Tommy Körberg (born July 4, 1948) is a Swedish singer and actor. English-sp… Read Full Bio ↴Tommy Körberg (born July 4, 1948) is a Swedish singer and actor. English-speaking audiences know him best for his role in the Benny Andersson–Björn Ulvaeus–Tim Rice musical Chess. He was the first to play the role of "The Russian" on the 1984 concept album Chess, and performed the same role on stage in the 1986 world premiere production in London. In the 1990s and 2000s he took time off from other projects in order to recreate the role in subsequent productions of Chess, including the 1994 tenth anniversary concert and the 2002 Stockholm production. He has also appeared in the Swedish productions of other musicals, including The Sound of Music and Les Miserables.

Eurovision Song Contest 1969 - Madrid
Entry for Sweden

Performer: Tommy Körberg
Song title: Judy, Min Vän
Song writer(s): Britt Lindeborg
Song composer(s): Roger Wallis

Sang in Position: 9
Final Position: 9
Total Points: 8

For the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, the outcome of the voting resulted in a tie for the first place. Four countries gained 18 points each: France, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. Since there was no solution for this situation, all four countries were declared winners. Luckily, there were four medals available to the four winning singers - the four medals were intended for the winning singer and three winning songwriters.

The four winners differed a lot from one another: France had a haunting ballad performed by Frida Boccara, the Netherlands sent in Lenny Kuhr with a guitar, Spain and Salomé performed the energetic Vivo Cantando whereas the star from the British islands, Lulu, had a happy, clap-along song. However, having four winners caused lots of criticism from the media and several TV-stations re-considered participating in the following Eurovision Song Contest. Had the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest still attracted 16 countries, the number went down to only 12 in the 1970 edition of the contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 1988 - Dublin
Entry for Sweden

Performer: Tommy Körberg
Song title: Stad I Ljus
Song writer(s):
Song composer(s): Py Bäckman

Sang in Position: 2
Final Position: 12
Total Points: 52

The 1988 Eurovision Song Contest was hosted in Dublin for the third time, and featured one of the most exciting votings in the long history of the contest. Switzerland's entry Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi performed by Céline Dion beat the runner-up, the United Kingdom's Scott Fitzgerald by just a single point. Before the last vote, the UK entry was leading with 136 points to Switzerland's 131 but then Yugoslavia, the last country to vote, gave six points to Switzerland while ignoring the British song Go completely.

For Céline Dion, winning the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest was the starting point of her globe-wide career. Had she only been known in Canada and France before 1988, the Eurovision Song Contest gave her the opportunity to record songs which would sell millions of copies all around the world. But not only Céline Dion made a huge profit from the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, also her colleague Lara Fabian who was singing for Luxembourg started a successful career after the contest with a mainly French-sung repertoire.

In 1988, 21 countries participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Cyprus decided to withdraw because their entry did not match the rules of the contest: it had already been published previously. The venue of the 1988 contest was the same as in 1981, but this time, RTÉ managed to create a very special stage that created the illusion of a spage age-style grid which suggested that it was a huge arena with lots of lighting and special effects. Even nowadays, this set is still praised by experts.

Ej i Nottingham
Tommy Körberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I varje stad e man nån gång glad
glömmer bort all sorg och och e glad
Men ej i Nottingham
Av vad man kan förstå
E sorgen för tung
att stå upp och gå
Sin väg och fly om man kunde flyga
Ser du mina tårar dryga

Finns det ingen glädje kvar åt mig
Ej i Nottingham
Sin väg och fly om man kunde flyga
Ser du mina tårar dryga
Finns det ingen glädje kvar åt mig
Oh, nej
Ej i Nottingham
I varje stad
är man nån gång glad
glömmer bort

all sorg och är glad
Men ej i Nottingham

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tommy Körberg's song "Ej i Nottingham" speak to the idea that every city has moments of happiness where people forget their sorrows and are able to be truly happy, with the exception of Nottingham. The weight of the sorrow in Nottingham is so heavy that it is impossible to stand up and keep going, and one can only wish to be able to fly away. The tears are so heavy that even joy cannot be found, and there is no hope left. The repetition of the phrase "Sin väg och fly om man kunde flyga" emphasizes the desire to escape the pain and the feeling of being trapped in it.

The song presents a sense of hopelessness and despair, where even the possibility of happiness seems beyond reach. It also raises questions about the reasons behind the sorrow in Nottingham and whether it is a specific event or a more general feeling. Through the use of contrast to other cities, the lyrics emphasize the unique and overwhelming nature of the sorrow.

Line by Line Meaning

I varje stad e man nån gång glad
In any city, people are happy at times.

glömmer bort all sorg och och e glad
They forget all their sorrows and are happy.

Men ej i Nottingham
But not in Nottingham.

Av vad man kan förstå
From what one can understand,

E sorgen för tung
The sorrow is too heavy.

att stå upp och gå
To stand up and walk

Sin väg och fly om man kunde flyga
To escape by flying away

Ser du mina tårar dryga
Can you see my tears flowing

Finns det ingen glädje kvar åt mig
Is there no joy left for me?

Ej i Nottingham
Not in Nottingham.

Sin väg och fly om man kunde flyga
To escape by flying away