The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

Menu

Navigation

You are here: Home / Forum / ATM Swedish playlist

ATM Swedish playlist

by 78 Comments

One of the great things about living in a university town are the people you meet. My current neighbour is deputy chief of Stockholm’s police, here doing a masters in criminology. It’s her birthday next month and she’s asked me to DJ. What I know about Swedish music is limited to

1. Abba
2. The Cardigans
3. Roxette
4. The Wannadies
5. that theme tune to the Bridge

I ask the hive mind of the massive to fill in the gaps for me.

0

Comments

  8. I can go on all night! Some of the stuff I’m suggesting would make good background music before you turn the volume up to 11.

    International pop star Robyn – Dancing on my own

    Wonderful Stockholm band Teddybears – Cobra Style

    Smoochy sensual pop from Lisa Nilsson – Heaven round the corner

  9. I’ve been meaning to post a track from this album on countless threads, but it might as well be this one.
    The Swedish band Brigaden have recently released their second album: “Om Jesus, Lill, Alberto och våra föräldrar” (“About Jesus, Lill, Alberto and our Parents”).
    I’ve just bought a vinyl copy, and on first listen it sounds at least as good as their superb debut a couple of years ago.
    “What do Brigaden sound like?” I hear you cry!
    Weeell … a sort of upbeat, very melodic, latin folk-influenced jazz. See what you think…

  11. That sounds really exciting stuff, DuCool. Hope they play a live show soon.

    But will it have them ripping off their t shirts and dashing onto the dancefloor?

    We need some uplifting gay disco for that.

      • When she ended Popaganda in August I got tears in my eyes a few times during her set…she’s so wonderful.
        Welcome aboard, Madelene – you’re new here right? Or have you been lurking in the shadows for a while?

  31. I’m not much of a one for stadium rock. But here are some Swedish artists that regularly sell out the arenas.

    Kent – Sverige (which is a beautiful song)

    Håkon Hellström- A friend with a car”

    Lars Winnerbäck – If you left me now

  36. I’m pretty lukewarm about Roxette’s jolly pop but Marie Fredriksson singing in Swedish is another thing all together. Far more melancholic. The lass has a great set of pipes.

  37. Another girl with a golden voice is Titiyo.

    And although I’ve never met her, I’m sure you’ll all be fascinated to know that her dog is from the same litter as Niki the dog we dog-sit. Rubbing shoulders with the stars, that’s me.

  39. There’s nothing that fills a dancefloor more quickly than a nice bit of solo renaissance lute music played by some Swedish bloke.
    So here’s one of Sweden’s top young lutenists, Karl Nyhlin. I’ve been lucky enough to catch him live once, in fact, when he was playing with Maria Lindahl’s band, ReBaroque. He’s a terrific player.

    • Truer words we’re spoken @duco01. The moment he hits the stage, the local youth come cascading onto the dancefloor, screaming “Hit us with some Jacobean Jams, Kalle.”

      Those Stockholm ravers like it Old School. A pavane, a galliard and a few choice hits from the John Dowland songbook and they are eating out of his hand.

  40. How many hit songs can you think of about the Mallorcan resort of Magaluf. Orup here. wrote a rather good one about being dumped on a charter holiday, which sadly isn’t on YT.

    But this one, I’d rather be hunted by wolves, is.

      • We have got a treasure trove here, so no, we’re far from finished! I am sorry to say I have never seen Little Dragon or Fever Ray live. Sounds like I have missed out on something!

  50. Let’s not forget Swedish prog.

    The jazzy, folky sounds of Kebnekaise from 1971.

    Horgallten

    The mellow, rather ambient groove of Ragnarök – Dagarnas Skum from 1976.

    They are rather untypical for Swedish “Progg” as many of the bands were left-wing political activists. And did they hate ABBA! In hipster circles in the 70s you just did not mention the Waterloo Hitmakers.

  51. Ever heard of a Swedish band called Kvartetten som Sprängde? (The Quartet that Blasted?). They were really good.

    They were around in 1973, and released just one album, called Kattvals (Cat Waltz).

    The music was a sort of accessible instrumental progressive rock, with definite Santana influences, driven by the very fine lead guitar of Finn Sjöberg. For decades, vinyl copies of the album fetched a fortune and were impossible to find, but a few years ago it finally got a limited CD release. I reckon quite a few Afterworders would go for this. I do, anyway.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QFj8R2Af4

  52. The one thing all Swedish artists seem to excel in is melody. It doesn’t matter the genre, there’s invariably a tune of some description to enjoy along the way.

    Some absentees so far:

    The dreamy pop of The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s on Fire

    Sweden’s answer to Stephin Merritt: Jens Lekman – Your Arms Around Me

    The new psychedelic rock of Dungen – Franks Katus

    …and the old psychedelic rock of The Baby Grandmothers – Somebody Keeps Calling My Name

  56. We could easily do a whole rather wonderful thread on Swedish folk music.

    Here are Ranarim welcoming the spring. A bit early but it’s on its way,

    An old fave of mine, the band who electrified Swedish folk music: Garmarna.They are about to release their first album in 15 years. Very good news.

  61. And finally, the lights go down, time for a slow dance to a proper 80s power ballad…Ratata & Frida from ABBA seals the deal with Så länge vi har varann…

  62. Time for the first two hip hop groups that started to rap in Swedish, and got very popular.
    Here’s Just D – Relalalalaxa:

    And The Latin Kings – Shonnar vet:

Leave a Reply