Py Bäckman
Encyclopedia
Py Marie Elisabet Ulrika Bäckman Wennborn (born July 5, 1948 in Stockholm
) is a Swedish musician. She is a singer and songwriter of pop and rock for musicals and films. She also plays piano and harmonica.
(Gävleborg County) and started her career as a nine years old when she was discovered by a touring radio show. After that, she was called up by the Swedish TV show host, Lennart Hyland
, and came down to Stockholm, where she made her TV debut in 1957. After the television appearance, she toured around and sang songs in various public parks. As a teenager she thought it was frivolous with songs and began instead with rock music.
In 1973 she began touring across Europe as a lead singer with Sweden's girl rock group NQB. During the late 1970s and 1980s, she worked a lot with her formerly cohabited Dan Hylander. The couple shared the backing band Raj Montana Band with whom she had a breakthrough album, Sista Föreställningen. After the split in 1985 she continued as a solo performer. During her solo career she has, among other things, worked with producers as Clarence Öfwerman
(former member of the Raj Montana Band and later producer of Roxette
), Mats Wester
and Micke Wennborn.
In addition to her solo career Bäckman has also been very active as a songwriter for others and has worked with numerous artists. For example she wrote "Stad i ljus
", which Tommy Körberg
won with in The Swedish preselection for Eurovision Song Contest
1988, and since 2006 also is a Swedish hymn.
1993 began the collaboration with Mats Wester where the successful Swedish folk music group Nordman
was created, and Bäckman were from the first beginning text writer in the team until 1998 when the group split. At a reunification in 2005 she turned down to continued cooperation, and was replaced by another songwriter.
Bäckman also wrote the text to the Swedish big hit "Gabriellas sång" ( Gabriella's song) in the Kay Pollak
film As It Is in Heaven
, Stefan Nilsson made the music (2004).
She has also translated musicals such as Chicago, Evita, and Garbo.
2004 Bäckman wrote new hymns, an addition to the Swedish hymn book on behalf of the Swedish Church.
She also made a Sweden-Finland tour for some time with the jazz legend Jukka Tolonen
.
In 2010 Bäckman is up to date with a participation in the Swedish pre selection fpr Eurovision Song Contest
with the song "Magic Star" (Swedish: "Magisk Stjärna"), written together with Micke Wennborn. She was noticed for being the only one playing an actual instrument [harmonica] live on stage in the Swedish pre selection since 1999, and also for being the only Swedish artist participating in the Swedish pre selection for 5 decades in a row.
In March, the double album P20Y10 was released, and was Bäckman’s ninth studio album. It was produced by Micke Wennborn, that also was included as guitar player in the band together with the line up of David Garfield keyboards, Leland Sklar
bass, John JR Robinson drums and percussion. P20Y10 was recorded in Castle Oaks, Los Angeles, and engineered by Steve Sykes.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
) is a Swedish musician. She is a singer and songwriter of pop and rock for musicals and films. She also plays piano and harmonica.
Career
Bäckman grew up in IggesundIggesund, Hudiksvall
Iggesund is a locality situated in Hudiksvall Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 3,398 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:Iggesund is located 10 km south of Hudiksvall, 45 km north of Söderhamn and 70 km southeast of Ljusdal, with the Bothnian Sea to the east. The nearest bigger...
(Gävleborg County) and started her career as a nine years old when she was discovered by a touring radio show. After that, she was called up by the Swedish TV show host, Lennart Hyland
Lennart Hyland
Lennart Hyland , was a Swedish TV-show host and journalist and one of the most popular and renowned TV personalities in the history of Swedish television...
, and came down to Stockholm, where she made her TV debut in 1957. After the television appearance, she toured around and sang songs in various public parks. As a teenager she thought it was frivolous with songs and began instead with rock music.
In 1973 she began touring across Europe as a lead singer with Sweden's girl rock group NQB. During the late 1970s and 1980s, she worked a lot with her formerly cohabited Dan Hylander. The couple shared the backing band Raj Montana Band with whom she had a breakthrough album, Sista Föreställningen. After the split in 1985 she continued as a solo performer. During her solo career she has, among other things, worked with producers as Clarence Öfwerman
Clarence Öfwerman
Clarence Öfwerman, born 22 November 1957, is best known as the longtime producer of Roxette, having been with the band from their debut album Pearls of Passion in 1986 through to 2011's Charm School, Roxette's latest studio album. He is the big brother of Roxette percussionist, keyboardist and...
(former member of the Raj Montana Band and later producer of Roxette
Roxette
Roxette are a Swedish pop music duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle . Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act from the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough album Look Sharp!...
), Mats Wester
Mats Wester
Mats Wester, born 1964, is a Swedish musician and plays the nyckelharpa. Together with the singer Håkan Hemlin he operates the musical group Nordman. During Nordman's long pause Mats created another group together with Py Bäckman and Elenor Ågeryd .Mats has also written a song for the group...
and Micke Wennborn.
In addition to her solo career Bäckman has also been very active as a songwriter for others and has worked with numerous artists. For example she wrote "Stad i ljus
Stad i ljus
"Stad i ljus" is a ballad, which was the Swedish Melodifestivalen 1988 winning song and entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, where it finished 12th. The song was written by Py Bäckman performed by Tommy Körberg....
