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.

Gläns över sjö och strand
Tommy Körberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gläns över sjö och strand
Stjärna ur fjärran
Du som i Österland
Tändes av Herran
Stjärnan från Betlehem
Leder ej bort men hem
Barnen och herdarna
Följa dig gärna

Strålande stjärna
Strålande stjärna
Natt över Judaland
Natt över Sion
Borta vid Västerrand
Slocknar Orion
Herden som sover trött
Barnet som slumrar sött
Vaknar vid underbar korus av röster

Skåda en härligt klar
Stjärna i Öster

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tommy Körberg's song "Gläns Över Sjö Och Strand" describe the story of the Star of Bethlehem, a celestial phenomenon that guided the three wise men to the newborn Jesus. The first stanza praises the star's radiant appearance and its significance as an inspiration from the Lord. The second stanza sets the scene of a peaceful night in Judea and Zion, where the constellations of Orion and the star of the west are fading away. In this quiet atmosphere, the shepherds and their children awaken to the sound of angelic voices announcing the good news of the birth of Christ. The final line is an invitation to behold the glorious and bright star in the East, a symbol of hope and salvation for all humanity.

Line by Line Meaning

Gläns över sjö och strand
Shine over lake and shore

Stjärna ur fjärran
Star from afar

Du som i Österland
You who in the Eastland

Tändes av Herran
Were lit by the Lord

Stjärnan från Betlehem
The star from Bethlehem

Leder ej bort men hem
Leads not away but home

Barnen och herdarna
The children and shepherds

Följa dig gärna
Follow you gladly

Strålande stjärna
Radiant star

Natt över Judaland
Night over Judaland

Natt över Sion
Night over Sion

Borta vid Västerrand
Away towards the western horizon

Slocknar Orion
Orion fades

Herden som sover trött
The tired shepherd who sleeps

Barnet som slumrar sött
The child who slumbers sweetly

Vaknar vid underbar korus av röster
Awakens to a wonderful chorus of voices

Skåda en härligt klar
Behold a wonderfully clear

Stjärna i Öster
Star in the East

Contributed by Logan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Kaiwano

3y↑8

Since I could not find it anywhere else, here is my very novice and best attempt at translating the lyrics to English. Sometimes, meaning has been altered to allow for better rhyming or the correct amount of syllables. Feel free to improve upon this.

Star over Betlehem

Shimmer on lake and strand
Star in the distance
Skies over Eastern land
Brighter by His hands

Star over Betlehem
Leading all of our friends

Sheperds and juveniles
Led by your lighting
Glimmering starlight
Glimmering starlight

Night over Hebrew land
Night over Zion
By western bank of sand
Hides now Orion

Shepherd by sleep allured
Children in slumber pure

Wake up to wonderful
Chorus of voices
Sightings of starlight full
Mankind rejoices

All comments from YouTube:

@Kaiwano

3y↑8

@TheBcoolGuy

34w↑1

Good job!

@evafohlin4857

3y↑12

Har naturligtvis denna låt med Tommy Körberg på min jul lista. Så vacker röst. Denna låt var min favorit låt när jag var med i barnkören som ung och vi sjöng på ålderdomshem på julen och på andra tillställningar. Kände magi när jag sjöng denna låt varje gång och Tommy sjunger denna låt rätt in i själen. Eva från Göteborg