Popular music in Sweden

(Redirected from Swedish rock)

Swedish popular music, or shortly Swedish pop music, refers to music that has swept the Swedish mainstream at any given point in recent times. After World War II, Swedish pop music was heavily influenced by American jazz, and then by rock-and-roll from the U.S. and the U.K. in the 1950s and 1960s, before developing into dansband music. Since the 1970s, Swedish pop music has come to international prominence with bands singing in English, ranking high on the British, New Zealand, American, and Australian charts and making Sweden one of the world's top exporter of popular music by gross domestic product.[1]

History

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Post-war

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With the influx of American G.I.s into Europe in the 1940s, styles of American music seeded themselves into Swedish culture. Many Swedish dansorkestrar ("dance orchestras") played jitterbug, foxtrot, and swing music and other jazz-derived tunes for people to dance to. In the 1950s early rock and roll, as well as country music and German schlager also infused the market, influencing Swedish musicians to build upon these styles, gradually moving them away from jazz, which was turning more toward the avant garde.

1960s

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Tages (pictured here in 1965) are widely considered one of the best Swedish bands of the 1960s.

The jazz orchestra dancing in Scandinavia was interrupted by the counterculture of the 1960s, whose influences of left-wing politics and LSD were altering the shape of popular music around the world. In 1967 the first psychedelic and progressive rock groups emerged in Stockholm's Filips club, including Hansson & Karlsson, the Baby Grandmothers, and Mecki Mark Men.[2][3] These groups were very popular in Sweden of the late 60s, with television appearances, sold-out concerts, and tours around Europe. Mecki Mark Men even spent three months in the U.S. where they played in big rock music festivals with Sly and the Family Stone, Jethro Tull, Pentangle, Mountain, Grand Funk Railroad, Paul Butterfield, and The Byrds.[4] Aside from this music that blended rock, jazz, and folk music with improvisation and experimentation, Swedish progressive rock, or "progg" as it became known, was also fiercely political. Progg bands would go on to support efforts against war and nuclear power,[5] or protest competitive events like Eurovision, stating, "Music cannot be a contest."[6][7]

Due to the sheer popularity that the Beatles received in Sweden, they inspired countless other bands to form and write original compositions. Some of the most popular bands performing pop-music during this era were the Hep Stars, The Shanes, Ola & the Janglers and Tages.[8][9] All of these bands, to some degree, wrote their own material, including Benny Andersson, who with the Hep Stars wrote the singles "No Response" (1965), "Sunny Girl", "Wedding" and "Consolation" (all 1966). Tages, despite their enormous success in Sweden, decided to try an international career. They recorded several albums in doing so, including one of the earliest psychedelic albums, Extra Extra. In 1967, the band incorporated traditional Swedish music into their performances. Their final album Studio is a prime example of this. Studio features solely original material and is considered one of the best Swedish albums of the 1960s.

1970s: Dansbandmusik and ABBA

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Kikki Danielsson broke through with Wizex in the 1970s.

The term "dansband" was coined around 1970, when Swedish popular music developed a signature style with brightly characterized lyrics and catchy melodies. The following decade became the golden era of dansband music, with groups like Thorleifs, Flamingokvintetten, Ingmar Nordströms, Wizex and Matz Bladhs rising to popularity in Sweden. In 1977, the song "Beatles", performed by Swedish dansband Forbes, won the Swedish Melodifestivalen 1977 and finished 18th (last) in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977.

For tax purposes, performers found a loophole in declaring "fantasy" outfits as deductibles to one's income, the reason being that it shouldn't be possible to wear the same outfit in your daily life. This led to many bands wearing highly extravagant matched outfits in their stage performances.[10]

April 6, 1974 marks the start of a new era in Swedish pop music. First, Blue Swede reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their cover of the B. J. Thomas song "Hooked on a Feeling". The combo (fronted by iconic actor/singer Bjorn Skifs) also covered "Half Breed", "Never My Love", and "A Song For You"; as made famous by Cher, The Association, and The Carpenters, respectively. These renditions appeared on at least one "best-of" album, though never officially offered for sale anywhere beyond Europe.

The very same day, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, England, with "Waterloo". It was a big success throughout Europe, and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the next few years ABBA had 18 consecutive top ten hits in the UK, nine of them reaching number one. Having sold an estimated 370 million units worldwide, ABBA became the best-selling band of the 1970s. In 1977, "Dancing Queen" became ABBA's only number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. ABBA and Led Zeppelin are the only acts to have had 8 consecutive UK #1 albums.[11]

Shortly after the release of their seventh album Super Trouper (1980), Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA decided to end their marriage, just as Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog had done two years prior. This event did not stop the foursome from working together. ABBA's eighth album The Visitors was released in November 1981. Feeling that the energy was running out of the group, they decided to take a break in 1982. Fältskog and Lyngstad then both pursued solo careers. In 1982, Lyngstad released her first solo album in English, the Phil Collins produced Something's Going On. This was followed with the album Shine in 1984. Fältskog recorded three English solo albums during the 1980s, Wrap Your Arms Around Me (1983); Eyes of a Woman (1985), and I Stand Alone (1987). After a 17-year hiatus, Fältskog released My Colouring Book (2004), an album of 1960s cover versions. Her latest album A (2013) has been one of her most successful, earning her Platinum status in Sweden and Gold status in the UK, Germany and Australia.[12]

Andersson and Ulvaeus collaborated with Tim Rice on the musical Chess which premiered in London in 1986. Two songs from the musical were hugely successful singles: "One Night in Bangkok" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and "I Know Him So Well" topped the UK singles chart in February 1985.

In 1975, Harpo scored an international hit with the song Moviestar, with ABBA's Anni-Frid Lyngstad on backing vocals.

After a 35-year hiatus, it was announced in 2018 that ABBA had reunited and recorded two new songs for an upcoming "virtual" tour.[13] In September 2021 they revealed a brand new studio album, Voyage, their first for 40 years.[14] Released in November 2021, Voyage topped the album charts in numerous countries, including Australia, Germany and the UK.

1980s: Europe, Roxette and Neneh Cherry

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In 1986, Europe, a hard rock band from Upplands Väsby, hit number one in 25 countries (including the UK) with the song "The Final Countdown". The album of the same name also charted around the world and sold more than 7 million copies worldwide, 3 million copies in the United States alone. The single has sold 8 million copies. The following year included successful tours through Europe, Japan and the US. Their next album was Out of This World, which produced "Superstitious" as its biggest hit. This album sold about 3.5 million copies worldwide. These two multi-platinum albums placed Europe as one of the most successful hard rock bands in the world with album sales of more than 23 million records. After the release of Prisoners in Paradise, which sold only 1.2 million copies, Europe decided to take a break in 1992. They reformed in 2003 and produced four albums so far. They continue to record and tour.

