Thank Frida it’s Friday.
That can only mean one thing: it’s time for another music competition to get you through the weekend.
This week I want to know: What’s your favourite song by a Scandinavian artist?
Here’s mine.
Reply below to be in with a chance of winning a prized €20 voucher redeemable at Currys PC World.
The winner will be chosen by my laptop repair man.
Please include video links if possible.
Lines MUST close Saturday 11am.
Nick says: Good luck!
Earlier: Last week’s winner
Sponsored Link
This!
From the utterly stunning Sigur Ros,
https://youtu.be/KbPWi1gshzI
Enjoy!
Brilliant harmonies, great lyrics and superb sentiment,
First Aid Kit – Emmylou.
https://youtu.be/Hi5A9OCAyIk
Enjoy
Love it
One of my faves! Fab choice Andy!
Here is mine, also from the stunning Sigur Ros.
Svefn-g-englar. Just for the beautiful video alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L64BcCRDAE&ab_channel=SigurR%C3%B3s
Great moniker Walt
Thanks eamonn, it was his idea.
The Knife – Heartbeats
https://youtu.be/pPD8Ja64mRU
Ah jeasus Bertie
You got in 2 mins before me
Excellent taste in music man ;)
Sorry pal:)
Love this tune!
And covered by another Swede Jose Gonzalez. It made me want to go to San Francisco. So I did.
https://youtu.be/spB4ezsQ6II
Absolutely love this. Excellent choice
Ooooh.
Obv Ah-Ha and Bjork would be in my top 10 ;)
But listening to a lot of The Knife lately.
This is a great track from a few years ago – Heartbeats
https://youtu.be/pPD8Ja64mRU
The Cardigans are underrated.
Here’s an early classic Carnival
https://youtu.be/7bK5EPjGri4
I was dragged to one of their concerts with low expectations. They were excellent live. Deaf for 2 days after.
just remembered this song from Latvia in eurovision, i hate the eurovision, but lived in Estonia at the time, and couldn’t avoid this. But it’s perked me right up today, so will be adding it to a playlist asap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ZzOxP55Gs
Brainstorm, My Star
Speaking of Eurovision, this wasn’t bad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw6wI-60lDo
Lordi – Hard Rock Halleluja
Katzenjammer – A Bar in Amsterdam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kbdCDeKSoI
Bit of fun pop from Norway.
Great live too, real cabaret feel to their shows.
Ace of Base – All That She Wants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73tiBBzvFM
Early 90’s dance tune from a group that is still going, AFAIK
Definitely one for later with a nice glass of your favourite tipple in front of the fire, from a brilliant album that’s well worth checking out.
Amiina – Rugla.
https://youtu.be/YYrebYg8WWg
Enjoy.
I’m posting this for, eh, a friend, right, a friend
Aqua – Barbie Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSR_dKGbtLQ
That same friend asked me to post this one for him too.
Whigfield – Saturday Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DNQRtmIMxk
“Dee dee na na na” he used to sing, back in the day, allegedly.
I always thought that they were underatted. Sure they did some fun tunes, but I really liked Turn Back Time from the film Sliding Doors.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls0WfopgR9k
How about two Cherrys for the price of one?
Eagle-Eye Cherry – Save Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nntd2fgMUYw
And
His sister Nenah
Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWsRz3TJDEY
I am not sure if Neneh’s daughter Mabel counts. She does have Swedish citizenship, but is really based in the UK. However, I think I am going to include it just to show the talent of this family:
Don’t call Me Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TQKyDD9Yig
Scandinavian artist’s and dj’s Kruder & Dorfmeister,dropped this last year,its a ‘lost’ track off,1998’s legendary and classic double CD The K&D Sessions.
Kruder & Dorfmeister – Johnson (Official Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxH5piakaHc
those chaps are Austrian, is that Scandinavian ?
genuinely curious.
If you haven’t already check blue moon
…any excuse:)
(high noon yes,blue moon no)
great set from K&D’s club on the canal in Vienna,i get play music quite loud at work and smoke…
Kruder & Dorfmeister – The Eclectic Sound Of Vienna Vol. 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2LjlgvpvAc
high noon – i stand corrected, yet understood. happy friday
you too eamonn.
the sweden band goat wrote this song for this short horror film Killing Gävle.
https://youtu.be/Wom8qQXt7j0
Let It Burn.
https://youtu.be/pGSl3nHBjYU
Dr Douglas Home really likes Scandi, so I’m subjected to quite a lot of it.
I rather like Husky Rescue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIvPJ1zRxF4
I’ll have to ask the Dr what they think.
https://youtu.be/udtP1xwIRhQ From Sigur Ros and some other geezer is ridiculous… it’s so good.
I saw this band in Galway many moons ago.
29 band members, many instruments and plenty of confetti, it was such an amazing live experience!
