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 Year Artist Song Country 1974 ABBA "Waterloo" Sweden 1976 "Mamma Mia" "Fernando" "Dancing Queen" 1977 "Knowing Me, Knowing You" "The Name of the Game" 1978 "Take a Chance on Me" 1980 "The Winner Takes It All" "Super Trouper" 1986 A-ha "The Sun Always Shines on TV" Norway Europe "The Final Countdown" Sweden 1993 Ace of Base "All That She Wants" 1994 Whigfield "Saturday Night" Denmark 1995 Rednex "Cotton Eye Joe" Sweden Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton "Love Can Build a Bridge" United States, Sweden and United Kingdom 1997 Aqua "Barbie Girl" Denmark / Norway 1998 "Doctor Jones" "Turn Back Time" 2000 A1 "Take on Me" United Kingdom / Norway "Same Old Brand New You" 2004 Eric Prydz "Call On Me" Sweden 2005 Crazy Frog "Axel F" 2007 Robyn with Kleerup "With Every Heartbeat" 2008 Basshunter "Now You're Gone" 2012 Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin "Don't You Worry Child" 2013 Avicii with Nicky Romero "I Could Be the One" Sweden and The Netherlands Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX "I Love It" Sweden and United Kingdom Avicii "Wake Me Up" Sweden 2014 Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong" Norway 2016 Lukas Graham "7 Years" Denmark Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ "Cold Water" USA, Canada and Denmark 2017 Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson "Symphony" United Kingdom and Sweden
Some notable artists by country
Denmark
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
Eivør Synarchy Týr
Finland
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 Sunrise Avenue LAMORI - from Åland
Iceland
Björk Emilíana Torrini GusGus Kaleo Laufey Of Monsters and Men Sigur Rós Skalmold Svala
Norway
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 Marion Raven Matoma M2M Moyka 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.Musikkåret 2017 (årsrapport) 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
A*Teens ABBA Ace of Base ACT 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 Seinabo Sey September Sahara Hotnights Swedish House Mafia Teddybears The Cardigans Therion Tove Lo Tove Styrke Yung Lean Zara Larsson
Further reading
References