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.

Samme man
Tommy Körberg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Så står jag här igen
Vet ingenting om vad som händer sen
Men ändå ser du mig med bröstet blottat

För att behålla dig
Har jag förstorat och förminskat mig
Är jag i nakenhet den du behöver

Jag har gjort allt jag kan
Men vad jag än gör så är jag samme man
Och om du går din väg
Så lämnar du mig kvar i vilsenhet

Vem sa att allt går lätt
Och vem kan döma fel men handla rätt
Här är min öppna hand om du vill ha den

Den du behöver

Jag har gjort allt jag kan
Men vad jag än gör så är jag samme man
Och om du går din väg
Så lämnar du mig kvar i vilsenhet

Så se mig som jag är

I sanningens ljus så möts vi nu och här
Låt det vi har bestå och lämna inte mig i vilsenhet

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from Tommy Körberg's song "Samme man." The song revolves around feelings of uncertainty, vulnerability, and the fear of being left alone. The singer expresses his confusion about the future and acknowledges that despite not knowing what will happen next, the person he is singing to still sees him completely exposed and vulnerable.

In order to keep this person close to him, the singer admits to altering himself, both amplifying and diminishing certain aspects of his personality. He wonders if his nakedness is what the other person needs in order to feel connected to him. This vulnerability is a desperate attempt to maintain the relationship, as the singer feels he has done everything he possibly can. However, no matter what he does, he remains the same person at his core.

The singer expresses that if the other person decides to leave, they will leave him in a state of confusion and indecision. He questions the notion that everything should be easy in a relationship and contemplates who has the right to judge what is right or wrong, but still act in a way that aligns with those judgments. The singer offers an open hand as a gesture of support and connection, emphasizing that he can be the one the other person needs.

Despite his efforts, the singer acknowledges that he remains unchanged, regardless of his attempts to please the other person. If they choose to leave, they will leave him feeling lost and confused. He pleads with the other person to see him as he truly is, in the light of truth. He hopes that by exposing themselves to each other in this way, they can maintain and nurture what they have, rather than leaving him in a state of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

Så står jag här igen
Once again, I find myself in this situation

Vet ingenting om vad som händer sen
I have no idea what will happen next

Men ändå ser du mig med bröstet blottat
But still, you see me vulnerable and exposed

För att behålla dig
In order to keep you by my side

Har jag förstorat och förminskat mig
I have magnified and diminished myself

Är jag i nakenhet den du behöver
In my vulnerability, am I what you need

Jag har gjort allt jag kan
I have done everything I can

Men vad jag än gör så är jag samme man
But no matter what I do, I am still the same person

Och om du går din väg
And if you choose to leave

Så lämnar du mig kvar i vilsenhet
Then you leave me lost and confused

Vem sa att allt går lätt
Whoever said everything is easy