“We’re from Barcelona” by I’m from Barcelona
https://youtu.be/3Wi1d0FNgdQ
A song for Millie
Wannadies- you and me
https://youtu.be/t_e_45Szprk
<3
Here is one i likes a lot. Actually her whole album featuring this is amazing!
Fever Ray – If I had a heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBAzlNJonO8&ab_channel=FeverRay
Great piece of music – my missus is a big fan.
Initially I was scratching my head to think of Scandinavian artists – but then once I thought about I realised how many bloody great ones there are that I listen to all the time.
Spot on. One of favourites. I discovered Fever Ray through The Following soundtrack. Incredible talent and she’s bonkers (in a nice way)too.
at the gates, ‘slaughter of the soul’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URhmC865SGI
Thisist needs MORE metal :)
Nice one Scottser!
^list
Roxette – Listen To Your Heart
https://youtu.be/yCC_b5WHLX0
My favourite band of all time. So many hits to choose from but this one started it all for me. Marie Fredriksson sadly passed away at the end of 2019.
The Hives – Hate to say I told you so
https://youtu.be/Uz1Jwyxd4tE
Oh yeah, remember them!
+1 :) Some craic on the dance floors to that one!
Oh that is cruel! But I shall resist temptation mightily, and with fortitude.
SO instead I am offering the wonderful Robyn and Dancing On My Own
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07Xp8aQ
I don’t actually know muchof his materiel, I just love his name
Mads Langer – You’re not alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHDuP303XyE
So, Nick,when do you do the final couuntdown on this competition? :-)
Sorry, had to be done, showing my age again
Sorry, computer is acting up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw
Europe
I’ll confess…. I bought the album at the time :)
Remember when this seemed to soundtrack every other programme on RTE?
Oh yes, and were a staple on Top Of The Pops for more weeks than I care to remember :-)
Didn’t realise they were Swedish.
I nominate the haunting song that was used as the theme tune for the best Nordic noir TV series, the Swedish / Svensk version of Wallander, It breathes that dark part of Swedish society, cold, lonely, sad, perfect for Krister Henriksson interpretation of Wallander
“Quiet Night” by Anna Ternheim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XanI8Gy8TA
‘If all the judges were men I’m sure this group would get a lot of votes, ha ha ha’ Well Nick?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp1_OKawHYw
I do like that clip. (It’s Waterloo, in case not obvious)
And I was so trying to protect janet from harm! :-)
I’m going to be cheeky and present two awesome Scandi artists this week. One you’ll know and the other perhaps not
Ásgeir is Iclandic and his first album ‘In The Silence’ a few years ago was a truly astonishing debut in my opinion. The track Torrent is my favourite from the album and deserves a bit of volume to truly appreciate it.
I hope you enjoy this!
https://youtu.be/gZd-L1-Hi-4
Now, indulge me a moment. You all remember José González and his song Heartbeats – the Sony bouncing ball song.
Well he’s also is part of a band called Junip along with fellow Swede Tobias Winterkorn and released a couple of albums about 10 or so years ago. The 2013 eponymously names album Junip has a track called Walking Lightly and I love it.
https://youtu.be/GxC4f3G8iRw
Ásgeir does a great cover of Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box
https://youtu.be/g-HVwEcA00M
Like that Junip one :)
Swedish Underfed Music Operators – SUMO
Workout
https://youtu.be/7Yk_keizVqE
Electro Samba ?
This one took me a while to dig out on u tube, kept getting men mountain samurai warriors.
I love the way is sounds like sunshine.
Happy Friday
KOOP
wherever there is you
https://youtu.be/vRT4tIPJy1Q
chilllll
Mm-mmmm me likey :)
Magnus Carlson & The Moon Ray Quintet – Ain’t There Something Money Can’t Buy
https://youtu.be/UJoXIohPLgs
ask the beatles my good man
Another one for later, a beautiful bit of music, piano and strings and amazing vocals, what more could you want.
Olafur Arnalds feat. JDFR – Back To The Sky.
https://youtu.be/5GIBRelGHpc
Enjoy!
Commissioned by Dr Martens to celebrate their 50th anniversary, charming Danish garage rock revivalists pay homage to Madchester. The results are surprisingly good.
The Raveonettes – I Wanna Be Adored
https://youtu.be/HF91QxJVDU8
Love it :)
With a name borrowed from a Bill Callahan song…
I Break Horses – Hearts
https://youtu.be/M8Zjx5rmbEY
God I love Bill Callahan. Spotify recommended him to me last year and I fell in love with his music. Amazing voice.
And a vast back catalogue to enjoy.
To Be Of Use is one of his best, IMO
https://youtu.be/fZOJ9vner2c
And somewhat in the manner of the Johnny Cash American Series, here’s the late Gil Scott-Heron covering Callahan.
https://youtu.be/eV_astp3BjM
Iike that, ta :)
Otis,
Never knew that was a cover, something new everyday – thanks.
Never knew of bill callahajn, more to explore – happy days indeed
Enjoy. He’s recorded under the Smog moniker as well so there’s a wealth of stuff out there.
