Friday Five: Ronny & Ken

Babsan ran away from Schlagerfiasko. Sibel is refusing to take my calls. So, for this week’s Friday Five, I’ve decided to talk to two of my favourite schlagerfriends (who actually still speak to me).

Ronny Larsson and Ken Olausson are also known as Schlagerprofilerna, blogging faithfully about the schlager scene and reporting on the highs, lows and everything in between at Melodifestivalen and Eurovision for QX magazine. And all with good grace, hilarious eftersnacks, and great outfits.

Their blog is essential reading for any self-respecting schlagerfan – and you may even improve your Swedish in the process. They also speak on Twitter. Mainly after a few drinks. It’s usually the best way.

Hello, Schlagerprofilerna gentlemen. What has been the most schlager moment of your lives so far?
Ronny: Watching Carola win her delfinal in Gothenburg. Amazing.
Ken: I guess the most natural (and boring) for a guy who was 10 years old in 1983 is to say Carola singing Främling. I think that’s where it all started for me. But going on tour for QX with Ronny every year gives me new fantastic schlagermoments every week. Last year, dancing to Cara Mia with Måns at an after-party is an example.

If you went to live on the moon and could only take one song with you, what would you take?
Ronny: Kom by Timoteij.
Ken: Alcazar’s Stay the Night. The perfect song, the perfect production, the perfect show and the perfect group. Still on rotation in my iPod.

Carola: saint or sinner?
Ronny: Neither. She’s 50/50.
Ken: Sinner. Definitely. Not necessarily a bad thing to be, though. But I’m not her biggest fan, no.

Who are your musical heroes?
Ronny: Fredrik Kempe, Bobby Ljunggren and Karl Euren.
Ken: I listen to almost everything, but I guess the foundations of the music I listen to today is by Kylie, Army of Lovers and Madonna. Also 90′s Britpop, like Oasis and Blur. And Scissor Sisters, U2 and Kent. And about 30 years of Melodifestivalen! Right now it’s Le Kid and The Sound Of Arrows.

Teach us a phrase in Swedish…
Ronny: Musik för ingen. It means ‘music for nobody’, as in when a song in Melodifestivalen is aimed at absolutely no one. Neither kids, schlagerfans, adults, gays or old people will vote for it. Examples include Lucky You by Linda Sundblad, Doctor, Doctor by Elin Lanto and Magisk stjärna by Py Bäckman.
Ken: Det är alltid treorna eller fyrorna ni borde skickat till schlager-EM! It means, ‘You should always have sent the number three or number four (in the final) to Eurovision!’ Say that to as many Swedes you meet, and we might send a winner someday.