10 Moments of the 00's - The final list

After ten days of voting, this is the final list over the ten most memorable Carola moments of the last ten years:

1. The return to Melodifestivalen (2006) 50%
2. Eurovision Song Contest (2006) 20%
3. The 20th anniversary shows (2003) 13%
4. "Genom allt" could have won (2005) 7%
5. "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009) 5%
6. "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002) 1%
Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008) 1%
8. Missing a golden opportunity (2001) 0%
Throwing a plant at the audience (2005) 0%
Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007) 0%

Thank you all for participating! Happy New Year!

Swedish Album Chart (w 52)

"Christmas in Bethlehem" climbs three spots to no 13 on the Swedish album chart this week, its sixth on the chart.

Week 47: No 8
Week 48: No 7
Week 49: No 4
Week 50: No 9
Week 51: No 16
Week 52: No 13

Link: Sverige Topplistan's website

Norwegian Album Chart (w 52)

"Christmas in Bethlehem" managed to stay on the Norwegian album chart one more week, at no 40, its third week in the top 40.

Week 48: No 36
Week 49: No 44 (outside top 40)
Week 50: No 42 (outside top 40)
Week 51: No 39
Week 52: No 40

Link: VG Listan's website

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to wish a Merry Christmas to all the readers of this blog. It's amazing what a diverse group of people you must be... I have daily visitors from all over Scandinavia, Europe, USA, South America, Israel etc. Those of us who celebrate Christmas do it on different days: some already tomorrow the 24th, some on 25th, some on 26th, and even on January 7th...

Despite nationality, religion (or lack thereof), Merry Christmas to All!

Exclusive: Photos from concerts in Stockholm

© Photos: Peter Karlsson



These photos were taken at yesterday's two final concerts of the Christmas tour in Stockholm. Guests were Paul Potts, Blues and Gladys del Pilar. Click to enlarge them. Thanks to Peter Karlsson for sending me the photos!

Video: "DR's Juleshow"

Use the button below to share this video on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Time to vote for your favorite!

During the last ten days, I have listed what have been (in my opinion) the ten most memorable Carola moments of the last ten years. The list looks like the following:

1. The return to Melodifestivalen (2006)
2. The 20th anniversary shows (2003)
3. "Genom allt" could have won (2005)
4. Eurovision Song Contest (2006)
5. Missing a golden opportunity (2001)
6. Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
7. Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
8. "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
9. "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
10. Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

But you shouldn't take my word for it! Now you can vote for your favorite, and on New Year's Eve, I will announce the No 1 moment of the 00's.

You find the poll at the top of the right column, and you have ten days to vote! Don't hesitate! Just do it!

iTunes European Christmas album charts (Dec 19)

An update on how "Christmas in Bethlehem" is doing on the iTunes charts around Europe. Only in two countries does the album list on the Top 200 over all albums; Sweden (no 13) and Norway (no 17), but on the chart over Christmas albums the album charts in thirteen countries. Here are today's positions:

Norway: No 4 (+1)
Sweden: No 6 (-3)
Luxembourg No 20 (+9)
Finland No 29 (-23)
Portugal No 33 (+36)
Italy No 37 (-27)
Spain No 39 (re)
Belgium No 41 (-21)
Switzerland No 49 (re)
Denmark No 66 (-38)
Holland No 102 (-75)
Greece No 131 (-80)
Austria No 173 (new)

The album returns to the charts in Spain and Switzerland, and chart for the first time in Austria. It would be interesting to know how many copies the album have sold in Sweden, Scandianavia, Europe, and the U.S. (through Amazon.com). Hopefully we will eventually get some numbers from Carola's record label.

Web-TV: Carola in Nyhetsmorgon

The no 1 moment of the 00's

No 1: The return to Melodifestivalen (2006)

No 2: The 20th anniversary shows (2003)
No 3: "Genom allt" could have won (2005)
No 4: Eurovision Song Contest (2006)
No 5: Missing a golden opportunity (2001)
No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

When Carola returned to the Swedish Song Contest in 2006, she had an amazing track record to defend:

1983: No 1 "Främling"
1990: No 2 "Mitt i ett äventyr"
1991: No 1 "Fångad av en stormvind"

When she stepped onto the stage in Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg on March 11 2006, as the last of the 32 competing songs (Sweden have four semi-finals) the expectations were enormous and people who were in the arena say the audience were feverish to see Carola's return to the competition. She easily won the semi-final with a combined number of votes (two sets of voting) of 290,000. Nobody else was even close, not in her semi-final, or any of the others. First runner up was Andreas Johnson with 120,000 votes in the first semi-final.

