Exclusive : Two concerts in Ulsteinvik

Carola will give TWO Christmas concerts in Ulsteinvik in Norway on December 16, at 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

Link: Buy tickets for Ulsteinvik

Carola covers : "Hey Miki"

Did you know that Swedish rapper Miki released a cover version of Carola's "Mickey" that he titled "Hey Miki"? The single was released in 2007 by Universal Music.

Link: Watch Carola's version

Full Christmas tour info (almost)

Carola.com announced the following dates for the "Nya Jul i Betlehem - Carola med vänner" tour. Still two concerts in Norway (persumably Stavanger and Hamar as earlier revealed on Carola International) has not been finalized. (New dates marked in orange)

DATES ANNOUNCED:

21.11 Konserthuset, Malmö, SWE 8pm (Tickets)

29.11 De Geer Hallen, Norrköping, SWE 8pm (Tickets)

2.12 Alandica, Mariehamn, ALAND 8pm (Tickets 1.10)

4.12 Lappfjärds Kyrka, Kristinestad, FIN 8pm (Tickets 1.10)

5.12 Runebergssalen, Jakobstad, FIN 8pm (Tickets TBA)

6.12 Kulturhuset, Helsinki, FIN 8pm (Tickets)

9.12 Lofothallen, Leknes, NOR 8pm (Tickets)

11.12 TBA, TBA, NOR

13.12 Folketeateret, Oslo, NOR 8pm (Tickets)

16.12 Sjøborg Kulturhus, Ulsteinvik, NOR 8pm (Tickets)

17.12 TBA, TBA, NOR

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping, SWE 8pm (Tickets)

21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE 8pm (Tickets)

DATES TBA (to be announced):

Stavanger, NORWAY

Hamar, NORWAY

Check back for more information!

Exclusive: Concert in Oslo

Carola International can today reveal one more concert for the upcoming Christmas tour "Nya Jul i Betlehem - Carola med vänner". Carola will perform at Folketeateret in Oslo on December 13, and the tickets are already on sale.

DATES ANNOUNCED:

21.11 Konserthuset, Malmö, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

29.11 De Geer Hallen, Norrköping, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

9.12 Lofothallen, Leknes, NOR (Ticket release on Oct 16)

13.12 Folketeateret, Oslo, NOR 8.00 pm (Tickets) NEW

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

DATES TBA (to be announced):

Stavanger, NORWAY

Hamar, NORWAY

(City TBA), FINLAND

Link: Buy tickets for Oslo

Carola covers : "I Believe"

Did you know that a successful Thai singer has recorded a cover of Carola's "I Believe in Love" (written by Carola / H Andersson / M Ankelius / A-L Högdahl)? Well, it's true! Tata Young's version is titled "I Believe" and you can see the video above.

Link: Watch Carola's version

A translated letter from Carola

Fans have asked me to translate Carola's letters (published on the official website) to English, so they can read them even if they do not know any Swedish. Here is the latest letter, published on September 8—Carola's birthday and the day she recorded duets with Paul Potts. Enjoy!

This is no ordinary day for me - today is my Birthday! Approaching another birthday—when I have many things I need to get done and time is rushing by—it makes me wonder what I did last year. Did I manage it the right way and what could I have done better? What do I wish for myself? All those things go through my head.

But this morning I woke up filled with great expectation to meet a great singer in the studio. It will be a birthday combined with work, expectations, and I have to keep my cell phone on all day. Later tonight, there will be a celebration with a small gathering of people.

This morning I sent a special thought to one of my biggest fans that always surprised me and carefully organized things around my birthday. He collected greetings and gifts from friends he found as he travelled wherever I went over the years. For many years he traveled halfway around the world not to miss any exciting concert! Mikael Fridell would always sit at the first row. He knew everything! I’m grateful I had the opportunity to visit Mikael at the hospital before he due to illness, sadly passed away last week. Many of us miss him. He left a great void. The time I was with Micke at the hospital before he fell asleep meant a lot to me. I heard he had played my songs until the very end. Thank you, Micke for all the happy moments we shared in music! That also gives us strength for tomorrow.

