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.
Frida i vårstädningen
Tommy Körberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Omkring Fridas huvud, medge det
Särskilt när bak vårens blomgardiner
Kring hon går med små och lätta fjät
Gick en något språng som slår och skallar
Fint likt suset i en vass hon nått
Ändå står ej Frida vad man kallar
Hur hon i sin gärning så kan vara
Denna gärning kall och praktiskt lagd
Vetenskapen söka må förklara
Då jag själv står kärleksfullt försagd
Springa kring med vattenfyllda käril
Torka prismorna kring lampans rand
Ändå bära sken av blom och fjäril
Av en våg som glittrar vid sin strand
Fönstrets vadd hon hastigt låter fara
Andas rutad klar i denna stund
För att strax därpå med händer snara
Gnida kopparkrukans matta rund
Karl den XII:s likfärds alla kanter
Putsar hon vid Bostons glada sång
Ljuvt nog vore för de blå Drabanter
Om de kände handens mjuka gång
Vardagsvind vid hennes ruta viner
Vardagsdamm står tätt i hennes fjät
Ändå något änglaaktigt skiner
Omkring Fridas huvud, medge det
Där hon syns bland spannar och bland pallar
Kungligt strålar hon vid rök och dropp
Ändå står ej Frida vad man kallar
På vår samhällsteges högsta topp
The song "Frida i vårstädningen" by Tommy Körberg is a tribute to Frida, a woman who is engaged in the practical and mundane task of spring cleaning, but still manages to emanate an angelic aura. The song describes how she moves around with light and graceful steps, amidst the blooming flowers of spring, with something sweet and heavenly glowing around her head. The song also notes how Frida doesn't stand at the top of the societal ladder, despite her tireless work, which is portrayed as being exceptional.
The lyrics acknowledge Frida's physical labor, as she scurries around with water-filled cans, cleans lamps, and dusts off copper pots. Still, she never loses her delicate and graceful demeanor, shining with an aura of flowers and butterflies. The song speaks to the paradox of how someone who does seemingly menial work can possess such ethereal qualities, creating a sense of reverence and admiration for Frida. The lyrics suggest that there is something special about her that is hard to explain, beyond her practicality and discipline.
In essence, the song is a tribute to the hardworking, but often under-appreciated people who keep our homes and communities running smoothly. It is a reminder that even in mundane tasks, there is beauty and significance.
Line by Line Meaning
Något ljuvt och änglaaktigt skiner
Something sweet and angelic shines
Omkring Fridas huvud, medge det
Around Frida's head, admit it
Särskilt när bak vårens blomgardiner
Especially when behind the spring flower curtains
Kring hon går med små och lätta fjät
She walks around with small and light steps
Gick en något språng som slår och skallar
She took a somewhat bouncy step that echoes
Fint likt suset i en vass hon nått
Fine like the rustling of a reed she has reached
Ändå står ej Frida vad man kallar
Yet Frida does not stand as they say
På vår samhällsteges högsta topp
On society's highest step
Hur hon i sin gärning så kan vara
How she can be in her work
Denna gärning kall och praktiskt lagd
This work, cold and practical in nature
Vetenskapen söka må förklara
Science must try to explain
Då jag själv står kärleksfullt försagd
As I stand lovingly apprehensive
Springa kring med vattenfyllda käril
Running around with water-filled vessels
Torka prismorna kring lampans rand
Wiping the prisms around the lamp's edge
Ändå bära sken av blom och fjäril
Yet carrying the light of flowers and butterflies
Av en våg som glittrar vid sin strand
By a wave that sparkles at its shore
Fönstrets vadd hon hastigt låter fara
She quickly lets go of the window's fluff
Andas rutad klar i denna stund
Breathing clearly in this moment
För att strax därpå med händer snara
To then quickly with skilled hands
Gnida kopparkrukans matta rund
Polish the copper pot's dull surface
Karl den XII:s likfärds alla kanter
Karl XII's funeral procession on all sides
Putsar hon vid Bostons glada sång
She polishes it while singing a happy tune
Ljuvt nog vore för de blå Drabanter
Sweet enough for the blue Drabants
Om de kände handens mjuka gång
If they only knew the soft movements of her hand
Vardagsvind vid hennes ruta viner
Everyday wind blows by her window
Vardagsdamm står tätt i hennes fjät
Everyday dust settles thick in her hair
Ändå något änglaaktigt skiner
Yet something angelic shines
Omkring Fridas huvud, medge det
Around Frida's head, admit it
Där hon syns bland spannar och bland pallar
Where she appears among buckets and crates
Kungligt strålar hon vid rök och dropp
She shines regally in smoke and drips
Ändå står ej Frida vad man kallar
Yet Frida does not stand as they say
På vår samhällsteges högsta topp
On society's highest step
Writer(s): Birger Sjöberg
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.