 
Between 1989 and 1991, Roxette had four number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle formed the band Roxette in 1986. Four of their songs, "The Look", "Listen To Your Heart" (both 1989), "It Must Have Been Love" (1990) and "Joyride" (1991), reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100,[15][16] while two further singles, "Dangerous" (1990) and "Fading Like a Flower" (1991), both peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[16] Roxette's "Join The Joyride World Tour 91–92" attracted 1.7 million people around the world.[15] In 1993, they became the first non-English speaking band ever to play at MTV Unplugged.[15] In 1995, they became the first Western band to be allowed to perform in China since Wham! in 1985.[17]

In 2003, Roxette was honoured with achievement medals by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf "for appreciated achievements in Sweden and internationally".[18] To date, their best-selling albums are Joyride (11 million units) and Look Sharp! (9 million units).[19] Overall, the duo has sold more than 45 million albums and 25 million singles worldwide.[20][21][22]

Neneh Cherry released the worldwide hit single "Buffalo Stance" in 1988. The song peaked at No. 3 on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. Cherry's debut album Raw Like Sushi was released in 1989, experimenting with merging hiphop and mainstream dance-pop. The album was BRIT Certified Platinum four months after release.[23][24] Cherry was nominated for "Best New Artist" with Buffalo Stance at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and the song was nominated for "International Hit of the Year" at the 1990 Ivor Novello Awards. Cherry's second single, "Manchild" (1989), peaked at No. 2 in Germany, and at No. 5 in the UK, and was a top-10 success in six more countries. The music video was nominated for "Best Video" at the 1990 Brit Awards. Her third single, "Kisses on the Wind" (1989), reached top-20 in seven countries including the US, where it peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1990 Cherry won two Brit Awards, and she was also nominated for "Best New Artist" at the 1990 Grammy Awards. Cherry would be high on the charts again in 1994 with the single "7 Seconds", a duet with the Senegalese singer/songwriter Youssou N'Dour. The song reached top-3 on charts in 14 countries including France, where it stayed at No. 1 for a record 16 consecutive weeks on the Singles Chart. It won "Best Song" at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards and was nominated for "International Hit of the Year" at the 1995 Ivor Novello Awards. In 2015 Neneh Cherry was inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame.

1990s: The Cheiron phenomenon

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The tremendous impact of the Cheiron Studios on Swedish popular music is hard to overstate.

Since the 1990s, Sweden's influence on the international pop music scene has been most evident via a number of heavyweight songwriters and producers. Cheiron Studios, spearheaded by Denniz Pop and his protégé Max Martin, helped Ace of Base become an international success, and then went on to creating some of the biggest hits of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and Westlife, to name just a few. Denniz Pop died from cancer in 1998 and Cheiron Studios was closed two years later, but Martin remains a superstar in the industry - only Paul McCartney has written more #1 Billboard hits than Max Martin. Other prominent producers who were part of Cheiron include Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, Kristian Lundin, Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson and Andreas Carlsson.

Ace of Base's first album Happy Nation (reissued as The Sign) is one of the best-selling debut albums of all time, and was certified nine times platinum in the United States.[25] The reggae-influenced song "The Sign" was added to the album at its reissue in the U.S. and became a huge hit. It spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and even became the top song on Billboard's 1994 Year End Chart. Today Ace of Base's four studio albums have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, making them the third-most successful Swedish band of all time after ABBA and Roxette.

Several other Cheiron-propelled Swedish music artists reached international success in the 1990s, such as Dr. Alban, eurodance rappers E-Type and Leila K, and not least Robyn who had her US breakthrough in 1997 with the hit songs "Do You Know (What It Takes)" and "Show Me Love".

However, not all success stories were created by Cheiron. Rock band The Cardigans was formed in Jönköping in 1992 and after steadily gaining popularity at home and in Japan, they became a global name in 1996 through their third album First Band on the Moon. The hit single Lovefool was featured on the soundtrack to the film Romeo Juliet.

A*Teens were formed in 1998 as an ABBA tribute band. Their 1999 debut album The ABBA Generation consisted purely of ABBA covers and was a great success around the world. The album sold 3 million copies worldwide. The singles "Mamma Mia" (UK #12) and "Dancing Queen" (UK #21) topped the charts in Sweden. Their second album Teen Spirit (2001) contained new songs and was certified Gold in the United States.

Other notable Swedish acts who had international hits during this decade are Army of Lovers, Yaki-Da, Stakka Bo, Rednex, Eagle Eye Cherry, Emilia, Teddybears and Meja.

2000s: Continued international success

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The Cheiron legacy kept growing into the 21st century. Max Martin continued creating hit songs for stars like Britney Spears, Céline Dion and Pink, and he also helped bring forward new talented producers such as Shellback. Another producer who rose to fame during the 2000s is Swedish/Moroccan RedOne, who had huge success worldwide working alongside Lady Gaga, and later other American stars. He has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards and won two of those.

Robyn reappeared in 2007, after an absence of 10 years from the international music scene, with her No. 1 hit in the UK "With Every Heartbeat". The self-titled album was certified Gold in the UK and Platinum in Sweden.[26] The following singles reached the charts as well: "Handle Me" (UK #17), "Be Mine" (UK #10) and "Who's That Girl" (UK #26).[27] "Dream On", the follow-up with Christian Falk, was originally released in 2006 on his album People Say. It was re-released in the UK in November 2008 peaking at No. 21. Robyn also collaborated with Norwegian duo Röyksopp for the single "The Girl and the Robot" in June 2009.

A number of dance-oriented Swedish acts became internationally successful during this decade. In 2004, Swedish DJ and producer Eric Prydz topped the UK charts for five weeks with "Call on Me",[28] while its 2007 follow up "Proper Education" was a #2 success.[29] In 2008 Prydz had a hit with "Pjanoo", which also reached No. 2 in the UK (on download sales alone).[29]

Basshunter is a Swedish singer, record producer and DJ. "Boten Anna" is a song with Swedish lyrics that had some success in continental Europe in 2006. In 2008 it reached number one in the UK[30] with lyrics performed in English under the title "Now You're Gone". The second single "All I Ever Wanted" peaked at number two in the UK.

September is a Swedish dance-singer whose song "Cry For You" reached number five in the UK in 2008.[31] In the 2010s, she released two albums under her true name, Petra Marklund, and relaunched herself as a Swedish-language pop artist rather than a Europop dance artist.

With "Crying at the Discoteque" the band Alcazar achieved success across Europe in 2000. It peaked at No. 3 in Germany and #13 in the UK. The follow-up singles failed to reach this success.

Another band which had success overseas were Play. Their biggest hit, "Us Against The World", sold over 500,000 copies. The song also featured in movies like The Master of Disguise and Holiday in the Sun, not forgetting the Lizzie McGuire series.

Rock band Mando Diao from Borlänge were very successful in Europe in 2009 with their song "Dance With Somebody" from the album Give Me Fire. It reached number three in Germany and was a major hit in Europe peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.[32]

2010s: EDM stars and strong female acts

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Tove Lo's "Habits (Stay High)" became a sleeper hit: it entered international music charts in 2014, one year after its original release.

2010 saw the rise of two major Swedish acts in electronic dance music (EDM). Swedish House Mafia, a supergroup collaboration between the Swedish DJs and producers Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso, released their first single "One", which was followed by a number of other hits including "Don't You Worry Child" which topped charts around the globe. Another DJ, Avicii got a smash-hit with "Seek Bromance", and was ranked as sixth on the Top 100 DJs list.[33] His most popular song "Wake Me Up" reached 2.3 billion views on YouTube. Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, released two successful albums, True and Stories, before his death in 2018.

