Salem sings Burt Bacharach and Queen!

A very very pleasant surprise for us all this week...Salem's appearance on the hit Swedish TV quiz show "På spåret" last night, singing "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" and "Who Wants To Live Forever". He looked great and his voice was stronger and better than ever. Well done Salem! Between this and his versions on the P3 Guld awards, maybe he should think about doing a covers album at some point in the future?

You can watch the show at http://svtplay.se/t/102959/pa_sparet
and it will be available on SVT's website until 18th March.

Last night was a particularly great one for Salem fans as he was also appearing on "The Voice" at the same time as "På spåret". Unfortunately I haven't been able to watch "The Voice" as TV4 does not allow viewers outside Sweden to watch shows on its website :(

Salem joins The Voice Sverige!

"The Voice" is the world's fastest growing TV format, and of course there is now a Swedish version - The Voice Sverige. The big news is that from this week, Salem is joining the show for four weeks as assistant coach to Petter. Don't miss the show tomorrow night on TV4 at 20:00!

Unfortunately, those of us living outside Sweden aren't allowed to watch the show oon TV4's website :(

Salem & Pontus' TV4 Nyhetsmorgon interview

Here is the link to Salem and Pontus' interview about "Vad är musik?" from this morning's show on TV4.

http://www.tv4play.se/nyheter_och_debatt/nyhetsmorgon?title=salem_al_fakir_slappar_bok_om_musik&videoid=2011017

"Kusin Al Fakir": this Friday on SVT2

You'll probably have seen the trailer for this show (but if you haven't, check out this YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP1vVv4VI5w). A documentary film by Johan Jonason, "Kusin Al Fakir" takes a look at Salem's (unknown) cousin, Peter Al Fakir, and his band Knights of the Night which is made up of other members of this endlessly talented musical family. Peter also dreams of the success that his cousin has achieved, and finally gets the chance to achieve some recognition when the band get the chance to be Salem's opening act. According to this article http://svt.se/2.149965/1.2349979/kusin_al_fakir the film explores the differences between Peter and Salem despite their family link, and covers everything from success and jealousy to religion, integration and the overall importance of music. (picture of Peter and Salem is courtesy of http://www.svt.se/) It sounds like a fascinating documentary and a must-see for all fans of Salem and the Al Fakir family. Don't miss it! The film will be screened on SVT2 this Friday night between 20:00 and 21:00 Swedish time, and will be repeated again on SVT2 on Saturday 26th March between 15:15 and 16:15, you'll also get another chance to see it on SVT2 on Tuesday 29th March from 22:45 to 23:45. Of course it should also be available on SVT Play and I'll post the link later. EDIT: there's also an extra clip posted at http://svtplay.se/v/2369968/k_special/extramaterial__snacket_efter_spelningen

"I'm So Happy" - new single!

These are very quiet times on Planet Salem, but today, from out of nowhere, comes a new single!

Not a new song of course; by now it's an old favourite, but it's a new version of "I'm So Happy" - this time as a duet between Salem and Josephine Bornebusch. Josephine is one of the stars of the massive Swedish hit TV comedy "Solsidan" and of course "I'm So Happy" is the theme tune to the show, so I guess it makes sense to put the two together :)

It's available to download from iTunes at the following link:
http://itunes.apple.com/se/album/im-so-happy-single/id421621772

The only other snippet of news I have today (thanks to Madelene for the tip, via Facebook) is that Adam, Jakob and Nisse appeared as backing band for another of my favourite Swedish artists, September, when she performed "Resuscitate Me" on SVT's "Go'kväll".

Link: http://svt.se/2.151820/musiken_i_go_kvall

"Chain Gang"

In case you haven't seen/heard it yet, here's Salem and friends with their great cover version of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" from Monday night's "Dom Kallar Oss Artister". Sweet, soulful vocals and reggaefied rhythms. Enjoy!

Dom Kallar Oss Artister

I hope you all enjoyed watching Salem, his band, crew and friends on last night's "Dom Kallar Oss Artister" on SVT1. If you missed the show, or if (like me) you just want to watch it over and over again, go to http://svtplay.se/t/102920/dom_kallar_oss_artister - it will be available to watch until 2nd March.

There were so many highlights in this 'behind the scenes' show - breakfast with Salem, old video footage, travelling to Gävle (good to see Mankan again too!), sharing his musical memories, getting ready for the orchestra show with Hans Ek, then getting some much-needed relaxation on the boat, travelling through those beautiful Stockholm waterways ...and finally, to close the show, a brilliant cover version of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang" with his all-star band (featuring some very familiar faces if you're a Salem fan). It's great to hear Salem singing someone else's song for a change - one more reason why I really want him to do "Så mycket bättre" at some point in the future.

Of course it goes without saying that Salem was as charming and funny as ever, and his lovely personality shone through as always. I'm sure he'll have won many new fans after watching this show.

(Salem picture above is courtesy of Henrik Crona/SVT)

Don't forget to watch "Dom Kallar Oss Artister" tomorrow night!

The programme will be shown on SVT1 at 20:30 Swedish time and later on the web on SVT Play - I'll post the link tomorrow night.

Enjoy the show - and remember you can leave your comments about it here.

"I'm So Happy" in "Solsidan"

The very popular TV4 programme "Solsidan" is back for a new season, and the title theme song is none other than the la-la-la la-la-la-la riff from "I'm So Happy".

"Keep On Walking" - or should that be "Keep On Waltzing"???

"Keep On Walking" is a fantastic song, you will all agree. And it is a very versatile song too....not only has Salem performed many different versions of the song, but various Swedish television shows have also used the song over the past year - sung by a choir (Körslaget), and performed by a dansband (Dansbandskampen).

Now get ready for the new series of TV4's "Let's Dance" which starts this Friday, 7th January. Denise Rudberg and Tobias Wallin will be dancing the waltz to "Keep On Walking", now that should be interesting :)

Did he say no?

According to this article in Aftonbladet today, http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/article8084128.ab Salem was one of the artists who turned down the chance to appear in TV4's hit new show "Så Mycket Bättre” in which a group of artists take turns to sing each other's songs every week. (The article also claims that Tomas Ledin, Titiyo and Charlotte Perrelli also turned down the show).

I don't know if there is any truth in this article, but it would have been very interesting to see Salem in this show, singing other artists' songs and hearing their versions of his. Of course Salem's versions would be så mycket bättre :)))

"Keep On Walking" in Dansbandskampen!

Thanks to Scandipop (via Twitter) for the info :)

If you ever wanted to hear "Keep On Walking" sung in dansband-style, then you will get your wish tomorrow night :)

Wizex will be performing the song on tomorrow night's "Dansbandskampen" at 20:00 Swedish time on SVT1. The show will be available later via SVT Play and I'll post the link on here when I get it.

Nassim - lycka till!

Don't forget to vote for Nassim this Saturday night - he will be appearing in the final of TV4's "Dansfeber" this Saturday night, with his brilliant Beyonce routine, dancing to "Single Ladies".

I'm sure you will all join me in wishing Nassim good luck for Saturday night!