Friday, November 26, 2010

100 Songs Outtakes: Sweden

(It's Day Five of our look at some quality songs that couldn't crack the Top 100.  The full list of my 100 Songs for 2010 will be available December 6.) 

I bet some of you think I stack the deck when it comes to Swedish bands in the Top 100.*  Not true.  It's just that, year after year, there are a huge number of great songs from Sweden. To prove it, here's five more of my favorites that didn't make the list.

*I don't really think that. I bet most of you don't put any thought at all into my methodology. Which ... why would you? You shouldn't.

Robyn - "Dancehall Queen"

I know, I know ... I thought I could find a way to get four Robyn songs into the Top 100 as well. This one was a late cut. I feel guilty already.

Junip - "Always"

Junip is the side project of singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez, known for his excellent cover songs and a few sweet originals as well.

His music was also featured in the most beautiful commercial of all time.



The video for "Always" doesn't hit quite the same cinematic heights, but ... it does feature a guy who makes guitars disappear. So that's something.


JUNIP - Always (Official Video) from City Slang on Vimeo.

Shout Out Louds - "1999"

My favorite Swedish band fails to crack the Top 100 this year, but still put on one of the best shows I saw in 2010. Everyone there was very tall. I felt right at home.

Britta Persson - "Some Girls Some Boys"

An eerie, textured slow burn of a song. This was literally song #101 on my overall list for a long time.

Tove Styrke - "White Light Moment"

All I can tell you is that she finished third on Sweden Idol in 2009. If you're wondering at what point Swedish girl pop gets too cheesy even for me ... well, it's somewhere pretty close to here. This song manages to stay on the right side of the line. But barely.

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