The 2010s also saw successful releases from Agnes Carlsson and Robyn. Agnes, the winner of Sweden's Idol 2005, succeeded in Europe and especially the UK market in 2009/2010 with the single "Release Me", which entered the charts at number three and sold over 300,000 copies. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Carlsson was also signed to Universal Music/Interscope in the US, and started the promotion for the forthcoming album Dance Love Pop during the summer 2010.[34] Robyn returned with her Body Talk series.

In 2011 the Swedish indie-artist Lykke Li released her second album Wounded Rhymes, and continued her success from her earlier Youth Novels with singles like "Get Some" and "I Follow Rivers", which topped the charts in Belgium and Romania.

Beginning in the 2000s, Veronica Maggio released several high-selling Swedish-language pop albums and continues to tour widely through Scandinavia.[35]

In 2012, Swedish Eurovision Song Contest 2012 winner Loreen charted at number one in several countries across Europe with her song "Euphoria", making her one of the most successful winners of the contest in recent years.

In 2013, Swedish duo Icona Pop reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and number-one on the UK Singles Chart with their song "I Love It". The song was certified gold in the United Kingdom and 2× platinum in the United States, selling 400,000 and 2,025,000 copies, respectively. Icona Pop's Caroline Hjelt is close friends with singer/songwriter Tove Lo, who had her international breakthrough shortly afterwards. Tove Lo charted at number 3 on Billboard Hot 100 with her song "Habits (Stay High)" and the song was certified 5× Platinum in the United States.

Swedish singer/songwriter Zara Larsson released her debut EP album Introducing in January 2013. She later featured in the official song of UEFA Euro 2016, David Guetta's "This One's for You".[36] Her album So Good produced eight singles and she charted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Never Forget You". The song was certified 2× Platinum in the U.S. Her Biggest hit is Lush Life with over 830 million views on YouTube

In 2015, Måns Zelmerlöw won the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with his song "Heroes". The song charted in the multiple countries around Europe and Australia, peaking at number 11 in the United Kingdom.

Styles

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Dance music

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Ace of Base had the world's best-selling debut album with 23 million in sales for Happy Nation.[37] They achieved major success in the 1990s with popular songs such as "All That She Wants" (1993), "The Sign", "Don't Turn Around" (both 1994) and "Cruel Summer" (1998). All four songs reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100; "The Sign" spent six weeks at number one.

In the early 1990s the Swedish dance scene was very vivid. Denniz Pop was Sweden's most wanted producer of that time [dubiousdiscuss]. In 1990 he produced Dr. Alban's first record "Hello Africa" together with Leila K. The song became a hit in mainland Europe peaking at No. 5 in Germany.

In 1992 Denniz Pop produced the second album by Dr. Alban, One Love which includes the worldwide hits "It's My Life" and "Sing Hallelujah". .[38] That same year Leila K released her hit single "Open Sesame" (UK #23, Germany #5). This was followed in 1993 by a cover version of Plastic Bertrand's "Ça Plane Pour Moi" (Germany #13).

1994 saw the release of Dr. Alban's third album Look Who's Talking; the title track was a big hit throughout Europe (Germany #3).[39]

Rednex had several hit songs mixing country music and eurodance. The song "Cotton Eye Joe" was an international hit in 1994 reaching number one in the UK. The ballad "Wish You Were Here" was released in 1995.

The Hellacopters, a garage rock band that was formed by Nicke Andersson, was also formed in 1995.

Swedish pop music

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In 1996 The Cardigans released their third album, First Band on the Moon. The song "Lovefool" was included on the soundtrack of William Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet by director Baz Luhrmann. It found international success peaking at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The following album, Gran Turismo (1998), was more electronic in style and contained the hit singles "My Favourite Game" and "Erase/Rewind".

"You and Me Song", by Swedish group The Wannadies, was a huge radio hit in the UK and Ireland in the mid-1990s. This song also ended up featuring on the Romeo Juliet soundtrack.

Robyn was 17 years old when her pop singles "Show Me Love" and "Do You Know (What It Takes)" were released in 1997. Both singles were Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.[40]

In 1998 Meja's second album Seven Sisters was released. It contained the radio hit "All Bout The Money", which was peaked at No. 12 in the UK. In 1999 she recorded the duet "Private Emotion" with Ricky Martin, which reached No. 9 on the UK singles chart.

Eagle-Eye Cherry released his debut album Desireless in 1998. Propelled by the hit single "Save Tonight" (UK #5, US #6), the album sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

Emilia Rydberg is well known for her 1998-1999 international hit "Big Big World".[41] The song peaked at No. 5 in the UK.

Andreas Johnson had a UK #4 hit in 2000 with "Glorious".

Swedish songwriters/producers Denniz Pop and Max Martin have written worldwide hits for pop artists like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and later Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, P!nk, Avril Lavigne, Leona Lewis and Jessie J.

Indie pop and rock

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In the 2000s some indie bands from Sweden found their way to the international music scene.

Singer Nina Persson from The Cardigans launched a solo project in 2001 under the name A Camp. The lead single "I Can Buy You" peaking at number 46 in the UK chart. In 2003, The Cardigans returned with their album Long Gone Before Daylight, a quieter, more ambient collection of songs. In Sweden it was certified 2× platinum and the band won two Swedish Grammy Awards.

José González is a Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter of Argentine descent. His cover of "Heartbeats", originally by his fellow Swedes The Knife, was a hit on the UK singles chart where it peaked at number nine in 2003.

The Tallest Man on Earth is the stage name of Swedish folk singer songwriter Kristian Matsson.

Indie band The Concretes first appeared in the UK Singles Chart in 2004 with "You Can't Hurry Love" (#55) and "Seem Fine" (#52). Lead singer Victoria Bergsman left the group in 2006 and, with Peter, Bjorn and John, recorded the single "Young Folks" the same year. This reached No. 35 in the UK singles chart, and was re-issued the following year, this time peaking at No. 13.

On the national scene, Kent are by many seen as the greatest rock band, having sold more than 3 million copies of their albums and repeatedly been awarded best group of the year awards. Håkan Hellström can in some way be seen as a solo artist counterpart, having gained both public and critical acclaim.

Other notable artists include refused, Air France, bob hund, ceo, Dungen, Eskobar, Fever Ray, First Aid Kit, The Hives, Jens Lekman, The Knife, Komeda, Life on Earth, Little Dragon, Lykke Li, The Radio Dept., Shout Out Louds, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Sounds, The Tough Alliance, The Field, and Avner.

Eurovision Song Contest

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Five Swedish Eurovision winner acts represented in one image.
From left: Richard and Per Herrey, Carola Häggkvist, Måns Zelmerlöw, Loreen and ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus.

Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 61 times since making its debut in 1958, missing only three contests since then (1964, 1970 and 1976). Sweden is the most successful competing nation at the Eurovision, with a total of seven victories in the contest, even to Ireland:

Sweden is the contest's most successful country of the 21st century, with three wins from ten top five results. In total, Sweden has achieved 27 top five results in the contest. Since 1959, the Swedish entry has been chosen through an annual televised competition, known since 1967 as Melodifestivalen. Sweden has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest seven times and is the only country to have hosted the event in six different decades, three times in Stockholm (1975, 2000, and 2016), three times in Malmö (1992, 2013 and 2024), and once in Gothenburg (1985).

Charts and sales

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Top 15 biggest selling Swedish acts

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The sales figures are estimated and count together album and single sales.

