Lena Philipsson

Lena Philipsson
Lena Philipsson
	Philipsson in November 2012
Born	Maria Magdalena Filipsson; 19 January 1966 (age 58); Vetlanda, Sweden
Occupations	Singer; songwriter; media personality;
Years active	1984–present
	Musical career
Genres	Pop; schlager;
Instruments	Vocals; keyboards;
Labels	Sony
Website	lenaphilipsson.se

Maria Magdalena Philipsson (born 19 January 1966), known by her stage name Lena Philipsson, is a Swedish singer, songwriter and media personality.^[1] She represented Sweden in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing fifth. As of 2024, Philipsson is the female lead vocalist of the Swedish duo Roxette.^[2]

Career

Philipsson was born in Vetlanda, Sweden. She participated in the Swedish New Faces in 1982. Her career started with the single Boy/You Open My Eyes in 1984 and with her entries at Melodifestivalen in 1986, 1987 and 1988. In 1987, she released the song 'Aquarius 99', a duet with the Russian composer Igor Nikolaev. In 1989, she had great success with the album My Name, which included top hits "Standing in My Rain", "Why," and "Leave a Light". In 1991, she recorded a concept album and show about a female secret agent, 'Agent 006'. In the early 1990s, her fame increased in Sweden, and she continued to release albums until 1997. In 2001, she had a stage comeback; the Lena Philipsson Show was sold out for two and a half years around Sweden. In 2004, she returned after a seven-year hiatus from the album charts.^[3]

In 2004, she entered Melodifestivalen for the fourth time as a solo artist, with "Det gör ont". She made it through the semifinal process and emerged as the winner on 20 March 2004, going on to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the translated English language version "It Hurts". The song, composed by Thomas Eriksson, combined up-tempo and disco themes. Philipsson's stage appearance caused much controversy in the Swedish press and media because her performance, in a short fuchsia pink dress and high heels, consisted of dancing with the microphone stand in a fashion similar to Aerosmith's Steven Tyler.^{[citation needed]}

Despite being the third favourite to win the competition, she finished in joint 5th place. The album, Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan, went gold in nine days, with "Det gör ont" as its lead single.^{[citation needed]} It also spawned the singles "Delirium", "Lena Anthem" and "På gatan där jag bor".^{[citation needed]}

The Swedish radio show Tracks voted her best female artist, best Swedish artist, and artist of the year for 2004, and "Det gör ont" was voted best song.^{[citation needed]}

She released her new album Jag ångrar ingenting in 2005. After one day in the Swedish shops, it had sold over 30,000 copies. A one-hour TV special featuring new songs as well as old hits and some interviews aired in November the same year.^{[citation needed]} In January 2006, Philipsson announced she was to host the 2006 Melodifestivalen. Because Melodifestivalen is a family show, her appearance as host was met with some controversy due to numerous jokes considered inappropriate for the audience.^{[citation needed]}

In early 2007, she released her new version of her greatest hits, "Lena 20 år". The album included hits from all her albums except "Fantasy." Also included was a new song "Jag måste skynda mig på".^{[citation needed]} Lena and Orup set up their own show on China Teatern in Stockholm at the same time as the album release. The show was a critical and public success. Over 113,000 saw it in 2007, and there was a new premiere of the show in Gothenburg in early 2008.^{[citation needed]} After its success in Stockholm and Gothenburg, the show Lena+Orup went on tour across Sweden late 2008. At the same time, Lena and Orup recorded a duet album called "Dubbel", released in November.^{[citation needed]}

Although she sewed her own stage clothes during her early career, she has said that she no longer has the time. In the early 1990s, she was one of three pop stars who were portrayed on stamps in Sweden; the others were Roxette and Jerry Williams. In the 1980s, she sang a duet on TV with American singer Michael Bolton.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 May 2024, Roxette founder Per Gessle announced Philipsson as the band's new female vocalist, replacing the late Marie Fredriksson. The band is scheduled to tour South Africa & Australia in February-March 2025.^[2]

Melodifestivalen

Philipsson has participated in Melodifestivalen, the Swedish pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest six times: four times as a performer and twice as a songwriter.

As a performer
- 1986, Kärleken är evig (2nd) (Love is eternal)
- 1987, Dansa i neon (5th) (Dancing in neon)
- 1988, Om igen (2nd) (Yet again)
- 2004, Det gör ont (Winner) (It hurts)
As a songwriter
- 1991, Tvillingsjäl (performed by Pernilla Wahlgren) (Soulmate)
- 1999, Det svär jag på (performed by Arvingarna) (I swear)

Discography

Studio albums

Chart placings below are from Sverigetopplistan, the official Swedish top 60 singles and top 60 albums charts.

