La det swinge

"Let It Swing/La det swinge"
Single by Bobbysocks!
from the album Bobbysocks!
Released	1985
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1985
Genre	Pop, schlager
Length	2:50
Label	Bahama Records
Writer(s)	Rolf Løvland[1] Alixzandra (English version)[2]
Producer(s)	Torgny Söderberg
"La det swinge" Eurovision Song Contest 1985 entry Country Norway Artist(s) Hanne Krogh, Elisabeth Andreassen As Bobbysocks! Language Norwegian Composer(s) Rolf Løvland Lyricist(s) Rolf Løvland Conductor Terje Fjærn Finals performance Final result 1st Final points 123 Appearance chronology ◄ "Lenge leve livet" (1984)    "Romeo" (1986) ►

"La det swinge" ("Let it swing") is a song in Norwegian, sung by the pop duo Bobbysocks!. It was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 – Norway's first victory in the contest.

Composition and production

The song is a tribute to dancing to old rock 'n' roll heard on the radio. Befitting the subject matter, the song itself is written in an old-fashioned style, with a memorable saxophone melody starting the song. The melody arrangement is in retro style, containing elements of contemporary 1980s music and throwbacks to the 1950s.

Background

The song entered, and won Melodi Grand Prix 1985, and was therefore selected to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985. For the performances, the two members – Hanne Krogh and Elisabeth Andreassen – appeared in sparkling, bright purple jackets, worn over black and white outfits; Krogh sported a black-and-white striped floor-length gown.

At the Eurovision Song Contest, the song was performed thirteenth on the night, following Italy's Al Bano and Romina Power with "Magic Oh Magic" and preceding the United Kingdom's Vikki Watson with "Love Is". At the close of voting, it received 123 points, placing 1st in a field of 19.

This was Elisabeth Andreasson's and Hanne Krogh's second appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest; in 1982 Elisabeth represented Sweden in the duo Chips with Kikki Danielsson singing "Dag efter dag". Danielsson incidentally finished third after Bobbysocks and West Germany's Wind, with "Bra vibrationer" in the 1985 contest, again representing Sweden. Andreasson in turn went on to appear in the contest on two more occasions – she finished sixth in 1994, performing a duet with Jan Werner Danielsen, entitled simply, "Duett" and in 1996, she appeared as a solo artist, finishing second to Ireland's Eimear Quinn. Krogh finished 17th (second from last) in the contest in 1971, with the song "Lykken er", and in 1991 she returned to the Contest as part of the group Just 4 Fun, finishing 17th with "Mrs. Thompson".

"La Det Swinge" was succeeded as Norwegian representative at the 1986 Contest by Ketil Stokkan with "Romeo".

Following their win, the single "La det swinge" peaked at #1 in the Norwegian and Belgian singles chart, and entered the charts in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, United Kingdom to name a few.

Track listing

1. "Let it Swing" – 2:50
2. "La det swinge" – 2:50

Chart details

Chart (1985)	Position
Norway	1
Belgium	1
Denmark	2
Sweden	4
Ireland	8
Netherlands	13
Austria	14
Switzerland	30
United Kingdom	44
Germany	47

Cover versions

• Ingela "Pling" Forsman wrote lyrics in Swedish, as "Låt det svänga", which was recorded by artists and groups as Stefan Borsch, Ingmar Nordströms och Jan Welander, all of them 1985.
• Swedish heavy metal group "Black Ingvars" covered song on their 1998 album "Schlager Metal".

References

1. Vem e de´du vill ha entry at Svensk mediadatabas, retrieved 11 July 2010
2. Let it swing entry at Svensk mediadatabas, retrieved 11 July 2010

External links

• "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Austrian singles chart
• "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Norwegian singles chart
• "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Swiss singles chart
• "La det swinge" at the Swedish singles chart