Rank Swedish acts Sold Genre Years active
1. ABBA 500 million [42][43] Poppop rockdisco 1972–1982, 2018–present
2. Roxette 75 million [44] Pop rock • soft rock • pop • dance pop 1986–2019
3. Ace of Base 50 million [45] Dance-pop • eurodanceeuropop 1990–present
4. Zara Larsson 35 million [46][47][circular reference] Pop • dance-pop • R&B 2008–present
5. Avicii 30 million [48] EDMprogressive houseelectro house 2006–2018
6. Europe 25 million [45] Hard rockglam metalblues rockarena rock 1979–1992, 1999, 2003–present
7. Tove Lo 20 million [49][circular reference] Electropop • dance-pop • indie pop 2006–present
8. Spotnicks 18 million Instrumental rock 1958–2019
9. The Cardigans 15 million [45] Alternative rock • pop rock • indie rock 1992–present
10. Dr Alban 14 million[50] Eurodance • hip hopreggaedancehall 1980s–present
11. Alcazar 12 million[51] Nu-disco • dance-pop • europop • schlager 1998–2005, 2007–2011, 2013–2018
12. Vikingarna 11 million Dansband 1958–2004, 2016–present
13. Swedish House Mafia 10 million[52] House • progressive house • electro house 2008–2013, 2018–present
14. Rednex 10 million[53] Eurodance • electronic country 1994–present
15. Army of Lovers 7 million[54] Dance-pop • europop 1987–1996, 2001–2009, 2012–present

Album sales by country

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This tables shows the album sales by country. The worldwide album sales are estimated while the album sales for UK,[55] US[56] and Germany[57] are counted by the gold and platinum certifications for the albums in that country. For Germany, the old certifications were used for albums released before September 1999 with Gold (250,000) and Platinum (500,000).[58]

Rank artist worldwide album sales UK album sales US album sales German album sales
1 ABBA 120,000,000 7,160,000 10,500,000 9,800,000
2 Roxette 45,000,000 1,660,000 2,700,000 4,900,000
3 Ace of Base 32,000,000 660,000 10,000,000 1,750,000

Biggest hit singles

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The following songs achieved the highest aggregated positions in the charts in their respective years. The following list shows the Swedish hits that ended up in the top 10 Billboard Hot 100 charts.[59]

# Artist Title Year
3 ABBA "Waterloo" 1974
2 "S.O.S" 1975
1 "Dancing Queen" 1976
4 "Fernando" 1976
4 Roxette "The Look" 1989
5 "It Must Have Been Love" 1990
3 "Joyride" 1991
4 Europe "The Final Countdown" 1986
5 "Carrie" 1986
3 Ace of Base "All That She Wants" 1993

US and UK hit singles

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This is a list of songs which reached the top 200 on the UK singles chart or the Billboard Hot 100, as well as other notable global hits.