In the days leading up to the finale one betting firm stopped all bets on Carola to minimize their losses. One can easily say she was the clear favorite to win the finale, but after the jury groups had given their scores, Carola was behind Andreas Johnson on the scoreboard. When the tele votes were announced though, Carola could relax—she had won the Swedish Song Contest for a third time; once in the 80's, once in the 90's and now once in the 00's.

This is, according to my humble opinion the peak of the 00's for Carola, perhaps even of her career. So far.

If you agree, or if you don't—remember to come back TOMORROW to cast your vote on your favorite Carola moment of the 00's. The winning moment will be announced on New Year's Eve. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

10 Moments of the 00's - just outside the list

Before I announce the no 1 on the list over 10 most memorable moments of the 00's, let me just mention some really cool stuff that happened during the decade that didn't make it on the list:

March 10 2000
Poking fun at her divorce
Carola co-hosts the Swedish Song Contest with nine other celebrity hosts, together they perform a greatly appreciated medley of songs from the contest's history. But what gets most attention of the evening is Carola's T-shirt that is blinking "LEDIG" ("AVAILABLE") shortly after her divorce.
Watch video

March 21 2005
Duet with Marit Bergman
Carola performs ABBA's "Waterloo" as a duet with Marit Bergman at the show "Alla tiders Melodifestival" at Cirkus in Stockholm. Marit Bergman is a long time fan of Carola, and there's something spontaneous about their performance that makes you wanna see more of a collaboration between the two. The show is recorded for TV and the duet released on an accompanying album.
Watch video

December 26 2005
Singing for the tsunami survivors
Carola performs an emotional "Jag vill alltid älska" at the 1 year ceremony for the victims of the tsunami disaster in Khao Lak in Thailand.
Watch video

July 4 2006
Stage dives
While performing "Evighet" on "Allsång på Skansen" Carola stage dives into the audience. Yeah! Rock'n'roll!
Watch video

December 2007
Embarrassed by Liza Minnelli
While performing "Silent Night" together in the show "A Classic Christmas Night", Liza Minnelli manages to completely embarrass Carola by being a little too complimentary and up close... It's painfully funny to watch, and the clip was shown on the American super blogger Perez Hilton's website.
Watch video

But none of these made the list. Just wait a little longer for the no 1 on the list will be posted!

Exclusive: Photos from the album signing

© Photos: Peter Karlsson

These photos were taken at today's album signing at Ica Maxi Lindhagen in Stockholm. Click to enlarge them. Thanks to Peter Karlsson for sending me the photos!

Listen to radio interview

The Norwegian leg of the tour is over, and Carola is back in Sweden to sign albums in Stockholm today and give a concert in Jönköping tomorrow. The local radio station in Jönköping interviewed Carola today and you can listen to the clip by clicking the link below.

Link: Listen to interview on SR Jönköping's website

Swedish Album Chart (w 51)

On its fifth week on the Swedish album chart, "Christmas in Bethlehem" drops seven spots from no 9 to no 16. On a happier note, the album has been awarded a platinum disc for selling more than 40,000 copies.