13 Lena Philippson albums, including one with Orup and two compilations, have reached the Swedish top 20.
16 singles have reached the Swedish top 60 (11 top 20), including both Swedish and English versions of Det gör ont.

Album Information
Kärleken är evig Released: 1986 Producer: Torgny Söderberg & Rutger Gunnarsson Label: Mariann Records Chart positions: #20 Singles: 1986 "Kärleken är evig" #6 1986 "Åh Amadeus" 1986 "Jag känner"
Dansa i neon Released: 13 April 1987 Producer: – Label: Mariann Records Chart positions: #19 Singles: 1987 "Dansa i neon" #9 1987 "Cheerio" 1987 "Saknar dig innan du går" 1987 "Den ende"
Talking in Your Sleep Released: 5 May 1988 Producer: – Label: Sony Music Entertainment Chart positions: #9 Certification:Gold (+ 50 000) Singles: 1987 "I'm a Fool/Teach Me Tiger" 1988 "Om igen" #10 1988 "Talking in Your Sleep" 1988 "I Varje spegel/Ain't It Just the Way"
My Name Released: 1989 Producer: Torgny Söderberg & Lena Philipsson Label: Sony Music Entertainment Chart positions: #10 Certification:2× Platinum (+ 130 000) Singles: 1989 "Tänd ett ljus" #12 1989 "Standing in My Rain/Blue Jeans" 1990 "Why"
A Woman's Gotta Do What a Woman's Gotta Do Released: 10 April 1991 Producer: – Label: Sony Music Entertainment Chart positions: #7 Certification: Gold(+ 56 000) Singles: 1991 "The Escape" 1991 "006/Hard to be a Lover" 1991 "The Preacher" 1992 "Are You in or Are You Out?"
Fantasy Released: 1993 Producer: Torgny Söderberg och Rutger Gunnarsson Label: Sony Music Entertainment Chart positions: – Singles: 1993 "Fantasy" 1993 "Give Me Your Love" 1993 "Baby Baby Love"
Lena Philipsson Released: 22 November 1995 Producer: Torgny Söderberg och Rutger Gunnarsson Label: Sony Music Entertainment Chart positions: #10 Singles: 1994 "Månsken i augusti" #38 1995 "Kärlek kommer med sommar" 1995 "Stjärnorna" #29 1995 "Moder Swea"
Bästa vänner Released: 1997 Producer: – Label: EMI Chart positions: – Singles: 1997 "Bästa vänner" 1997 "Tänk om jag aldrig mer" 1997 "Av och på"
Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan Released: 4 August 2004 Producer: Anders Hansson Label: Columbia Chart positions: #1 Certification: 2× Platinum (+120.000) Singles: 2004 "Det gör ont" #1 (spent seven weeks at #1) 2004 "Delirium" #5 2004 "Lena Anthem" #4 2004 "På gatan där jag bor" #26
Jag ångrar ingenting Released: 26 October 2005 Producer: Anders Hansson Label: Columbia Chart positions: #2 Certification: Platinum (+60.000) Singles: 2005 "Unga pojkar och äldre män" #4 2005 "Han jobbar i affär" #9 2006 "Jag ångrar ingenting" 2006 "Det ringer på min dörr"
Lena and Orup: Dubbel Released: 12 November 2008 Producer: Anders Hansson, Peter Månsson Label: Chart positions: #2 Certification: Platinum (+60.000) Singles: 2008 "Nu när du gått" #1 2009 "Fem minuter i himlen"
Världen snurrar Released: 15 February 2012 Producer: Label: Universal Music Sweden Chart positions: #4 Singles: 2012 "Du följer väl med?"
Jag är ingen älskling Released: 19 September 2015 Producer: Label: Universal Music Sweden Chart positions: #4
Maria Magdalena Released: 5 June 2020 Producer: Label: Universal Music Sweden Chart Positions: #6

2001 single Spell of Love reached #53
2004 single It Hurts (English version of Det gor ont) reached #4
2011 single Dancing in the Neon Light featuring Dead by April reached #50

Other albums

Boy (1987)
Hitlåtar med Lena Philipsson 1985–1987 (1988)
Lena Philipsson (1994)
Hennes bästa (1998)
Lena Philipsson Collection 1984–2001 (2001) – (reached #13 in the Swedish chart)
100% Lena/20 hits (2002)
Lady Star (2006)
Lena 20 år (2007) – (reached #2 in the Swedish chart)