Year Title Peak Chart Position Artist
UK Singles Chart[31] US Billboard Hot 100[60]
1960 "Scandinavian Shuffle" 101[61] The Swe-Danes
1962 "Orange Blossom Special" 29 The Spotnicks
"Rocket Man" 38
1963 "Hava Nagila" 13
"Just Listen To My Heart" 36
"After You've Gone" 43 Alice Babs
1964 "Sole Sole Sole"
(with Umberto Marcato)
58 Siw Malmkvist
1969 "Let's Dance" 92 Ola & the Janglers
1972 "The Baby"
(featuring Mikael Rickfors)
26 The Hollies
"Long Dark Road"
(featuring Mikael Rickfors)
26
1973 "Magic Woman Touch"
(featuring Mikael Rickfors)
60
1974 "Waterloo" 1 6 ABBA
"Ring Ring" (Remix) 32
"Honey, Honey" 133 27
"Y Viva España" 4 Sylvia
"Hooked on a Feeling" 90 1 Blue Swede
"Silly Milly" 71
"Never My Love" 7
1975 "Hush/I'm Alive" (mash-up) 61
"I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" 38 15 ABBA
"SOS" 6 15
"Mamma Mia" 1 32
"Hasta La Vista" 38 Sylvia
1976 "Moviestar" 24 Harpo
"Fernando" 1 13 ABBA
"Dancing Queen" 1 1
"Money, Money, Money" 3 56
1977 "Knowing Me, Knowing You" 1 14
"The Name of the Game" 1 12
1978 "Take a Chance on Me" 1 3
"Summer Night City" 5
1979 "Chiquitita" 2 29
"Does Your Mother Know" 4 19
"Voulez-Vous" 3 80
"Angeleyes" 64
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" 3
"I Have a Dream" 2
1980 "The Winner Takes It All" 1 8
"Super Trouper" 1 45
1981 "Lay All Your Love on Me" 7
"One of Us" 3 107[61]
1982 "When All Is Said and Done" 27
"Head Over Heels" 25
"The Visitors" 63
"The Day Before You Came" 32
"Under Attack" 26
"I Know There's Something Going On" 43 13 Frida
"You Can" 77 Madleen Kane
1983 "Thank You for the Music" 33 ABBA
"The Heat Is On" 35 Agnetha Fältskog
"Wrap Your Arms Around Me" 44
"Can't Shake Loose" 63 29
"Fedora (I'll be your dawg)" 56 Caramba
"Here We'll Stay" 100 102[61] Frida
1984 "Shine" 82
"Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" 46 Herreys
1985 "I Won't Let You Go" 84 Agnetha Fältskog
1986 "Just Like That" 79 Gemini
"The Final Countdown" 1 8 Europe
1987 "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)"
(featuring Peter Cetera)
93 Agnetha Fältskog
"Slow Train to Dawn"
(featuring Neneh Cherry)
64 The The
"Rock The Night" 12 30 Europe
"Carrie" 22 3
"Cherokee" 72
1988 "Superstitious" 34 31
"Open Your Heart" 86
"The Last Time" 77 Agnetha Fältskog
"Heaven Tonight / Riot in the Dungeons" 86 Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force
"Buffalo Stance" 3 3 Neneh Cherry
1989 "Manchild" 5
"Kisses on the Wind" 20 8
"Heart" 73
"Inna City Mamma" 31
"Let the Good Times Rock" 85 Europe
"Got to Get"
(featuring Leila K)
8 48 Rob'n'Raz
"The Look" 7 1 Roxette
"Dressed for Success" 18 14
"Listen to Your Heart" 6 1
"Dangerous" 2
1990 "It Must Have Been Love" 3 1
"Let's Get Busy (Pump It Up)"
(featuring Quartz)
86 Clubland
"We're On This Case" 97 Da Yeene
"I've Got You Under My Skin" 25 Neneh Cherry
"Rok the Nation"
(featuring Leila K)
41 Rob'n'Raz
"After the Rain" 60 Titiyo
"Flowers" 71
1991 "My Body Says Yes" 42
"Come Back (For Real Love) (The Remix)"
(featuring Papa Dee)
53 Alison Limerick
"Obsession" 67 Army of Lovers
"Joyride" 4 1 Roxette
"Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" 12 2
"The Big L." 21
"Spending My Time" 22 32
1992 "Church of Your Heart" 21 36
"How Do You Do!" 13 58
"Queen of Rain" 28
"Hold On (Tighter to Love)" 79 Clubland
"Set Me Free" 90
"Around The World" 84 Da Yeene
"It's My Life" 2 88 Dr. Alban
"One Love" 45
"I'll Cry for You" 28 Europe
"Halfway to Heaven" 42
"Bad Bad Boys" 98 Midi, Maxi & Efti
"Money Love" 23 Neneh Cherry
"Ain't No Substitute" 97 Papa Dee
"Understand This Groove" 58 Sound Factory
"Ride the Bullet" 67 Army of Lovers
"Crucified" 31
1993 "Israelism" 85
"I Am" 96
"The Truth" 77[62] Clawfinger
"Sing Hallelujah" 16 Dr. Alban
"I'll Be There for You (Doya Dododo Doya)" 29 House Of Virginism
(Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund)
"Happy"
(featuring Meja)
68 Legacy of Sound
"Open Sesame" 23 Leila K
"Ça plane pour moi" 69
"Buddy X" 35 43 Neneh Cherry
"Highland" 80 One More Time
"Show Me Love" (Club Mix)
(remixed by StoneBridge)
6 5 Robin S.
"Almost Unreal" 7 94 Roxette
"2 the Rhythm"
(featuring James Gicho as St. James)
72 111[61] Sound Factory
"Here We Go"
(featuring Nana Hedin and Katarina Henryson as Katarina Wilczewski)
13 109[61] Stakka Bo
"Down the Drain" 64
"All That She Wants" 1 2 Ace of Base
"Wheel of Fortune" 20
"Happy Nation" 40
1994 "The Sign" 2 1
"Don't Turn Around" 5 4
"Living In Danger" 18 20
"Alrabaiye (Take Me Up)"
(featuring Swing, Dr. Alban and Nana Hedin)
82 Amadin
(John Amatiello and Kristian Lundin)
"Touch" 92 Basic Element
"Every Day" 166 Brainpool
"Warfair" 54 Clawfinger
"Look Who's Talking"
(featuring Nana Hedin)
55 Dr. Alban
"Away from Home" 42
"Reachin'" 35 House Of Virginism
(Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund)
"7 Seconds"
(with Youssou N'Dour)
3 98 Neneh Cherry
"Cotton Eye Joe" 1 25 Rednex
"In Command"
(featuring Lutricia McNeal and D-Flex)
87 Rob'n'Raz
"Good Time" 77 112[61] Sound Factory
"Something Nice" 100 Stina Nordenstam
"Tell Me (I'm Not Dreaming)" 45 Titiyo
"Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" 15 102[61] Whale
"Sleeping In My Car" 14 50 Roxette
"Crash! Boom! Bang!" 24
"Fireworks" 30
"Run to You" 27
1995 "Vulnerable" 44
"The Look '95" (Remix) 28
"Lucky Love" 20 30 Ace of Base
"Beautiful Life" 15 15
"It Should Have Been You"
(featuring Titiyo & Jennifer Brown)
83 Blacknuss
"Pin Me Down" 87 Clawfinger
"Peace of Luv" 148 Clubland
"This Is the Way"
(featuring Nana Hedin)
53 E-Type
"Tonight Is the Night" 68 Le Click
"Love Can Build a Bridge"
(with Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton)
1 Neneh Cherry
"Old Pop in an Oak" 12 Rednex
"Wild 'N Free" 55
"Rolling Home" 81
"Sweet Dreams"
(featuring Dr. Alban)
59 Swing
"You and Me Song" 18 The Wannadies
"Might Be Stars" 51
"I'll Do Ya" 53 Whale
"I Saw You Dancing" 54 Yaki-Da
"Carnival" 35 The Cardigans
"Sick & Tired" 34
1996 "Rise and Shine" 29
"Lovefool" 2 2
"Been It" 56
"Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry" 106[61] Ace of Base
"Innocent" 42 Addis Black Widow
"Give My Life" 135 Army of Lovers
"Exclusive" 67 House Of Virginism
(Fredrik "Apollo" Asplund)
