11 Wedding Songs for You by Swedish Musicians

Sweden’s Prince Philip just wed local reality TV star Sofia Hellqvistin in, well, princely festivities that included Avicii and Icona Pop no less as wedding entertainers. It’s fortunate Philip is royalty where he is, because he might as well be the king of music land.

You see, Sweden is not just another European country. America and Britain don’t hold a monopoly over musicians who set the global music charts ablaze. Every now and then, the Swedes make an aural connection with the masses to the point that you could argue that they rule pop music. If Madonna and Michael Jackson are the Queen and King of Pop, then Sweden is the Kingdom of Pop.

Aside from Icona Pop and Avicii, here are 11 talking points why:

“Young Folks,” Peter Bjorn and John

One of the most inescapable songs of the late Aughts, “Young Folks” has appeared in everything from Gossip Girl and Grey’s Anatomy to FIFA 08. So entrenched was the song in pop culture that it catapulted the man doing the unforgettable whistles, Adam Privitera, to stardom. He would go on to whistle his way through Maroon 5’s wedding staple “Moves Like Jagger” and Flo Rida’s summer anthem “Whistle.” Yes, “Young Folks” is truly something to whistle home about in a wedding.

“I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,”ABBA

That the most famous musicians out of Sweden consisted of married couples is just a tiny fraction of the reason why you should include ABBA songs in your wedding. Their songs are simply contagious, that’s why. No mortal man or woman on earth with a good pair of listening ears could have resisted “Dancing Queen” the first or second time. It’s a shoo-in for any wedding party — that and the painfully obvious “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do.” If the groom’s name is “Fernando,” well, don’t be afraid to slip it in during the mother-groom dance. Also, hearing “Take a Chance on Me” will goad everyone’s inner disco god out of hiding.

“Moments,” Tove Lo

All hail the Queen of the Clouds. That’s the name of the debut album by Tove Lo, currently Sweden’s ambassador to the international charts. Her single “Habits” recently peaked at number 3 on the Billboard charts — the highest position for a Swedish act since Ace of Base reached the summit “The Sign” decades ago. While the song does not have the most moral of all messages, Tove does have some wedding-worthy cuts in her short but surely expanding catalogue. Recommended cuts from her album include the dirty love songs “Moments” and “Got Love.”

“Beautiful Life,” Ace of Base

Ace of Base, one of the biggest-selling bands of the 1990s, is proudly made in Sweden. The group is one of only a handful of recording artists who could lay claim to a diamond-selling album in the US, i.e. an album that has sold 10 million copies. This is one of the many distinctions of their debut album, which yielded one world-shaking hit after another, including the inescapable “The Sign.” Although the song remains a marker of the decade, it’s “Beautiful Life,” the first single off their sophomore album that will, lyrics-wise, inject some happiness into your wedding party. Written by a band member while vacationing on a comely beach, it will reaffirm your zest for marriage and life as a whole.

“I Want It That Way,” Max Martin

It’s worth noting that one of “Beautiful Life’s” producers, Max Martin, would go on to change, vicariously, the pop music landscape. He is the man behind some of the biggest hits by the biggest American recording artists in the world, everyone from Britney Spears and Taylor Swift to Katy Perry. “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops! I Did It Again,” “Since

U Been Gone,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls” — they are all his handiwork. “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys is especially a great piece for any wedding.

“Don’t You Worry Child,” Swedish House Mafia

Even the Swedish king likes him some EDM. Songs from the Swedish DJ supergroup composed of Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso will likely make all the kids in your party throw their inhibitions.

“Vulnerable,” Roxette

While you technically would not want “It Must Have Been Love” playing at your first dance (“But it’s over now…”), Roxette’s discography is chockfull of other alternatives. The twosome, who entered the scene several years after ABBA’s popularity ebbed in the 1980s, released many radio-friendly hits, such as “The Look,” “Spending My Time,” “Dangerous,” and “Listen to Your Heart.” But it’s “Vulnerable” that will best capture any groom’s sentiments for his bride.

“Little Bit,” Lykke Li

Lykke broke out in a big way when her composition, “Possibility,” was featured on the soundtrack of Twilight: New Moon. Since then, Ms. Li has been a ubiquity in the soundtracks of young-adult TV shows and movies, e.g. The Fault in Our Stars, Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, and Insurgent. It’s hard to pick one Lykke Li love song for a wedding — there are just too many to mention — but one of the best is her first international single, “Little Bit.” On your wedding day, it pays to remember those first moves that led you to the altar; this song is a good reminder of those.  Or you may opt for her biggest hit instead, “I Follow Rivers,” which talks about love that will ford every stream.

“Show Me Love,” Robyn

Robyn refuses to go away, and that kind of longevity is inspiring. She has spent enough time in the business to change her sound from American-style R&B leanings to pure pop. In 2010, she released her arguably finest work yet, a trilogy of opuses called Body Talk. “Hang With Me” is a particularly cool love track set to a shimmering electro beat. But if you’re still in love with the Robyn who gave you “Robyn Is Here,” it might be a cool idea to set your wedding party entrance to “Show Me Love.” Her audible passion in the lines, “I’ll give you my heart if you just give me love / Every day and every night,” is really all you need.

“The Final Countdown,” Europe

Just in jest, you can set your processional to this novelty song by Swedish glam metal band Europe. If you’re the type who is down for irreverence on this most special of days, go for it. But if you’re not really the funny type, don’t try hard and go for something more traditional.

“Lovefool,” The Cardigans

“Lovefool” is one of those songs that stick hard, fast. Once you hear it, it’s hard to shake it off. The Cardigans may have dark songs in their catalogue, but it’s “Lovefool” that they are most known for.  Radio played the saccharine-sweet pop song to the hilt in the 90s. It would go on to be featured on the soundtracks of two cinematic love stories, Cruel Intentions and Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet. It should be part of your wedding soundtrack too.

Are you now convinced that Sweden is the kingdom of pop?