", which Tommy Körberg
Tommy Körberg
Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg is a Swedish singer, actor, and musician. In 1969, he won Swedish Recording Industry Award Grammis in a category Best Debut Performance. English-speaking audiences know him best for his role in the Benny Andersson–Björn Ulvaeus–Tim Rice musical Chess...
won with in The Swedish preselection for Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
1988, and since 2006 also is a Swedish hymn.
1993 began the collaboration with Mats Wester where the successful Swedish folk music group Nordman
Nordman
Nordman is a Swedish group founded in 1993, that mixes folk music with rock and pop. This genre is called etnorock or folk rock in Swedish. The group consists of Håkan Hemlin, as singer and frontman and Mats Wester, who plays the nyckelharpa as well as serving as the main songwriter..The group's...
was created, and Bäckman were from the first beginning text writer in the team until 1998 when the group split. At a reunification in 2005 she turned down to continued cooperation, and was replaced by another songwriter.
Bäckman also wrote the text to the Swedish big hit "Gabriellas sång" ( Gabriella's song) in the Kay Pollak
Kay Pollak
Kay Pollak is an Academy Award-nominated Swedish film director. After a long break from film-making, he returned in 2004 with As It Is in Heaven , a major box office success in Sweden. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film...
film As It Is in Heaven
As It Is in Heaven
As It Is in Heaven is a 2004 film directed by Kay Pollak and starring Michael Nyqvist and Frida Hallgren. It was a box office hit in Sweden and several other countries...
, Stefan Nilsson made the music (2004).
She has also translated musicals such as Chicago, Evita, and Garbo.
2004 Bäckman wrote new hymns, an addition to the Swedish hymn book on behalf of the Swedish Church.
She also made a Sweden-Finland tour for some time with the jazz legend Jukka Tolonen
Jukka Tolonen
Jukka Tolonen is a Finnish jazz guitarist. Tolonen became famous as guitarist for the band Tasavallan Presidentti...
.
In 2010 Bäckman is up to date with a participation in the Swedish pre selection fpr Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
with the song "Magic Star" (Swedish: "Magisk Stjärna"), written together with Micke Wennborn. She was noticed for being the only one playing an actual instrument [harmonica] live on stage in the Swedish pre selection since 1999, and also for being the only Swedish artist participating in the Swedish pre selection for 5 decades in a row.
In March, the double album P20Y10 was released, and was Bäckman’s ninth studio album. It was produced by Micke Wennborn, that also was included as guitar player in the band together with the line up of David Garfield keyboards, Leland Sklar
Leland Sklar
Leland "Lee" Bruce Sklar is an American musician, singer-songwriter and film score composer. A prominent bass guitarist, Sklar has contributed to thousands of albums as a session musician...
bass, John JR Robinson drums and percussion. P20Y10 was recorded in Castle Oaks, Los Angeles, and engineered by Steve Sykes.
Studio albums
- 1979 - Let it RideLet It RideLet It Ride is a casino variation of poker, where the player wagers on the five-card poker hand formed by their own three cards and two community cards. Let It Ride is played at a relaxed pace relative to other casino card games, which has made it attractive to older players and to table game...
- 1981 - Hard Wind Blows
- 1983 - Sista föreställningen (with Raj Montana Band)
- 1984 - Kvinna från Tellus (with Raj Montana Band)
- 1986 - Narrarna dansar
- 1987 - Natt 1001
- 1991 - I rosornas tid
- 2006 - När mörkret faller
- 2010 - P20Y10
Live albums
- 1982 - Belle De JourBelle de jourBelle de Jour is a 1967 French film directed by Luis Buñuel. The film stars Catherine Deneuve as a woman who decides to spend her days as a prostitute while her husband is at work....
(with Raj Montana Band) - 1984 - Tele-Gram Långt Farväl (with Raj Montana Band)
- 2008 - Sånger från jorden till himmelen
Greatest hits albums
- 1997 - Hits! 1980-97 (with Raj Montana Band)
- 1998 - Svenska popfavoriter - 15 hits (with Raj Montana Band)
- 2000 - Spotlight
Singles, maxi singles and remixes
- 1981 - Fast Train's Running [B: For A loved One]
- 1982 - Se Dagen Vakna [B: När Änglarna Dör]
- Ge Mej Liv [B: Vem är Vem]
- Kristall [B: Belle De Jour]
- 1984 - Svindlande Höjder
- 1986 - Camelot
- 1986 - Con-Cordelia [B: Till Prydnad]
- 1986 - Fred Nu [B: Soldaterna]
- Framtiden Avgörs Nu [B: My Crime]
- 1988 - Papa [B: Kung För Ett Gycklarhov]
- 1988 - Du Är Vacker Johnny [B: Tysta Ljus]
- 1988 - Speaking [bonus single with the album "Natt 1001"]
- 1991 - [Om Du Vill] Leka [B: Bra Man]
- 1991 - [Om Du Vill] Leka [B: Förlorat Paradis]
- 1991 - När Blommorna Föll [B: Stenarna Fick liv Inatt]
- 1991 - När Blommorna Föll [B: Förlorat Paradis]
- 1992 - Långt Härifrån
- 1997 - Pandoras Ask [B: Jag Lever]
- 1997 - Änglarna Ropar I Mörkret
- 2006 - Oh Mamma
- 2006 - Kär I Kärlek
- 2006 - När Helvetet Blir Kallt
- 2009 - So Long Min Kära
- 2009 - Tids-sången
- 2010 - Magisk Stjärna
- 2010 - Jag Är Fri