"Release the Pressure (1996)"
(featuring Earl Sixteen, DJ Cheshire Cat and Papa Dee)
13 Leftfield
"Woman" 9 Neneh Cherry
"Kootchi" 38
"Good Thing" 87 Rebecka Törnqvist
"I Do" 141
"Soul Rising"
(featuring UK singer Nevada Cato)
168 Rhythm Inc.
(Johan Strandqvist)
"You've Got That Somethin'" 54 Robyn
"You Don't Understand Me" 42 Roxette
"June Afternoon" 52
"You and Him" 92 Sophie Zelmani
"Great Blondino" 192 Stakka Bo
"Ask The Mountains"
(featuring Stina Nordenstam)
77 Vangelis
"How Does It Feel?" 53 The Wannadies
"Someone Somewhere" 38
1997 "Hit" 20
"Shorty" 41
"Dinah"
(featuring Stephen Simmonds, ADL, Richie Pasta and Mike Muladoe)
56 Blacknuss
"Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" (C&J Mix)
(featuring Nai-Jee-Ria and ADL)
199
"Your New Cuckoo" 35 The Cardigans
"Biggest & The Best" 94 Clawfinger
"Love Is a Wonderful Thing" 160 Fatima Rainey
"Call Me" 38 35 Le Click
"Don't Go" 62
"Feel It" 68 Neneh Cherry
"Do You Know (What It Takes)" 26 7 Robyn
1998 "Show Me Love" 8 7
"Do You Really Want Me (Show Respect)" 20
"In My Mind" 87 Antiloop
"Look at You" 88 Backyard Babies
"Bombed (Out of My Mind)" 95
"Highlights" 79
"My Favourite Game" 14 The Cardigans
"Two Sides" 79 Clawfinger
"Relax" 11 Deetah
"Get Up (On the Dancefloor)" 180 Disco Dude
(Johan "JJ" Järpsten)
"Save Tonight" 6 5 Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Falling in Love Again" 8
"Big Big World" 5 92 Emilia
"Hold It Now, Hit It" (Remix) 131 Johan S.
(Johan Strandqvist aka Rhythm Inc.)
"If You Were Here" 158 Kent
"Can't Have You"
(featuring Kayo)
54 70 Lyte Funkie Ones (LFO)
"All 'Bout the Money" 12 Meja
"Firmament Vacation (A Soundtrack of Our Lives)" 96 The Soundtrack of Our Lives
"Instant Repeater '99" (Remix) 156
"Get Down" 83 Stephen Simmonds
"Tears Never Dry"
(featuring Lisa Nilsson)
77
"Four Big Speakers"
(featuring Bus 75)
69 Whale
"Crying at Airports" 94
"Cruel Summer" 8 10 Ace of Base
"Life Is a Flower"/"Whenever You're Near Me" 5 76
"Always Have, Always Will" 12
1999 "Everytime It Rains" 22
"Mamma Mia" 12 A★TEENS
"Super Trouper" 21
"Erase/Rewind" 7 The Cardigans
"Hanging Around" 17
"Burning Down the House"
(with Tom Jones)
7
"Take Me to Your Heaven" 20 Charlotte Nilsson
"And It Hurts" 63 Da Yeene
"El Paraiso Rico" 39 Deetah
"Good Sign" 54 Emilia
"The Final Countdown 2000" 36 Europe
"Tuesday Afternoon" 57 Jennifer Brown
"Alive" 151
"How Will I Know (Who You Are)" 47 Jessica Folcker
"747" 61 Kent
"Buddy X 99" (Dreem House Edit)
(versus Dreem Teem)
15 Neneh Cherry
"Wish I Could Fly" 11 Roxette
"Stars" 56
"Colour the World"
(featuring Dr. Alban)
15 Sash!
"People Are Strange" 169 Stina Nordenstam
"Deliver the Juice" 133 Whale
"Permanent Tears" 43 Eagle-Eye Cherry
2000 "Are You Still Having Fun?" 21
"Long Way Around"
(featuring Neneh Cherry)
48
"Glorious" 4 Andreas Johnson
"The Games We Play" 41
"Make It Right"
(featuring Demetreus)
22 Christian Falk
"Campione 2000" 58 E-Type
"Theme from Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)"
(with David Arnold)
49 Nina Persson
"1.2.3.4 Get with the Wicked"
(featuring Deetah)
10 Richard Blackwood
"Private Emotion"
(featuring Meja)
9 67 Ricky Martin
"Yeah" 56 The Wannadies
"Dancing Queen" 95 A★TEENS
2001 "Upside Down" 10 93
"Halfway Around the World" 30
"I Can Buy You" 46 A Camp
"Everybody Doesn't" 81 Amanda
"Let Me Love You" 124[61] Da Buzz
"It's Yours / Return to 125th Street"
(featuring Lemon D)
196 Eskobar
"Milk and Toast and Honey" 89 Roxette
"Crying at the Discoteque" 13 Alcazar
2002 "Sexual Guarantee" 30
"Braided Hair"
(featuring Neneh Cherry and Speech)
78 1 Giant Leap
"Pitiful" 171 Blindside
"What Bass / Switch"
(featuring Lemon D)
87 Eskobar
"Hate to Say I Told You So" 23 86 The Hives
"Main Offender" 24
"Die, All Right! / Supply and Demand" 133
"On Top of Your World" 108 Sahara Hotnights
"Sister Surround" 80 The Soundtrack of Our Lives
"21st Century Rip Off" 114
"EP 2: Tha Get Down / Tonight / Deeper Still" 98 Eric Prydz
2003 "EP 3: Slammin' / Inner Space" 81
"Dancin' Tonight"
(featuring Nevada Cato)
36 The Attic
(as Stereopol)
"High Energy" (Remix)
(featuring Evelyn Thomas)
113 Axwell
"Jerk It Out" 8 70 Caesars
"For What It's Worth" 31 The Cardigans
"You're the Storm" 74
"Skull Tattoo" 158 Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Summer Sun"
(featuring Yukimi Nagano)
141 Koop
"A Thing About You" 77 Roxette
"Skin" 101 The Wannadies
"Disko" 131
"Rock 'N' Roll Lies" 56 Razorlight
2004 "Stumble and Fall" 27
"Golden Touch" 9
"Vice" 18
"Rip It Up" 20
"If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" 11 Agnetha Fältskog
"When You Walk In The Room" 34
"This Is The World We Live In" 15 Alcazar
"We Are" 8 Ana Johnsson
"Destiny" 92 The Attic
"Felicidad"
(featuring Isabel Fructuoso)
164 Axwell
(as Mambana)
"You Can't Hurry Love" 55 The Concretes
"Seems Fine" 52
"EP 1: Mr Jingles (2002 Re-Edit) / Chasing It / On The Strip" 109 Eric Prydz
"Woz Not Woz"
(with Steve Angello)
55
"Call on Me" 1
"Human Behaviour / Lesson One" 130
"Spooks" 136
"In & Out"
(featuring Adeva)
112
"Ding Dong Song"
(with The Sunshine Girls)
14 Günther
"Walk Idiot Walk" 13 The Hives
"Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones" 44
"Black Mask" 92 The (International) Noise Conspiracy
"Heartbeats" 119 The Knife
"Where Damage Isn't Already Done" 80 The Radio Dept.
"Ewan" 87
"X-Ray Eyes" 164 Randy
"Bigtime" 78 The Soundtrack of Our Lives
"Tool Box EP: Yourself / Ware It Out / Funked" 162 Steve Angello
"Put 'Em High"
(featuring Therese)
6 StoneBridge
"Paralyzed" 140 Mando Diao
2005 "You Can't Steal My Love" 73
"God Knows" 64
"Watch The Sunrise"
(featuring Steve Edwards)
70 Axwell
"Feel the Vibe"
(featuring Tara McDonald)
16
"I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to Be Nicer" 59 The Cardigans
"Panda" 168 Dungen
"A Little More for Little You" 113 The Hives
"You Take My Breath Away"
(featuring Jenny Wilson)
90 The Knife
"Pass This On" 134
"Lady Stardust" 148 Lisa Miskovsky
"Somewhere Else" 2 Razorlight
"What Else Is There?"
(featuring Karin Dreijer)
32 Röyksopp
"Very Loud" 110 Shout Out Louds
"The Comeback" 63
"Heading for a Breakdown" 70 The Soundtrack of Our Lives
"Take Me Away"
