By the second half of January, EMI Sweden will release a CD album entitled Festival Favoriter – Internationella hits paa svenska with 26 Swedish cover versions of Eurovision classics, from 1958 to 1977.
Leif Thorsson, once president of OGAE Sweden and author of the two editions of the book Melodifestivalen, was consulted to choose the tracks and this explainswhy, alongside well-known songs, collectors can find very rare material: "I approached the man responsible and he became really interested", Leif explains, "especially since it fitted well into the Festival Favoriter series released last January with MF-songs".
The complete track list:
- Doris – Boom bang-a-bang
1st for the United Kingdom in 1969 performed by Lulu - Lars Lönndahl – I det blaa (Nel blu, dipinto di blu)
3rd for Italy in 1958 performed by Domenico Modugno - Carl-Erik Thörn – Säg vackra ord till mig (Say wonderful things to me)
4th for the United Kingdom in 1963 performed by Ronnie Carroll - Marie-Dieke – Om vaaren (Een beetje)
1st for the Netherlands in 1959 performed by Teddy Scholten - Alice Babs – Sov min älskling (Dors mon amour)
1st for France in 1958 performed by André Claveau - Bertil Englund – Ring-a-ding (Ring-a-ding girl)
4th for the United Kingdom in 1962 performed by Ronnie Carroll - Gunnar Thim – Säg att jag drömt (Net als toen)
1st for the Netherlands in 1957 performed by Corry Brokken - Gerd Persson & Tosse Bark – Sjung lilla faagel (Sing little birdie)
2nd for the United Kingdom in 1959 performed by Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson - Carli Tornehave – Piove
6th for Italy in 1959 performed by Domenico Modugno - Lars Lönndahl – Tina och Marina (Zwei kleine Italiener)
6th for Germany in 1962 performed by Conny Froboess - Marie Dieke – Aah ifall jag vore du ändaa (Uh, jeg ville oenske jeg var dig)
5th for Denmark in 1959 performed by Birthe Wilke - Gerd Persson – Tom Pillibi
1st for France in 1960 performed by Jacqueline Boyer - Carli Tornehave – Angelique
5th for Denmark in 1961 performed by Dario Campeotto - Kicki Oscarsson – Vi möts och skiljs (L'amour s'en va)
5th for Monaco in 1963 performed by Françoise Hardy - Bertil Englund – Tipi-tii
7th for Finland in 1962 performed by Marion Rung -
Gitte Hænning – Det kan väl inte jag raa för (Poupée de cire, poupée de son)
1st for Luxembourg in 1965 performed by France Gall -
Carl-Erik Thörn – Du är som som skapad för mig (Uno per tutte)
3rd for Italy in 1963 performed by Emilio Pericoli -
Anne-Lie Rydé & Sös Fenger – Drömdans (Dansevise)
1st for Denmark in 1963 performed by Grethe & Jørgen Ingman -
Gunnar Wiklund – Merci chérie
1st for Austria in 1966 performed by Udo Jürgens -
Gitte Hænning – La la la (Lyckolaaten)
1st for Spain in 1968 performed by Massiel -
Marianne Kock – Simsalabim (Jack in the box)
4th for the United Kingdom in 1971 performed by Clodagh Rodgers -
Pastellerna – Ler, ber och bönar (Beg, steal or borrow)
2nd for the United Kingdom in 1972 performed by the New Seekers -
Rasmus – En bit av mig själv (Tu te reconnaîtras)
1st for Luxembourg in 1973 performed by Anne-Marie David -
Emigranterna – Tom tom tom
6th for Finland in 1973 performed by Marion Rung -
Gitte Hænning – Vi gratulerar (Congratulations)
2nd for the United Kingdom in 1968 -
Small Town Singers – Har jag kommit hem (De mallemolen)
12th for the Netherlands in 1977 performed by Heddy Lester