The Candy Shop #3

Get to cooking with the ABBA, ja?

The Candy Shop #3:

Swedish Candy

by Nayt Housman

In honor of the glitter balls, sequins, smoke machines and general glamour (I say glamour with a ‘?’) of Eurovision this week, we here in The Candy Shop are taking you all on a sweet trip TO SWEDEN! Every year Eurovision is like a journey of musical discovery, some good, some bad, some highly entertaining and some highly questionable. Let’s go on a whirlwind journey of my top three Swedish music acts (no, none of them have been on Eurovision. Not that there’s anything wrong with that).


My love for Swedish pop began way back in 1996 when The Cardigans super sweet song ‘Lovefool’ was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Romeo and Juliet; two years later I became addicted when the lead single to the album ‘Gran Tourismo’ was released. ‘My Favorite Game’ injected me with its distinctive “weow, weoooow” guitar riff, and made me soar with Persson’s softly echoed vocals, sang as if taunting an obsessed lover.


My Favorite Game

In 2006 I was introduced to a musician who shot straight into my top ten of all time. Already a two album veteran of Swedish pop (born from the band First Floor Power) Jenny Wilson’s track ‘Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward’, from her debut solo album ‘Love and Youth’; brimming with her unmistakably idiosyncratic, nervous sounding voice, wormed its way into my ears like laces in a shoe.


Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward

Perhaps quite befittingly my adoration of Jenny Wilson lead my musical journey to the discovery of The Knife. The 2003 single ‘You Take My Breath Away’, taken from the bands second album ‘Deep Cuts’, tells a story of Karin Dreijer Andersson’s idolization of Wilson while attending a First Floor Power gig. Double love.


You Take My Breath Away

Sweden you prove to be a powerhouse for musical greatness with your magical blend of power pop, rock pop, electro pop, poopy pop and all other delicious genres. What will this years Eurovision deliver? You’ll just have to wait for what Jo has in store.