Björn Nils Olof Skifs (; born 20 April 1947) is a Swedish singer, songwriter, actor, and screenwriter. Skifs has represented Sweden twice in the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...
, in the 1978 contest and in the 1981 contest.
Career
Björn Skifs formed his first musical group,
Slam Creepers, in 1962. Slam Creepers split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus (a farmer's or workman's shirt (blus, blouse) made from blue (blå, blue) fabric - a pun (blues)) in 1972. As the lead singer of
Blue Swede (another pun - blue + suede), the band had a No. 1 hit on
''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1974 with a cover of
Mark James's "
Hooked on a Feeling".
Skifs embarked on a solo career after Slam Creepers broke up in 1969 and previously he had recorded the duet ''Med varann'' with
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (born 15 November 1945), also known simply as Frida, is a Swedish singer who is best known as one of the founding members and lead singers of the pop band ABBA. Courtesy titles ''Principality of Reuss-Gera, Princess Re ...
for his 1975 album ''Schiffz!''. Skifs appeared as The Arbiter on the original studio album for ''
Chess
Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
'', released in 1984. A single and video, ''The Arbiter (I Know the Score)'', was released in 1985. Skifs also recorded several demos for the album, including ''
One Night in Bangkok'', later performed by
Murray Head. Skifs did not perform the role on stage (in the original London production the character was played by Tom Jobe).
Povel Ramel gave Skifs the
Karamelodiktstipendiet award in 1984.
Skifs has represented Sweden twice in the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...
, in the
1978 contest and in the
1981 contest. In 2000, he hosted
Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen (; ) is an annual song competition organised by Swedish public broadcasters Sveriges Television (SVT) and Sveriges Radio (SR). It determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been staged almo ...
, the Swedish heat of the Eurovision Song Contest, along with nine other presenters.
In 2002, he had a major hit with the song "Håll mitt hjärta" (Hold My Heart), which is a Swedish version of
Peter Hallströms song ''Same Ol' Story''. It stayed on
Svensktoppen
''Svensktoppen'' () is a weekly record chart airing on Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982–1985. In the years leading up to the January 20 ...
from 27 April 2003 until 8 January 2006, for a total of 142 weeks. In April 2020, Skifs performed at the Swedish live-show ''En kväll tillsammans'', broadcast on
SVT, which aimed to bring in money to the Swedish
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
risk groups. Skifs performed the song "Håll Mitt Hjärta" at the end of the show.
Skifs was the opening act of the final of the
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on 11 May, performing "Hooked on a Feeling".
Discography
Albums
EP/Singles
* 1973 – "Sally var en reko brud"
* 1973 – "
Hooked on a Feeling"
* 1973 – "
Never My Love"
* 1973 – "Silly Milly"
* 1975 – "
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
"
* 1976 – "Firefly"
* 1977 – "Lady"
* 1977 – "Tarantula"
* 1978 – "
Det blir alltid värre framåt natten"
* 1978 – "Rococo rendez-vous"
* 1981 – ""
* 1985 – "Vild och vacker"
* 1985 – "The Arbiter (I Know the Score)"
* 1991 – "Om igen"
* 2010 – "
When You Tell the World You're Mine"
with Agnes Carlsson
* 2011 – "Break the Spell"
* 2012 – "Step Right Up"
Collections
* 1978 – ''Björns bästa'' / ''Björn Skifs' Greatest Hits''
* 1981 – ''Björns ballader''
* 1989 – ''Collection''
* 1990 – ''Björn Skifs''
* 1991 – ''Songs for you''
* 1997 – ''50/50''
* 2004 – ''Skifs Hits!''
Filmography
* ''
Drömkåken'' (1993) a.k.a. ''The Dream House''
* ''Joker'' (1991)
* ''
Strul'' (1988) a.k.a. ''Framed''
* ''Smugglarkungen'' (1985) a.k.a. ''King of Smugglers''
* ''Chess Moves''
* ''Privatdeckarna: Uppdrag Gran Canaria'' (1984)
* ''Prima Veras saga om Olav den hellige'' (1983)
* ''En flicka på halsen'' (1982) a.k.a. ''Saddled with a Girl''
* ''
Sverige åt svenskarna'' (1980) a.k.a. ''Battle of Sweden'', a.k.a. ''Sweden for the Swedes'', a.k.a. ''The Drinking Man's War''
* ''
Toy Story
''Toy Story'' is a 1995 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the first installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' franchise and the Firsts in animation, firs ...
'' (Swedish voice of
Woody)
* ''
Toy Story 2
''Toy Story 2'' is a 1999 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and the first sequel to Toy Story. It is the second installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' franchise and was directed by J ...
'' (Swedish voice of Woody)
Notes
References
External links
Björn Skifs Official site (archived 2005)Björn Skifs at Blixten & Co agency (archived 2009)*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skifs, Bjorn
1947 births
Living people
People from Vansbro
Melodifestivalen winners
Eurovision Song Contest entrants
Swedish male actors
Swedish male singers
Swedish-language singers
Capitol Records artists
EMI Records artists
Musicians from Dalarna County
English-language singers from Sweden
Blue Swede members
Male actors from Dalarna County