ABBA, Astrid Lindgren & Nordic Noir
ABBA
The most successful band in Swedish (and Scandinavian) music history: ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with “Waterloo" and became the third best-selling band of all time (over 400 million records sold — only the Beatles and Elvis have more). “Dancing Queen," “Mamma Mia," “The Winner Takes It All," “SOS," “Knowing Me, Knowing You" — the hits are immortal. In 2021, Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Frida returned after 40 years of hiatus with the album “Voyage" — and the “ABBA Voyage" show in London (with digital avatars of the band performing in the original 1970s look) became a global success. The ABBA The Museum on Djurgården in Stockholm is a must-see (→ Chap. Stockholm).
Sweden's Music Export Machine
Sweden is the third-largest music exporter in the world after the USA and the UK — a sensational achievement given the population (10 million!). Why? Sweden has a unique infrastructure: municipal music schools, state-funded rehearsal spaces, and a culture that sees music as a fundamental right. The list is impressive:
- Roxette (Pop-rock duo from Halmstad, “The Look," “It Must Have Been Love")
- Robyn (Electro-pop icon, “Dancing On My Own")
- Avicii (Tim Bergling, EDM pioneer, “Wake Me Up," “Levels" — tragically passed away in 2018)
- Swedish House Mafia (EDM supergroup)
- Zara Larsson (Pop star, “Lush Life")
- First Aid Kit (Indie-folk sisters from Stockholm)
- The Cardigans (90s pop, “Lovefool")
- José González (Singer-songwriter, “Heartbeats")
- Max Martin — the most important name: The Stockholm producer has written more No. 1 hits than any other songwriter except Lennon/McCartney: “...Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears), “I Want It That Way" (Backstreet Boys), “Shake It Off" (Taylor Swift), “Blinding Lights" (The Weeknd), and dozens more. Sweden literally produces the soundtrack of the world.
Astrid Lindgren (1907–2002)
The world's most beloved children's book author was born in Vimmerby, Småland. Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, The Brothers Lionheart, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, The Children of Noisy Village — her books have been translated into over 100 languages and sold over 165 million copies. Lindgren was also a political voice: In 1976, she wrote a satirical essay about the absurd Swedish tax policy (marginal tax rates for the self-employed were over 100%!), which led to a change in government. → Astrid Lindgren's World, Chap. Southern Sweden.
Nordic Noir — The Swedish Crime Novel
Sweden's contribution to world literature in the 21st century: the Scandinavian crime novel. The dark, socially critical atmosphere — uncovering crimes in the perfect Swedish society that hides violence, racism, and loneliness beneath the surface — fits perfectly with the Swedish polar night.
- Stieg Larsson — Millennium Trilogy: “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Män som hatar kvinnor). Lisbeth Salander is one of the most iconic figures in modern literature.
- Henning Mankell — Wallander mysteries: Inspector Kurt Wallander investigates in Ystad, Skåne. The film adaptations (Swedish and BBC/Kenneth Branagh) have made Ystad world-famous.
- Camilla Läckberg — Fjällbacka Murders: Crime novels set in the picturesque fishing village of Fjällbacka on the west coast.
- The Bridge (Bron/Broen) — The Swedish-Danish TV series that made the Öresund Bridge a central location.
- Viveca Sten — Sandhamn Murders: Murder in the Stockholm archipelago.
