Interview at Ettermiddagen (Norway) [Translated]

Eric at Nyhetsmorgon (25.03.12) (with translation)

Eric Saade wants to offer the perfect popact

Last year was a very successful year and 2012 begins with a big tour in Sweden, Växjö News has met Eric Saade in Teleborgshallen, where he is on stage on April 11, and talked about Melodifestivalen and his indoortour Pop Explosion.

Last year was the victory at Melodifestivalen, two released albums and a third place in the Eurovision Song Contest. Additionally he sold the most records in total of all Swedish artists. It's easy to say that 2011 was a successful year for the artist from Skåne.

-That was wonderful, he says.

The explanation for this amazing year is of course the impact and the victory in Melodifestivalen, but Eric Saade also believes that his fighting spirit and the fact that he always enters wholeheartedly in what he does plays a major role.

- I always make a perfect show. I dance and sing at the same time and there are not many people in Sweden who do. People like it simply, he says and continues:
 

- Just after Melodifestivalen, I feel I have developed very much, both in terms of singing, dancing wise but also as a person. So 2011 is a year which has meant a lot to me purely developmentally.

Now, however, it is out of schlager. It's great to have taken the next step and started to build something new, self-composed music, he says.

- I finished Melodifestivalen. It was a great way to start your career on, but I've already moved on and have bigger goals. Melodifestivalen is never your own, it's someone else's program you will visit.

He looked up, however, on the first round in Växjö and Loreen, who went straight to the final, impressed him.

- It's the best number I've ever seen in a Swedish Melodifestival of all time. I can not see anyone else go to Eurovision.

When pop tour rolls on investing last year's winner on their own tour. In spring he will visit 15 arenas across Sweden and now he travels around to some of them to check out what's up.

Teleborgshallen is very small, but after a look inside the arena believes Eric Saade it will be a good concert on April 11.

- I have high expectations of this audience. It's probably the smallest stage, but I like that because then it will be very intimate. I think it's gonna be a hell of a move in here.

After two festival tours, it was time to try something new. Eric Saade seems satisfied that it became an arena tour. He says that the best thing about this spring's tour is the freedom to decide. He has himself designed the scene.

- For the first time I can adapt depending on myself. Everything will be customized for me to make the perfect popact.

Pop Explosion is called the tour and he describes it as a bold popact dance number after dance number, with a good band and a fat light show. The actual shape of the concert, he has invented himself.

It's the audience which determines if there is any show or not. On stage will in fact exist decibel meters, and to get up on stage Saade wants the audience to scream so much so decibel meters reaches red.

- Decibel Meters will come up when an act is over. Then it's up to the audience to let so much so that it goes up to red. Then it will pop out of hell and the next act begins, he says and continues:

- I like when you involve the audience during this show, they will be highly involved. They decide if I'm standing on stage or not.

Original and pictures: VäxjöNytt / translated by Linda / no guarantee for 100% correctness

Saade likes what he sees

After the success in the Eurovision Song Contest aims Eric Saade a career abroad. But first he wants to realize the great dream. Jnytt met Eric Saade when he visited Jönköping today to familiarize himself with arena for the indoor tour.

- It's probably the biggest decision I've taken in my life. It feels so far away in some way when Sweden is such a small country. Before, I only festival toured, but this comes from the heart. Here I can do exactly what I want and that you can never do on a festival tour, says Eric Saade on Wednesday when he became familiar with the Concert Hall at Elmia before the big show in April.
In March, he initiates his Pop Explosion Concert at home in Helsingborg. On April 27 he will come to Jönköping.

Always been stubborn

He has previously visited the A6 but this is different.
- Everything will be controlled by the audience. They decide when I go on stage, it gonna blow and I hope they're in just a good mood as I will be, he says with enthusiasm before the visit in the spring.
This is where Eric Saade will be himself.
Dance Steps, the show, the music - the fans.

- I think I have always been allowed to decide, kind of I always have been - stubborn. Even when I was signed at the age of 15, I have known what I want to do, both in dance and in music. It is only in Melodifestivalen my big breakthrough came for the wider audience, he says.

How would you say that Eurovision has helped you?

- At the beginning of my career it gave me everything, but I had never been presented to the general public. I had been able to participate in Idol as well, but it never spoke to me.

Remember back to Eurovision
Why not?

- I do not like cover songs, which seemed to direct, he laughs. This is surely a good breeding ground for talented people, but it's all about what you do after the program.

When he comes to Jonkoping, it has been almost exactly a year ago, the pop star finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with "Popular".
As the song's namesake - he is popular, not least his hit singles and albums Vol.2 Saade testify. The album went straight to the top of music charts.

Can you yourself sit down and reflect on how quickly everything has gone, you turn 22 this fall?