Think it’s time to bring The Muppets back into this Friday singsong
Swedish Chef’s melody
https://youtu.be/m2-gDQDYcTA
Yay! :)
Norwegian, Jenny Hval, expounds on the Practice of Love.
https://youtu.be/IY8VRD8cud0
It’s Nordic rather than Scandinavian, really. But on the basis that every Nick’s voucher comp should feature an Ólafur Arnalds composition here’s Near Light…
https://youtu.be/0kYc55bXJFI
Simply lovely track that Otis… and the video too :)
The only Scandi song you need to know. Fire Saga – JaJa DingDong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlBUH8zMZng
Hahahaha… Enjoyed that flick… Not as bad as the reviews made out, or so I thought :)
Raveonettes – Love in a Trashcan (2005)
Danish rock og rul!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU9qgCr_XB8
Liked and saved :)
Rune Gustavsson – Mannen som slutade röka – Huvudtema (The Man Who Quit Smoking – Main Theme)
Love the funky bassline on this 1972 track
https://youtu.be/wY0w9n7Xi00
That’s well cool :)
The Sugarcubes – Hit
https://youtu.be/LaNbsFRxslk
Blast from the past :)
Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA
https://youtu.be/sDL1LRcrmKI
I have a special place in my heart for this song. My own little lady is growing up much too quickly for my tastes and this beautiful, bittersweet song always makes me stop and appreciate every small moment with her, every funny little quirk, and appreciate how lucky I am to have a child like her.
Beautifully put Millie, cracking tune!
Have a great weekend!
I agree. It is one of my favourites as well, and I was thinking of it only today (12th) as it is my daughter’s birthday. Thank you for the reminder.
If your little one is anything like mine, I think some of those quirks are genetic. I sadly missed most of her growing up because of, well, reasons and being on another continent did not help. But I remember once going to visit her, and I did something, and my ex-mother-in-law said in a suitably horrified voice “So that’s here she gets it from!”
When you look at your little one and her quirks, see yourself reflected there :-)
I must admit I’m not familiar with that one… I did enjoy it Millie, thanks :)
It’s Down In The Basement by Viagra Boys that gets my nomination. Stockholm’s finest satirical punk band (that I know of). A brilliantly energetic and fun band to see live.
From the solid grinding guitar riffs to the horns on this track, and the lyrics bursting with humour ( the delivery of the line “I’m not like those other guys” always makes me laugh ) and all with lead vocalist Sebastian Murphy’s theatrical fervour.
It’ll have you jumping around the room like a teenager.
https://youtu.be/9QPn6U3B9nQ
… A few lyrics… :)
And now you’re down in the basement
All dressed up in latex
One red light bulb hanging from the ceiling
And a live goat standing on a small chair in the middle of the room
Now how you gonna explain that, man?
Your secret is out
You’ve been living a lie
How you explain your nasty sex to your wife?
How you gonna explain that, man?
Now what you gonna do when you come home?
And you crawl up to the bedside with tears in your eyes
Say “Babe, take me back. I’m fine, I’m not like that
I’m not a- I’m not like those other guys
I was- I was just trying something new”
Ah! Hahahahaha!
And for the fun… the video to ‘Ain’t Nice’, a track off their upcoming album, is good for a few laughs :)
https://youtu.be/vzWds5gWS6c
…. And the video continues in the next track, ‘Creatures’ …
https://youtu.be/Xfhi_nIk-bI
One more shot! One for the hovering me thinks!.
From their classic album Melody AM, this song had vocals from Kings of Convenience member Erlend Øye.
The song’s excellent animated music video features a creature resembling a boy in a bear suit, and the story of the creature being tracked and captured, before being caged in a zoo, hoping for escape.
https://youtu.be/B4px0qQrG5E
Enjoy!
I used to like A-ha even when I was worshipping The Smiths
Music is a lot categorised and tribal now I think, probably since Spotify and the fact that you’ve access too everything without committing to a genre
A-ha
Manhattan Skyline
https://youtu.be/WY2r28M1TrY
For the younger members of the audience, there is of course the A-Teens. They do covers of a certain band with the same first letter. Kind of an S Club 7 vibe.
But out of consideration, I shall present one of their own that I do like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggiUMDccO0Y
Leaves – Breathe
https://youtu.be/7KKwlZDGxQs
I know I’m late but this moody gem regularly transports my mind to the aether.
https://youtu.be/jWFb5z3kUSQ
Better late than never!
There are just so many to choose from. This is a selection that is trying not repeat what has gone before. One of these has to hit the mark
Royksopp- Eple
https://youtu.be/qczr6Z2qtpE
Stina Nordenstam – Little Star
https://youtu.be/sQIowXjGGMI
Kleerup featuring Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
https://youtu.be/-ojHWQrm4UM
Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
https://youtu.be/ghb6eDopW8I
Too late, but they still deserve a mention..
Kvelertak – 1985
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g36fWfErL9w