Many swedish stars have entered Melodifestivalen many times with dreams of making it to the Eurovision glory, names like Magnus Carlsson ( who we are hoping will be back in 2011-see interview below) & Nanne Gronvall, to name a couple.
ABBA made the biggest impact back in 74 with 'waterloo' as we know so well however this journey along the melodifestival path was also a long one, and even continued after that Brighton win in 1974. In fact as songwriters or solo singers they competed in Melodifestivalen a total of 7 times, twice a song was not selected or choosen- giving a total of 9 entries from back in 1968.
Here is the History year-by-year.
1968- Agnetha a new star in Sweden submitted the song 'Forsonade'
wrote by Agnetha.
It failed to be selected for Melodifestivalen- is found on her debut album.
1969- Benny (& Lasse Berghagen) wrote the tune 'Hej clown'
sung by Jan Malmsjö, a famous actor-The tune tied for 1st place, then following a re-vote
Benny's song came just second to Tommy Korberg.
1969- Anni-Frid Lyngstad sung the same year 'Harlig ar var jord' following her Tv breakthough 2 years previous this jazzy standard finished in joint 4th place. This was Frida's only solo Mf appearence.
1970- Sweden did'nt take part in Eurovision
1971- Bjorn & Benny began writing pop hits together now so submitted a tune 'Det kan lngen Doktor hjalpa' a folk band Family Four, had been choosen already by SVT as the artist to sing in ESC.
However this was not one of the 5 songs choosen as part of Melodifestival show- The song was released as a Bjorn & Benny single- with Agnetha & Frida on backing vocals. This track shows an early Abba sound now coming together.
1972- A Polar Lable artist Lena Andersson sung the next Bjorn & Benny song 'Säg Det Med En Sång' she came 3rd- and this gave her a big hit single in Sweden. And has remained a popular Melodifestivalen classic of 70's.
1973- Following the debut single 'People need love' released in 72-ABBA arrived in Melodifestivalen yet stil know as their individual names. The song was 'Ring Ring' due
to a jury of experts the song came only 3rd! 'Ring, Ring' was clearly the public's favourite and launched Abba's career & debut album.
1974- Abba won Melodifestivalen with 302 points ahead of Lasse Berghagen (211) & Lena Ericsson (185) ..the rest really became international history.
Yet this was not the end for Bjorn & Benny at Melodifestivalen- next year they came back.
1975- 'Bang en Boomerang' became a hit track on Abba's third LP it was infact wrote for Svenne & Lotta in Melodifestivalen 1975 it came 3rd. While Lasse Berghagen took top honours at last. (click on song to view MF 75 performance)
...it seemed as if the four swedes would not come back to Melodifestivalen after 1975. There was a long gap and ABBA's huge international career kept them busy, then in 1981 -Agnetha suddenly put her songwriting talents out there for the Mf final.
1981- Agnetha Faltskog wrote "Men natten ar var" (lyrics by Ingela Forsman) a new artist Kicki Moberg sung the song. It came in 5th place with 28 points (out of 5 songs)
This year was strangely the same year Benny Andersson chose to Produced a new Norwegian folk singer/songwriter Finn Kalvik who was selected for
Eurovision 1981 for Norway. Finn's own song 'Aldri i Livet' (Here in my heart) came last
in Dublin! with nul points, although Agnetha & Frida sang the back-up vocals on his studio version of the single and album released.
So that's the Abba long journey with Melodifestivalen. That had rejected tunes and last placing
even after Brighton..if you want to hear more Abba JUST tune into 'Cafe Latte' today on
Alan Ross will be doing a 2 hr special on the swedes on Sunday 29th 3pm (EST Melb time)
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