Sweden: Lill-Babs (Eurovision 1961) passes away

by Roy Knoops 3,363 views

Sad news from Sweden, as the country’s beloved singer and actress Lill-Babs (Eurovision 1961) has passed away, aged 80.

Another Eurovision star has fallen away, as iconic singer Barbro Svensson, professionally know as Lill-Babs (“Little Babs”), has passed away. Lill-Babs, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday and was referred to as “Sweden’s grand old lady”, died after being hospitalized following a heart failure. The pop, soul and Swedish “schlager” singer was honoured on Facebook by her daughter, TV-host and journalist Kristin Kaspersen, also on behalf of Lill-Babs’ other daughters Monica Svensson and Malin Berghagen:

Our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt has peacefully fallen asleep after a short period of illness. Her heart has struck many beautiful beats for the public, family, colleagues ans friends, but now it will rest. Mom suffered from acute heartfailure and then a malignant cancer was discovered. A combination that became too much for our otherwise wilful and strong mother. The family visited mom every day since she was hospitalized and this morning she calmly fell asleep. Now her soul rests with her mother Brita.

Now our family needs time to mourn and we pray that this will be respected.

Love, Monica, Malin, Kristin and family.

Vår älskade mamma, syster, mormor, gammelmormor, faster och moster har nu somnat in lugnt och stilla efter en kort tids…

Geplaatst door Kristin Kaspersen op dinsdag 3 april 2018

Just a few months ago, Lill-Babs was a guest in the show Nyhetsmorgon, in which she talked about her career, the documentary Leva livet and her relationship with her daughter Monica (in Swedish):

Lill-Babs’ career

Lill-Babs was born as Barbro Margareta Svensson in Järvsö in 1938, daughter of Britta and Ragnar Svensson. After singing on a radio show at age 15, she was discovered by bandleader and talent scout Simon Brehm. Moving to Stockholm, she began her successful career.

Many of her songs became Swedish evergreens. One of Lill-Babs’ composers was entrepeneur Stig “Stikkan”Anderson, who would later become famous as manager of ABBA. Her 1971 hit Välkommen till världen (Welcome to the world), originally composed as a Melodifestivalen 1971 entry and written/produced by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, features all four future members of ABBA.

Besides singing, Lill-Babs starred in several movies and musicals. She also had a successful career in Germany.

In Eurovision

Lill-Babs had many hits in Sweden’s music chart Svensktoppen and participated in Sweden’s selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen, in 1960, 1961 and 1973, and in Norway’s Eurovision selection Melodi Grand Prix in 1969.

The 1961 edition of Melodifestivalen was ultimately won by Siw Malmkvist (Eurovision 1960 and 1969) and Gunnar Wiklund with the duet April, april, an ode to Spring, yet instead radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio decided that the song would be performed by Lill-Babs at Eurovision.

At the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 in Cannes, France, April, april eventually placed 14th out of 16 contestants, receiving 2 points. However, Lill-Babs added April, April to her already successful repertoire.

ESCToday.com sends sincere condolences to Lill-Babs’ family, friends and fans. In honour of the singer, enjoy her Eurovision 1961 entry April, april:

Visit Lill-Babs official website

ESCToday would like to convey its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Lill Babs.