(featuring Therese)
9 StoneBridge
"Freak On"
(versus Ultra Naté)
37
"Axel F" 1 50 Crazy Frog
"Popcorn" 12
"Jingle Bells" 5
2006 "We Are The Champions (Ding A Dang Dong)" 11
"Last Christmas" 16
"Tell Me Why"
(featuring Hal Ritson)
13 Axwell and Steve Angello
(as Supermode)
"Chosen One" 51 The Concretes
"On the Radio" 85
"Freejazz" 119 Envelopes
"Kids with Guns"
(featuring Neneh Cherry)
27 Gorillaz
"Mambo!" 185 Helena Paparizou
"We're from Barcelona" 158 I'm from Barcelona
"Heartbeats" 9 José González
"Crosses" 107
"Hand on Your Heart" 29
"We Share Our Mothers' Health" 85 The Knife
"Like a Pen" 96
"Young Folks"
(featuring Victoria Bergsman)
13 110 Peter Bjorn and John
"Let's Call It Off" 130
"I Can't Get Enough"
(featuring Alexandra Prince)
109 Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello
(as Fireflies)
"Satellites" 96 September
"Please Please Please" 53 Shout Out Louds
"All This Love" 20 The Similou
"Cobrastyle"
(featuring Mad Cobra)
110 Teddybears
"In the Morning" 3 Razorlight
"America" 1
"Before I Fall to Pieces" 17
2007 "I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got" 44
"Hold On" 80
"The Worrying Kind" 121 The Ark
"I Found U"
(featuring Max'C)
6 Axwell
"Counting Down the Days"
(featuring Andrea Britton)
37 Axwell and Steve Angello
(as Sunfreakz)
"Now You're Gone"
(ft DJ Mental Theo's Bazzheadz & Sebastian Westwood)
1 Basshunter
"Proper Education"
(versus Floyd)
2 Eric Prydz
"Tick Tick Boom" 41 The Hives
"Down the Line" 140 José González
"Your Love Alone Is Not Enough"
(featuring Nina Persson)
2 Manic Street Preachers
"Release Me" 47 Oh Laura
"Tony the Beat (Push It)" 143 The Sounds
"Baby When the Light"
(with David Guetta, featuring Cozi)
50 Steve Angello
"Feelin' Me" 61 Therese
"Evey Word"
(featuring Awa Manneh)
163 Tyken
(Carl Rydén and Fredrik "Dj Nibc" Nyberg)
"With Every Heartbeat" 1 Robyn and Kleerup
"Konichiwa Bitches" 98 Robyn
"Handle Me" 17
2008 "Be Mine!" 10
"Who's That Girl" 26
"Happy New Year" 171 ABBA
"Slipping Through My Fingers" 164
"What A Wonderful World"
(with Bob Sinclar, featuring Ron Carroll)
48 Axwell
"Sunshine in the Rain" 69 BWO
"Lay Your Love on Me" 69
"I'm Not Over" 119 Carolina Liar
"Show Me What I'm Looking For" 31 67
"Dream On"
(featuring Robyn and Ola Salo)
29 Christian Falk
"Pjanoo" 2 Eric Prydz
(as Pryda)
"Still Alive" 96 Lisa Miskovsky
"I'm Good, I'm Gone" 152 Lykke Li
"Body Crash" 55 Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello
(as Buy Now!)
"Cry for You" 5 74 September
"All I Ever Wanted" 2 Basshunter
"Angel in the Night" 14
"I Miss You"
(featuring Lauren Dyson)
32
"Jingle Bells" 35
2009 "Walk on Water" 76
"Every Morning" 17
"I Promised Myself" 94
"Always" 137 Aysel and Arash
"Story of a Heart"
(featuring Helen Sjöholm)
83 Benny Andersson Band
"Hold On"
(featuring Neverstore)
46 Lazee
"Possibility" 133 120 Lykke Li
"La voix" 138 Malena Ernman
"Animal" 98 Miike Snow
"Black & Blue" 64
"Nothing to Worry About" 139 Peter Bjorn and John
"Can't Get Over" 14 September
"Show Me Love"
(with Laidback Luke, featuring Robin S., Hal Ritson and Yolanda Quartey)
11 Steve Angello
"Everytime We Touch"
(with David Guetta and Chris Willis)
68 Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso
"Sweet Child o' Mine" 23 Taken by Trees
"Release Me" 3 Agnes
"I Need You Now" 40
2010 "On and On" 82
"Seek Bromance"
(featuring Amanda Wilson)
13 Avicii
(as Tim Berg)
"My Feelings for You"
(with Sebastien Drums, featuring Gwen McCrae)
46 Avicii
"Nothing But Love"
(featuring Errol Reid)
151 Axwell
"Saturday" 21 Basshunter
"Hurtful" 59 Erik Hassle
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" 161 Fredrika Stahl
"Silvia" 154 Miike Snow
"Miss Me"
(featuring Nelly)
66 Mohombi
"Kick Ass (We Are Young)"
(versus MIKA)
84 RedOne
"One (Your Name)"
(featuring Pharrell)
7 Swedish House Mafia
"Miami 2 Ibiza"
(versus Tinie Tempah)
4
"Dancing On My Own" 8 113 Robyn
"Hang with Me" 54
"Indestructible" 171
2011 "Call Your Girlfriend" 55
"Fade into Darkness"
(featuring Andreas Moe)
196 Avicii
"Collide"
(with Leona Lewis)
4
"Levels" 4 60
"Mind Your Manners"
(featuring Icona Pop)
115 Chiddy Bang
"Niton (The Reason)" 45 Eric Prydz
"Popular" 76 Eric Saade
"Ritual Union" 76 112 Little Dragon
"All Over the World" 136 Ola
"Open Your Eyes"
(with Alex Metric, featuring Ian Brown)
89 Steve Angello
"Save the World"
(featuring John Martin)
10 105 Swedish House Mafia
"Antidote"
(versus Knife Party, featuring Adam Baptiste)
4
2012 "Greyhound" 13
"Don't You Worry Child"
(featuring John Martin)
1 6
"Calling (Lose My Mind)"
(featuring Ryan Tedder)
19 Alesso and Sebastian Ingrosso
"Years"
(featuring Matthew Koma)
109 Alesso
"So Wonderful" 192 Emilia
"Euphoria" 3 Loreen
"Paddling Out" 90 Miike Snow
"DJ, Ease My Mind" 103 Niki & The Dove
"Million Voices" 14 Otto Knows
"Lies" (Remix)
(with BURNS)
32
"Silhouettes"
(featuring Salem Al Fakir)
22 Avicii
"Blessed"
(featuring Shermanology)
164
"Superlove" (Remix)
(versus Lenny Kravitz)
49
"Dancing in My Head" (Tom Hangs Remix)
(versus Eric Turner)
188
2013 "I Could Be the One"
(with Nicky Romero, featuring Noonie Bao)
1 101[63]
"X You" 47
"Wake Me Up!"
(featuring Aloe Blacc)
1 4
"You Make Me" 5 85
"Hey Brother"
(featuring Dan Tyminski)
2 16
"Lay Me Down"
(featuring Adam Lambert)
200
"When You Really Loved Someone" 115 Agnetha Fältskog
"I Should’ve Followed You Home"
(with Gary Barlow)
99
"Center of the Universe"
(featuring Magnus Carlson)
113 Axwell
"Dust Clears"
(featuring Noonie Bao)
43 Clean Bandit
"You're Not Right for Me" 79 Emilia
"I Love It"
(featuring Charli XCX)
1 7 Icona Pop
"All Night" 31 111
"Pumpin Blood" 119[64] NONONO
"Jabba the Hutt"
(with The Gregory Brothers)
103 PewDiePie
"You" 72 Robin Stjernberg
"Reload" (Vocal Version)
(with Tommy Trash, featuring John Martin)
3 Sebastian Ingrosso
"Children of the Sun"
(featuring John Martin)
6 Tinie Tempah
"If I Lose Myself"
(versus OneRepublic)
8 Alesso
"Under Control"
(with Calvin Harris, featuring Hurts)
1 103
2014 "Tear the Roof Up" 188
"Heroes (We Could Be)"
(featuring Tove Lo)
6 31
"I Am"
(with Sick Individuals, featuring Taylr Renee)
148 Axwell
"Liberate" 71 Eric Prydz
"My Silver Lining" 126 First Aid Kit
