The New Gay, our favorite local forum for non-mainstream gay culture, has been a big champion of Scandinavian music lately. Recent interviews include The Raveonettes' Sharin Foo and Jose Gonzalez. And, for their "Ask a Straight Guy/Girl" feature, they asked our own DJ Natalya some questions. Check it out here. 

Swede Nothings: Hej Hej Dance Night

There's nothing better than Scandinavia. They've got volcanoes, Vikings, a buttkicking luge team and a drink known as "Glogg." Oh, and they have awesome, fun pop music, most of which will be spinning at St. Ex tonight at Hej Hej (which means "Hi! Hi!" in Swedish.)

Hej Hej is D.C.'s only all-Scandanavian dance night, founded by DJs Natalya Minkovsky and Melissa Gilmore Vivari after a trip to Iceland.

» Cafe St. Ex, 1847 14th Street, NW, Tue., 10 p.m., free; 202.265.7839. (U St.-Cardozo)

Thanks as always, everyone!

Natalya (10 - 10:30)

Taken By Trees - "Taken Too Young (The Tough Alliance Remix)" (Sweden) [listen here]
PYT - "Who Do You Think You Are" (Sweden) [download]
Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone (Sumo Re-edit)" (Sweden) [download here]
Gentle Touch - "Once You Used To" (Sweden) [download]
Henry Morgans Solokarriär - "The Good Ones" [download EP]
Karin Ström - "Silent Night (Pacific! Remake)" (Sweden)
Viola - "Since Forever Now" (Finland) [download]
The LK - "Stop Being Perfect" (Sweden) [watch video]
Oh! Custer - "States" (Sweden) [download]

The Cardigans - "Good Morning Joan" (Sweden)

Melissa (10:30 - 11)

The Whitest Boy Alive - "Done With You" (Norway)
The Sound of Arrows - "Danger!" (Sweden) [download]
The Moonbabies - "Take Me to the Ballroom" (Sweden)
Club 8 - "Everlasting Love" (Sweden)
Laakso - "Italy vs. Helsinki" (Sweden)
Mew - "Special" (Denmark)
The Raveonettes - "You Want the Candy" (Denmark)
Real Ones - "Disharmonic Ears" (Norway)
Bang Gang - "Like Whoa" (Iceland)
Jens Lekman - "Into Eternity" (Sweden)

Natalya (11 - 11:30)

Vapnet - "Aldrig Dar" (Sweden)
Caesars - "Strawberry Weed" (Sweden)
Those Dancing Days - "Disc-Hoe" (Sweden)
The Raveonettes - "Aly, Walk With Me" (Denmark) [download]
The Knife - "Heartbeats" (Sweden)
The Sounds - "Rock 'n' Roll" (Sweden)
The Honeydrips - "(Lack of) Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Sweden) [download]
The Sounds - "Riot" (Sweden)

Melissa (11:30 - 12)

Datarock - "Princess" (Norway)
Teddybears - "Cobrastyle" (Sweden)
David & The Citizens - "Let's Not Fall Apart" (Sweden)
The Mary Onettes - "Void" (Sweden)
Sally Shapiro - "I'll Be By Your Side (Rude 66 808 Remix)" (Sweden)
The LK - "Tamagotchi Freestyle" (Sweden) [download]
Husky Rescue - "Nightless Night" (Finland)
Gus Gus - "Starlovers" (Iceland)
Love Is All - "Make Out Fall Out Make Up (Chicken Lips Remix)" (Sweden)

Natalya (12 - 12:30)

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - "Still Get Around" (Sweden)
Marit Bergman - "Green Light" (Sweden)
Lacrosse - "No More Lovesongs" (Sweden)
Cats on Fire - "Higher Grounds" (Finland) [download]
The Sweet Serenades - "First Taste of Trouble" (Sweden)
Owl - "New Addiction" (Sweden)
We & Lisa - "Let the Wind (Take You Back)" (Sweden) [download]
120 Days - "Sleepwalking" (Norway)

Melissa (12:30 - 1)

ABBA - "Dancing Queen" (Sweden)
Ace of Base - "Beautiful Life" (Sweden)
Ace of Base - "Cruel Summer" (Sweden)
a-ha - "Take on Me" (Norway)
Envelopes - "Party" (Sweden)
Robyn - "Handle Me (Bjorn Remix)" (Sweden)
The Knife - "Silent Shout"  (Sweden)
Shout Out Louds - "Normandie" (Sweden)
Mando Diao - "Amsterdam" (Sweden)