- Sometimes one forgets that. I found myself a while ago when I watched race in Växjö to "shit, this won I '. Sometimes you have to stop in time to pinch yourself in the arm. It's not often you can take the time for yourself when tours are at the same time with writing new music.
Eric Saade says his drive comes from the audience.

"I love my fans"

Making an indoor tour, feeling close to the fans and yourself to govern the way he wants it is a rare luxury, he explains.
- The fans mean everything! I love my fans. After the Eurovision Song Contest, it has become, as I said, very different. All 40-plus is actually craziest of them all, Eric laughs and continues:
- They see me safely as a lamb. Young people are the most grateful audience. I like when they sound a lot and that's what I appreciate most. They are like me. I want a show, dancing and entertainment.

How does daily life look like in the future with a view to the tour?

- I repeat all the time with my live band and dancers. Everything is really clicking and that requires exercise. To dance and sing simultaneously is difficult, I do not think people understand how much is required of one. I run awful lot to keep up my fitness.

Rest waits afterwards

- Imagine yourself running on a treadmill and sing simultaneously, people wondering why I was panting so much when I sing, he laughs.

What lies ahead of you, after the tour?

- After the tour, it is abroad that apply. It is unfortunately a break in Sweden, I feel I need a break here at home. I have not met everyone else's desire to go abroad. I have a schedule that is waiting for me and when I get home I do not know. But it will at least be when I have new music start all over again, said Eric Saade, which now realizes his dream.

Translation of Jnytt by Linda. No guarantee for 100% correctness ;)

Interview Nöjesbladet

"I did not feel so good"

Image by Lina Boström Einarsson

Eric Saade turns pop back: I take no steps back

Pop is no more.

Now does Eric Saade, 21, just what he wants.

- You have to learn to point the finger at everyone who pokes one, he says.

Eric Saade poses accustomed to the camera.

Just days before this year's artists in the Eurovision Song Contest presented amid much publicity.

But it is far from here.

Melodifestivalen was Eric Saade's breakthrough to a wider audience. But nothing he wants to return to.

- It's so hard to say never but no, probably not, he says. I've already done that, I'm done now. Why would I take a step back?

He continues:

- Now I have completely different goals. As I look back on it, it is a start of my career which was absolutely fantastic. It was an extremely fun time because it's such a fucking circus.

To break through is not just something you do. It is sometimes things are going against. Even for Eric Saade.

- When I left high school I was right near to close. I had been going on for three years and nothing happened.

 

"Enough is enough"

Eric Saade lined up twice in the Melodifestivalen - 2010 with "Manboy". 2011, with "Popular". The year between them happened a lot.

- The first year after my breakthrough I felt not so good. I was in a position where I did not really know how to handle the media. I was really confused, walked around and wondered how I should do: if I could be myself or I would align myself, as one must do in Jantelags -Sweden. This year I decided that it is enough.

The result: Saade's participation in last winter ended with a profit - with a series of controversies along the way. This talks with both the media and other participants (read: the Russian contribution).

- You have to learn to point the finger at everyone who pokes at you, says Eric.

 "The same fucking Eric"

A lot has happened on other fronts too over the years since his first participation, says Eric.

- When I look at myself when I did "Manboy" so I only think: what the hell I was involved with? I had not taken a singing lesson, I had not danced for three years so I was completely numb. But personality wise, I have always been the same fucking Eric.

With popular music behind it is now new challenges on the schedule. New album and a subsequent tour is planned over the coming year. Saade has himself designed the stage and wants to achieve something in the class with Justin Timberlake at the Globe Arena - but on a smaller stage. No minimalism that is.

- Damn, I've never done anything that has been pared down.

Original: Nöjesbladet / translated by Linda / no guarantee for 100% correctness ;)

Signing at In-Gallerian Sundsvall

The girls cried and parents sweated. In-gallerian was chockfull when Eric Saade visited Sundsvall. - I really like the town - it's perfect.

Image by Dagbladet.se

Dagbladet met Eric Saade just before the show began With him was a camera crew - which documented the signing tour . He said he likes Sundsvall and therefore were it the only gig in Norrland here.

- Sundsvall is perfect. I was here at the Gatufesten in the summer as well - it was crazy fun, says Eric Saade.

Then it was time to go up the stage and gallerian was crowded by small and big fans. People literally climbed the walls to get a glimpse of the star.

- Are you okay? shouts Eric Saade and judging by the cheering from the fans was doing it more than good.

The audience was asked to hear "Hearts in the Air" and a special version of the mega-hit "Popular".

Four songs later, there was signing day and Eric Saade promised to every one who wanted his name on the disc to get it.

- I'll stay if it takes four hours.

Despite the fact that so many people gathered - at least a thousand people according to one of the organizers - it went peaceful and the organizers asked all the time the audience to take account of the younger fans.


Original: Dagbladet / translated by Linda / no guarantee for 100% correctness ;)