"You"
(featuring Vincent Pontare and Britney Spears)
119[65] Galantis
"Anywhere for You" 7 John Martin
"Gunshot" 126 Lykke Li
"Don't Wait" 117 Mapei
"Why Am I Crying" 197 Molly Sandén
"Do It Again"
(with Röyksopp)
75 Robyn
"Undo" 40 Sanna Nielsen
"Younger" 61 Seinabo Sey
"I Need Your Love"
(featuring Mohombi, Faydee and Costi)
66 Shaggy
"Habits (Stay High)" 6 3 Tove Lo
"Find You"
(featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant)
101 Zedd
"Divine Sorrow"
(featuring Avicii)
174 Wyclef
"Addicted to You"
(featuring Audra Mae)
14 Avicii
"The Days"
(featuring Robbie Williams)
82 78
2015 "The Nights"
(featuring Nicholas Furlong)
6 109[63]
"Waiting for Love"
(featuring Simon Aldred)
6 110[63]
"For a Better Day"
(featuring Alex Ebert)
68
"Broken Arrows"
(featuring Zac Brown)
178
"Cool"
(featuring Roy English)
10 Alesso
"Sweet Escape"
(featuring Swedish-Spanish singer Sirena)
189
"I'm an Albatraoz"
(featuring Little Sis Nora)
25 110 AronChupa
"Something New"
(featuring Salem Al Fakir)
22 117 Axwell Λ Ingrosso
"On My Way" 100
"Sun Is Shining" 56
"Fun"
(featuring Tove Lo)
164 Coldplay
"Can't Stop Playing (Makes Me High)"
(with Gregor Salto, featuring Ane Brun)
4 Dr. Kucho!
"Tether"
(versus CHVRCHΞS)
107 Eric Prydz
"Heroes" 11 Måns Zelmerlöw
"Next to Me"
(featuring Simon Strömstedt)
103 Otto Knows
"Set Me Free" 174 Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique
"Crazy in Love" 55 Sofia Karlberg
"Talking Body" 17 12 Tove Lo
"Never Forget You"
(with MNEK)
5 13 Zara Larsson
"Runaway (U & I)"
(featuring Julia Karlsson and Cathy Dennis)
4 114 Galantis
"Peanut Butter Jelly"
(featuring Martina Sorbara)
8
2016 "No Money"
(featuring Reece Bullimore)
4 88
"Love on Me"
(with Hook n Sling, featuring Laura White)
16
"I Wanna Know"
(featuring Nico & Vinz)
142 Alesso
"Say It"
(featuring Tove Lo)
69 60 Flume
"If I Were Sorry" 61 Frans
"The Ocean"
(featuring SHY Martin)
39 110 Mike Perry
"Sexual"
(featuring Dyo)
5 NEIKED
"Close"
(featuring Tove Lo)
25 14 Nick Jonas
"Cool Girl" 46 84 Tove Lo
"Desire" (Remix)
(featuring Tove Lo)
27[66] Years & Years
"Girls Like"
(featuring Zara Larsson)
5 Tinie Tempah
"This One's for You"
(featuring Zara Larsson)
16 David Guetta
"Lush Life" 3 75 Zara Larsson
"Ain't My Fault" 13 76
"I Would Like" 2
2017 "So Good"
(featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
44
"Symphony"
(featuring Zara Larsson)
1 101 Clean Bandit
"All Falls Down"
(featuring Noah Cyrus, Digital Farm Animals & Juliander)
87 Alan Walker
"Falling" 72 Alesso
"Let Me Go"
(with Hailee Steinfeld, feat. Florida Georgia Line & Watt)
30 40
"Without You"
(featuring Sandro Cavazza)
32 114[63] Avicii
"Lonely Together"
(featuring Rita Ora)
4 118[63]
"I Love You"
(featuring Kid Ink)
72 Axwell Λ Ingrosso
"More Than You Know"
(featuring Kristoffer "Bonn" Fogelmark)
30
"Rich Boy"
(featuring Chiara Hunter and Ava Rifat)
60 Galantis
"My Lover"
(with Not3s)
14 Mabel
"Finders Keepers"
(featuring Kojo Funds)
8
"Call Me"
(featuring MIMI)
55 NEIKED
2018 "I Wanna Know"
(featuring Bea Miller)
46 123 NOTD
"Missing U" 87 Robyn
"Ruin My Life" 9 76 Zara Larsson
"Fine Line"
(featuring Not3s)
11 Mabel
"Cigarette"
(with RAYE and Stefflon Don)
41
"Ring Ring"
(with Jax Jones, featuring Rich The Kid)
12
"One Shot" 44
2019 "Don't Call Me Up" 3 66
"Mad Love" 8
"Bad Behaviour" 94
"God Is a Dancer"
(with Tiësto)
15
"SOS"
(featuring Aloe Blacc)
6 68 Avicii
"Tough Love"
(featuring Agnes and Vargas & Lagola)
60
"Heaven"
(featuring Chris Martin)
20 83
"Hope"
(featuring Winona Oak)
89 124 The Chainsmokers
"Late Night Feelings"
(featuring Lykke Li)
30 Mark Ronson
"Now You're Gone"
(featuring Zara Larsson)
79 Tom Walker
"Jacques"
(with Jax Jones)
67 Tove Lo
"We Got That Cool"
(featuring Afrojack and Icona Pop)
68 Yves V
"Don't Worry Bout Me" 34 Zara Larsson
"All the Time" 58
2020 "Like It Is"
(with Kygo and Tyga)
49 113
"Breaking Me"
(with Topic)
3 53 A7S
"Dancing in the Moonlight"
(featuring Ellen "NEIMY" Falkås)
11 Jubël
"Husavik"
(with Will Ferrell)
59 Molly Sandén
(as My Marianne)
"Double Trouble"
(with Will Ferrell)
76
"Some Say" 89 Nea
"I Want You Around" 123 Snoh Aalegra
"Boyfriend" 10 Mabel
"West Ten"
(with AJ Tracey)
5
"Tick Tock"
(with Clean Bandit, featuring 24kGoldn)
8
2021 "Let Them Know" 19
"Time After Time" 71
"I Wish"
(featuring Mabel)
17 Joel Corry
"Your Love (9PM)"
(with AJ Tracey and Topic)
8 A7S
"Don't Shut Me Down" 9 ABBA
"I Still Have Faith in You" 14
"Just a Notion" 59
"When You Danced With Me" 67
"Little Things" 61
"When I'm Gone"
(with Katy Perry)
49 90 Alesso
"Heartbreak Anthem"
(with David Guetta and Little Mix)
3 Galantis
"Sweet Talker"
(with Years & Years)
26
"Hear Me Say"
(with Jonas Blue)
65 Léon
"Better Days"
(with Mae Muller and Polo G)
32 23 NEIKED
"Moth to a Flame"
(with The Weeknd)
15 27 Swedish House Mafia
2022 "Words"
(featuring Zara Larsson)
36 Alesso
"Everything But You"
(featuring A7S)
55 Clean Bandit
"Run"
(with Becky Hill)
21 Galantis
"Mary on a Cross" 28 90 Ghost
"Con La Brisa"
(with Foudeqush)
73 Ludwig Göransson
"Good Luck"
(with Jax Jones and Galantis)
45 Mabel
"Overthinking"
(featuring 24kGoldn)
88
"Deal or No Deal"
(with A1 x J1)
98
"I Just Called"
(with Anne-Marie and Latto)
99 NEIKED
"Heaven Takes You Home"
(with Connie Constance)
80 Swedish House Mafia
"Turn On the Lights again.."
(with Fred Again featuring Future)
27
2023 "Can't Tame Her" 25 Zara Larsson
"Tattoo" 2 Loreen
"On My Love" 15 Zara Larsson & David Guetta
2024 "Lighter" 78 Galantis
"My Oh My" 63 Kylie Minogue & Bebe Rexha & Tove Lo

Top selling Swedish studio and compilation albums

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Rank Year Album Artist Sales
1. 1992 Gold ABBA 30 million
2. 1993 The Sign / Happy Nation Ace of Base 23 million
3. 1991 Joyride Roxette 12 million
4. 1976 Greatest Hits Vol. I ABBA 11.3 million
5. 1976 Arrival ABBA 10 million
6. 1988 Look Sharp! Roxette 10 million
7. 1980 Super Trouper ABBA 7.5 million
8. 1979 Voulez-Vous ABBA 7 million
9. 1978 The Album ABBA 7 million
10. 1992 Tourism Roxette 7 million

See also

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References

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