Jag vill leva i Europa

Jag vill leva i Europa is a song written by Jan Hammarlund, recorded by him on the 1982 album Järnvägsräls.^[1]

Arja Saijonmaa recorded the song on her 1987 album Högt över havet^[2] and her recording charted at Svensktoppen for 14 weeks between 17 May-1 November 1987, peaking at second position.^[3] In 1987 it was also recorded by Jan Hammarlund in French, as "Je veux vivre en Europe".^[4]

Kenneth Lindholm also recorded the song in 1987.^[5]

Euskefeurat has also recorded the song, with other lyrics, called "Jag vill städa i Europa".^[6]

Theme

The song lyrics, dealing with the universal message of peace, describe four tourists from Sweden travelling by car across various states in Europe.

Version 1

The original 1982 version's lyrics are inspired by the Cold War.

When the original version came out in 1982, the world was living in the shadows of the Cold War. A threatening nuclear weapon war was the main theme.

Version 2

In the 1990s, lyrics where changed to better fit into that era, with ethnical conflicts and streams of refugees.

A 1991 Jan Hammarlund version was changed, to better fit in the era, with a Europe where several communist governments had been overthrown. At the time, shatterings and civil war's between ethnical groups and religions affected Europe.. Refugee streams became a main theme.

References