I didn’t know until this year that the Final Countdown was a song by a Swedish group.  This first year of my journey through the lovely land that seems to produce good music as fast as rabbits reproduce babies.  I am so excited to see what next year will be.

So here are my top songs for the year 2014.  I am formatting this one differently with Winner on top and its runner up below.  So here we go!

WINNER – Top Song featured on Swedes Are Sweet in 2014 goes to ***drum roll please***

Iamamwhoami –  Chasing Kites –  Not only did I wait and anticipate each release she would put out.  I was always more and more impressed.  I have to say Iamamiwhoami was a true stand out this year and fully deserving of the number one spot.  Not only were the songs stimulating, beautiful and enticing, the videos ever failed to be visual stimulating.  It was hard to pick my favorite, but I went with Chasing Kites because it was the song I related to the most.

RUNNER UP – Eternal Death – Cry – Heard on my return from my last trip to Sweden.  And couldn’t have come at a better time, when I realized what my goal in life was to be.  The song is exhilarating and can heal a heavy broken heart and fill it with hope.

3. Chirping – Ambitions –  This song has more recently become one of my favorite songs.  Chirping brings forth a heavily influenced British Rock sound to Swedish music, making it not only fun to listen to but amazing to dance to.  Inspirational lyrics only add to this great song.  It is likely to cheer you up on the worst of your days.

4.  Nina Persson – Clip Your Wings – When I embarked on this musical journey, I said I would post songs that were close to my heart, songs that made me feel something, and I suppose you can quickly guess I was exposed to a lot of heartache this year but through music, my friends and family.  I healed.  And one artist who really helped me heal was Nina Persson.  This year she released her first solo album, and it was nothing short of amazing.  This year I got to thank her through my blog as well as thank her in person, when I met her at her show in New York.  She has been my inspiration and I hope she continues to release greatness. And remember readers, if someone wants to go let them go cause in the end you’re going to be fine.  

5.  Lykke Li – Gunshot – My top list wouldn’t be complete with my other inspiration and favorite artist, Lykke Li.  I had never cried at a concert until I saw her this year.  She along moved me in away that no other artist has.  When I first posted this song, I said if you don’t feel something from it you’ve never experienced real heartbreak.  So even if you don’t like her music, close your eyes and absorb what she’s saying.  You’re bound to feel something.

So yesterday, I brought you a few great ones but in my opinion they will keep getting better.  And today, I began my studying of the Swedish language.  Soon I will know how to say more than “Jag heter Crystal”  “Tack så mycket”  and “Kan du hjälpa mig? (Thanks Jackie, author of Makemydag for teaching me those phrases)

10. Summer Heart – Sleep – Summer didn’t last very long this year, but with this song it continued on in our hearts.  With happy pop electronic beats, Summer Heart quickly became one of my favorite artists this year.  I get super excited every time I see he releases something new.

9.  Stranded Mermaid – In the Jaws of the Wolf – With the banjo intro you are quickly transported to the back woods where you dance like a banshee around a bonfire with all your friends.  Songs should take you on a journey, and this song does just that.

8.  Little Children – Hey Hey – Linus Lutti takes us on a journey in music with folky music that includes a heavy psych pop feel.  The harmony of this song is beyond amazing.  

7.  Amason – Duvan – Such an amazing video to go along with an amazing song by the latest Swedish power group Amason.  

6.  Stars in Coma – The Value of Young Andre – This song transport you into a lovely day dream of filled with hope and recovery.  I am so glad this came out before the end of the year, though they would have made my list with “Tricks” if it wasn’t for this song coming in to sweep my heart away.  

As I sit here with a glass of scotch in hand, I bring to you the delights of Sweden from this past year.  Since it will be very hard to narrow it down, I will be posting a top 14.  I will be revisiting my favorite Swedish Treats from this past year to fill your ears with delight!

Now let’s get started.  Since this was so hard to do,  I’m going to feature a few honorable mentions today.

Honorable Mention #1 – Linnea Olsson – Breaking and Shaking – I wish I had room on my list for this song because it makes me want to dance  every time it comes on. 

Honorable Mention #2 – Hello Saferide – I Was Jesus – I am sure it wouldn’t please the religious at heart, but they all need to lighten up and enjoy this fantastic pp song. 

Last Honorable Mention – Weeping Willows – We’re in Different Places – I am only putting this as an honorable mentionbecause technically it was released in 2013, but featured on their album that was released in 2014.  Also, I can’t not feature this as one of my favorite songs I’ve posted on my blog.  Soulful, sad, and tragically beautiful Magnus Carlson breathes heartache and loss into such a profound piece of art that makes you feel something deep down in your soul.  

14.  Tove Lo – Talking Body – an overnight sensation and my favorite song off her full length album that was released this past summer.  Though overall I wasn’t too much into the full length album this song screams pure sexiness.  A huge fan of her “Habits” video, I hope to see a video version of this ridiculously sexy song.

13.  Molly Nilsson  – Plaza Italia – Imagine yourself in a taxi cab on your way home from a night of too much drinking with this song in the background.  Though her vocals come across  as brooding and dismal, I can’t help but feel a sense of hope come out of the darkness.  A darkness that brings the feeling of optimism, the only kind of optimism you can feel when you truly begin to get to know yourself.

12. Luha – Heart – With sweetness in her voice, you think you’re going to get a song about falling in love, but you get the opposite.  I never really quite grasped the song until I sat and listened to it.  Beautiful and lyrically enticing Luha still remains a mystery to me and I can’t wait to see what she brings forward in the coming year.

11. Vildhjärta/na – Lydia – This year a lot of dream pop came out of Sweden but this has to be one of my favorites.  I’m very excited for this EP.  It exemplifies what dream pop is. 

God Jul Everyone!

Guess what my friends?  Tomorrow’s Christmas, so hope you’re at home warm toasty and all your gifts have been purchased.  My gift to you?  A non traditional Christmas jam to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!!

Hey Elbow knows what they are doing with this new dynamic dreamy song.  Jazz drums mixed with soft vocals enhance this experimental pop song.  

Their first single was psych rock but with the release of a their new single, Anti Pony gives us a healthy dose of psych pop.

Swedish power group released a visually stimulating  video for their single “Duvan” last month.  I’ve been lagging on posting because I’ve been busy with work, but it’s holiday vacation time!  And  I love this band!

Lot’s of the music I listen to makes me feel like I’m being swept away into a day dream.  The new Stars In Coma song just does that for me.  With it’s joyful guitar and beautiful pop melody and lyrics that can only be described as simple amazing, I’m whisked into a world where hope never fades and music saves your soul.  

This weekend edition of Swedes are Sweet brings you an melodic ambient groove to tell out to on your Saturday.   So put on some Blänk to chill out, clean or dance.  Their songs pull in ambient mixes with beats that make you want to do all of those three things.  Enjoy!