She appeared in more than 20 films and television series, including The Emigrants (1971) with Liv Ullman and Max von Sydow.
She was above all an outstanding singer, particularly noted for her jazz songs. In 1964 she recorded the jazz album Waltz for Debby with Bill Evans. She was regarded as a role model by many younger Swedish singers. Her long career also included En gång i Stockholm (Once Upon a Time in Stockholm) with which she represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1963. She finished last and scored the infamous null points, but still managed to remain successful in Sweden.
She was known to suffer from scoliosis, and as a result was forced to retire from performing in 1999.
On May 12, 2005, she died in an accidental fire in her apartment in Stockholm.
Monicas Vals
Monica Zetterlund Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Är min vals melodi
min vals fantasi
En sång i en dröm.
Sakta morgon ljus
strömmar över vårt fönster, ritar ett mönster på alla hus
Just den dag, den vackra dag jag lärde mig säga vi
kom den till världen min vals melodi
Och den påminner mig om hundratals dar som jag varit med dig
Både vinter och vår och i höst och igår
Våra dagar är bara för korta, plötsligen ringer min klocka
Upp med dig klockan är åtta
Väldig, vänlig, stark
Kommer solen med dagen den vackra staden badar i ljus
Väldig, vänlig, stark har du visat mig världen
för mig så är den vacker och ljus
På oss två väntar miljoner dagar
Åh här är vi och världen sjunger min vals melodi
Enkel, vacker, öm
valsen påminner mig om hundratals dar som jag varit med dig
Både vinter och vår, och i höst och igår
Och alla dagar som kommer, Nu är det sommar i tusen år.
This song is called "Monicas vals" and it was performed by Monica Zetterlund. The lyrics tell the story of a simple, beautiful, and tender waltz melody that the singer associates with memories of being with someone special. The melody is described as a song in a dream, a sweet reminder of all the days spent together.
The first verse describes the setting - a quiet morning with the sun slowly rising and casting a pattern on the houses. It was on a beautiful day like this that the singer learned to say "we", and the waltz melody was born. The second verse is a reflection on the time spent together, through all the seasons and even yesterday. The days seem too short, and suddenly the alarm clock rings, signaling the start of a new day.
The third verse is a tribute to the person the melody is associated with, as they have shown the singer the world and made it beautiful and bright. There are millions of days ahead for them, and they are together with the world singing their waltz melody. The waltz is simple, beautiful, and tender, just like their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Enkel, vacker, öm
Simple, beautiful, tender
Är min vals melodi
Is my waltz melody
Min vals fantasi
My waltz fantasy
En sång i en dröm.
A song in a dream
Sakta morgon ljus
Slow morning light
Strömmar över vårt fönster, ritar ett mönster på alla hus
Streams over our window, drawing a pattern on all houses
Just den dag, den vackra dag jag lärde mig säga vi
Just that day, the beautiful day when I learned to say 'we'
Kom den till världen min vals melodi
My waltz melody came into the world
Och den påminner mig om hundratals dar som jag varit med dig
And it reminds me of hundreds of days that I've spent with you
Både vinter och vår och i höst och igår
Both winter and spring, and in fall and yesterday
Våra dagar är bara för korta, plötsligen ringer min klocka
Our days are too short, suddenly my clock rings
Upp med dig klockan är åtta
Get up, it's eight o'clock
Väldig, vänlig, stark
Mighty, kind, strong
Kommer solen med dagen den vackra staden badar i ljus
As the sun comes with the day, the beautiful city bathes in light
Har du visat mig världen, för mig så är den vacker och ljus
You showed me the world, for me it's beautiful and bright
På oss två väntar miljoner dagar
Millions of days await us two
Åh här är vi och världen sjunger min vals melodi
Oh, here we are and the world sings my waltz melody
Enkel, vacker, öm
Simple, beautiful, tender
Valsen påminner mig om hundratals dar som jag varit med dig
The waltz reminds me of hundreds of days that I've spent with you
Både vinter och vår, och i höst och igår
Both winter and spring, and in fall and yesterday
Och alla dagar som kommer, nu är det sommar i tusen år
And all the days that are to come, now it's summer for a thousand years
Writer(s): Beppe Wolgers
Contributed by Aubrey C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.