actually think it's losing some support over here. It's on its eighth season and for some reason, it doesnt seem like it's as popular as it once before. We do, however, have some shows getting popular about dancing! The most famous one is "Dancing with the Stars" where actual celebrities learn ballroom dances and perform with professionals. Like in American Idol, viewers vote for which couple they want to keep.
We hope we can keep in touch!
Best of luck with classes,
Shre, Fidel, and Matt
Posted by: Shre, Fidel, and Matt | March 9, 2009 10:01 AM
Hey G4!
My name is Zoe, I am a second year undergraduate student at Stanford University in California, USA in the Global Leadership class. The Eurovision Song Contest sounds like fun! I think the U.S. equivalent might be American Idol which a LOT of people watch here in the United States.
It's amazing that you get so much snow in Sweden, it never snows in California (the most we get is winter rain)...!
:)
Posted by: Zoe Richards | March 9, 2009 10:06 AM
Hey guys,
My name is Jon, and I'm a sophomore at Stanford University in the United States. It's cool to hear a little bit about your culture! As Zoe posted before me, Eurovision definitely sounds like American Idol, which our nation used to be obsessed with but has grown bored of. Anyway, I recently completed a research project regarding women's rights in the United States (and how equality still hasn't quite been achieved), and I was wondering what life is like for women in Sweden. We've come a long way, and almost had a female presidential candidate this past election. Nevertheless, we still have a long ways to go. Where are you guys at?
-Jon
Posted by: Jon Spivack | March 9, 2009 11:46 AM
Oh,How I wish to listen to your music. Especially rock bands. I think it is very interesting. Are they world-known? To tell the truth I have never heard about them exept Hellacopters and In flames.
About Eurovision..I am not very interested in it because of pop-music, that I do not like very much, but I always know, who has won...and if it is my country, I fell happy and proud - it is naturally.
About east Russia....There are some specific words that are not used in western part...but people do not have problems with understanding each other. It is not as in Chine...many dialects and ways of pronouncination.
Well....Thank you for your attention.
Your Alice.)))
Posted by: Alice | March 14, 2009 06:19 AM
Hello, guys!
As for the Eurovision song contest in Russia I may say that competition when we decide who will compete for Russia has already finished and I should say that people usually don’t vote for candidates. In Russia, and especially in the Far East, this contest doesn’t receive media exposure until we get to know who will represent Russia. But this year the situation is a little bit different, because the contest will be held in Russia, so people now start to talk more and more about it.
The “Chinese” influence on Russia is manifested in food, clothes and many other things. We here start to like Chinese and Japanese food more and more. Sushi is extremely popular. Have you heard about it? And what dishes are popular in Örebro? Most clothes which is delivered to Khabarovsk from China, and if it is from some other countries, it is more expensive. Many Far Eastern students of universities start to learn Chinese, and me too.
And what foreign languages do you learn, except English? What is the most difficult for you in learning foreign languages?
Thanks,
Alyona
Posted by: Alyona | March 17, 2009 01:56 AM
Hi David, Maria and Hannes!
I really like you story, just like me. I was wondering what life is like for women in Japan. because The Inner Bueauty Girl in japan very wonderful. :)
Posted by: Dudayz | September 12, 2009 11:27 AM
The Swedish must have a fundamental cultural difference. Integrity must have a higher value that money. Cool photos!
Posted by: Watch Winders | September 20, 2009 09:05 PM
Cool story, I wish I could go to sweden somedays, melodifestivalen sounds interesting :)
Posted by: House Streaming | October 21, 2009 10:22 AM
Hi, I am from Japan. Thanks for the story sharing. I think I need to have a good travel plan to Sweden then. :) Arigato!!
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