Björn Skifs
Encyclopedia
Björn Nils Olof Skifs is a Swedish singer, songwriter
, actor
, and screenwriter
.
Björn Skifs formed his first musical group Slam Creepers’ in 1963. Slam Creepers’ split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede
, the band had a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100
in 1974 with a cover of Hooked on a Feeling
. Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet Med varann with Anni-Frid Lyngstad
for his 1975 album Schiffz.
Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess
, released in 1984. A single and video, The Arbiter's Song was released in 1985. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including One Night in Bangkok
, later performed by Murray Head
. Skifs did not perform the role on stage; in the original London production the character was played by Tom Jobe.
Povel Ramel
gave Skifs the Karamelodiktstipendiet stipend in 1984.
Björn Skifs represented Sweden twice in the Eurovision Song Contest
, both in the 1978 contest
and in the 1981 contest
. In 2000 he hosted Melodifestivalen
, the Swedish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2002 he had a major hit with the song Håll Mitt Hjärta (Hold My Heart) which is a Swedish version of André de Lang's song Same Ol' Story. It stayed on Svensktoppen
between 27 April 2003 and 8 January 2006 for a total of 142 weeks.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Björn Skifs formed his first musical group Slam Creepers’ in 1963. Slam Creepers’ split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede
Blue Swede
Blue Swede was a Swedish rock band from the early to mid 1970s, that succeeded with a few singles which were covers of other artists' material.-Career:...
, the band had a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 1974 with a cover of Hooked on a Feeling
Hooked on a Feeling
"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written by Mark James and originally performed by B. J. Thomas. Featuring the sound of the electric sitar, the song reached number five in 1969 on the Billboard Hot 100.-History:...
. Björn Skifs left the band in 1976 to pursue a solo career. He recorded the duet Med varann with Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Prinzessin Reuss von Plauen , is a Norwegian-born Swedish pop singer...
for his 1975 album Schiffz.
Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for Chess
Chess (musical)
Chess is a musical with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story involves a romantic triangle between two top players, an American and a Russian, in a world chess championship, and a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other;...
, released in 1984. A single and video, The Arbiter's Song was released in 1985. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including One Night in Bangkok
One Night in Bangkok
"One Night in Bangkok" is the title of a song originally sung by the British actor and Pop-dance singer Murray Head on the 1984 concept album for the musical Chess...
, later performed by Murray Head
Murray Head
Murray Seafield Saint-George Head is a British actor and singer, most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" and "One Night in Bangkok" and his album Say It Ain't So...
. Skifs did not perform the role on stage; in the original London production the character was played by Tom Jobe.
Povel Ramel
Povel Ramel
Baron Povel Karl Henric Ramel was a Swedish entertainer. Ramel was a singer, pianist, vaudeville artist, author and a novelty song composer. His style was characterized by imaginative wit, both verbal and musical...
gave Skifs the Karamelodiktstipendiet stipend in 1984.
Björn Skifs represented Sweden twice in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
, both in the 1978 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
and in the 1981 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1981
The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 was the 26th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 April 1981 at the Simmonscourt Pavilion of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin. The presenter was Doireann Ní Bhriain...
. In 2000 he hosted Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen is an annual music competition organised by Swedish public broadcasters Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio . It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almost every year since 1959...
, the Swedish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest.
In 2002 he had a major hit with the song Håll Mitt Hjärta (Hold My Heart) which is a Swedish version of André de Lang's song Same Ol' Story. It stayed on Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
between 27 April 2003 and 8 January 2006 for a total of 142 weeks.
LP
- 1969 - From both sides now
- 1970 - Every bit of my life
- 1971 - Opopoppa
- 1972 - Blåblus
- 1973 - Pinewood rally
- 1974 - Out of the blue
- 1975 - Schiffz
- 1977 - Watch out!
- 1979 - Split vision
- 1980 - Zkiffz
- 1981 - SPÖK!
- 1981 - Björns ballader
- 1983 - If...Then...
- 1984 - Paris - Dakar - Köpenhamn
- 1984 - Chess
- 1985 - Vild honung
- 1987 - Zick Zack
- 2001 - Back on track
- 2002 - Ingen annan
- 2005 - Decennier...Sånger från en annan tid
- 2006 - Andra decennier
- 2007 - Eye to Eye
EP/Singles
- 1973 - Sally var en reko brud
- 1973 - Hooked on a FeelingHooked on a Feeling"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written by Mark James and originally performed by B. J. Thomas. Featuring the sound of the electric sitar, the song reached number five in 1969 on the Billboard Hot 100.-History:...
- 1973 - Never My LoveNever My Love"Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Donald and Richard Addrisi and best known from a hit 1967 recording by The Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success was as the songwriters of "Never My Love"...
- 1973 - Silly Milly
- 1975 - MichaelangeloMichelangelo (song)Michelangelo, written by Bengt Palmers and Björn Skifs, is a Swedish song performed by Björn Skifs, reaching fifth place in Melodifestivalen 1975, the Swedish qualification competition for the Eurovision Song Contest that year...
- 1976 - Firefly
- 1977 - Lady
- 1977 - Tarantula
- 1978 - Det blir alltid värre framåt nattenDet blir alltid värre framåt natten"Det blir alltid värre framåt natten" was the Swedish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in Swedish by Björn Skifs....
- 1978 - Rococo rendez-vous
- 1981 - Fångad i en drömFångad i en dröm"Fångad i en dröm" is a song by Björn Skifs performed in Swedish, which represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981....
- 1985 - Vild och vacker
- 1991 - Om igen
- 2010 - When You Tell The World You're MineWhen You Tell the World You're Mine"When You Tell the World You're Mine" is a song recorded by Swedish singers Agnes and Björn Skifs. The song was performed at the Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010. It is also the official wedding song, written especially for this occasion and as a...
with Agnes CarlssonAgnes CarlssonAgnes Emilia Carlsson, also known mononymously as Agnes , is a Swedish recording artist. She rose to fame as the winner of Idol 2005, the second season of the Swedish Idol series...
Collections
- 1972 - Björns ballader
- 1978 - Björns bästa
- 1989 - Collection
- 1990 - Björn Skifs
- 1991 - Songs for you
- 1997 - Björn Skifs 50/50
- 2004 - Skifs Hits!
Filmography
- DrömkåkenDrömkåkenDrömkåken is a 1993 Swedish comedy film directed by Peter Dalle.-Cast:*Björn Skifs as Göran*Suzanne Reuter as Tina*Zara Zetterqvist as Petra*Mikael Håck as Anton*Lena Nyman as Sanna*Jan Malmsjö as The major*Pierre Lindstedt as Ernst...
(1993) aka The Dream House - Joker (1991)
- Strul (1988) aka Framed
- Smugglarkungen (1985) aka King of Smugglers
- Chess Moves
- Privatdeckarna: Uppdrag Gran Canaria (1984)
- Prima Veras saga om Olav den hellige (1983)
- En flicka på halsen (1982) aka Saddled with a Girl
- Sverige åt svenskarna (1980) aka Battle of Sweden, aka Sweden for the Swedes, aka The Drinking Man's War
- Toy StoryToy StoryToy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
(Swedish voice of Woody) - Toy Story 2Toy Story 2Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer animated film directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon. It is the sequel to the 1995 film Toy Story, released by Walt Disney Pictures and the third film to be produced by Pixar...
(Swedish voice of Woody)