Popular (Eric Saade song)

"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.

"Popular"
Single by Eric Saade
from the album Saade Vol. 1
Released28 February 2011[1]
GenreDance-pop
Length3:00[2]
LabelRoxy Recordings, B1M1 Recordings,[3] Mostiko,[4] Ratas Music Group[5]
Songwriter(s)Fredrik Kempe
Producer(s)Peter Boström
Eric Saade singles chronology
"Break of Dawn"
(2010)		 "Popular"
(2011)		 "Hearts in the Air"
(2011)
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final result
1st
Semi-final points
155
Final result
3rd
Final points
185
Entry chronology
◄ "This Is My Life" (2010)   
"Euphoria" (2012) ►
Music video
"Popular" (Live at Melodifestivalen) on YouTube

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

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 songs that will make the United Kingdom look stupid at this year's Eurovision.“[13]

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.[14] 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.[14]

Popjustice.com has named the song Song of the Day.[13] 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.

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
Charts (2011) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 29
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[16] 4
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[17] 23
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 17
Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 48
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 76

Release history
Country Date Format Label
Sweden[1] 28 February 2011 CD single, digital download Roxy Recordings
Sweden[8] (Album remix) 14 March 2011
Sweden[9] (Slow version)
Finland[5] 25 April 2011 Ratas Music Group
Denmark[2] 6 May 2011 Roxy Recordings
Norway[2] 6 May 2011
Australia[23] 12 May 2011
Canada[24]
Italy[25]
Japan[26]
Lithuania[27]
Mexico[28]
Netherlands[29]
Spain[30]
United Kingdom[31]
United States[32]
Austria[33] 18 May 2011 B1M1 Recordings
Germany[3]
Switzerland[34]
Belgium[4] 20 May 2011 Mostiko
Sweden[10] (SoundFactory remix) 25 May 2011 Roxy Recordings

Elena Paparizou cover
"Popular"
Song by Helena Paparizou
Released11 March 2012.
Recorded2012
GenreDance-pop, cabaret
Length3:12
LabelSony Music SE
Songwriter(s)Fredrik Kempe

In March 2012, Greek-Swedish singer Elena Paparizou sang her version of "Popular" during a pause in the final of the 2012 Melodifestivalen. Her performance was recorded and released as a single, her first in five years in Sweden.[35]

References
  1. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  2. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  3. "iTunes – Musik – "Popular – Single" von Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  4. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  5. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  6. "Top moments of 2011: Mistakes and goofs". eurovision.tv. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  7. "ERIC SAADE (2011) INSPIRED BY ROBYN". oikotimes.come. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  8. "iTunes – Music – Popular (Album Remix) – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  9. "iTunes – Music – Popular (Slow Version) – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  10. "iTunes – Music – Popular (SoundFactory Remixes) – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  11. "Pensionär" (in Swedish). Swedish Mediadatabase. 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  12. "Höjdpunkten var Uno Svenningssons 'balle'". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  13. "Popjustice – Eric Saade – 'Popular'". popjustice.com. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  14. "Scandipop.co.uk – The 2012 Scandipop Awards: The Winners!". scandipop.co.uk. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Eric Saade – Popular" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Eric Saade – Popular" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Eric Saade – Popular" (in French). Ultratip.
  18. "Eric Saade: Popular" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Saade – Popular". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  20. "Chart Track: Week 20, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Eric Saade – Popular". Singles Top 100.
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  24. "iTunes – Musica – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  25. "iTunes – Musica – Popular – Single di Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  26. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  27. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  28. "iTunes – Música – Popular – Single de Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  29. "iTunes – Muziek – 'Popular – Single' van Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  30. "iTunes – Música – Popular – Single de Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  31. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  32. "iTunes – Music – Popular – Single by Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  33. "iTunes – Musik – "Popular – Single" von Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  34. "iTunes – Musik – "Popular – Single" von Eric Saade". iTunes Store. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  35. "Popular". iTunes.
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