New week – new releases. It’s already December 2023 and I just shared one Christmas release with you so far, the very early (July) Joy! by Justine Blazer. Time for some new holiday tunes. I felt to go for Zara Larsson. The Swedish pop lady is very busy at the moment. In line with her 1st December 2023 release Honor The Light, she is playing a few Christmas shows in her home country as well as one in London. After the holidays, there is not not much time to relax, as the album Venus will be released on 9th February 2024, followed by a European tour. But first, here is my review about her six winter song EP.
Zara Larsson – About The Artist
Winning Sweden Got Talent in 2008 and having huge hits with almost or more than a billion Spotify streams – the 1997-born Zara Maria Larsson is indeed a global pop success. Born in Solna in Greater Stockholm, she has already received 39(!) platinum record in her home country. The last one has been Can’t Tame Her in 2023. Nonetheless, the global career is fading slightly. While her second album So Good has also been a platinum one n the United Kingdom, the USA or Norway, the 2021 Poster Girl had a rather short chart career in these countries. However, Sweden loves Zara Larsson – Poster Girl peaked third domestically and stayed in the charts for 32 weeks.
Zara Larsson – Honor The Light – Track by Track
The six track EP lasts 16 mminutes.
1. Memory Lane
The week before the EP release, Larsson teased it with the first two songs of Honor The Light, Memory Lane and Winter Song. Thereby, Memory Lane is a rather typical Larsson sound, a typical pop track, which stays in your mind. The song is also not strictly a Christmas oder holiday season song, but a looking back into her childhood years. It rather feels like an intro to the songs which lay ahead.
2. Winter Song
This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea
My voice, a beacon in the night
My words will be your light to carry you to me
Is love alive?
The rather slow Winter Song is a lovely fit for the cold days. Take our your warm blanket and enjoy.
3. Silent Night
Okay, here is the classic. There are so many version of Silent Night out there – but I am sure that this warms the hearts of her fans during the holidays. It comes with the necessary kitsch without being too soupy.
4. Light A Candle
Light A Candle is a very rhythmic Christmas popper with a nice vibe. I feel that the song is nicely balancing between holiday vibes and a typical Zara Larsson sound. Nice one.
5. Tänd Ett Ljus
I really love that Zara Larsson is also doing a song in Swedish in her Christmas compilation. However, there is a small downside: Tänd Ett Ljus means nothing but Light A Candle – and the song is exactly the same one, just with Swedish lyrics. Finally, you can choose which one you like more.
6. Sankta Lucia
The EP closes with another Christmas classic. Not too bad, but Sankta Lucia is a rather short listen. You just share 83 seconds with the Swedish artist in this listen.
Zara Larsson – Honor The Light – Spotify
Here is Honor The Light on Spotify:
Zara Larsson – Honor The Light – My View
Honor The Light is a nice winter song collection – without moving too far away from her typical sound. Thus, it is a good balance between Christmas spirit and Swedish pop. Even though Zara Larsson tend to feel a bit thin here and there.
Favorite Song: Tänd Ett Ljus
Zara Larsson – Venus Tour 2024
After presenting her album in February 2024, Zara Larsson will be back on stage in 2024:
Fr 16.02.2024 | Manchester (United Kingdom) – Academy | |
Sa 17.02.2024 | Glasgow – O2 Academy | |
Su 18.02.2024 | Birmingham – O2 Academy | |
We 21.02.2024 | London – Roundhouse | |
Th 22.02.2024 | London – Roundhouse | |
Sa 24.02.2024 | Paris (France) – Le Trianon | |
Su 25.02.2024 | Brussels (Belgium) – Ancienne Belgique | |
Mo 26.02.2024 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) – AFAS Live | |
We 28.02.2024 | Berlin (Germany) – Verti Music Hall | |
Fr 01.03.2024 | Cologne – Palladium | |
Sa 02.03.2024 | Milan (Italy) – Fabrique | |
Mo 04.03.2024 | Zurich (Switzerland) – Komplex | |
We 06.03.2024 | Karlin (Czechia) – Forum Karlin | |
Th 07.03.2024 | Warsaw (Poland) – Torwar | |
Fr 08.03.2024 | Vienna (Austria) – Gasometer | |
Sa 16.03.2024 | Reykjavik (Iceland) – Harpa | |
Fr 31.05.2024 | Umea (Sweden) – Brännbollsyran | |
Fr 21.05.2024 | Dublin (Ireland) – Fairview Park | |
Su 23.06.2024 | Newport (United Kingdom) – Isle of Wright Festival | |
Fr 12.07.2024 | Helsingborg (Sweden) – Olympia Park |
Swedish Music
Here are all my Music & Media postings related to Sweden.
Christmas Media Reviews
Here are all media reviews dealing with Christmas: