Self Initiated brief: Main research

Schlager goes back way before Abba, the group who did the most to bring its catchy melodies, dramatic final key change, and spangly stylings to the world.

Melodifestivalen,often features modern schlager hits, giving it a second name by some: Schlagerfestivalen

The Melodifestivalen (which selects the Swedish competitor at the Eurovision Song contest) is popularly also called Schlagerfestivalen("the Schlager Festival") or Schlager-SM (Swedish schlager championship), since it has traditionally been characterised by schlager songs. The Eurovision Song Contest has also been called "Eurovisionsschlagerfestivalen" (Eurovision schlager festival) or schlager-EM ("European schlager championship"). The amount of schlager has decreased drastically in recent years, but schlager songs are the most likely genre to win the competition ("Evighet" (English: "Invincible" in 2006 by Carola and "Hero" by Charlotte Perelli in 2008, for example). Melodifestivalen is the most popular TV program in Sweden. It is broadcast annually, and in 2006 an estimated 47 percent of the Swedish population watched the final. In Sweden "schlager" is often used to refer to Eurovision-participating songs.

Two characteristics of Swedish schlager are a pronounced Key change before the final chorus and their three-minute length (the maximum song length permitted at the Eurovision Song Contest). Some Swedes dispute the meaning of "schlager" with respect to Swedish music; it may be used indiscriminately to describe all popular music, "older-sounding" popular music, Melodifestivalen songs, Eurovision songs, songs with a "catchy" chorus or dans band music. Both Bjorn and Benny Andersson of ABBA were influenced by schlager music early in their careers.

Schlager music emerged in Europe after the second world war as a backlash against Rock and roll in America. 

An enormous genre often forgotten in music genealogies is “Schlager”. The word is also synonymous with the type of song (“a Schlager”) and is German for hit song (to hit = schlagen). But the genre has a much greater reach than simply Germany and Austria. Neighboring countries Netherlands and Belgium, as well as former Yugoslavian countries and Sweden and Finland all have rich traditions of Schlager music. Its roots lie deep in traditional Folk music (particularly town criers and troubadours) but the style evolved into a more popular form of music starting as early as the thirties in some countries. Like troubadour songs, Schlagers are emotional, sentimental ballads, though often superficial in nature. They tell tales about love, misfortune or happiness, but always in a conservative and politically correct manner. After World War II and especially the Rock ‘n’ Roll revolution, Schlager singers went on the defense, as they felt threatened by this new type of popular music. Since Blues, Jazz and Country had little influence in prewar Europe, the rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll was even a greater shock and of more significance there. Thus a much greater production of Schlagers saw the light, produced in a lightweight pop manner with piano, guitar, accordion or folk instruments. Each country has its own history and differences when it comes to Schlager, but the common thread outlined here stretches outside borders. Schlager remains an undying genre, alive in many “folky” bars, community centers, or at huge Schlagerfestivals.

The style emerged in Europe after the Second World War, partly as a backlash against American rock and roll, and uses simple patterns of music. Typical schlager tracks are either sweet, highly sentimental ballads with a simple, catchy melody or light pop tunes. Lyrics typically center on love, relationships and feelings. The northern variant of schlager (notably in Finland) has taken elements from Nordic and Slavic folk songs, with lyrics tending towards melancholic and elegiac themes. Musically, schlager bears similarities to styles such as easy listening music.

The German word schlager meaning of a "(musical) hit". The style has been frequently represented at the Eurovision Song Contest and has been popular since it originated in 1956, although it is gradually being replaced by other pop music styles.

Over time, schlager music has gradually shifted on to electronic music rather than generic pop music, due to its widespread use of synthesizers throughout its various implementations in the recent years.

The contest is also known as ”Schlagerfestivalen” or ”Schlager-SM” in the media. ”Schlager” is a Swedish name for the type of music that was synonymous with the contest in the 80’s. Uptempo, poppy songs with throwaway lyrics, and with arrangements often inspired by Abba’s ”Waterloo”. Typical ”Schlager” songs include ”Bra Vibrationer” by Kikki Danielsson(MF 1985), ”Fyra Bugg och en Coca-Cola” by Lotta Engberg(MF 1987), ”Take me to your heaven” by Charlotte Nilsson(MF 1999) and ”Listen to your heartbeat” by Friends(MF 2001). A key change is almost compulsory. SVT are now trying to get away from the ”Schlager” tag however, encouraging other types of music to compete in the contest.

schlager, a local variant of schmaltzy Europop loved by Swedes

In Sweden, the love affair with schlager is near universal. There are always a few modern schlager acts competing in Melodifestivalen, the Pop Idol-style contest with which Sweden chooses its Eurovision entry, and which is by far the most popular programme on Swedish television. Indeed, the five-week selection process is often referred to by Swedes as "Schlagerfestivalen". - the gaurdian

Schlager goes back way before Abba, the group who did the most to bring its catchy melodies, dramatic final key change, and spangly stylings to the world. But it's the stars of the 1980s and 1990s who now personify the genre. Chief among them is Carola Häggkvist, who won Eurovision in 1991 and is known as Carola. When she performs at Wonk this week it will mark a reconciliation with her gay fanbase following a decade in which she has been more or less barred from gay clubs and Pride festivals after calling homosexuality "unnatural" in an interview.

