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Biography
Refimprove|date=June 2011Infobox musical artist | | name = Alcazar| image = Alcazar 2009.jpg| caption = Alcazar performing at Sommarkrysset| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Sweden| genre = Eurodance , Nu-disco , Pop music|Pop , Pop music|Dance-pop , Europop , Schlager | years_active = 1998–2005 2007–2011| label = Universal Records|Universal , Sony Music|Sony , Edel Music|Edel | associated_acts =| website = http://www.alcazarworld.com Alcazar World| current_members = Andreas Lundstedt (1998-2005, 2007-2011) Therese Merkel|Therese "Tess" Merkel (1998-2005, 2007-2011) Lina Hedlund (2007-2011)| past_members = Annika Kjærgaard (1998-2005) Magnus Carlsson (2002-2005) Alcazar was a Sweden|Swedish eurodance band (music)|group which has established themselves as one of Sweden's most successful music groups with a string of hits since their debut single in 1999. Worldwide, Alcazar sold over 12 million records between 2001 and 2004. http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp? d=27586 http://www.gylleneskor.se/artikel/alcazar-andra-chansens-mest-inkomstbringande-deltagare dead link|date=April 2012 Alcazar have also had success around the world with their song " Crying at the Discoteque ", having charted in countries such as USA, Brazil, Australia, Japan and most countries in Europe. Alcazar disbanded indefinitely in August 2011 after a concert at Stockholm Pride .Joni Nykänen. " http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/rockbjornen2011/article13430718.ab Här tar Alcazar farväl av fansen", Aftonbladet , 7 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011. (In Swedish)
Biography
The group formed in 1998 with three members: Andreas Lundstedt , Therese Merkel|Tess Merkel (born Therese Merkel, 18 April 1970, Nyköping , Sweden), and Annika Kjærgaard (born 18 May 1971, Bjarnum, Sweden). Their first single, "Shine On", was a hit in Sweden, but it was with their second release, " Crying at the Discoteque " (which heavily sampled Sheila (and) B. Devotion|Sheila and B. Devotion 1979 hit "Spacer") they achieved success across Europe. Both singles appeared on their album|debut album , Casino , written and produced by Swedish record producers Alexander Bard and Anders Hansson . Later editions of Casino (Alcazar album)|Casino contained a cover version|cover of The Human League 's chart-topper|hit " Don't You Want Me#Alcazar version|Don't You Want Me " which also served as the third single off the album. In the United States, Alcazar gained moderate success. " Crying at the Discoteque " peaked at #44 and "Don't You Want Me" peaked at #30 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play .
In December 2002, Andreas Lundstedt's boyfriend at the time, Magnus Carlsson , joined the group. The second album, Alcazarized , was released in Sweden in 2003 and became a big hit. Subsequently, it was released internationally in 2004, with new cover artwork and a slightly different track list.
In the autumn of 2004, Alcazar released " This Is the World We Live In ". The song samples Diana Ross 's 1980 hit single " Upside Down " and re-uses lyrics from Genesis (band)|Genesis ' 1986 single " Land of Confusion ". Their follow-up single, "Physical", also sampled an older hit: Londonbeat 's " I've Been Thinking About You ". The singles were followed up by the album Dancefloor Deluxe which was released in Sweden in August 2004. In the winter of 2004/2005, they released the Christmas single "Here I Am". Alcazar enjoyed considerable success in 2004 in their home country Sweden. 2005 saw the release of the single " Start the Fire (Alcazar song)|Start the Fire ". During the making of its music video , Kjærgaard had an accident in which she broke her foot.
In the autumn of 2005, the band decided to take a break. Andreas moved on to musicals and played the lead in Saturday Night Fever , while Tess became a poker pro.
In May 2007, the band did a one-off performance in London at the night club "G-A-Y", together with Swedish colleagues BWO (band)|BWO and Army Of Lovers , and invited their friend Lina Hedlund (born 28 March 1978, Hanebo, Sweden) to join them on stage. It all turned out to be a very successful combination and a few months later the "New Alcazar" was formed.
In January 2008, their first and comeback single " We Keep on Rockin' ", witten and produced by Anders Hansson, was released. The single quickly turned into a hit and only a week after the release the single passed gold status in sales. In March 2009, the new album Disco Defenders was released in Sweden. The album contains two discs. Cd one: 12 brand new tracks like, "We Keep on Rockin´", "Burning", "Harlem Nights", "Stay the Night" etc. Cd two: 11 best of songs, among them "Crying at the Discoteque", "This Is the World We Live In" and "Don't You Want Me". Disco Defenders has received great reviews from the Swedish critics.
The single " Stay the Night (Alcazar song)|Stay the Night " was Alcazar's entry in the Swedish pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest .
In 2010, Alcazar recorded a duet with British pop group Same Difference , entitled "Karma Karma". It was included on Same Difference's second album The Rest Is History (Same Difference album)|The Rest Is History Although not officially released as a single, the song charted on Swedish iTunes thanks to Alcazar's popularity in their homeland.
Break and line-up changes
The band claimed that they needed a break during the autumn of 2005. Male lead singer, Andreas Lundstedt claimed that the band would be back in the summer of 2007. In the meantime the male members launched solo (music)|solo careers. Lundstedt had appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 , as a member of six4one , a multi-national band founded for the sole purpose of representing Switzerland at the contest, whilst Carlsson has twice taken part individually in the Swedish Melodifestivalen .
