Nordic popular music, also referred to as Scandinavian popular music, includes pop and rock music of the Nordic countries. The musical scene is known for its biggest bands like ABBA, Roxette, A-ha, Michael Learns to Rock, Ace of Base, and Aqua. These are by far the biggest non-metal acts to come out of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
The popular music of the Nordic countries exhibits great diversity. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have all had successful domestic record industries for many years. Because the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were under Soviet control for much of the 20th century, when recording technology and popular music spread around the world, those three countries have a more tenuous connection with the popular industries of Finland, Sweden and the rest. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union, Western popular music in general has gained audiences in the Baltic states; this includes popular music from the other Nordic nations, as well as the United Kingdom, United States and elsewhere.
The Nordic metal scene is highly visible compared to other genres from the region. Many big names such as Dimmu Borgir, Lordi, Mercyful Fate, Blind Channel, Skálmöld, Hamferð, Mnemic, Opeth, Meshuggah, Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Lamori from Åland and to an extent Estonia's Metsatöll—if considering Estonia as Nordic, hail from Nordic nations. Nordic or Scandinavian metal bands have had a long and lasting influence on the metal subculture alongside their counterparts in Great Britain and The United States.
Nordic number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100
| Year | Artist | Song | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Blue Swede | "Hooked on a Feeling" | Sweden |
| 1977 | ABBA | "Dancing Queen" | |
| 1985 | A-ha | "Take On Me" | Norway |
| 1989 | Roxette | "The Look" | Sweden |
| "Listen to Your Heart" | |||
| 1990 | "It Must Have Been Love" | ||
| 1991 | "Joyride" | ||
| 1994 | Ace of Base | "The Sign" |
Nordic number-one singles in the UK
Some notable artists by country
Denmark
Main pages: Category:Danish singers, Category:Danish record producers, and Category:Danish songwriters- Alphabeat
- Aqua
- Aura Dione
- Barcode Brothers
- Christopher Nissen
- Drew Sycamore
- Emmelie de Forest
- Infernal
- Junior Senior
- Kato
- Lukas Graham
- Martin Jensen
- Medina
- Michael Learns to Rock
- MØ
- Mercyful Fate
- Safri Duo
- Volbeat
- Whigfield
Faroe Islands
Main pages: Category:Faroese singers, Category:Fareose record producers, and Category:Faroese songwritersFinland
Main pages: Category:Finnish singers, Category:Finnish record producers, and Category:Finnish songwriters- Alma
- Anna Abreu
- Apocalyptica
- Benjamin Peltonen
- Blind Channel
- Bomfunk MC's
- Darude
- Hanoi Rocks
- HIM
- Isac Elliot
- Krista Siegfrieds
- Lordi
- Nightwish
- The Rasmus
- Sara Forsberg
- LAMORI - from Aland
Iceland
Main pages: Category:Icelandic singers, Category:Icelandic record producers, and Category:Icelandic songwritersNorway
Main pages: Category:Norwegian singers, Category:Norwegian record producers, and Category:Norwegian songwriters- A1
- A-ha
- Alan Walker
- Ane Brun
- Annie (singer)
- Astrid S
- Aurora
- Bel Canto
- Broiler
- Cashmere Cat
- Christine Guldbrandsen
- Dagny
- Dance with a Stranger
- Dimmu Borgir
- Donkeyboy
- D'Sound
- Espen Lind
- Fra Lippo Lippi
- Flunk
- Highasakite
- Ida Maria
- Ina Wroldsen
- Jarle Bernhoft
- Jenny Hval
- Katzenjammer
- Kaizers Orchestra
- Kate Havnevik
- KEiiNO
- Kings of Convenience
- Kygo
- Leaves' Eyes
- Lene Marlin
- Lemaitre
- Lido
- Madcon
- Mayhem
- Marcus & Martinus
- Maria Mena
- Marit Larsen
- Matoma
- M2M
- Moyka (singer)
- Nico & Vinz
- Röyksopp
- Sandra Lyng
- SeeB
- Secret Garden
- Sigrid
- Sirenia
- Sissel
- Susanne Sundfør
- Stargate
- Theatre of Tragedy
- Thomas Bergersen
- TNT
- Tungevaag & Raaban
- Turbonegro
- Tristania
- Wardruna
- Ylvis
By 2016, Norway had the 20th largest global music market. Currently four Norwegian artists have achieved a Top 10 placement on the Billboard Hot 100, including A-ha's "Take On Me" which went to 1st place in 1985, Ylvis' "The Fox" which went to 6th place in 2013, Nico & Vinz's "Am I Wrong" which went to 4th place in 2014, and Kygo's "It Ain't Me" which went to 10th place in 2017.
Sweden
Main pages: Category:Swedish singers, Category:Swedish record producers, and Category:Swedish songwriters- A*Teens
- ABBA
- Ace of Base
- A.C.T
- Agnes Carlsson
- Alesso
- Amon Amarth
- Army of Lovers
- Aronchupa
- Avicii
- Basshunter
- Benjamin Ingrosso
- Bladee
- Blue Swede
- Bosson
- Boy In Space
- Crazy Frog
- Da Buzz
- Darin
- Dr. Alban
- Eagle-Eye Cherry
- Elliphant
- Eric Prydz
- E-Type
- Europe
- First Aid Kit
- Felix Sandman
- Galantis
- Garmarna
- Ghost
- Hives
- Icona Pop
- John Martin
- Little Dragon
- Leila K
- Loreen
- Lykke Li
- Meja
- Mohombi
- Miike Snow
- Miss Li
- Neneh Cherry
- Opeth
- Otto Knows
- Play
- Rednex
- Roxette
- Robyn
- Sabaton (band)
- Seinabo Sey
- September
- Sahara Hotnights
- Swedish House Mafia
- Teddybears
- The Cardigans
- Therion
- Tove Lo
- Tove Styrke
- Yung Lean
- Zara Larsson
Further reading
- White, John David; Christensen, Jean, eds. (2002). New Music of the Nordic Countries. Pendragon Press. ISBN 1-57647-019-9.
- Holt, Fabian; Kärjä, Antti-Ville, eds. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Popular Music in the Nordic Countries. New York: Oxford University Press.
References
- RAMBARRAN, SHARA (2022-07-06). "Alexander Bard: The "King Midas" of Scandipop?". Medium. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- The Norwegian music market: a global comparison
- Musikkåret 2017 (årsrapport)
| Nordic folk music • Nordic popular music | |
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