I am so grateful for all the support I received over the years. After my morning prayer, when I read from Acts 6 and 7, I wrote a new song called "More Than a Love Song"... It really got me going and I felt inspired. Fun! As I was preparing for the day ahead, my lovely "neighbor" Ann and her son Simon made a surprise visit, singing "Happy Birthday " and bringing breakfast and candles. That was really nice.

I am on my way to Grand Hotel to meet one of the world's most successful recording artists of last year. Someone with a great story and that seems like really warm person, a natural talent that brought joy to many people.

I thank God for this day, for life and that He leads us if we come to Him in humility and gratitude.

I have to run now, I have received tons of text messages, and I need to recharge all my cell phones! Until we meet again, Hugs!

Link: Read the letter in Swedish

Christmas concert in Norrköping

Carola will perform her Christmas concert "Nya Jul i Betlehem - Carola med vänner" in Norrköping on November 29. Update! The tickets are now released, and you can buy them here.

DATES ANNOUNCED:

21.11 Konserthuset, Malmö, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

29.11 De Geer Hallen, Norrköping 8.00 pm (Tickets) NEW

9.12 Lofothallen, Leknes, NOR (Ticket release on Oct 16)

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

DATES TBA (to be announced):

Oslo, NORWAY

Stavanger, NORWAY

Hamar, NORWAY

(City TBA), FINLAND

Link: Buy tickets for Norrköping

Carola talks about her upcoming book

Carola opened up about her upcoming self biographical book on Norwegian TV last night. TV2's "God Kveld Norge" aired an interview that was filmed when Carola performed in Norway this Summer. The interview focuses on the book that Carola talked about since 1993, but that seems closer than ever to be released. This is what she said about the book:

"It's about the true me, but also about everything that I've been through. I'm writing it both for myself, to be able to leave a legacy, to continue to grow, and also to motivate others to become the best they can be, to be true to themselves. The book is very personal."

Link: Watch the interview here

Christmas concert in Malmö

Today, the tickets are released for the Christmas concert "Nya Jul i Betlehem - Carola med vänner" at Malmö concert hall on November 21.

DATES ANNOUNCED:

21.11 Konserthuset, Malmö, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

9.12 Lofothallen, Leknes, NOR (Ticket release on Oct 16)

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

DATES TBA (to be announced):

Oslo, NORWAY

Stavanger, NORWAY

Hamar, NORWAY

(City TBA), FINLAND

Link: Buy tickets for Malmö

Exclusive: Alexander Rybak in Sweden

Is this just a coincidence?

Alexander Rybak, the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2009, came to Sweden today. After performing together in the Norwegian TV-show "Allsang på Grensen" (see video below), both Carola and Alexander mentioned in several interviews that they have a "secret collaboration" planned. With the news of a new Christmas album and the duet with Paul Potts, can we assume the collaboration includes a duet on the new album "Christmas in Bethlehem"?

This story has not yet been confirmed. Check back for more information.

Exclusive: Scandinavian Christmas tour

Good news for the Norwegian fans!

The first concert outside Sweden during the upcoming Christmas tour "Nya Jul i Betlehem - Carola med vänner" has been announced. Carola will perform in Leknes in the north of Norway on December 9.

But wait, it gets even better. There will be more concerts added outside Sweden. Four concerts in Norway and at least one concert in Finland are planned.

Tickets for the Leknes concert will be released soon. Check back on Carola International for more information.

DATES ANNOUNCED:

9.12 Lofothallen, Leknes, NOR

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm, SWE 8.00 pm (Tickets)

DATES TBA (to be announced):

Oslo, NORWAY

Stavanger, NORWAY

Hamar, NORWAY

(City TBA), FINLAND

Link: Buy tickets for Jönköping

Link: Buy tickets for Stockholm

Christmas album and duet confirmed

Photo: X5 Music Group

Just as we reported over the last week, Carola's next project will be a Christmas album (the 5th of her career), and yesterday she was in the studio with British singer Paul Potts. Here is some more information:

• The album is titled "Christmas in Bethlehem" and will be a third, English installment of the "Jul i Betlehem" series.
  
  
• The album will be released November 11 2009.
  
  
• Updated: X5 Music Group will release the album digitally all over the world through iTunes, Amazon, Real Networks, CDON, Sony Ericson, and Nokia.
  