Week 47: No 8
Week 48: No 7
Week 49: No 4
Week 50: No 9
Week 51: No 16

Link: Sverige Topplistan's website

10 Moments of the 00's #2

No 2: The 20th anniversary shows (2003)

No 3: "Genom allt" could have won (2005)
No 4: Eurovision Song Contest (2006)
No 5: Missing a golden opportunity (2001)
No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

In 2003, Carola celebrated her 20th anniversary as an artist by performing two concerts at Cirkus in Stockholm. The concerts were filmed, shown on Swedish TV4 and later released on DVD. These concerts lifted Carola's standards to a new level. When she went on tour that summer, it was with the most expensive production ever to tour in Sweden. In these concerts, Carola performed all her hits and her new single "När löven faller" (which had been disqualified from the Swedish Song Contest the same year since Carola—who sang on the demo—didn't want the perform it in the competition) in a great production with a big ensemble of musicians and dancers. The success of these shows lingered throughout the year—the DVD of the show was the most sold music DVD in Sweden that year, staying 38 weeks on the sales chart and 12 weeks at no 1. The 2xCD hits collection "Guld platina och passion—Det bästa med Carola" became the second most sold album of the year, with 67 (!) weeks on the sales chart, peaking at no 1. Carola has ever since her breakthrough in 1983 been one of the biggest stars in Sweden, but at certain times she's been comparatively bigger than during other periods. 2003-2006 is one of those periods, beginning with these shows, and that's why they reached all the way up to no 2 on my list over 10 most memorable moments of the last decade.

Maybe you can already guess it, but don't miss checking out the no 1 moment of the 00's tomorrow!

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Link: Watch another clip from the 20th anniversary shows

Exclusive: Two more concerts in February

Update: "Carola och en flygel" seems to be a tour! Two more dates can now be added at Hotell Lappland in Lycksele on February 13 and February 27.

13.2 Hotell Lappland, Lycksele
20.2 Hotell Södra Berget, Sundsvall
27.2 Hotell Lappland, Lycksele

I will publish any new dates as soon as they are announced...

Thanks Magnus for the info!

Link: Hotell Lappland's website

Exclusive: "Carola och en flygel" concert in Sundsvall

On February 20, 2010 Carola will give a concert at Hotell Södra Berget in Sundsvall. Tickets are already available through Ticnet (see link below). The concert is titled "Carola och en flygel" (Carola and a grand piano), and this is how the concert is described:

"Sweden's best singer is coming back to Sundsvall. This time she gives us an unplugged concert where she, accompanied by a grand piano, performs songs the way only she can".

(Translation by Carola International)

Remember where you read it first!

Link: Buy tickets (Ticnet)
Link: Hotell Södra Berget's website

10 Moments of the 00's #3

No 3: "Genom allt" could have won (2005)

No 4: Eurovision Song Contest (2006)
No 5: Missing a golden opportunity (2001)
No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

One of Carola's biggest strengths as a performer is her ability to "explode"—to put everything she's got into one song. She proved it once again when she performed at the Swedish Song Contest in 2005. She wasn't one of the competing artists that year, but in the intermission of the finale in Stockholm, she debuted her new song "Genom allt". And there it was, that magic that Carola sometimes delivers—that "explosion". Many commentators have said that if Carola would have been one of the contestants that year (or any other for that matter) she would have easily won the Swedish Song Contest with "Genom allt", and that's why it deserves to be at no 3 on the list of the 10 most memorable moments of the last decade.

Don't miss the no 2 moment of the 00's tomorrow.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Reviews of concert in Ulsteinvik

Photo: Staale Wattø / Sunnmørsposten

The local newspapers have only good things to say about Carola's Christmas concerts in Ulsteinvik. She performed two concerts there today, and two more are scheduled for tomorrow...

Link: Read review in Vikebladet

Link: Read review in Sunnmørsposten

Carola signed albums in Norway

Photo from Sunnmørsposten

Yesterday at 5.00 pm, Carola signed albums at Bok & Media in Ulsteinvik. The four shows sold out quickly, so some fans took this opportunity to meet Carola since they don't have tickets to the show. The local newspaper Sunnmørsposten, published an article about the signing.

Link: Read the article in Sunnmørsposten

Norwegian Album Chart (w51)

"Christmas in Bethlehem" re-enters the Norwegian album chart this week, after spending two weeks just outside the top 40. So officially this is only the albums second week on the chart.

