1985 in Scandinavian music

The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Scandinavian music in 1985.

Events

• 4 May – At the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, Norway wins the contest for the first time, with "La det swinge", performed by Bobbysocks!. Sweden finish 3rd, Finland 9th and Denmark 11th. ^[1]
• July The Tangomarkkinat festival is founded in Finland. ^[2]
• 16 September – A-ha release a new version of their previously unsuccessful 1984 single "Take On Me", accompanied by a new video. ^[3]
• 25 December – Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, formed earlier in the year, release their debut single, "No Presents for Christmas". ^[4]

Classical works

• Kalevi Aho
  • Oboe Sonata ^[5]
  • Solo II, for piano ^[6]
• Magnus Lindberg – Kraft ^[7]
• Einojuhani Rautavaara – Symphony No. 5 ^[8]
• Aulis Sallinen – Symphony No. 5, "Washington Mosaics" ^[9]

Hit singles

• A-ha
  • "Take On Me" (#1 Australia, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, West Germany) ^[3]
  • "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." (#1 Ireland, UK; #2 Denmark, Norway) ^[10]
• Gemini – "Just Like That"/"Live On The Love" (#24 Netherlands) ^[11]
• Gnags – "Elskende I Sommerlandet" (#4 Denmark) ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Hjálparsveitin – "Hjálpum þeim" (charity recording) ^[12]
• Imperiet – "Balladen om Briggen Blue Bird av Hull" ^[13]
• Tone Norum – "Can't You Stay" (#2 Sweden) ^[13]
• Swedish Metal Aid – "Give A Helpin' Hand" ^[14]

Eurovision Song Contest

• Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985
• Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985
• Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985
• Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Film and television music

• Björn Isfält – My Life as a Dog ^[15]

Births

• 16 May – Emilíana Torrini, Icelandic singer-songwriter ^[16]
• 8 September – Ragnar Þórhallsson, vocalist and guitarist ^[16]

Deaths

• 19 May – Hilding Rosenberg, Swedish composer (born 1892) ^[17]
• 29 May – Christian Hartmann, Norwegian composer (born 1910). ^[18]
• 5 August – Olav Kielland, composer and orchestra conductor (born 1901). ^[19]
• 13 September – Ruth Althén, Swedish operatic soprano (born 1890) ^[20]
• 3 October – Yngve Stoor, Swedish singer and composer (born 1912) ^[21]
• 18 November – Stephan Henrik Barratt-Due, Norwegian violinist and music teacher (born 1919). ^[22]

References

1. "Gothenburg 1985 – Scoreboard". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
2. Suzanne Cords (7 May 2023). "How the tango came to Finland". DW. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
3. Liam Allen (8 October 2010). "Taking on A-ha classic". BBC. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
4. "No Presents for Christmas". KingDiamondCoven.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
5. "Sonata - OB/PN". Trevco Music. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
6. "AHO Works for Solo Piano". Gramophone. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
7. Lindberg, Magnus (1985). "Kraft". G. Schirmer Inc. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
8. Barbara Blanchard Hong (2022). Rautavaara's Journey in Music. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 80. ISBN   9781538172346.
9. Tuck, Lon (11 October 1985). "Sallinen's Disjointed brilliance". Section: Metro. The Washington Post. Washington, DC. p. B6.
10. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 458. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
11. Hung, Steffen. "Gemini - Just Like That". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
12. "Hjálpum þeim [annað] (1985-)". Glatkistan (in Icelandic). 15 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
13. "SVERIGETOPPLISTAN - SINGLES TOP 100 19851129". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
14. Fraser Lewry (23 April 2024). "Swedish Metal Aid: The point where charity, hairspray and a singing horror show collide". Louder. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
15. Film Score Monthly, Volume 2. Lukas Kendall. 1997. p. 7.
16. Tipsfu (27 May 2023). "1985 In Iceland: Unveiling the Natural Wonders and Rich History". TipsFu. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
17. "Hilding C Rosenberg". SBL. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
18. Klouman, Carsten (13 February 2009). "Christian Hartmann". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk Biografisk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
19. Forberg, Monica Kielland (13 February 2009). "Olav Kielland". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk Biografisk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
20. Thyselius, Erik; Lindblad, Göran, eds. (1969). "Althén, Ruth E". Vem är det : Svensk biografisk handbok (in Swedish). P. A. Nordstedt & Söners. p. 24. Retrieved 18 May 2021– via Project Runeberg.
21. "Deaths". Pacific Islands Monthly. 57: 57.
22. Forberg, Monica Kielland (24 June 2016). "Stephan Henrik Barratt Due". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Store Norske Leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 25 March 2017.