  
• Updated: A partner will release the physical album in a number of European countries.
  


• The album is produced by Norwegian Erik Hillestad, that produced "Blott en dag" (1998), "Jul i Betlehem" (1999), "Sov på min arm - Sånger för stora och små" (2001), and "I denna natt blir världen ny - Jul i Betlehem II" (2007).
  


• The album includes 18 songs: eight brand new songs, and ten new versions of songs from the previous "Jul i Betlehem" albums.
  


• "Oh Holy Night" is the song Carola recorded with Paul Potts, but some media reports that there will be two duets withs Potts on the album, the second being "Come All Ye Faithful".

Photo: Sven Lindwall / Expressen

What else can we assume? Well, the album will probably include one or a few more duets. Am I the only one thinking Alexander Rybak is involved in this project? Carola has earlier mentioned Cliff Richard as a candidate for a duet on the international version of her Christmas album... Maybe even Dima Bilan?

Remember to leave your thoughts, questions or comments.

Link: Article on Carola.com
Link: Article in Expressen
Link: Article in Svenska Dagbladet
Link: Article in Dagen
Link: Article on TV4

Exclusive: Duet with Paul Potts

Carola International believes the duet Carola recorded today for her upcoming album was with the successful winner of Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts. This is not confirmed but highly probable.

Remember where you read it first!

This is Paul Potts singing "Oh Holy Night" ("O helga natt") in 2007:

Thoughts?

Carola records duet today

In her new letter to her fans on her website, Carola reveals that she is recording a duet with "one of last year's most successful recording artist". This could be an indication that the upcoming album in fact is the English version of "Jul i Betlehem" since Carola often said that album should include duets with international artists.

This is what Carola wrote about the artist:

I am on my way to Grand Hotel to meet one of last year's most successful recording artist, a real sunshine story and a very warm person. A natural talent with a heart and ability to bring joy to many people.

Hmm... Who do you think that could be? Any suggestions?

Link: Read Carola's letter

Do you remember... Om du törs?

In 1985, Carola performed her song "Om du törs" on a Swedish TV-show. The song, the clothes, the hair... What an 80's flashback!

Happy Birthday

Carola International would like to wish Carola a very Happy Birthday!

Photo shoot for the new Christmas album

Photo: Mikael Sundberg / Östgötatidningen

On Friday, Carola was doing a photo shoot outside St Birgitta's Monestery Museum in Vadstena. Judging from what she was wearing, she was shooting the album cover for an upcoming Christmas album-the fifth of her career: "Julefrid" 1983, "CarolaJul" 1991, "Jul i Betlehem" 1999, and "Jul i Betlehem II - I denna natt blir världen ny" 2007.

Carola has for many years talked about a Christmas album in English, we wrote about it in May (read here), and when Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet wrote about Carola signing with X5 Music Group the other day, they mentioned an upcoming Christmas album.

Link: Read Aftonbladet's article

So, is this good news? Are you looking forward to another Christmas album, or would you rather seen another album release from Carola?

Another date for Christmas tour

Another date for the upcoming Christmas tour "Nya Jul i Betlehem – Carola med vänner" has been announced. Carola will perform at the Concert hall in Jönköping on December 19, 8.00 pm.

Dates announced so far:

19.12 Konserthuset, Jönköping 8.00 pm
21.12 Cirkus, Stockholm 8.00 pm

Buy tickets here

The Polar Prize 2009

Carola attended the Polar Prize Awards show at the Stockholm Concert House on August 30th. She was wearing the medal she received by the King of Sweden a few years ago.

This year's recipients of the awards were Peter Gabriel and José Antonio Abreu.

Carola signs with X5 Music Group

Yesterday, September 1, Carola announced that she signed with X5 Music Group. This is the statement from the company's website:

X5 is very happy to announce the signing of Swedish singer Carola Häggkvist. X5 and Carola are planning a number of projects, some of them will be known later this fall, and are looking forward on working together closely for a longer period. ”-This cooperation feels incredibly exiting and the timing is perfect in my career as an artist”, Carola says.

Let's hope this will take Carola's career in an interesting direction.

What do you think?

Link: X5 Music Group's website