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.
Jul Jul Strålande Jul
Tommy Körberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Himmelens kronor med gnistrande ljus,
Glimmande bågar i alla Guds hus,
Psalm som är sjungen från tid till tid,
Eviga längtan till ljus och frid!
Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar!
Kom, kom, signade jul! Sänk dina vita vingar
över all suckan ur människobarm,
över de släkten som gå till ro,
över de ungas dagande bo!
Kom, kom, signade jul, sänk dina vita vingar!
Tommy Körberg's famous song, Jul Jul Strålande Jul, is a classic Swedish Christmas song that celebrates the joy, peace, and wonder of the holiday season. The song begins with the words "Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar", which translates to "Christmas, Christmas, radiant Christmas, shining over white forests". This opening verse symbolizes the beauty of the winter season, when snow covers the forest and sky, creating a magical and ethereal atmosphere. The following lines describe the heavenly crowns adorned with twinkling lights, shining in every corner of the world. The song continues with "Glimmande bågar i alla Guds hus" - meaning "sparkling arches in every house of God" - signifying the faith and hope that Christmas brings to people worldwide.
The second part of the song invites Christmas to come and bring its peace to the world. "Kom, kom, signade jul! Sänk dina vita vingar över stridernas blod och larm" - "Come, come, blessed Christmas! Lower your white wings over the blood and noise of battles", symbolizes the hope that Christmas will bring an end to wars and conflict. The verse "över de släkten som gå till ro, över de ungas dagande bo!" means "over the families that go to rest, over the young that await their future." It refers to the elderly retiring from their work and the youth looking towards new beginnings. In conclusion, the song expresses a longing for the eternal light and peace that Christmas brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar,
Oh, Christmas, Christmas, magnificent Christmas, radiance over snowy forests,
Himmelens kronor med gnistrande ljus,
Heavenly crowns with sparkling lights,
Glimmande bågar i alla Guds hus,
Shimmering arches in all of God's houses,
Psalm som är sjungen från tid till tid,
Hymns that are sung from time to time,
Eviga längtan till ljus och frid!
Eternal longing for light and peace!
Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar!
Oh, Christmas, Christmas, magnificent Christmas, radiance over snowy forests!
Kom, kom, signade jul! Sänk dina vita vingar
Come, come, blessed Christmas! Lower your white wings
över stridernas blod och larm,
over the bloodshed and noise of combat,
över all suckan ur människobarm,
over all of the sighs from human hearts,
över de släkten som gå till ro,
over the generations that have gone to rest,
över de ungas dagande bo!
over the young ones' dawning abode!
Kom, kom, signade jul, sänk dina vita vingar!
Come, come, blessed Christmas, lower your white wings!
Writer(s): Gustaf Nordqvist, Andreas Per Soren Sandlund, Sindre Tysdal, Edvard Evers
Contributed by Anthony D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.