Salem's video interview with Cosmopolitan in Finland (in English)

I just found this tonight - a video interview recorded last week when Salem was on his first ever promotional trip to Finland. Check out http://www.cosmopolitan.fi/cosmo-nyt/cosmotv/1/348/ where you'll find Salem talking about his musical childhood, not listening to music, Melodifestivalen and his positive outlook on life. I thought this was a nice little interview. Enjoy!

Salem in Finland...

I've only just found out about this one, so sorry it's late :(

Salem has been in Finland today and appeared on the KesäKummit charity concert tonight, which was very similar to the "Children In Need" show that we have on British TV every year. The only difference is that we aren't lucky enough to have someone like Salem appearing on that show! (Well maybe in the future...I can dream!)

EDIT 25.05.2010: you can watch the show at http://www.katsomo.fi/?progId=39928

(Many thanks again to our good friend Eva who sent me the link)

Salem performs "4 O´Clock" (1 min 24 sec into the show) and "Keep On Walking" (1 hour, 5 min and 42 secs into the show). As usual, he never disappoints. Looking and sounding great at the moment, don't you all agree? And I just love the hair ;)

There is also a nice Swedish-language interview with Salem on this Finnish website: http://www.peppar.fi/article/Salem-Al-Fakir-pa-Finlandsbesok

Roundup - Thursday 18.03.10: reviews and Swedish media appearances

"Keep On Walking" is still at no. 1 in the iTunes chart - and "Ignore This" is still no.2 in the albums list.

Found this Norwegian review of "Ignore This" at the Studvest.no website: http://studvest.no/kultur.php?seksjon=anmeldelser&art_id=12598

An excellent review of "Ignore This" on the always-excellent #1 Hits From Another Planet blog...http://alienhits.blogspot.com/2010/03/track-by-track-salem-al-fakir-ignore.html

Salem appeared on Swedish P3 radio today: http://www.sr.se/webbradio/webbradio.asp?type=db&Id=2264523&BroadcastDate=&IsBlock= (again, would anyone be able to translate?)

Meanwhile Salem will be back on SVT's "Gomorron Sverige" tomorrow at 8.50 am for an interview, along with his brother Sami. Remember to tune in (or catch it later on SVT Play).
http://svt.se/gomorronsverige

"Ignore This" review (in Finnish) at Plaza.fi

Link:
http://plaza.fi/kaista/musiikki/levyarvostelut/levyarvostelu-salem-al-fakir-ignore-this

Unfortunately Google Translate didn't really make a good job of translating this and I don't understand a word of Finnish....anyway it seemed to be a good review (4 stars).

Can any Finnish-speaking readers help with this translation?

Meanwhile...another Norwegian review of "Astronaut"

There's a review of Salem's new album in Romerikes Blad: http://www.rb.no/lokal_kultur/cd-guiden/article4292572.ece

Quick translation of course (what would I do without Google Translate??)

Reviewer Ola Einbu describes Salem as the "good boy in the soul-pop class...he is the artist who does everything; he composes, plays, sings and made the recording and production itself. But he sure can work".

The reviewer goes on to say..."he gives the listeners pop pearls like 'Bluest Eyes' and the film noir-like, orkestrale, fragile and beautiful "Purple Lady". Not to mention of "One of the Others", which just as easily could have been written by Stevie Wonder. Only the name Salem Al Fakir sounds like a party. It is basically what he has to offer also".

Danish review of "Astronaut"

(I think) the album is released today in Denmark: Gaffa.dk has a review at http://gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/32003

Reviewer Erik Barkman gives the album 4 out of 6: Comparing "Astronaut" to "This Is Who I Am" he calls it "more stylish, but less inspired...the foundation is still funky pop centered on Salem's charming vocals....fortunately Salem manages to put a personal imprint on his exercises and he has an almost natural talent for turning catchy hooks".

Unfortunately my Danish-to-English translating site didn't make much sense so I couldn't translate all of it (!) if I find any more Danish reviews I'll post them here.

Norwegian album review.

Found another Norwegian press review of "Astronaut" at http://oslopuls.aftenposten.no/musikk/cd/article182180.ece

It's 4 out of 5 (yet again!) and the reviewer Robert Hoftun Gjestad prefers this album to Salem's debut. He describes Salem as a "genius soul pop artist". He comments "the melodies are simply stronger, more robust and better developed, from the opening "Cold Shower" and the title track, through the rockier "Now's The Time," orchestrated soul of "It's Only You (Part II)", or throwing freely back to the 1970s glam in "Roxy."...a couple of the calmer songs at the end do not have the same captivating flavour, but most of this album is the type of boldly performed music that grows on the listener - and provides an increasingly broad smile on their face".

