What I Learned in Sweden

• "La La Love" by Ivi Adamou is still a very popular song. Ivi competed in 2012's Eurovision (which Sweden's very own Loreen ended up winning). She came 16th in the Contest, which isn't very good. But I heard "La La Love" at a club THREE TIMES in the span of five hours. And people went crazy each time. 
• Swedes love the American convenience store chain, 7-Eleven. They are everywhere.
• The sun never fully sets this time of year. I mean, I knew that, but it's really kind of amazing when you're walking around at midnight and it's still light outside. Makes it very hard to go to bed, even if you're suffering from severe jet lag!
• Boat tours are fun and also good for naps if you're suffering from severe jet lag!
• Almost everyone will speak to you in English. Even when I tried to speak in simple Swedish phrases, they just knew I was an imposter and responded to me in English. Although one night, a drunk guy started talking to me, and I replied with the two phrases I know, which are "thank you very much" ("tack så mycket") and "nothing weird at all" ("ignet konstigt alls"). Which I learned from watching Melodifestivalen, of course. And I think it worked for a second because he was drunk.
• Swedes love "fika," which is basically like a little coffee break. Similar to tea time in Great Britain, a fika break is an institution in Sweden, usually accompanied with a pastry or little sandwich. For couples, one or several fika dates will usually precede an actual first date.

Each night we went to a gay bar where they were playing schlager (pop/dance music that is usually accompanied with upbeat, simple lyrics about love– the kind of music that generally dominates Melodifestivalen and Eurovision). There was a wide range of people in the club, from teenagers to men in business suits to an old man dressed as a Trojan solider (yes). They played nothing but Eurovision and Melodifestivalen hits for hours. Do you know what it's like to love these songs forever but never actually get to hear them in a public place? Me going to Sweden is like when a Juggalo finally gets to go the Gathering. Except you probably won't catch hepatitis from a Swedish person.

In addition to the thrice-played Ivi Adamou that I mentioned above, we heard Verka Serduchka, Carola, Alcazar, Eric Saade, and Severina. All the classics (Severina is absolutely a classic), and some that were new to me and are now added to my favorites.

Lena Philipsson. A huge star in Sweden, she has been a Melodifestivalen and television staple for decades. She represented Sweden at Eurovision in 2004 with "It Hurts," finishing fifth in the competition.

Günther and the Sunshine Girls. Günther achieved international success with "Ding Dong Song" in 2004, yet somehow, this work of art didn't makes its way to America. Or maybe it did and I missed it? Günther entered Melodifestivalen in 2006 with "Like Fire Tonight," but he did not progress to the finals.

Gyllene Tider. "Sommartider" was a huge hit in the 1980s, celebrating the end of winter and the glorious return of spring and summer. This song is still so popular that almost all Scandinavians know it well.