Popular (Eric Saade song)

"Popular"
Single by Eric Saade
from the album Saade Vol. 1
Released	28 February 2011[1] (Sweden)
Format	CD single, digital download
Genre	Dance-pop[2][3]
Length	3:00[3]
Label	Roxy Recordings, B1M1 Recordings,[4] Mostiko,[2] Ratas Music Group[5]
Writer(s)	Fredrik Kempe
Producer(s)	Peter Boström
Eric Saade singles chronology
"Break of Dawn" (2010) "Popular" (2011) "Hearts in the Air" (2011)
"Popular" Eurovision Song Contest 2011 entry Country Sweden Artist(s) Eric Saade Language English Composer(s) Fredrik Kempe Lyricist(s) Fredrik Kempe Finals performance Semi-final result 1st Semi-final points 155 Final result 3rd Final points 185 Appearance chronology ◄ "This Is My Life" (2010)    "Euphoria" (2012) ►
Music video
"Popular" (Live at Melodifestivalen) on YouTube

"Popular" is an English language song written by Fredrik Kempe and performed by Swedish singer Eric Saade. It is the second single from Saade’s second album Saade Vol. 1 and was the Swedish entry in Eurovision Song Contest 2011. It was first released on 28 February 2011 in Sweden^[1] and topped the Swedish Singles Chart. It has been covered by Elena Paparizou.

Background

The song was written by Fredrik Kempe and produced by Peter Boström.

Eurovision Song Contest

On 19 February 2011, Eric Saade competed in the third semi-final of Melodifestivalen 2011 with Popular. He won the final on 12 March 2011 with 193 points overall and was the Swedish entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

During his performance, Saade had a glass box wall on stage that is supposed to break. In the first rehearsal, this did not work. Therefore, Sweden had an extra rehearsal in 2011.^[6] About the rehearsals in Eurovision Song Contest, Saade said: “It feels great after the first rehearsal. I just focused on all the important stuff, like cameras and angles. I'm gonna focus a little bit more on the singing and dancing part on the next rehearsal.”

Eric Saade performing in the final of Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Saade performed on 12 May 2011 in the second semi-final of Eurovision Song Contest in eighth position in the lineup. Popular was the last song to have been announced to qualify for the Grand Final. It was later revealed that he finished first in the second semi-final. On 14 May 2011, he performed the song in the final in seventh position in the lineup. Saade came in third place with 185 points, which was the best result for Sweden since 1999 when Charlotte Perrelli won with the song Take Me to Your Heaven. It was also Sweden’s fifth third place in Eurovision history. He came in second place in the televoting only two points behind the winner Azerbaijan.^[7]

Other versions

An album remix and a slow version of the song were released on 14 March 2011 in Sweden.^[8][9] On 25 May 2011, a remix by the SoundFactory was released in Sweden.^[10]

Critical reception

In general, Popular received positive reviews from critics. Popjustice wrote that it is better than their entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and that “this is just one of the song that will make the United Kingdom look stupid at this year's Eurovision.“^[11] billcsistunedon.wordpress.com wrote that the single “is the best and most captivating song of 2011“.^[12] myfizzypop.blogspot.com wrote that “the song is an instant pop classic that deserves much wider success across the globe.“^[13]

rantsofadiva.blogspot.com wrote that “there's nothing especially noteworthy about either the lyrics or the message of 'Popular', both of which are pretty standard fare as far as dance-pop tracks go. But there is something in Saade's delivery, particularly in the last minute of the song where things go absolutely off the rails and Saade is wailing and crying and singing his heart out, that elevates this song to classic status.“^[14]

Awards, nominations and certifications

The song won the ESC Radio Award 2011 in the category Best Song and the Scandipop Award 2012 in the category Best Male Single.^[15] It was also nominated for a Rockbjörnen Award 2011 in the category Best Swedish Song and is nominated for a Grammi 2012 in the category Song of the Year. The SoundFactory Remix of the song was nominated for a Scandipop Award 2012 in the category Best Remix.^[15]

Popjustice.com has named the song Song of the Day.^[11] On 15 May 2011, the same website has named the slow version Song of the Day. In December 2011, the same website has listed the original song on number three of their list 45 Best Singles 2011, billcsistunedon.wordpress.com has listed the song on number one of their list Bill's Top 75 Songs of 2011^[12] and myfizzypop.blogspot.com has listed the song on number five of their list Best of 2011.^[13] In January 2012, rantsofadiva.blogspot.com has listed the song on number four of their list Top 50 Singles of 2011.^[14]

As of July 2011, Popular has been sold over 40.000 times and received Double Platinum in Sweden.

Music video

A censored version of the music video of the song was released on 14 April 2011. The music video includes a dance battle.

Chart positions

Release history

Elena Paparizou cover

In March 2012, Greek-Swedish singer Elena Paparizou sang her version of "Popular" during the final of the 2012 Melodifestivalen. Her performance was recorded and released as a single, her first in five years in Sweden.^[36]

References

External links

• Eric Saade Official Website
• Eric Saade Official Facebookpage

Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 1950s 1956 to 1957 Alice Babs Brita Borg 1960s Siw Malmkvist Lill-Babs Inger Berggren Monica Zetterlund 1964 Ingvar Wixell Lill Lindfors and Svante Thuresson Östen Warnerbring Claes-Göran Hederström Tommy Körberg 1970s 1970 Family Four Family Four The Nova ABBA Lars Berghagen and The Dolls 1976 Forbes Björn Skifs Ted Gärdestad 1980s Tomas Ledin Björn Skifs Chips Carola Herreys Kikki Danielsson Monica Törnell & Lasse Holm Lotta Engberg Tommy Körberg Tommy Nilsson 1990s Edin-Ådahl Carola Christer Björkman Arvingarna Marie Bergman and Roger Pontare Jan Johansen One More Time Blond Jill Johnson Charlotte Nilsson 2000s Roger Pontare Friends Afro-dite Fame Lena Philipsson Martin Stenmarck Carola The Ark Charlotte Perrelli Malena Ernman 2010s Anna Bergendahl Eric Saade Loreen Robin Stjernberg Sanna Nielsen Måns Zelmerlöw Frans
Songs 1950s 1956 to 1957 "Lilla stjärna" "Augustin" 1960s "Alla andra får varann" "April, April" "Sol och vår" "En gång i Stockholm" 1964 "Absent Friend" "Nygammal vals" "Som en dröm" "Det börjar verka kärlek, banne mig" "Judy, min vän" 1970s 1970 "Vita vidder" "Härliga sommardag" "You're Summer" "Waterloo" "Jennie, Jennie" 1976 "Beatles" "Det blir alltid värre framåt natten" "Satellit" 1980s "Just nu!" "Fångad i en dröm" "Dag efter dag" "Främling" "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" "Bra vibrationer" "E' de' det här du kallar kärlek?" "Boogaloo" "Stad i ljus" "En dag" 1990s "Som en vind" "Fångad av en stormvind" "I morgon är en annan dag" "Eloise" "Stjärnorna" "Se på mej" "Den vilda" "Bara hon älskar mig" "Kärleken är" "Take Me to Your Heaven" 2000s "When Spirits Are Calling My Name" "Listen To Your Heartbeat" "Never Let It Go" "Give Me Your Love" "It Hurts" "Las Vegas" "Invincible" "The Worrying Kind" "Hero" "La voix" 2010s "This Is My Life" "Popular" "Euphoria" "You" "Undo" "Heroes" "If I Were Sorry"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Sweden did not compete)