Björn Afzelius
Björn Afzelius |
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Björn Afzelius (January 27, 1947 – February 16, 1999) was a Swedish singer, song writer and guitar player. Politically he was a socialist. His songs are about love, politics and joys in life.
Afzelius was born in Huskvarna in Småland. His father was an engineer and his mother was a housewife. His only sibling is his brother Bengt (b. 1952) who is a music teacher. He came into contact with music from a very young age, due to the fact that his mother and her side of the family were largely into music. In 1970, Afzelius formed the progg group Hoola Bandoola Band together with Mikael Wiehe. Wiehe and Afzelius became very close friends and worked together long after Hoola Bandoola had dissolved in 1975.
Afzelius released his first solo album in 1974, his last one in 1999. Some of his most popular songs are "Ikaros", "Tusen bitar" (Thousand pieces), "Sång till friheten" (Song for Freedom - which was originally recorded by Cuban Silvio Rodriguez as "El Día Feliz Que Está Ilegando"), "Kungens man" (The king's man), "Tankar i Havanna" (Thoughts in Havanna) and "Till min kära" (For my dear). He died from lung cancer in 1999, 52 years old, but he remains one of the most beloved artists ever in Scandinavia.
He wrote about 150 songs and sold over two and a half million albums. At his death, he was the best-selling Swedish artist ever with 2,5 million albums sold in the Nordics.
Discography
With Hoola Bandoola Band:
- 1971: Garanterat individuell
- 1972: Vem kan man lita på?
- 1973: På väg
- 1975: Fri information
- 1975: Stoppa matchen (single)
Solo Albums:
- 1974: Vem är det som är rädd?
- 1976: För kung och fosterland
- 1978: Johnny Boy (with Björn Afzelius Band)
- 1979: Bakom kulisserna (with Björn Afzelius Band)
- 1979: Another tale to tell (with Björn Afzelius Band) - Read the English lyrics Another Tale to Tell - lyrics
- 1980: Globetrotter (with Globetrotters)
- 1982: Innan tystnaden (with Globetrotters)
- 1982: Danska Nätter (live) (with Globetrotters)
- 1984: Exil (with Globetrotters)
- 1984: Afzelius; sång & gitarr (live)
- 1985: Nio liv (with Globetrotters)
- 1986: Grande Finale (live) (with Globetrotters)
- 1986: Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe (with Mikael Wiehe)
- 1987: Riddarna kring runda bordet
- 1988: Don Quixote
- 1988: En man, en röst, en gitarr
- 1990: Tusen bitar
- 1991: Nidaros (live)
- 1992: Afzelius, Bygren och Råstam (live)
- 1994: Nära dig
- 1997: Tankar vid 50
- 1999: Elsinore
- 2004: Björn Afzelius & Mikael Wiehe 1993 - Malmöinspelningarna. (with Mikael Wiehe)
Compilations:
- 1988: Björn Afzelius Bästa Vol I
- 1988: Björn Afzelius Bästa Vol II
- 1995: Björn Afzelius Bästa Vol III
- 1995: Afzelius Box (Bästa Vol 1, 2, 3)
- 1998: Den röda tråden - Definitivt
- 2002: Den röda tråden Vol 1
- 2002: Den röda tråden Vol 2
- 2005: Björn Afzelius Bästa
- 2006: Guldkorn vol.1
For a complete discography including singles, EPs and guest appearances, please visit the official homepage, bjornafzelius.com
References
- "Björn Afzelius". Find-A-Grave. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
External links
- Björn Afzelius, official website