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.

Något gott
Tommy Körberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Min barndomstid var inte lycklig
Min ungdom melankolisk och tung
Men någonstans fanns ändå strålar av ljus
Man ser dom inte när man är ung
För här står du kärleksfull framför mig
Säg mig om du förstått
Säg hur jag har förtjänat lyckan
Om jag ej gjort något gott

Intet föder intet det har jag förstått
Jag måste ha förtjänat lyckan
Jag måste ha gjort något gott

Min barndomstid var inte lycklig
Min ungdom melankolisk och tung
Men någonstans fanns ändå strålar av ljus
Man ser dom inte när man är ung
För här står du kärleksfull framför mig
Säg mig om du förstått
Säg hur jag har förtjänat lyckan
Om jag ej gjort något gott

Intet föder intet det har jag förstått

Jag måste ha förtjänat lyckan
Jag måste ha gjort något gott

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tommy Körberg's song "Något gott" explore the themes of reflecting on a not-so-happy childhood and melancholic youth, while realizing that there were still rays of light shining through. The singer acknowledges that in their younger years, they were unable to recognize these moments of happiness and positivity. However, now they stand before someone who is loving and caring, and they question if this person understands how they have deserved this happiness. They wonder if they have done something good to deserve the love and joy that they are now experiencing.

The repetition of the lines "Min barndomstid var inte lycklig, Min ungdom melankolisk och tung" (My childhood was not happy, My youth melancholic and heavy) emphasizes the somber tone of the past, while the mention of "strålar av ljus" (rays of light) highlights that despite the hardships and challenges, there were still moments of brightness that went unnoticed at the time. The singer realizes that they must have earned this happiness and love, as they come to the realization that "Intet föder intet det har jag förstått" (Nothing comes from nothing, I have understood). This line suggests that everything happens for a reason, and one must have done something good or made some positive choices in order to receive happiness in return.

Overall, "Något gott" explores the complexities of happiness, reflecting on a not-so-blissful past while realizing that there were still moments of joy that went unnoticed in youth. The lyrics ponder on the concept of deserving happiness and love, suggesting that everything happens for a reason and one must have done something good to earn it.

Line by Line Meaning

Min barndomstid var inte lycklig
My childhood was not happy

Min ungdom melankolisk och tung
My youth was melancholic and heavy

Men någonstans fanns ändå strålar av ljus
But somewhere there were still rays of light

Man ser dom inte när man är ung
You don't see them when you are young

För här står du kärleksfull framför mig
Because here you stand lovingly in front of me

Säg mig om du förstått
Tell me if you understand

Säg hur jag har förtjänat lyckan
Tell me how I have earned happiness

Om jag ej gjort något gott
If I haven't done anything good

Intet föder intet det har jag förstått
Nothing begets nothing, I have understood

Jag måste ha förtjänat lyckan
I must have deserved happiness

Jag måste ha gjort något gott
I must have done something good