Singles

"Boy" / "You Open My Eyes" (As Lea, 1984)
"Kärleken är evig" / "Om kärleken är blind" (1986)
"Åh Amadeus" (1986)
"Jag känner" (1986)
"Dansa i neon" (1987)
"Cheerio" / "Det går väl an" (1987)
"Saknar dig innan du går" (1987)
"Den ende" (1987)
"I'm a Fool" / "Teach Me Tiger" (1987)
"Om igen" / "Vem skall sova över" (1988)
"Talking in Your Sleep" (1988)
"I varje spegel" / "Ain't it Just the Way" (1988)
"Tänd ett ljus" / "What Can I Do?" (1989)
"Standing in My Rain" / "Blue Jeans" (1989)
"Why (Så lätt kommer du inte undan)" / "strong man" (1989)
"Blue jeans/How does it feel" (1990)
"The Escape" (1991)
"006" / "Hard to Be a Lover" (1991)
"The Preacher" (1991)
"Are You in or are You Out" (1992)
"Fantasy" (As Lena Philipson, 1993)
"Give Me Your Love" (As Lena Philipson, 1993)
"Baby Baby Love" (As Lena Philipson,1993)
"Månsken i augusti" (As Lena Philipssson, 1994)
"Kärlek kommer med sommar" / "Vila hos mig" (1995)
"Stjärnorna" (1995)
"Moder Swea" / "Underbar" (1995)
"Bästa vänner" (1997)
"Tänk om jag aldrig mer" (1997)
"I Believe in Miracles" (2000) (radio)
"Fly Me Over the Rainbow" (2001) (radio)
"Spell of Love" / "Lady Star" (2001)
"Det gör ont" (2004)
"Delirium" (2004)
"Lena Anthem" (2004)
"På gatan där jag bor" (2005)
"Unga pojkar & äldre män" (2005)
"Han jobbar i affär" (2005)
"Jag ångrar ingenting" (2006)
"Det ringer på min dörr" (2006)
"Nu när du gått (with Orup)" (2008)
"Fem minuter i himlen (with Orup)" (2009)
"Dancing in the Neon Light (with Dead By April)" (2011)
"Idiot" (2011)
"Live Tomorrow" (2011)
”Galen" (2018)
”Maria Magdalena" (2019)
”Du ljuger" (2019)
”Du är aldrig ensam" (2019)
"Sällskapssjuk" (with Per Gessle (2024)

Other appearances

Schlagertimmen (1986)
Jacobs stege (1988) performing "Aquarius" with Igor Nikolayev
Melodifestival special (1999)
Barn 2000 (2000)
Schooldays (2000)
Livet är en schlager soundtrack (2000)
Kopparbärs-Rock Vol.5 (2001)
Melodifestivalen 2003 (as co-host) (2003) performing "Flickorna i Småland" with Charlotte Perrelli.
Melodifestivalen 2006 (as host) (2006)
Konstkuppen 2013 (as host) (2013)
Performing at Julgalan (2014)^[4]

Rocktaget 1991

Svensktoppen songs

Om kärleken är blind – 1986
Kärleken är evig – 1986
Åh Amadeus – 1986
Det går väl an – 1986
Dansa i neon – 1987
Saknar dej innan du går – 1987
Om igen – 1988
I varje spegel – 1988
Månsken i augusti – 1994
Stjärnorna – 1995
Det gör ont – 2004
Delirium – 2004
Lena Anthem – 2004–2005
På gatan där jag bor – 2004–2005
Unga pojkar & äldre män – 2005
Han jobbar i affär – 2005–2006
Jag ångrar ingenting – 2006
Nu när du gått – 2008 (with Orup)

Failing to enter the list

Bästa vänner – 1997
Det ringer på min dörr – 2006
Jag måste skynda mig på – 2007 (with Orup)

Songs on Radio P3 Tracks Top 20 Chart

Dansa i neon – 1987
I'm a Fool – 1988
Om igen – 1988
Talkin in Your Sleep – 1988
Tänd ett ljus – 1989
Standing in My Rain – 1989/1990
Why (så lätt kommer du inte undan) – 1990
The Escape – 1991
006 – 1991
Are You in, or are You out – 1992
Fantasy – 1993
Månsken i augusti – 1994
Stjärnona – 1995
Det gör ont – 2004
Delirum – 2004
Lena Anthem – 2004
På gatan där jag bor – 2005
Unga pojkar & äldre män – 2005
Han jobbar i affär – 2005–2006
Jag ångrar ingenting – 2006

Just outside the list

Blue Jeans, 1989
Give Me Your Love, 1993
Spell of Love, 2001

References

^ "Lena Philipsson". Discogs. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b Taylor, Caleb (2 May 2024). "Roxette frontman reveals replacement for late Marie Fredriksson as the band makes a major announcement". Seven Network. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ Lucas, John. "Biography: Lena Philipsson". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
^ "Julgalan". lenaphilipsson.com. ^{[dead link]}

External links

Preceded by Fame	Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004	Succeeded by Martin Stenmarck
Preceded by Arja Saijonmaa	OGAE Second Chance Contest winner 1988	Succeeded by Lecia Jønsson