Eddie Meduza
Encyclopedia
Eddie Meduza (June 17, 1948–January 17, 2002) was a Swedish
composer
and musician
working mainly in the rockabilly
genre. Many of his songs were about alcohol, women, and cars, quite often with obscene
lyrics. Sometimes they were also politically oriented, many aimed against the Swedish Social Democrats
. He was also a popular performer of Raggare
music.
Norstedt's other identity was the far more vulgar
E. Hitler. In this guise he generally recorded more sexually explicit material.
He is remembered now mostly for his more explicit work, but many of his songs are very ironic
and some contain clever, albeit unpolished, social commentary
, and earn his music something of a cult following. Norstedt also recorded serious rockabilly
songs with a distinct 1950s flavour in his own studio, called Studio Ronka (ronka or runka is Swedish slang for masturbation
, similar to wanking in English.). He played most of the instruments himself. He often got bad reviews from the press, notably Expressen
journalist Mats Olsson, to which Norstedt replied by writing even more offensive songs, such as Kuken står på Mats Olsson (The cock stands on Mats Olsson), Mats Olsson är en jävla bög (Mats Olsson is a damn fag) and Mats Olsson runkar kuken (Mats Olsson is wanking his cock). He reportedly said that no matter what he did it was never good enough for the critics.
Despite this he was considered an accomplished musician and songwriter, in particular by Swedish record company executive Bert Karlsson
who, with mixed results, tried to foster that talent in Norstedt. He never had a major breakthrough and this is commonly attributed to his increasingly obscene songwriting. According to himself, he developed alcoholism
in the late 1970s during periods of intensive touring. After collapsing on his way to a show he changed his lifestyle completely. He sobered up and started working out. However, despite his efforts the years of alcohol abuse eventually took their toll and he died in his home. He is survived by his wife and children.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
working mainly in the rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
genre. Many of his songs were about alcohol, women, and cars, quite often with obscene
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
lyrics. Sometimes they were also politically oriented, many aimed against the Swedish Social Democrats
Swedish Social Democratic Party
The Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
. He was also a popular performer of Raggare
Raggare
Raggare is a subculture found mostly in Sweden and parts of Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Austria...
music.
Norstedt's other identity was the far more vulgar
Vulgarity
Vulgarity is the quality of being common, coarse or unrefined. This judgement may refer to language, visual art, social classes or social climbers...
E. Hitler. In this guise he generally recorded more sexually explicit material.
He is remembered now mostly for his more explicit work, but many of his songs are very ironic
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
and some contain clever, albeit unpolished, social commentary
Social commentary
Social commentary is the act of rebelling against an individual, or a group of people by rhetorical means, or commentary on social issues or society...
, and earn his music something of a cult following. Norstedt also recorded serious rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
songs with a distinct 1950s flavour in his own studio, called Studio Ronka (ronka or runka is Swedish slang for masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
, similar to wanking in English.). He played most of the instruments himself. He often got bad reviews from the press, notably Expressen
Expressen
Expressen is one of two nationwide evening tabloid newspapers in Sweden, the other being Aftonbladet. Expressen was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and slogans "it stings" or "Expressen to your rescue", always on the reader's side....
journalist Mats Olsson, to which Norstedt replied by writing even more offensive songs, such as Kuken står på Mats Olsson (The cock stands on Mats Olsson), Mats Olsson är en jävla bög (Mats Olsson is a damn fag) and Mats Olsson runkar kuken (Mats Olsson is wanking his cock). He reportedly said that no matter what he did it was never good enough for the critics.
Despite this he was considered an accomplished musician and songwriter, in particular by Swedish record company executive Bert Karlsson
Bert Karlsson
Bert Willis Karlsson is a Swedish record company manager, entrepreneur, former politician and front figure of the New Democracy party....
who, with mixed results, tried to foster that talent in Norstedt. He never had a major breakthrough and this is commonly attributed to his increasingly obscene songwriting. According to himself, he developed alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
in the late 1970s during periods of intensive touring. After collapsing on his way to a show he changed his lifestyle completely. He sobered up and started working out. However, despite his efforts the years of alcohol abuse eventually took their toll and he died in his home. He is survived by his wife and children.
Albums
- 1975 - Errol
- 1979 - Eddie Meduza & The Roaring Cadillacs
- 1980 - Garagetaper
- 1981 - Gasen I Botten
- 1982 - För Jaevle Braa!
- 1982 - 21 Värsta !!!
- 1983 - Dåren E Lös
- 1984 - West A Fool Away
- 1985 - Ain't Got No Cadillac
- 1986 - Collection (2 LP)
- 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 1)
- 1989 - Dom Dåraktigaste Dumheterna Digitalt (Röven 2)
- 1990 - På begäran
- 1990 - You Ain't My Friend
- 1991 - Collection (CD)
- 1995 - Harley Davidson
- 1997 - Silver Wheels
- 1998 - Värsting Hits
- 1999 - Väg 13
- 1999 - Dance Mix
- 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 1
- 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 2
- 1999 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 3
- 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 4
- 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 5
- 2000 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 6
- 2001 - Scoop
- 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 7
- 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 8
- 2001 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 9
- 2002 - Just Like An Eagle
- 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 10
- 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 11
- 2002 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 12
- 2003 - Live(s)! CD+DVD
- 2003 - 100% Eddie Meduza
- 2003 - Live(s)! CD
- 2004 - Rock'n Rebel
- 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 13
- 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 14
- 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 15
- 2005 - Alla Tiders Fyllekalas Vol. 16
- 2005 - Raggare
- 2006 - Dragspelsrock
- 2006 - Dubbelidioterna
Singles
- 1975 - Tretton År / Här Hemma
- 1978 - Punkjävlar / Oh What A Cadillac
- 1979 - Yea Yea Yea / Honey B
- 1979 - Såssialdemokraterna / Norwegian Boogie / Roll Over Beethoven
- 1981 - Volvo / 34:an
- 1981 - Gasen I Botten / Mera Brännvin
- 1982 - Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha / Tonight
- 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Tonight
- 1982 - Jätteparty I Kväll / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha
- 1982 - Sverige / Stupid Cupid
- 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha...
- 1983 - Fruntimmer Ska En Ha... / Han Eller Jag, Vem Ska Du Ha?
- 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Bröst / Leader Of The Rockers
- 1983 - Jag Vill Ha En Brud Med Stora Pattar / Leader Of The Rockers
- 1984 - Sveriges Kompani (Militärpolka) / Dunder Å Snus
- 1984 - Punkar'n Å Raggar'n / Hej På Dig Evert
- 1984 - Fisdisco / California Sun
- 1985 - The Wanderer / It's All Over Now
- 1988 - Småländsk Sommarnatt / Birds And Bees
- 1990 - Sweet Linda Boogie / Heart Don't Be A Fool