The most powerful man in the Swedish music world, Bert Karlsson, reveals his inner nature in an interview with news paper Expressen: “A sexy girl doesn't need to be able to sing very well to be a great artist”.
The Swedish delegation leader to Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, Bert Karlsson, who in his anger after what he considered was a horrible 8th position for Sweden and Afro-Dite, recommended the Swedish people to withdraw entirely from the Eurovision Song Contest and create a new Nordic contest as a substitute, has now opened his big mouth once more. Karlsson swifts between working for his record label, the Swedish national final Melodifestivalen and being one of the jury members in the Swedish Operación Triunfo-copy Fame Factory. In an interview with the Swedish tabloid Expressen, he reveals his inner thoughts of what's important in the search for future pop stars, and what is less important. “The appearance is the first barrier the wannabe artists have to cross. There's no doubt that a pretty girl doesn't have the same need of singing abilities. They can't be too thick either. Plump, but not fat. When it comes to breasts, Charlotte Nilsson is a bit too much. Carola's size is more appropriate”.
When the Eurovision winner of 1999, Charlotte Nilsson, was informed of the statements done by Bert Karlsson in the newspaper interview, she got upset: “It's so God damn stupid. It's so pathetic it makes me laugh.” Other Swedish artists reacted the same negative way as Charlotte, seeing his opinions as ridiculous.
