Anna-Lena Löfgren
Encyclopedia
Anna-Lena Löfgren was a Swedish singer from Stockholm
. During the years 1962 and 1995, more than 40 of her songs made it onto Svensktoppen
, the record chart of Sveriges Radio
. Löfgren became one of the most best known schlager
singers in Sweden during the 1960s.
She made her first public appearance on the radio show Barnens brevlåda in the 1950s. A few years later Löfgren was discovered by the Swedish rock singer Rock-Olga at the nightspot Nalen in Stockholm. Her breakthrough came soon after in 1962 with the song "Regniga natt", which was certified gold (sold more than 100,000 copies) and topped that year's Svensktoppen.
The success continued with her following singles, including "Se mig i ögonen älskling", "Måndag måndag", "Kärlek på lasarett", and "Det finns ingenting att hämta". The biggest hit of her career was the song "Lyckliga gatan", which was released in 1967 and was certified gold in Sweden and platinum and diamond in Norway. It used the melody of the famous Italian song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck
" by Adriano Celentano
, but with completely different lyrics. According to Dagens Nyheter
, "under her lifetime she was able to perform the song thousands of times from various scenes." Löfgren also recorded a German version of the song, called "Immer am Sonntag". She was successful in Germany, releasing more than 22 German songs.
Löfgren participated in Melodifestivalen
in 1963
(with "Säg varför") and in 1968
(with "Jag vill tro").
In the 1980s she moved to Rånäs
outside of Stockholm, where she resided until her death. Her last song to chart on Svensktoppen
was "Välkommen till Pireus" in 1995. She stopped touring in 2005.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. During the years 1962 and 1995, more than 40 of her songs made it onto Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
, the record chart of Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio
Sveriges Radio AB – Swedish Radio Ltd – is Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster. The Swedish public-broadcasting system is in many respects modelled after the one used in the United Kingdom, and Sveriges Radio - like Sveriges Television - shares many characteristics with...
. Löfgren became one of the most best known schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
singers in Sweden during the 1960s.
She made her first public appearance on the radio show Barnens brevlåda in the 1950s. A few years later Löfgren was discovered by the Swedish rock singer Rock-Olga at the nightspot Nalen in Stockholm. Her breakthrough came soon after in 1962 with the song "Regniga natt", which was certified gold (sold more than 100,000 copies) and topped that year's Svensktoppen.
The success continued with her following singles, including "Se mig i ögonen älskling", "Måndag måndag", "Kärlek på lasarett", and "Det finns ingenting att hämta". The biggest hit of her career was the song "Lyckliga gatan", which was released in 1967 and was certified gold in Sweden and platinum and diamond in Norway. It used the melody of the famous Italian song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck
Il ragazzo della via Gluck
"Il ragazzo della via Gluck" is a famous Italian song by artist Adriano Celentano. The lyrics meaning "The boy from Gluck Street" were by Luciano Beretta and Miki Del Prete and music by Celentano himself. It was released in 1966 as a double-A side single by Celentano alongside "Chi era lui". The...
" by Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano
Adriano Celentano is an Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, film director and TV host.-Biography:Celentano was born in Milan at 14 Via Gluck, about which he later wrote the famous song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck"...
, but with completely different lyrics. According to Dagens Nyheter
Dagens Nyheter
is a daily newspaper in Sweden. It has the largest circulation of Swedish morning newspapers, followed by Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, and is the only morning newspaper that is distributed to subscribers across the whole country. In 2009 DN had a circulation of 316,000, reaching 881...
, "under her lifetime she was able to perform the song thousands of times from various scenes." Löfgren also recorded a German version of the song, called "Immer am Sonntag". She was successful in Germany, releasing more than 22 German songs.
Löfgren participated in Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen is an annual music competition organised by Swedish public broadcasters Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio . It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almost every year since 1959...
in 1963
Melodifestivalen 1963
Melodifestivalen 1963 was the selection for the sixth song to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was the fifth time that this system of picking a song had been used. One singer performed the song with a large orchestra and one with a smaller orchestra. 816 songs were submitted to...
(with "Säg varför") and in 1968
Melodifestivalen 1968
Melodifestivalen 1968 was the selection for the 10th song to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was the ninth time that this system of picking a song had been used. 2233 songs were submitted to SVT for the competition...
(with "Jag vill tro").
In the 1980s she moved to Rånäs
Rånäs
Rånäs is a locality situated in Norrtälje Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 449 inhabitants in 2005....
outside of Stockholm, where she resided until her death. Her last song to chart on Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
was "Välkommen till Pireus" in 1995. She stopped touring in 2005.