Natalya (1 - close)

The Raveonettes - "My Boyfriend's Back" (Denmark)
Sally Shapiro - "Time to Let Go (CFCF Remix)" (Sweden)
Northern Fields - "Never Take the Beauty" (Sweden) [download on MySpace]
Bedroom Eyes - "Motorcycle Daydream" (Sweden) [download]
Peter Morén - "Social Consequence" (Sweden) [download here]
The Raveonettes - "Dead Sound (Peter Holmstrom and Jeremy Sherrer Remix)" (Denmark) [download]
Taken By Trees - "Sweet Child O' Mine" (Sweden)

Movie: Erik the Viking

We'll have the March setlists posted soon, but in the meantime, check out this BrightestYoungThings feature on one of our Swedish favorites, The Honeydrips. They're opening for Jens Lekman tomorrow night at the Black Cat. Hope you got your ticket!

Thanks to everyone who joined us on February 26. See you March 8 at House of Sweden, right?

Melissa (10 - 10:30) 

Club 8  - "What Shall We Do Next" (Sweden)
Air France - "Beach Party" (Sweden)
The Perishers - "My Heart" (Sweden)
Like Honey - "November" (Sweden)
Radio LXMBRG - It's Cruel Up North" (Sweden)
Petur Ben - "White Tiger" (Iceland) [download]
Park Hotell - Born a Thief" (Sweden)
Pelle Carlberg - "Crying All the Way to the Pawnshop" (Sweden)
The Ark  - "Absolutely No Decorum" (Sweden)

Natalya (10:30 - 11)

Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone" (Sweden) [watch video]
Diskotek - "Don't Know Your Name" (Norway) [download]
Bertine Zetlitz - "Fake Your Beauty" (Norway)
The LK - "Eurovision" (Sweden)
Love Is All - "Felt Tip" (Sweden)
The Raveonettes - "Dead Sound (Peter Holmstrom and Jeremy Sherrer Remix)" (Denmark) [download]
Juvelen - "Watch Your Step" (Sweden)
The Honeydrips - " I Wouldn't Know What to Do" (Sweden) [download]
Jens Lekman - "Kanske Ar Jag Ka I Dig" (Sweden)
Firefox AK - "Winter Rose" (Sweden)

Melissa (11 - 11:30)

Aerospace - "Tenderness is the Plight of the Weakerthan" (Sweden) [download]
Lykke Li - "Complaint Department" (Sweden)
Konie - "Are You O.K.?" (Sweden)
The LK - "Down by Law" (Sweden)
Gus Gus - "Starlovers" (Iceland)

Natalya (11:30 - 12)

Peter Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off" (Sweden)
Sahara Hotnights - "Visit to Vienna" (Sweden)
Niccokick - "Love & Neon Lights" (Sweden)
Jens Lekman - "Black Cab" (Sweden)
The Hives - "Won't Be Long" (Sweden)
I Was a Teenage Satan Worshiper - "Candy Candy" (Finland) [listen here]
Robyn - "Konichiwa Bitches" (Sweden)
Snoop Dogg feat. Robyn - "Sexual Eruption (Remix)" (U.S./Sweden)
Robyn - "Show Me Love" (Sweden)

Melissa (12 - Close)

Annie - "Chewing Gum" (Norway)
Shout Out Louds - "Normandie" (Sweden)
The Raveonettes - "You Want the Candy" (Denmark)
The Concretes - "You Can't Hurry Love" (Sweden)
Those Dancing Days - "Those Dancing Days" (Sweden)
Ida Maria - "Oh My God" (Norway) [download]
Dear Martin - "Call For Justice (DJ Weekend's PartyMore Remix)" (Sweden) [download]
Bjork - "Wanderlust (Ratatat Remix)" (Iceland)
Husky Rescue - "Nightless Night (Justus Kohncke Remix)" (Finland)
Adam Tensta - "They Wanna Know (Prod. Addeboy vs. Cliff)" (Sweden) [download]
The Kid - "Portion Control" (Sweden)
Montt Mardié - "Metropolis (feat. Fredrik Hellstrom)" (Sweden)
Sigur Ros  - "Staralfur (Mojib Break of Dawn Remix)" (Iceland)

Finale

The Raveonettes - "Chains" (Denmark)

Movies: Hans Christian Andersen, The Danish Poet.

