SWEDEN 50 YEARS OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST               How it all began | A brief story in english

2008 is a year to celebrate for all swedish Eurovision and Melodifestivalen fans. 50 years has gone since Sweden participated in Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. The very first entry in 1958 was Lilla stjärna (Little star) performed by Alice Babs. A debute that went very well, or what else can you say about 4^th position and 10 points! 

But how did it all start? Actually already in 1957. But to begin with, Swedish Radio, (later in the 50´s also included the tv department) together with other western european broadcasters became an active and original member of EBU back in 1950.

Swedish Radio, SR, was not invited to take part in the very first Eurovision 1956, though Escsweden.com now can reveal that the swedish broadcaster together with BBC (UK), DR (Denmark) ORF (Austria) and RMC (Monaco) was informed about the event. While BBC, DR and ORF decided to join the song contest the year after SR and RMC said they would broadcast 1957 Eurovision Song Contest but not take part in a active way, in other words no entry.  

So the 1957 Grand prix Eurovision as it was called was broadcasted in Sweden march 3^rd and SR decided to send Nils Linnman as it´s first commentator to Frankfurt am Main in Germany, host city for the second Eurovision.  Nils Linnman hereby was involved in a Eurovision for the first and last time. Later he became known for his tv-shows about nature. 

The danish song in Eurovision 1957 Skibet skal sejle i nat became a huge success in neighbouring Sweden. You could see that as a contribution for Sweden to join as soon as possible, however SR during the summer of 1957 decided to send a entry in next years Eurovision. SR also stated that they wouldn´t hold any open competition. An established and wellknown performer should be asked to represent Sweden.  

The selection of the song has it´s own story. SR invited the organisation Swedish Composers Of Popular Music (SKAP) to handle the selection. More than 150 songs from composers all over the country was submitted. At a meeting held on February 8^th 1958 SKAP choosed ten songs. A list of these ten songs was delivered to the entertainment department at Swedish Radio. Later there was a unification about a song called Samma stjärnor lysa för oss två (Same stars shining for us) written by Åke Gerhard.  

If 34 year old singer Alice Babs was the first candidate or not has never been revealed.  However, she was asked and said yes but on one condition, the lyrics must be changed. She loved the tune but couldn´t stand the lyrics. Composer Åke Gerhard refused to do any changes so instead still today an unknown journalist at Swedish Radio wrote a new text and the song was from now titled Lilla stjärna. 

All these troubles had an negative impact when it comes to the commercial aspect of the first swedish Eurovision entry. Åke Gerhard forbid any studio recording of the song. He (Åke Gerhard) said it was to many "la la la" saying nothing. The song you can hear today is the live version taken from Alice Babs performing on stage in 1958 Eurovision Song Contest in Hilversum, Netherlands. 

So this was how it all started for Sweden. For the first and last time Sweden selected it´s entry internal. All years after there has been a open national selection.  

Alice Babs, born Nilsson and married Sjöblom, is 83 years today and lives in Spain. Nowadays playing golf takes most of her time besides the music. She became famous in Sweden singing an acting in a 1940 movie called Swing it, magistern!  During the 60´s she worked together with international known Duke Ellington and they were touring a lot. Alice also formed jazztrio Swe-Danes (herself and two danish muscians) performing in US and starring in Ed Sullivan tv-show. Alice´s daughter Titti Sjöblom came 4^th in Melodifestivalen 1974 singing a song called Fröken-Ur-Sång.  

The swedish selection 1958-2008 - different names same purpose

1958 Schlagertävling (Schlager Contest, internal choice of performer)

1959 Stora Schlagertävlingen (Great Schlager Contest)

1960-1963 Eurovisionsschlagern – Svensk Final (Eurovision Schlager – Swedish Final)

1965-1966 Svensk Sångfestival (Swedish Song Festival)

1967-2001 Melodifestival

2002-2008 Melodifestivalen 

Sweden in every ESC except 1964, 1970 & 1976

As was the case 1957 Swedish tv broadcasted the 1964 contest as well. The reason to not participate 1964 was a on going strike among the artists and their union. 

1970 Sweden was dissapointed with the voting system used and that lead to four winners the year before. The song contest was not televized in Sweden. 

In 1976 Swedish tv officially decided to stay home since the broadcasters economy was in danger after hosting Eurovision in Stockholm the year before. The show was not broadcasted in Sweden.  

SR became SR & Television in the 1970´s. It was followed during some years by SvTv and from the 1980´s only SVT. Sveriges Television or Swedish Television (SVT) is the public service broadcasting company in Sweden since 1956.

A second channel, TV2 started 1969. SVT and SR (Swedish Radio with four radio channels) was the only swedish EBU members until 2004 when commercial TV4 joined European Broadcasting Union.