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Ten hit songs you didn’t know were from Sweden

You'd be surprised by how many international hit songs are sung by Swedes. In fact, we wager that there are many songs that you know and love that you didn't even realize were from Sweden. Here are our favourite ten.

Ten hit songs you didn't know were from Sweden

Let's get this out of the way immediately: If you are a music buff or if you are deeply ingrained in Swedish culture, this is not a list for you. Rather, it's a list for your friends. Your family. Your enemies, even. 

This is a list for those people who, when they hear the words "Swedish music", say "Oh, Abba, yes, I love Abba. Is there anything else, though?" 
 
Well of course there's something else. Abba was just so big the rest all got overshadowed. 
 
So, we suggest having a little listen to these songs, each sung by Swedes (in English), and see how many you didn't realize were by Swedish musicians.
 
For every song you knew was by a Swede, you get 1 point. Feel free to share your scores below. 
 
1. Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe

Take yourself back to 1994. Remember that smash hit, Cotton Eye Joe? Of course you do, you couldn't escape it. It was number one in eight countries, and stayed top of the charts in Norway for 15 weeks. 15 weeks! Poor Norway. Trivia: In 2007, the Swedish band tried to sell itself on eBay.

2. Icona Pop – I Love It

We don't care… that you didn't know they were Swedish. We love it. Best buds Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo may be based these days in the US, but they grew up in Stockholm. 

Today folks call them Icona Pop. Their break-out hit I Love It reached number 1 on UK charts, number 7 in the US, and number 2 back home in Sweden.

3. The Final Countdown

Almost 80 million YouTube viewers can't be wrong – this is an amazing anthem. Have a listen to that intro. BUT, did you know that the lads from Europe are actually from the town of Upplands Väsby, making The Final Countdown the most interesting thing to come out of Upplands Väsby. Note, the lead guitarist is Norwegian.

4. Peter, Björn and John – Young Folks

This song has, perhaps, the catchiest whistling known to man. Join almost 50 million YouTubers and have a listen. But did you know they're Swedish? They may have caught you out by spelling their name without the ö in Bjorn. This tune has a guest singer, Victoria Bergsman, who's also Swedish.

 

5. Ace of Base – The Sign
 

Tokyo girl? No sir. The Sign, which spent six weeks at number one on US billboards, was written by Swedish siblings Linn, Jenny, and Jonas- aka Ace of Base. 

The family hails from Gothenburg, and stirred up the charts with their other single Don’t Turn Around – said to be the inspiration for Lady Gaga’s Alejandro.

6. The Hives – Hate to Say I Told You So

 
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Well…we told you so. The Hives are as Swedish as it gets. The boys of Tick Tick Boom fame are from Fagersta, a town in central Sweden. Their music has since featured in Spiderman films, Lego video games, and Guitar Hero. Now that's a career.
 
7. Basshunter – Now You're Gone
 
 
156 million YouTube clicks. That is insane. That's the population of Bangladesh, which is incidentally the 8th most populous country in the world. This song topped the charts in the UK and the US. Basshunter,  also known as 29-year-old Jonas Erik Altberg from Halmstad, has had success with this song in Swedish too with "Boten Anna".

7. The Cardigans – Love Fool

 
 
 
You’d be a fool not to guess that blonde, blue-eyed Nina Persson wasn’t a Swede. Lovefool climbed to number 2 on international charts, and has its roots in Jönköping.

Persson wrote the lyrics while sitting at an airport waiting for a flight. The pop rock-disco-funk song became The Cardigans' first international hit.

 
9. Robyn – Dancing On My Own 
 

 
Ever wondered why Robyn's lyrics are always just a tiny bit… off? Give the girl some slack, it's not her first language. We can forgive her for some of her more interesting "rhymes". 

The Stockholm-native began her career by voicing an animated Swedish film, but has now moved on to Grammy nominations. Good for her.

 
10. Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
 
 
We weren't going to include Roxette, but our guinea pigs didn't know it was sung by a Swede. This song was Roxette's third chart topper in the US, and was even featured in Pretty Woman. Trivia: the song never topped the charts in Sweden. But it was number one in Norway. Poor Norway.
 
 

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CULTURE

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

Five Swedish fathers singing capella pop songs while taking care of their young children have taken social media by storm, with their videos garnering tens of millions of views.

Daddy cool: Swedish dads go viral as boy band

The five men, all in their 30s, film their “Dad Harmony” sessions while hanging out with their kids at home in the northern town of Skellefteå.

“This story all started at my bachelor party” in the summer of 2022, Peter Widmark, a 33-year-old who works in sales, told AFP in an interview. “We were hanging out and singing as we usually do when we hang out… (and) my brother filmed it and put it on TikTok with his seven followers.”

The next morning the dads discovered the video had been viewed 40,000 times. The number had skyrocketed to 20 million hits worldwide within a few weeks.

The five friends decided to start posting videos regularly, shot in their kitchens or on their sofas, often holding their little ones on their laps.

Singing the chorus of Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah”, one of the dads can be seen holding his weeks-old newborn in his arms.

“It’s a soothing thing when we sing,” Widmark said, explaining why the children are usually so calm in the videos.

‘Typical Swedish guys’

“We are typical Swedish guys,” said Widmark’s brother Tomas, who is also part of the group, adding it was “not that unusual” for men in Sweden to spend a lot of time with their children.

“Almost every guy in Sweden is used to taking paternity leave so it’s not a big deal for us,” he added.

Each of the dads has two kids.

Dad Harmony’s repertoire includes hits by Michael Jackson, the Beatles and popular Christmas songs.

Since the end of November the group has been on a month-long tour criss-crossing Sweden to perform live shows each weekend – albeit without their kids.

During the weeks, they go back to Skellefteå and continue to work at their normal jobs and spend time with their families.

The members of Dad Harmony in an interview with AFP. Photo: Viken Kantarci/AFP

“I just stumbled on their video on Instagram and I was mesmerised,” said Louise Elgström, a 41-year-old fan who attended a recent show in the town of Norrköping.

She said their appeal lies in the fact that “they feel so natural and also (that they are) involving their children”.

The dads vow their success won’t go to their heads. “No televisions flying from the hotel rooms!” joked band member Sebastian Åkesson.

But the group has big dreams: they hope to line up tour dates in the United States and Asia, and say they would love to sing with Elton John one day.

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