Week 48: No 36
Week 49: No 44 (outside top 40)
Week 50: No 42 (outside top 40)
Week 51: No 39

Link: VG Listan's website

10 Moments of the 00's #4

No 4: Eurovision Song Contest (2006)

No 5: Missing a golden opportunity (2001)
No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

After coming in on no 3 in 1983 with "Främling" ("Love Isn't Love") and winning in 1991 with "Fångad av en stormvind" ("Captured by a Lovestorm"), the expectations were high when Carola once again represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in Greece in 2006 with "Invincible". She said in interviews that only a Top 3 position would be satisfactory. In the semi-final on May 18, Carola came in no 4 and thereby qualified to the finale two days later. In the finale she ended up no 5, only two points behind Romania at no 4, but far away from Top 3 scores. So "Invincible" didn't do as good as she (and most of Sweden) expected, but no 5 is still an honorable position—especially considering Sweden's positions since (The Ark 2007: no 18, Charlotte Perrelli 2008: no 18, Malena Ernman 2009: no 21). Many ESC fans loved Carola's song and performance, and she is unique as an artist competing in three decades, the 80's, the 90's and the 00's, and that's why Eurovision Song Contest 2006 is the no 4 moment of the decade.

Tomorrow we've reached the Top 3 moment of the 00's.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Video: "Find My Way To Bethlehem"

From the Norwegian morning TV-show "God Morgen Norge" this morning. Not live though...

Web-TV: Watch "God Morgen Norge"

If you missed Carola on the Norwegian morning TV show "God Morgen Norge" this morning, you can watch the show online. TV2's web-TV is not free though, so you need a user-profile and a creditcard to watch the video.

Link: Watch the show on TV2's website
Link: Win Carola's album on TV2's website

10 Moments of the 00's #5

No 5: Missing a golden opportunity (2001)

No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)
No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

In June 2000 the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet broke the news—Carola had begun a collaboration with the guys from Sweet Chariots: Niclas Frisk (previosly lead singer of Atomic Swing) and Andreas Mattsson (previously Popsicle)! This was news the music columnists and fans agreed seem to be a big step in the right direction for Carola. Aftonbladet wrote:

"Carola is in the recording studio with the rock'n'roll guys from Sweet Chariots. A more interesting collaboration is hard to find. (...) Mattsson and Frisk have given Carola a bunch of new songs. Their intentions are serious. Now it's up to Carola. (...) But, now it seems Carola has made her mind up. She has chosen to collaborate with two of the most respected men on the Swedish music scene. Two guys with great respect for the music history and their roots in classic guitar-based pop and rock. (...) She has proven she can sing any genre of music: hymns, pop, gospel, musicals. But she still hasn't made THE album. Her instant classic. It might be time for that now".

In July Carola gave her fans and the critics a sneak peek at what the new material sounded like when she performed two songs during a concert in Tylösand. The critics were ecstatic! But, when the album "My Show" was released on November 19 2001, only one of the songs from the Frisk-Mattsson collaboration had survived ("You + Me" was released as a promo single in August 2002, see cover above), but it had been re-recorded to fit the pop sound of the album. The critics were in slight shock:

"But dear, dear Carola... What have you done? (...) I heard some of the songs they recorded and saw them perform together last summer, and it was truly a fantastic experience. (...) For the first time it seemed Carola expressed something—and she did it a raw and naked way, so direct with such sexually charged intensity that I wrote 'A Swedish Aretha' in my notebook. (...) There is nothing more tragic than wasted talent. The album 'My Show' makes me genuinely sad!"

You might not agree with everything said by the critics, but in fact Carola has later stated that she regrets not completing the album with Frisk and Mattsson. One song that Carola rejected was titled "Help Somebody" and later recorded by Peter Jöback (listen to his version here). We can only imagine what the Carola/Frisk/Mattsson album would have sounded like and what in what direction it might had taken Carola's career, but I considered it the fifth most memorable moment of the decade. Even if in the end, it never happened...

Tomorrow it's time to reveal the no 4 moment of the 00's.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

(Translations by Carola International)

TV: Carola on "God Morgen Norge"

Carola will be a guest on the Norwegian morning TV show "God Morgen Norge" tomorrow Tuesday. She will both give an interview and perform "Find My Way To Bethlehem" live in the studio. You can also win the album "Christmas in Bethlehem" on a competition on TV2's website, just follow the link below for your chance to win.

