Music of Sweden

/ Sweden, Swedish Music

Singing is very popular in Sweden and of its 9,000,000 inhabitants, more than 600,000 belong to various choirs. Sweden is also one of the biggest export nations of music in the world.

Three of the world’s leading producers and songwriters, Max Martin, RedOne, and Jörgen Elofsson comes from Sweden and are known for their  great contributions to the music industry. They have worked with artists such as Lady Gaga, Michael Jacksson, Katy Perry, New Kids On The Block, Akon, to Celine Dion, Madonna, Jordin Sparks and Maroon 5.

In popular music, the group ABBA became the essence of Swedish music. They became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music, topping the charts worldwide from 1972 to 1982. Later Roxette emerged, mostly performing pop songs in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  “It Must Have Been Love” a power ballad written by Per Gessle became the duo’s third #1 hit in the United States, and is one of their best-selling releases, leading the single to be certified gold in a number of countries.

Later the rock group Europe (Joey Tempest), Ace of Base and The Cardigans became  popular pop groups around the world.

Sweden has also produced several notable opera singers. In the 1850s, Jenny Lind (a.k.a. the Swedish Nightingale) toured the United States, and the price of admission for her performances was at a rate never before seen. In the 1950s, Jussi Björling was one of few non-Italian opera singers, and he is to this day a household name in opera circles.