Other schlager favourites are Charlotte Perelli, who won Eurovision in 1999 and represented Sweden again in 2008, and who is also performing at Wonk; Shirley Clamp, a long-term runner-up who has never made the Swedish selection but had a string of chart hits, and, more recently, the Eurodance band Alcazar.

"We take it extremely seriously, but there is also this awareness of it not being serious," explains Niklas Altermark, a PhD student and schlager fan. "There's this agreement that if you sit down and have a schlager night that this is far removed from the stuff you actually like. The people I hang out with like opera and independent music, and art bands and stuff, but we all sit down and say, 'oooh, nice hook in that chorus'. I don't watch it ironically, it's something else. It's almost like it's a cultural event divorced from music."

Alasdair Rendall, who co-founded Schlagerfest, a London club night dedicated to Swedish schlager, puts the genre's crossover to the UK gay scene down to Eurovision. "Eurovision has a big appeal among the gay community, particularly in Britain," he says. "And it's through Eurovision that they've discovered the Swedish Melodifestivalen."

although it is gradually being replaced by other pop music styles.

Both Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA were influenced by schlager music early in their careers.

“Specifically it’s the importance to their music of Swedish folk songs and of a sound called Schlager, which means ‘hit’ in German.” Bereft of rhythm and blues or soul influences and cloyingly kitsch and sentimental to modern ears, the central European sound of Schlager was vastly popular – the soundtrack to a million camping holidays and cabaret evenings. “It’s not cool music,” says Palm, “but Abba grew up loving Schlager and they added other things that they loved like The Beach Boys and The Beatles to that simple blueprint. Millions of people related to it.

The Swedish Schlager has become a real cult and there are a lot of bars and discos playing especially this kind of music which is always a great fun as everybody can sing along the lyrics and mostly the songs are danceable. It’s also a very Swedish thing, which cannot being compared with e.g. the German Schlager. The Swedish ESC songs have become evergreens and they are always played on the radio as well. At the popular Ållsang på Skansen – the summer TV show on SVT, which is being broadcasted for 8 weeks in summer each week. There are a lot of previous and current ESC singers singing their hits and the open air audience is singing along. There are songbooks with the lyrics and everybody should contribute by singing in this unique show. The hosts are going through the audience and force people to sing in the TV micro.

Over the years a lot of singers have become stars with the Swedish Schlager such as Carola, Charlotte Perrelli, Lena Philippson, Måns Zelmerlöw, Sanna Nielsen, Martin Stenmarck, Jill Johnsson, Marie Bergman, Roger Pontare, Tommy Nilsson, Lotta Engberg, Kikki Danielsson and many more.
There are always great moments e.g. Kikki Danielsson with “Bra Vibrationer”  
or Arvingarna with “Eloise”

Unfortunately, the current Melodifestivalen (Swedish national final) is giving more priority to contemporary pop songs, the classic Swedish Schlager is getting less represented every year, even if the composers still try to bring the Swedish Schlager in.

In Sweden we actually have a Eurovision music “genre” called “schlager” – nightclubs have schlager dance floors all year round, there are schlager cruises, and specific schlager words (“schlagerhysteri” = schlager hysteria, “schlagerfeber” = schlager fever, and “schlageryra” = schlager frenzy), and every year between February and May, the media is full of schlager news. It really is ESC fever!

Sweden’s pop past is a sentimental journey through the world of schlager music. Loosely translated from German to mean “a hit”, Swedish schlager music generally consists of short, simple, light songs about love and relationships that feature memorable hooks and perhaps a key change. Schlager music basically is a style of pop music. But given America’s and the UK’s bi polar attitudes towards pop in contrast to Sweden’s enduring respect for the genre, it’s fitting that the Swedes have their own term for it outside of English.

Early schlager was derived from traditional Swedish folk, classical, and cabaret music and remained that way until after World War II, when a previously-isolated Sweden began exchanging culture with the rest of the world in earnest. The biggest musical influences in the 50s and 60s came from America and the UK, changing the direction of schlager music and eventually giving birth to the mother of all schlager bands: ABBA.

Abba single covers:

Melodiestivalen and eurovision:

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