"God Morgen Norge" airs on Norwegian TV2 tomorrow morning at 6.55 am. According to TV2's website, Carola will be on after 9.40 am. Don't miss it.

Link: TV2's website

Link: Win Carola's album on TV2's website

10 Moments of the 00's #6

No 6: Throwing a plant at the audience (2005)

No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)
No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

Ever since 1983, Carola has had this unique ability to make every little thing that happens around her headline material for all Swedish tabloid newspapers. Has any other Swedish artist created as many headlines? I don't think so... I felt I couldn't really ignore the flower-throwing incident that happened while Carola performed "Genom allt" on the TV show "Allsång på Skansen" in the summer of 2005. When Carola ran out on stage to perform her song, she grabbed one of the plants on the stage and threw it out into the audience. Not a very big deal you might say, but this incident created headlines for days after it happened. The girl who got the flowers in her lap was interviewed (!) by one newspaper, and another ran a story following Carola when visiting the girl at her home to apologize to her (!). At the annual Swedish Gay Gala Awards the following year, this incident received the I-Can't-Believe-My-Eyes-Award... The fact that a silly little thing like this can create headlines for days, just prove that Carola is a superstar in Sweden, and that's why it qualifies to be no 6 on my list over the most memorable moments of the decade.

Tomorrow I'll publish the no 5 moment of the 00's.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Paul Potts tweets about the concert in Oslo

Paul Potts is in Oslo to perform two concerts with Carola at Folketeatret today, and he is tweeting about it on his Twitter page.

"just about to go on stage with Carola in Oslo. My lovely youngest nephew has given me his cold! The show must go on as queen sang!"

"The Folketeatret is a lovely venue, would love 2 do a full show there, although to get to the dressin rm frm entry, it's 8 flights of stairs"

Link: Paul Potts on Twitter

"Find My Way To Bethlehem" challenger on Svensktoppen

Carola's "Find My Way To Bethlehem" is one of three songs that try to get on to the radio chart Svensktoppen top 10 next week. All three of them are Christmas songs: "Välkommen hem" with EMD and "Ensam till jul" with Minaya are the other two.

On the show next Sunday at 11.00 am, the results will be announced.

Link: Svensktoppen's website

10 Moments of the 00's #7

No 7: Receiving the Letteris et Artibus medal (2007)

No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

After having a hugely successful year in 2006, Carola proudly received the Letteris et Artibus medal from the Royal Highness the King of Sweden at a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on January 30 2007. The Litteris et Artibus was established in 1853 by then Crown Prince Carl Ludvig Eugen (later King Karl XV) and is awarded for outstanding service to the arts—music, dramatic art and literature. A very selected group of Swedish singers, composers, actors and authors have received the medal since then. Recipients include Alice Tegnér (1914), Hugo Alfvén (1916), Birgit Nilsson (1960), Astrid Lindgren (1975), Povel Ravel (1978) and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus (1999). In 2007, Carola joined this selected few in the honor of receiving the medal from King Carl XVI Gustaf and that’s why this event qualifies to be no 7 on my list over 10 most memorable moments of the last decade.

Don’t miss to check out no 6 on the list tomorrow!

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Updated: Album signing

A few days ago, Carola.com announced a new album signing on December 18 but without disclosing the location. I can now tell you it will be at Ica Maxi Lindhagen at Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The signing will begin at 5.00 pm.

20.11 Entré, Malmö, SWE 5pm
25.11 Åhlens City, Stockholm, SWE 5pm
15.12 Bok & Media, Ulsteinvik, NOR 5pm
18.12 Ica Maxi Lindhagen, Stockholm, SWE 5pm

Thanks to Jessica Jäger for the information.

10 Moments of the 00's #8

No 8: "Les Misérables" in London's West End (2002)
No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

In 2002 Carola returned to musical theater, five years after playing Maria von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" in Stockholm (1995-1997). She was asked by producer Cameron Macintosh to play the part of Fantine in the London production of "Les Misérables" for a limited time, before taking the show on a Scandinavian tour. Between September 25 and October 2, Carola performed eight shows at The Palace Theatre in London, singing among others the well-known song "I Dreamed A Dream". October 26 the tour version premiered in Copenhagen and then moved on to Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki and Gothenburg.

