This week, September 13, sees the premiere of the Swedish film Monica Z., a biopic about the life of
Monica Zetterlund, Swedens legendary queen of jazz.
Eurovision fans know Monica Zetterlund best from her wonderful 1963 Eurovision song En Gång I Stockholm (Once upon a time in Stockholm).
Eurovision fans know Monica Zetterlund best from her wonderful 1963 Eurovision song En Gång I Stockholm (Once upon a time in Stockholm).
The film
focusses on the early career of Zetterlund, when she was a critically acclaimed jazz singer, working with some of the jazz greats like Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Louis
Armstrong and Arne Domérius.
Edda
Magnason takes up the challenge of portraying Monica Z. Not only does she play
her in the film, but she also sings all the tracks in the movie and on the
soundtrack herself.
The soundtrack
is released on CD and is out now. The
musical score is arranged and produced by pianist Peter Nordahl. It includes En
Gång I Stockholm and several other Zetterlund classics. (Universal 0602537-35291, tracklist below).
Monica's Melodifestival
Monica
Zetterlund’s first entered the Swedish national final in 1962 with the song När
Min Vän (When my friend, also performed by Carli Tornehave) which ended 2nd behind the winner Sol Och Vår (performed by both Inger Berggren who took it to Eurovision and
by Lily Berglund)
In 1963 En
Gång I Stockholm was one of 12 songs in the national competition. It was
performed with orchestra by Zetterlund and with a small combo by Carli
Tornehave.
The music is by Bobbie Ericsson, who also wrote the 1961 Swedish entry April April for Siw Malmkvist. The lyrics
were written by Beppe Wolgers, a.k.a as Efraim Långstrump (Longstocking),
Pipi's Papa.
In
Eurovision the song ended last with 0 poing, possibly because the songs style,
a very slow jazz ballad, didn’t fit the Eurovision mold.
Ending last didn’t
hurt Zetterlunds career and En Gång I Stockholm became an evergreen that is
still performed and recorded today.
In 1972 Monica’s
last Eurovision attempt, Krama Mig Och Dansa (Hold me and dance with me) ended 6th in the
Swedish Melodifestival.
Monica
Zetterlund died in 2005 in a tragic fire accident in her Stockholm home.
En Gång I Stockholm Discography
- on 7” Philips
350 224 1F, no picture sleeve
Lily
Berglund
- Also
perfomed in the Swedish NF, no studio recording was released.
Alice Babs
- on LP Alice
Babs 67 (from 1966)' and VA EP Hjälp lions hjälpa (HMV 7EGS 344)
Margareta
Bengtson
- on CD Margareta
Bengtson (2009)
Monica
Borrfors
- on CD Monica
sjunger Monica
Helena
Eriksson
- on CD Sjunger
Monica Zetterlund (2007, CDA LBMZ 07)
Caroline
Henderson
- on CD Don't
explain (2003, Stunt records)
Margareta
Jonth (Opera singer) with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
- on LP (1978,
EMI 06235612)
Edda
Magnason
- on CD Monica
Z., OST (2013, Universal 0602537-35291)
Anna Norrby
- on CD Stockholmsbilder
(1998, CDA-CAP - 21589)
The Real
Group (acapella group)
- on CD Röster (1991)
Anne-Lie Rydé
- on CD Stulna
kyssar (1992, EMI 4750252)
Testbild!
- on CD Splendid
Isolation (VA, Friendly noise FYN 68)
Svante
Thuresson
- on LP Jag
är hip baby (1995)
---- - So near, yet so far (English)
- on LP Winners
and losers from European Television Song Contests (Metronome MLP 15267)
Sone Banger
(Accordion)
- on LP Ett
glatt humör (1976, Ljud-banger: lb 1004)
Arne
Domnérus Orkester (Instrumental)
- on EP (HMV.
7 EGS 270)
Bengt
Hallberg (Instrumental)
- on CD Improvisation (1989, Musik på
Drottningholm MPD CD 1)
Georg
Riedel, Arne Domnérus and Rune Gustafsson (Instrumental)
- on LP Vårat
gäng (1979, Sonet SLP 2647)
These are the versions I know of, if you know more or have any corrections, please let me know.
Tracklist Monica Z. - Musiken från filmen
These are the versions I know of, if you know more or have any corrections, please let me know.
Tracklist Monica Z. - Musiken från filmen
1. Sakta Vi
Gå Genom Stan
2. Hit The
Road Jack
3. Monicas
Vals
4. O Vad En Liten Gumma Kan Gno
5. En Gång
I Stockholm
6. It Could
Happen To You
7. Gröna
Små Äpplen
8. Trubbel
9. Du
10. Bedårande
Sommarvals
11. I Can't
Give You Anything But Love
12. I New
York
