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.
I mitt hjärtas land
Tommy Körberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dra sitt svärd hotande och vred
Han förgås men i mitt hjärtas land
Ska råda fred
Hon är beständig
Sen vår jord danades en gång
Innan blod flöt innan fanor flög
Och jag älskar henne ännu
Trots krig armod och nöd
Hon ger förtröstan hon är mitt stöd
Och hur överger jag henne Mitt svar
Jag går över gränser men är ändå kvar
Hur kan jag bryta sådana band
All världens riken byggs på lösan sand
Jag har inga gränser i mitt hjärtas land
The lyrics to the song "I mitt hjärtas land" by Tommy Körberg & Kör & orkester speak about the perseverance and love for one's homeland. The first verse talks about the possibility of darkness looming over and threatening the land, but despite that, peace will prevail. The second verse mentions the timelessness of the land, how it has existed since the creation of the Earth, and how it has withstood wars and struggles, always singing its own song. The singer declares their love for their homeland, even in times of hardship, because it provides comfort and support. They question themselves about how they can ever abandon their homeland, but they also acknowledge the fact that their love for their land has no boundaries because it exists deep within their heart.
Overall, the lyrics convey a message of love and loyalty for one's homeland, even in the face of adversity. It acknowledges the struggles and hardships that can sometimes arise, but also emphasizes the importance of perseverance and steadfastness. It also touches upon the idea that the love for one's homeland is not limited by borders or external factors, but rather something that exists within oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Må mörkrets furste
May the prince of darkness
Dra sitt svärd hotande och vred
draw his sword fiercely and menacingly
Han förgås men i mitt hjärtas land
He may perish, but in my heart's land
Ska råda fred
peace shall prevail
Hon är beständig
She is constant
Sen vår jord danades en gång
Since our earth was created
Innan blod flöt innan fanor flög
Before blood was shed, before banners were flown
Hon sjöng sin sång
She sang her song
Och jag älskar henne ännu
And I still love her
Trots krig armod och nöd
Despite war, poverty, and distress
Hon ger förtröstan hon är mitt stöd
She gives comfort, she is my support
Och hur överger jag henne Mitt svar
And how can I abandon her? My answer
Jag går över gränser men är ändå kvar
I cross borders, yet I am still here
Hur kan jag bryta sådana band
How can I break such ties?
All världens riken byggs på lösan sand
All empires are built on shifting sand
Jag har inga gränser i mitt hjärtas land
I have no borders in my heart's land
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ScoopexUs
The English lyrics are quite well adapted considering delivery and rhyme - but there are many differences, so I'm posting in the hope you'll find a 100% accurate translation from native Swedish interesting. :)
IN THE COUNTRY OF MY HEART
May the Prince of Darkness
Draw his sword, threatening and wrathful.
He will perish, but in the country of my heart
Shall peace prevail.
She is everlasting.
Since our earth was once made,
Before blood flowed, before banners flew,
She sang her song.
And I love her still,
Despite wars, destitution, and hardship.
She provides reliance, she's my support.
So how would I abandon her? My response:
- I may cross borders, yet I remain.
How could I break such bonds?
- All the world's realms are built upon shifting sands.
I have no borders in the country of my heart.
@user-co8fh2po9q
I'm from Russia, and this is what many of us feel these days. If I could I would thank all of those who created this masterpeace from the bottom of my heart.
I think Swedish version of lyrics is more powerful than English, and Tommy Körberg's voice is breathtaking.
@chrismossy9774
https://youtu.be/_hvbC_8hHJkРусская версия! Russian version😃from Broadway Moscow. Maybe you already know it?
@newbase999
Jag har omhuldat Tommy Körbergs framförande av den här låten på engelska i decennier. Det är något speciellt med att höra honom framföra det på sitt modersmål. Jag hoppas att min svenska är tillräcklig för att kommunicera min poäng och min enorma respekt för Tommy Körberg.
@jlinkens
Goosebumps always here too. I'm glad there are such pieces of music in this world that inspire a communal experience of such awe.
@corriepitt7630
What a gift, this man’s talent. Bravo Tommy.
@TigerPrawn_
Jag gråter varje gång jag lyssnar på den här låten.
Inga gränser ♥
@Mickyeahh
Den är underbar! <3
@h3nn1n6
Still gives me goosebumps after all these years...
@KAF128
Even in Swedish!
@h3nn1n6
@KAF128 even in Swedish!