Forty Years of Främling – A Substantial Sustainable Hit

In our research project, Searching for Sophia in Music Production, we explore essential innovative factors for developing the Swedish music industry and flourishing music exports. One significant factor is the significance of solid hit songs, i.e. songs that have significantly impacted a broad category of people. A hit can affect people in time and space and can be timeless by withstanding the test of time. In this study, we have chosen to focus on the Swedish hit song Främling, which was launched nationally and internationally in 1983. We analyse and highlight factors and circumstances surrounding the song's creation, promotion,heritage, and further significance for how the Swedish music industry developed in the following years. To concretise and fulfil this purpose, we have used the following research question: what decisive success criteria for Främling can be identified regarding aspects suchas innovation, teamwork, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, marketing, artistic qualities and technical qualities in music production? We have problematised and contextualised the research question with theories about creativity, motivation, innovation, youth culture, entrepreneurship, music industry development, artistry, text analysis, music analysis and music production analysis. Methodologically, the paper is based on a case study with varied source material consisting of interviews with key players in the Swedish music industry,literature studies, articles, and websites, as well as film documentaries about the record company Mariann and analysis of observational data based on film clips of TV-shows like the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest and Swedish talk shows like Hyland's Hörna. Our findings indicate that the success of Främling was predicated on long-term and goal-oriented teamwork with several key people in different areas of expertise. The work process had a clear hierarchical structure but with sensitivity to strong personality traits, personal integrity, and inner motivation. The ability to take calculated risks and the importance of making quick decisions on the spur of the moment were crucial, as was the capacity to think creatively outside the box and challenge established formats. Skilful craftsmanship, musical qualities, unique artistic characteristics, and the purposeful long-term planning in the song's launching contributed to its enormous success. Främling's significant impact was the cornerstone of a long and sustainable career for the artist Carola Häggkvist, who performed the song. Moreover, Främling contributed significantly to the development of the record company Mariann as a significant player in the Swedish record industry. Another conclusion is that Främling created increased opportunities for Swedish popular music nationally and internationally and even laid a foundation for Swedish victories in the Eurovision Song Contest with the Herrey's in 1984 and Carola Häggkvist in 1991. To this day – forty years later – Främling still holds the record as the best-selling national album in Sweden.

David Thyrén, Senior Lecturer in Musicology, Royal College of Music (KMH) Sweden david.thyren@kmh.se +46 73 867 17 22

Jan-Olof Gullö, Professor in Music Production, Royal College of Music (KMH) Sweden jan-olof.gullo@kmh.se +47 70 236 52 92