Nordic popular music
Nordic popular music biggest bands are ABBA, Roxette, a-ha and Aqua. These 4 bands 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. Sweden and Finland have possibly the largest music industries in the area, especially Sweden which is ranked third internationally in music production. Norway, Iceland and Denmark 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 |
---|---|---|
1974 | Blue Swede | Hooked on a Feeling |
1977 | ABBA | Dancing Queen |
1985 | A-ha | Take on Me |
1989 | Roxette | The Look |
1989 | Roxette | Listen to Your Heart |
1990 | Roxette | It Must Have Been Love |
1991 | Roxette | Joyride |
1994 | Ace of Base | The Sign |
Nordic number-one singles in the UK
Year | Artist | Song |
---|---|---|
1974 | ABBA | Waterloo |
1976 | ABBA | Mamma Mia |
1976 | ABBA | Fernando |
1976 | ABBA | Dancing Queen |
1977 | ABBA | Knowing Me, Knowing You |
1977 | ABBA | The Name of the Game |
1978 | ABBA | Take a Chance on Me |
1980 | ABBA | The Winner Takes It All |
1980 | ABBA | Super Trouper |
1986 | A-Ha | The Sun Always Shines on TV |
1986 | Europe | The Final Countdown |
1993 | Ace of Base | All That She Wants |
1994 | Whigfield | Saturday Night |
1995 | Rednex | Cotton Eye Joe |
1995 | Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | Love Can Build a Bridge |
1997 | Aqua | Barbie Girl |
1998 | Aqua | Doctor Jones |
1998 | Aqua | Turn Back Time |
2000 | A1 | Take on Me |
2000 | A1 | Same Old Brand New You |
2004 | Eric Prydz | Call On Me |
2005 | Crazy Frog | Axel F |
2007 | Robyn with Kleerup | With Every Heartbeat |
2008 | Basshunter | Now You're Gone |
2012 | Avicii | Wake Me Up |
Notable artists by country
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Norway
- A1
- A-ha
- Adelén
- Alan Walker
- Astrid S
- Aurora
- Broiler
- Cashmere Cat
- CLMD
- Dimmu Borgir
- Donkeyboy
- Highasakite
- Ina Wroldsen
- Jarle Bernhoft
- Julie Bergan
- Katzenjammer
- Kings of Convenience
- Kygo
- Leaves' Eyes
- Lene Marlin
- Madcon
- Marcus & Martinus
- Maria Mena
- Marit Larsen
- Matoma
- M2M
- Nico & Vinz
- Röyksopp
- Sandra Lyng
- SeeB
- Secret Garden
- Sirenia
- Sissel
- Susanne Sundfør
- Theatre of Tragedy
- Tungevaag & Raaban
- Turbonegro
- Tristania
- Wardruna
Sweden
- A*Teens
- ABBA
- Ace Of Base
- Alesso
- Amon Amarth
- Avicii
- Basshunter
- Blue Swede
- Crazy Frog
- Dr. Alban
- Eagle-Eye Cherry
- Elliphant
- Eric Prydz
- Europe
- Galantis
- Icona Pop
- John Martin
- Little Dragon
- Leila K
- Loreen
- Måns Zelmerlöw
- Miike Snow
- Neneh Cherry
- Otto Knows
- Rednex
- Roxette
- Robyn
- Seinabo Sey
- Swedish House Mafia
- The Cardigans
- 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.