Since we're so excited about all of the Scandinavian bands coming through town in the next few months, we're giving away some cool stuff at this month's Hej Hej:

1. We love The LK. They're playing at the House of Sweden on March 8. So we're having a drawing to give away tickets to this sure-to-sell-out show. Thanks, kora records.

2. The Raveonettes (at the Black Cat on March 29) just released a new album this week, and we're giving away copies of that album, plus other goodies, courtesy of Vice Records. Brush up on Danish pop culture trivia for your chance to win.

In summary: Join us on February 26. Win free stuff.

Thanks to everyone who made our anniversary party a big success! Here's what we played:

Melissa (10 - 10:30) 

Asha Ali - "Coward Heart" (Sweden)
Acid House Kings - "Do What You Wanna Do" (Sweden)
Sarah Hepburn - "Hey . . . OK!" (Denmark)
The LK - "Stop Being Perfect" (Sweden)
Teddybears - "Yours To Keep" (Sweden)
Sally Shapiro - "I'll Be By Your Side" (Sweden)
Jens Lekman - "Friday Night at the Drive-in Bingo" (Sweden)
The Charade - "Monday Morning" (Sweden)

Natalya (10:30 - 11)

Mondial - "Let's Go Mainstream" (Sweden)
Stars In Coma - "Drifting Nights In Moonshine Heights" (Sweden) [download]
Sambassadeur - "The Park" (Sweden)
Rough Bunnies - "Modern Love" (Sweden)
The Tough Alliance - "A New Chance" (Sweden)
The Raveonettes - "You Want the Candy" (Denmark)
Radio LXMBRG - "Feel the Heat" (Sweden)
Junior Senior - "Can I Get Get Get" (Denmark)
Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat (Meat Boys Remix)" (Sweden)
Bedroom Eyes - "Motorcycle Daydream" (Sweden) [download]
Lacrosse - "So Sad" (Sweden) 

Melissa (11 - 11:30)

Datarock - "Nightflight to Uranus" (Norway)
Peter Bjorn & John - "Young Folks" (Sweden)
Real Ones - "Disharmonic Ears" (Norway)
Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have to Leave It (Kleerup Remix)" (Sweden)
The Cardigans - "Lovefool" (Sweden)
Mando Diao - "Long Before Rock 'n Roll" (Sweden)
Annie - "Chewing Gum" (Norway)
Gus Gus - "Ladyshave" (Iceland)
The Knife - "Silent Shout"  (Sweden)
Radio LXMBRG - "Male Mystique" (Sweden)
A-Ha - "Take on Me" (Norway)

Natalya (11:30 - 12)

A Smile and A Ribbon - "The Boy I Wish I Never Met" (Sweden) [download]
The LK - "Tandem Bikes" (Sweden)
Jens Lekman - "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" (Sweden)
The Sounds - "Tony the Beat" (Sweden)
Lo-Fi-Fnk - "Wake Up" (Sweden)
The Tough Alliance - "Looking for Gold (Devolve Sparks Remix)" (Sweden) 
Figurines - "Debate Because It's Over" (Denmark)
Taken By Trees - "Lost and Found" (Sweden) [watch video]

Melissa (12 - 12:30)

Marit Bergman - "No Party" (Sweden)
Junior Senior  - "Take My Time" (Denmark)
I'm From Barcelona - "We're From Barcelona" (Sweden)
Kocky - "Be Part of It All (feat. Jens Lekman and Rosanna)" (Sweden)
Bjork - "Human Behavior" (Iceland)
Club 8 - "Heaven" (Sweden)
Johnossi - "Man Must Dance" (Sweden)
The LK - "Eurovision" (Sweden)

Natalya (12:30 - 1)

Cinnamon - "Hopeless Case" (Sweden)
Peter Bjorn & John - "Amsterdam" (Sweden)
Serena Maneesh - "Drain Cosmetics" (Norway)
Park Hotell - "Born A Thief" (Sweden)
Pets - "Giving Up's the Hardest Thing" (Sweden)
Love Dance - "Stay Handsome!" (Norway) [download]
Ronderlin - "You Made Somebody Want You" (Sweden)
Hearts of Black Science - "Empty City Lights" (Sweden) [download]
Differnet - "Patterns of Parklands" (Sweden)
Fredrik - "Na Na Ni" (Sweden) [download]

Melissa (1 - close)
Gus Gus - "Remembrance" (Iceland)
Bang Gang - "Follow" (Iceland)
Dungen - "Du E För Fin För Mig" (Sweden)

Movies: Heima: a film by Sigur Rós, ABBA: The Movie (director Lasse Hallström's debut)

We hope you can make it to Cafe Saint-Ex on Tuesday to celebrate our one year anniversary with us.