Lina Hedlund was announced as the replacement for Annikafiore.cite web|url= http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article574169.ab |title=Alcazar återuppstår & #124; Musik & #124; Nöjesbladet & #124; Aftonbladet |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=2007-08-14 |accessdate=2012-01-03 Lina Hedlund has previously entered Melodifestivalen on two occasions (2002, with her sister Hanna Hedlund , with the song 'Big Time Party' and the 2003 solo effort 'Nothing Can Stop Me'). Andreas' 'Expressen' blog was recently updated, telling Alcazar fans that the group will now be back together permanently, they will take part in a concert in Sweden in December 2007 and will then head into the studio to produce the group's third studio album, with new member, Lina Hedlund. The band is now including Therese Merkel|Tess Merkel cite web|url= http://www.aftonbladet.se/poker/article1866271.ab |title=Alcazar-Tess nya satsning & #124; Poker & #124; Sportbladet & #124; Aftonbladet |publisher=Aftonbladet.se |date=2008-02-18 |accessdate=2012-01-03 and Lina Hedlund as female vocalists, and Andreas Lundstedt as male vocalist.
Melodifestivalen
Alcazar have taken part in Melodifestivalen , the annual competition that selects Sweden's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest , on numerous occasions. In 2003, " Not a Sinner, Nor a Saint " initially failed to qualify for the final, but got a wildcard in the second chance round, finishing 3rd overall. However, the song eventually became the biggest hit of all participating songs in Melodifestivalen 2003 . It was Alcazar's first number 1 single in Sweden and was certified Gold.
During early 2005 Alcazar was offered a spot in the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005|United Kingdom national selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2005 but refused the offer. Instead they tried their luck in Melodifestivalen 2005 with the disco tune "Alcastar". As in 2003, they originally failed to qualify for the final, but eventually made it through after the second chance semi-final. And once again, the group again had to settle for the 3rd place in the final, which was won by Martin Stenmarck 's song "Las Vegas". Still, the song was a hit and became Alcazar's second number 1 single in Sweden.
Alcazar are once again participating in Melodifestivalen 2009 , this time with the song " Stay the Night (Alcazar song)|Stay the Night ". After performing the song during the first semifinal in Scandinavium , Gothenburg , they finished in the top 2 of a Melodifestivalen semifinal for the first time, thus qualifying directly for the final. http://www.gylleneskor.se/artikel/alcazar-melodifestivalen-aer-fantastisk dead link|date=April 2012 If the final in Globen , having placed 3rd with the regional juries and 4th in the televote, the song finished 5th overall. The song managed to peak at number 2 on Swedish Singles Charts giving Alcazar another Top 10 single in Sweden. Alcazar also participated in Melodifestivalen 2010 with the song " Headlines (song)|Headlines ", written and produced by Tony Nilsson and Peter Boström , but failed to reach the final.
Performances
Alcazar reformed in July 2007 to perform at the London Astoria as part of a celebration of Swedish music masterminded by producer Alexander Bard of Army of Lovers fame. They performed at the G-A-Y event on 21 July 2007 alongside BWO (band)|BWO and a reformed-for-the-occasion cult band Army of Lovers . They performed three songs, " This Is the World We Live In ", " Start the Fire (Alcazar song)|Start the Fire " and " Crying at the Discoteque ". However when pressed at the end of their set by club proprietor Jeremy Joseph on whether the band would reform, Andreas avoided offering a commitment other than that they would do future one-off appearances at G-A-Y.
The band performed again on 5 July 2008 at G-A-Y|G-A-Y Astoria for Pride London 2008. They performed "This Is the World We Live In", "Sexual Guarantee/Don't You Want Me" and "Crying at the Discoteque" after BWO, and ended with a cover version of the Lipps Inc song "Funkytown" with BWO joining them on stage. They also performed on 28 June 2008 in Bologna for the Italian national Gay Pride parade. On 31 December 2008, Alcazar once again appeared at G-A-Y at its new location, Heaven (nightclub)|Heaven . The trio performed "We Keep On Rockin'", "This Is The World We Live In", "Sexual Guarantee", "Don't You Want Me", "Burning", "Funkytown", "Crying at the Discoteque" and ended with a cover version of the ABBA song "Happy New Year".
http://getunderground.com/underground/columns/article.cfm? Article_ID=633 2002 Interview with Alcazar by Jake McGee
http://www.alcazarworld.com The Official Website, Alcazar World
S-startsuccession box| before= flagicon|ESPDavid Bisbal flagicon|ESP Davinia | title= OGAE Second Chance Contest winner | years= OGAE Second Chance Contest 2003|2003 OGAE Second Chance Contest 2005|2005 | after= flagicon|ESP Davinia flagicon|SLO Saša Lendero S-end Alcazar DEFAULTSORT:Alcazar (Band) Category:Alcazar (band)|* Category:Musical trios Category:Musical groups established in 1998 Category:Eurodance groups Category:Swedish dance music groups Category:Swedish pop music groups Category:Swedish electronic music groups Category:Melodifestivalen contestants Category:LGBT-themed musical groups Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011 Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists Category:Schlager Category:Article Feedback 5