Norwegian review, Gilbert O'Sullivan, and Salem's fans' ages...

1: Another Norwegian review

In Livecity Magazine http://www.livecity.no/Anmeldelse/?p=BlogDetail&ublid=2995, reviewer Jon Vidar Bergen awards the album 6 out of 10.

"In the sequel he is now Salem and he has moved much from (the debut album's) old soul and Stevie Wonder-style. This is more straight and well-arranged pop music, still with a lot of keyboards....First single "Astronaut", which is great, catchy pop with stunning vocals.... Almost as good is "One Of The Others." On "Now's The Time", he unusually rocks à la Oasis, without forgetting the good melody. "Roxy" is inventive pop of the best 70s style (Toto, 10cc, Supertramp). Astronaut is a more varied album than the debut, but unfortunately, not better."

The reviewer recommends the album if you're a fan of Jason Mraz, and...Gilbert O'Sullivan.

2: Gilbert O'Sullivan

The Gilbert comparison is very interesting: whenever I've played Salem's music to anyone of my age group or older than me, they have all commented on the similarity of Salem's style to Gilbert O'Sullivan - if you're not familiar with Gilbert, he was a hugely successful singer-songwriter in the early 1970s (my childhood years!! :o), he wrote and sang very catchy piano-songs with extremely clever lyrics.

I don't know if Salem is familiar with Gilbert O'Sullivan's music or not, but it's interesting to see the reviewers also making this comparison.

3: Age of Salem's fans?

With only two weeks to go till I'm at Salem's Gothenburg concert, I'm beginning to wonder if me and my partner will be the oldest people in the audience!! It's interesting to see that Salem's music appeals to a much younger audience in Sweden, whereas I feel that in the UK he would probably appeal to the over-30s, as a lot of young people over here are only interested in r'n'b, dance music or emo-style bands and are too narrow minded to appreciate real talent. I'm glad that there are young people in Sweden with good musical taste, but I hope there are maybe some older people (30-40s age) going to his live concerts too!!

Yet one more Norwegian review of "Astronaut"

I didn't think I'd find any more reviews, but then I found this in Stavanger Aftenbladet: http://www.aftenbladet.no/kultur/plate/1009070/Hakket_svakere_enn_sist.html

The reviewer Kjetil Wold doesn't like this album as much as "This Is Who I Am" giving it four out of five rather than the five he gave that debut, but even if he's a little critical he's still got lots of good things to say about the album:

"Salem still has a solid grip on songwriting and he alternates from large ballads, through pop, cheesy discopop and soul to flimsy electronica-pop. But he sounds smoother and more superficial this time...it does not mean that "Astronaut" is a bad disc. The melodies are good - and he demonstrates a stronger grip on the ballads than the uptempo pop song. Best tracks: "Black Sun, Black Moon" and "Astronaut."

"Astronaut" review in ABC Nyheter (Norway)

A long and detailed review by Johnny Andreassen, headed "Extraordinary pop".

The album gets 5 out of 6 and the reviewer says "This is the sound of pop with a large P for the year 2009".

"Much may suggest that he is an Elton John or Roger Hodgson of our time... pop music as effortless should appeal to 13-year-olds as well as 70-year-olds... you feel all the way there is a slight twist of genius that has roots in his identity as a musician. Pop with a soul feeling that Prince could reel off in his warmest moments".

The reviewer concludes: "Searching your soul a good pop with piano-based drama, you need not look further than just over the border. "Astronaut" comes to stand as one of the best pure pop albums in 2009...No hesitation - both thumbs up for Salem Al Fakir!"

And who could disagree? The review (in Norwegian) can be found at http://www.abcnyheter.no/node/86085

Norwegian press review of "Astronaut"

Rune Slyngstad in Avisa Nordland describes the album as "...a new round of dynamic and varied pop inspired by 70s names like 10CC, Supertramp and Toto" He calls the title track "...a great song. Many of the ten other songs also show a creative popman searching and looking for exciting solutions that are not common in 2009".

It's another 4 out of 5 review! Find it at http://www.an.no/kultur/cd/article4216099.ece

Salem in Aarhus this Friday/Danish album reviews

Just a quick mention that Salem will be playing the Spotfestival in Aarhus, Denmark on Friday 6th June. He will be on stage at 7.00 pm.

I notice that "This Is Who I Am" was released in Denmark last month. I've been reading a few of the reviews on the internet so far and all are positive, repeating and reflecting the reviews that the album received on its initial Swedish release in January 2007. All of the Danish reviews also refer to the album's extreme musical diversity and Salem's extraordinary talent as a multi-instrumentalist, with the potential to become a massive star. Indeed!