If you need some inspiration for your Bjork costume, here you go:

Update: If you haven't seen the article, pick up the Style section and go to page C10, or follow this link.

A Smorgasbord of Nordic Pop

By Lavanya Ramanathan

In a town filled with Prince face-offs and Britpop/indie dance nights (what does that even mean?), Hej Hej, the all-Scandinavian DJ night, arrived at Cafe Saint-Ex a year ago like a blast of fresh, Nordic air.

Hej Hej (pronounced hey hey, it's Swedish for "hi!") became the place to go for Washingtonians of Scandinavian descent. Then came the masses, the connoisseurs of Scando-pop who wanted to hear Jens Lekman, the Shout Out Louds and Ida Maria.

The event's fans are " really on their game," says Natalya Minkovsky, who with Melissa Gilmore Vivari founded the dance night following a trip to Iceland and a for-kicks all-Nordic set at their old Black Cat dance party Bluestate. They say they're struck by the cultures of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, not just the music of that part of the world.

Behind the DJ booth, the frosty ladies (who, oddly, don't dress like Abba, don't seem to love Ikea and only occasionally don viking hats) say they play what they like -- upbeat pop, though they note that Norway has a strong heavy metal scene, and Sweden has its own hip-hop. To stay up on the scene, they visit sites such as http://www.itsatrap.com.

On Tuesday, they return to Saint-Ex to celebrate the first anniversary of their ever-growing, ever-evolving bash. They'll take requests and generally keep the crowd moving (in return, they're requesting that guests dress up like Bjork, for fun, of course). And down the road, the ladies of Hej Hej are among the sponsors of a concert by Sweden's the LK on March 8 at the House of Sweden in Georgetown.

Happy New Year! Thanks for celebrating the holidays with Hej Hej. Here are some of the songs we played to stay warm in December:

The Perishers - "Blue Christmas" (Sweden)
Magnet - "Let It Snow" (Norway)
Amiina - "Rugla" (Iceland) [download]
Bang Gang - "Stop In the Name of Love" (Iceland) [watch video]
Sister Flo - "White Noise" (Finland) [download]
Anna Ternheim - "To Be Gone" (Sweden)
Stars In Coma - "I Wish Someone Would Dance With Me" (Sweden)
Kent - "December" (Sweden)
Remington Super 60 - "Wintertime" (Norway)
The Knife - "Christmas Reindeer"  (Sweden)
Regina - "Näinä mustina iltoina" (Finland) [download]

Caesars - "Spirit" (Sweden)
Remington Super 60 - "Here Comes Christmas" (Norway)
Irene - "Christmas on the Beach" (Sweden) [download]
Hello Saferide - "I pod X-mas" (Sweden)
The Raveonettes - "The Christmas Song" (Denmark)

El Perro Del Mar - "Oh What a Christmas"
Parker Lewis - "Xmas Carols NYC" (Sweden)
Jens Lekman - "The Opposite of Hallelujah" (Sweden) 
Taken By Trees - "Lost and Found" (Sweden) [watch video]
Loney, Dear - "I am John" (Sweden)
Peter Bjorn & John - "Let's Call It Off" (Sweden) [watch video]
Magnet - "The Gospel Song" (Norway)
Le Sport, Montt Mardie & Mr.Suitcase - "Last Christmas" (Sweden)
Sally Shapiro - "Anorak Christmas" (Sweden)
Lasse Lindh - "Bruised" (Sweden)

ABBA - "Fernando" (Sweden)

God Jul * Glædelig Jul * Hyvaa joulua * Gledileg Jol

Join us on Monday, December 10 as we play our favorite holiday songs by The Raveonettes * The Knife * Sally Shapiro * El Perro Del Mar * Hello Saferide * The Perishers * Le Sport * and others, mixed in with our usual assortment of Scandinavian tunes.

Monday, December 10
Cafe Saint-Ex (1847 14th Street NW)
10 PM - close
No cover

Drink specials on Viking beer and Reyka vodka all night.

Celebrate the upcoming Saint Lucia holiday by wearing a crown of candles, and we might just buy you a drink.