Nordic popular music
Nordic popular music, also referred to as Scandipop, are known for its biggest bands like ABBA, Roxette, a-ha and Aqua. These are by far the biggest non-metal acts to come out of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
The popular music of the Nordic countries exhibits great diversity. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have all had successful domestic record industries for many years. Because the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were under Soviet control for much of the 20th century, when recording technology and popular music spread across the world, those three countries have a more tenuous connection with the popular industries of Finland, Sweden and the rest. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union, Western popular music in general has gained audiences in the Baltic states; this includes popular music from the other Nordic nations, as well as the United Kingdom, United States and elsewhere.
The Nordic metal scene is highly visible compared to other genres from the region. Many big names such as Opeth, Meshuggah, Children of Bodom and Amon Amarth hail from Nordic nations. Nordic or Scandinavian metal bands have had a long and lasting influence on the metal subculture alongside their counterparts in Great Britain and The United States.
Nordic number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100
| Year | Artist | Song | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Blue Swede | "Hooked on a Feeling" | Sweden |
| 1977 | ABBA | "Dancing Queen" | |
| 1985 | A-ha | "Take On Me" | Norway |
| 1989 | Roxette | "The Look" | Sweden |
| "Listen to Your Heart" | |||
| 1990 | "It Must Have Been Love" | ||
| 1991 | "Joyride" | ||
| 1994 | Ace of Base | "The Sign" |
Nordic number-one singles in the UK
| Year | Artist | Song | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ABBA | "Waterloo" | Sweden |
| 1976 | "Mamma Mia" | ||
| "Fernando" | |||
| "Dancing Queen" | |||
| 1977 | "Knowing Me, Knowing You" | ||
| "The Name of the Game" | |||
| 1978 | "Take a Chance on Me" | ||
| 1980 | "The Winner Takes It All" | ||
| "Super Trouper" | |||
| 1986 | A-ha | "The Sun Always Shines on TV" | Norway |
| Europe | "The Final Countdown" | Sweden | |
| 1993 | Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | |
| 1994 | Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | Denmark |
| 1995 | Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Sweden |
| Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | United States, Sweden and United Kingdom | |
| 1997 | Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | Denmark / Norway |
| 1998 | "Doctor Jones" | ||
| "Turn Back Time" | |||
| 2000 | A1 | "Take on Me" | United Kingdom / Norway |
| "Same Old Brand New You" | |||
| 2004 | Eric Prydz | "Call On Me" | Sweden |
| 2005 | Crazy Frog | "Axel F" | |
| 2007 | Robyn with Kleerup | "With Every Heartbeat" | |
| 2008 | Basshunter | "Now You're Gone" | |
| 2012 | Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin | "Don't You Worry Child" | |
| 2013 | Avicii with Nicky Romero | "I Could Be the One" | Sweden and The Netherlands |
| Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX | "I Love It" | Sweden and United Kingdom | |
| Avicii | "Wake Me Up" | Sweden | |
| 2014 | Nico & Vinz | "Am I Wrong" | Norway |
| 2016 | Lukas Graham | "7 Years" | Denmark |
| Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ | "Cold Water" | USA, Canada and Denmark | |
| 2017 | Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson | "Symphony" | United Kingdom and Sweden |
Some notable artists by country
Denmark
Finland
- Alma
- Anna Abreu
- Apocalyptica
- Benjamin Peltonen
- Bomfunk MC's
- Darude
- Hanoi Rocks
- HIM
- Isac Elliot
- Krista Siegfrieds
- Lordi
- Nightwish
- The Rasmus
- Sara Forsberg
Norway
- A1
- A-ha
- Alan Walker
- Ane Brun
- Annie (singer)
- Astrid S
- Aurora
- Bel Canto
- Broiler
- Cashmere Cat
- Dagny
- Dance with a Stranger
- Dimmu Borgir
- Donkeyboy
- D'Sound
- Fra Lippo Lippi
- Highasakite
- Ida Maria
- Ina Wroldsen
- Jarle Bernhoft
- Katzenjammer
- Kaizers Orchestra
- Kate Havnevik
- Kings of Convenience
- Kygo
- Leaves' Eyes
- Lene Marlin
- Lemaitre
- Lido
- Madcon
- Marcus & Martinus
- Maria Mena
- Marit Larsen
- Matoma
- M2M
- Nico & Vinz
- Röyksopp
- Sandra Lyng
- SeeB
- Secret Garden
- Sigrid
- Sirenia
- Sissel
- Susanne Sundfør
- Stargate
- Theatre of Tragedy
- Thomas Bergersen
- TNT
- Tungevaag & Raaban
- Turbonegro
- Tristania
- Wardruna
- Ylvis
By 2016, Norway had the 20th largest global music market.[1][2] Currently four Norwegian artists have achieved a Top 10 placement on the Billboard Hot 100, including A-ha's "Take On Me" which went to 1st place in 1985, Ylvis' "The Fox" which went to 6th place in 2013, Nico & Vinz's "Am I Wrong" which went to 4th place in 2014, and Kygo's "It Ain't Me" which went to 10th place in 2017.
Sweden
- A*Teens
- ABBA
- Ace of Base
- Agnes Carlsson
- Alesso
- Amon Amarth
- Aronchupa
- Avicii
- Basshunter
- Benjamin Ingrosso
- Blue Swede
- Bosson
- Crazy Frog
- Da Buzz
- Darin
- Dr. Alban
- Eagle-Eye Cherry
- Elliphant
- Eric Prydz
- E-Type
- Europe
- First Aid Kit
- Felix Sandman
- Galantis
- Ghost
- Icona Pop
- John Martin
- Little Dragon
- Leila K
- Loreen
- Lykke Li
- Meja
- Mohombi
- Miike Snow
- Miss Li
- Neneh Cherry
- Opeth
- Otto Knows
- Play
- Rednex
- Roxette
- Robyn
- Sabaton (band)
- Seinabo Sey
- September
- Swedish House Mafia
- Teddybears
- The Cardigans
- Therion
- Tove Lo
- Yung Lean
- Zara Larsson
Further reading
- White, John David and JeanChristensen (eds.) (2002). New Music of the Nordic Countries. Pendragon Press. ISBN 1-57647-019-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- Holt, Fabian; Kärjä, Antti-Ville, eds. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Popular Music in the Nordic Countries. New York: Oxford University Press.