La det swinge

Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|Norway "La det swinge"


caption =
year = 1985
country = Norway
artist = Hanne Krogh Sundbø ("Hanne Krogh"), Elisabeth Andreassen
as = Bobbysocks
with =
language = Norwegian
languages =
composer = Rolf Løvland
lyricist = Rolf Løvland
conductor = Terje Fjærn
place = 1st
points = 123
place_semi =
points_semi =
lyrics = [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1985no from Diggiloo Thrush]
clip =
prev = "Lenge Leve Livet"
prev_link = Lenge Leve Livet
next = "Romeo"
next_link = Romeo (song)Infobox Single
Name = Let It Swing/La det swinge


Artist = Bobbysocks
from Album = Bobbysocks
Released = 1985
Format = gramophone record
Recorded = 1985
Genre = Pop
Length = 2:50
Label = Bahama Records
Writer = Rolf Løvland, Alix Zandra
Producer = Torgny Söderberg
Video director = ?
Certification = (unknown)
Chart position = 1 (Norway), 4 (Sweden)
Reviews =
Last single = (none)
This single = "Let It Swing/La det swinge"
(1985)
Next single = "Waiting for the Morning"
(1986)

"La det swinge" (English: "Let it Swing") is a song in Norwegian, sung by the pop duo Bobbysocks, consisting of Elisabeth Andreassen and Hanne Krogh. The song won the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 for Norway. The song is particularly well-known by Norwegian fans, as it represented their country's first ever Contest victory (Norway holds the unwanted distinction of having failed to score a point most often).

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 setting the chorus off. The melody arrangement is in retro style, containing elements of contemporary 1980s music and throwbacks to the 1950s.

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 had received 123 points, placing 1st in a field of 19.

For their Eurovision appearance, the two girls - Hanne Krogh and Elizabeth Andreasson - appeared in sparkling, shocking pink jackets, worn over black and white outfits; Hanne Krogh sported a striking, black-and-white striped floor-length gown. Their Preview Week performance had them wearing the same outfits and appearing in a stage setting similar to the one used in Gothenburg.

Elizabeth Andreasson went on to appear in the contest on two more occasions - she finished sixth in 1994, performing a duet with Jan Werner Danielson, entitled simply, "Duet". In 1996, she appeared as a solo artist, and finished a distant second place to Ireland's Eimear Quinn. Her song was a haunting melody entitled, "I Evighet". Prior to winning the contest as one half of Bobbysocks, Hanne Krogh had finished 17th (second from last) in the contest in 1971, with the song "Lykken Er....".

It was succeeded as Norwegian representative at the 1986 Contest by Ketil Stokkan with Romeo.

ingle

The single "La det swinge" peaked at #4 at the single chart in Sweden. In Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and the United Kingdom; the single "Let It Swing/La det swinge" managed to enter the singles charts.

Track listing

#Let It Swing - 2:50
#La det swinge - 2:50

Chart position

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".

External links

* [http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobbysocks&titel=Let+It+Swing&cat=s "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Austrian singles chart]
* [http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobbysocks&titel=Let+It+Swing&cat=s "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Norwegian singles chart]
* [http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobbysocks&titel=Let+It+Swing&cat=s "Let It Swing/La det swinge" at the Swiss singles chart]
* [http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bobbysocks&titel=La+det+swinge&cat=s "La det swinge" at the Swedish singles chart]