Sylvia Vrethammar

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Sylvia Vrethammar
Vrethammar in 2012
Vrethammar in 2012
Background information
Birth nameEva Sylvia Vrethammar
Born (1945-08-22) 22 August 1945 (age 78)
Uddevalla, Sweden
GenresTraditional pop, jazz, schlager
Occupation(s)
Years active1962–present
LabelsPolydor, Sonet, Pid Records

Eva Sylvia Vrethammar (born 22 August 1945,[1] Uddevalla, Sweden), is a Swedish traditional pop and jazz singer. She is the daughter of Harald Vrethammar, an education official, and Britta Vrethammar, a musical education teacher, specializing in the piano.

In 1969, she released a Swedish-language cover version of Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man", entitled "En lärling på våran gård".[2] Vrethammar is also fluent in English.

In the 1970s, she occasionally appeared as guest singer with the Bert Kaempfert orchestra, singing in English.[3] After a series of tribute concerts in Germany in 2006 and 2008, where she returned to the bandleader's music with ex-Kaempfert trombonist Jiggs Whigham and other former orchestra members (playing as the HR Big Band),[4] in 2012, she recorded numbers from the tours.[5]

She is perhaps best known for the 1974 release, "Y Viva España," an English adaptation of the Dutch language "Eviva España," first recorded by the Belgian singer Samantha (Christiane Bervoets). It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1974, spending over six months in the charts. The song also peaked at number #67 in Australia in 1975.[6] She was known in the UK and Australia simply as Sylvia.[7] Globally her version alone sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[8]

She took part in Melodifestivalen 2002, singing "Hon är en annan nu".[9] She participated again in Melodifestivalen 2013 in the hope of representing Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 which was held in Malmö. She sang her song "Trivialitet"[10] in the fourth semifinal, which was also held in Malmö. She came seventh and was therefore eliminated from the contest.

Discography[edit]

  • Tycker Om Dej (Sonet, 1969)
  • Sylvia (Sonet, 1970)
  • Dansa Samba Med Mej (Sonet, 1971)
  • Gamla Stan (Sonet, 1972)
  • Jag Sjunger for Dej (Sonet, 1973)
  • Y Viva Espana (Sonet, 1973)
  • Pa Nya Bacchi (Sonet, 1974)
  • Stardust & Sunshine (Sonet, 1975)
  • Somebody Loves You (Sonet, 1976)
  • Frei Wie Wind Und Wolken (Metronome, 1977)
  • SyLeenden I Regn (Sonet, 1977)
  • Als War' Nichts Geschehen (Metronome, 1978)
  • Chateau (Sonet, 1979)
  • Bert Kaempfert (Polydor, 1982)
  • In Goodmansland (Sonet, 1983)
  • Rio de Janeiro Blue (Sonet, 1985)
  • OM 18 Ar Og Myndig (Fair Play Music, 1989)
  • Frau Im Besten Mannesalter (Papagayo, 1989)
  • Oppna Dina Ogon (Sonet, 1990)
  • Ladylike (Papagayo, 1991)
  • Sylvia Vrethammar with Erik Petersens Quartet (Music Partner, 1994)
  • Something My Heart Might Say (Four Leaf Clover, 1995)
  • Samstag Nacht (Papagayo, 2002)
  • Faller for Dej (Sonet, 2002)
  • Champagne (Sonet, 2006)
  • Musik (Papagayo, 2013)
  • Trivialitet (EMI, 2013)
  • The Girl from Uddevalla (Chaos, 2017)

Charting singles[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
SWE
"Trivialitet"[11] 2013 54

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sök personer". Birthday.se. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  2. ^ "SVENSKTOPPEN" (TXT). Sverigesradio.se. 1969-01-05. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Bert Kaempfert - Sylvia Vrethammar - Strangers in the night". YouTube. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  4. ^ "The History - Kaempfert Plays Kaempfert". Stefankaempfert.com. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ (Polydor) Strangers In Night - The Music Of Bert Kaempfert - The Berlin Jazz Orchestra & Special Guests - VÖ 21.09.2012 - Bestellnr. 00602537073986
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 303. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 544. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 351. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  9. ^ "Sylvia Vrethammar - Hon Är En Annan Nu". Discogs. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Various - Melodifestivalen 2013". Discogs. March 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Sverigetopplistan Sylvia Vrethammar". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 December 2020.

External links[edit]