Playing one of the leading roles in a hit show on London's West End is a big deal, and if she wanted to, Carola could probably continue a successful career as a musical theater actress (although I'm sure happy she doesn't—she has other, more important things to do), and that's why "Les Misérables" is no 8 on the list over ten memorable moments of the 00's.

Come back tomorrow for no 7 on the list.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

Review and photos from Stavanger

Photos: Jon Ingemundsen / Stavanger Aftenblad

Carola performed two sold out shows in Stavanger, Norway tonight. To read a review and see some gorgeous photos from the concert, click the link below.

Link: Read the review in Stavanger Aftenblad

Swedish Album Chart (w 50)

"Christmas in Bethlehem" stays its fourth week in the Top 10 on the official Swedish album chart, though dropping five positions from no 4 to no 9.

Week 47: No 8
Week 48: No 7
Week 49: No 4
Week 50: No 9

Link: Sverige Topplistan's website

10 Moments of the 00's #9

No 9: "Find My Way To Bethlehem" (2009)
No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

A logical follow-up to yesterday's no 10 spot on the list over the most memorable Carola moments of the decade—when she pulled away from the media spotlight after "One Love" failed to move to the final round of the Swedish Song Contest in 2008—is to focus on what happened next. After nearly twenty months of silence, Carola finally made her "comeback" with a new record label, new website, new attitude towards media (she recently said on a radio interview, that she wants to give interviews only to reporters with whom she feels a mutual respect), and a new Christmas album which in my opinion equals the 1999 album "Jul i Betlehem". To mark her return, Carola was a guest on the Swedish/Norwegian talkshow "Skavlan" and sang one of the new songs from the album: "Find My Way To Bethlehem", a song she co-wrote with the album's producer, Erik Hillestad. And what a song it is! And how she sings it! All vocal problems that began in 2006 are nowhere to be heard. This is truly promising for the future, and that's why this song, and this performance is my no 9 on the list over most memorable Carola moments of the 00's

Tomorrow it's time for no 8 on the list.

Agree or disagree? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

The American iTunes chart (Dec 10)

It's a modest position, but it's still noteworthy that Carola's "Christmas in Bethlehem" is currently at no 154 on the American iTunes chart over Christmas albums. It's the first time (to my knowledge) the album broke into any chart in the U.S. besides the Amazon.com chart. Congratulations, Carola!

10 Moments of the 00's #10

No 10: Johnson & Häggkvist miss the finale (2008)

Sorry to start this countdown on such a sad note, but Carola and Andreas' song "One Love" in the Swedish Song Contest 2008 has to mentioned for many reasons. For one, it's a great song that Carola co-wrote with Andreas Johnson and Peter Kvint (with whom she said she wanted to collaborate more), but also because of the media storm that broke out after Johnson & Häggkvist failed to qualify to the final round of the competition. The Swedish tabloids published cover stories with headlines like "The End", showing photos of a disappointed Carola leaving the arena...

2008 was supposed to be a great anniversary year for Carola—25 years since her legendary breakthrough in the Swedish Song Contest—she had invited fans to celebrate with her at the theater in Malmö where she first performed "Främling" in 1983, she had just released the 25th Anniversary Edition of her debut album, and more celebrations were being planned. But after the intense media fury following the Swedish Song Contest, Carola chose to withdraw and recoup for a while. It wasn't until she released "Christmas in Bethlehem" in November this year that she fully returned to the stage.

Tomorrow I will publish the no 9 moment of the 00's.

Do you agree with me? Should the Swedish Song Contest 2008 episode have reached further up on the list? Shouldn't it have been on the list at all? Don't worry, on December 20 it's your time to vote for what you think is the no 1 moment of the 00's. Until then, feel free to leave your comments here.

TV: Carola guest on "Nyhetsmorgon"

Carola is scheduled to be a guest on TV4's "Nyhetsmorgon" the Saturday before Christmas. On Saturdays the show usually includes a longer interview with one guest, so this is a date to remember. "Nyhetsmorgon" with Carola airs at 9 am on Saturday December 19.

You can also watch the show live online, on the website TV4 Play.