Emil Norlander

Emil Norlander (1865-1935) was a Swedish journalist, author, songwriter and producer of musical revues.

Career Originally a dentist, by the late 1890s Norlander was working as a columnist on a Stockholm newspaper. Following this, he became a contributing writer and editor of the humor magazines Nya Nisse and Kasper.

Starting in 1899, Norlander wrote and produced over sixty revues as well as many popular comedies. His most famous revue was Den förgyllda lergöken (The gilded toy ocarina). He wrote the lyrics for many comic songs, including Fia Jansson and Amanda Lundbom. His New Year's variety shows were held at Södra Teatern, one of Stockholm's most prestigious venues.

After 1920 Norlander's popularity waned as the Swedish public embraced a new generation of entertainers. His last big hit was Den gula paviljongen (The yellow pavilion) in 1923.

In a rare departure from musical comedy, Norlander penned the lyrics to Fredssång (Peace Song), which begins with the lines: Varför skola mänskor strida, varför skall det flyta blod. (Why should people fight, why should blood flow.) This pacifist anthem, written at the time of the First World War, has been recorded numerous times and published in a variety of songbooks. The singer Sven-Bertil Taube released a memorable version of the song in 1972.

In the 1910s and 1920s Emil Norlander was introduced to Swedish-American audiences through recordings on the Columbia, Edison and Victor labels. Among those recording his songs in America were Ingeborg Laudon, Bert Leman, Gösta Nyström, Elis Olson-Ellis, Hjalmar Peterson, Calle Sjöquist and Charles G. Widdén. Elis Olson-Ellis, the lead actor in several of Norlander's revues, toured the United States during the 1911-1912 season. During his stay he recorded two Norlander songs for Victor Records. Emil Norlander's "Manicuristvisan" (The Manicurist Song), which Olson-Ellis set to music, was later recorded by Calle Sjöquist for Columbia Records.

Selected revues

The following shows were produced by Emil Norlander.

1899 - Den stora strejken 1900 - Den förgyllda lergöken 1901 - Prinsessan Habbahabba 1902 - I sjunde himlen 1903 - Damen med masken 1903 - Jönsson, Jonsson, Jansson 1903 - Gubben i Renberget 1904 - Kovander, Bovander & C:i 1905 - Stockholmsluft 1905 - Bluff 1906 - Kalle Munter 1907 - Stackars Olson 1907 - Mångubben 1908 - N:r 30 Gustafsson 1908 - Johnsons 7 fruar 1909 - Konstgjorda Svensson 1909 - Nick Carter 1910 - Tokiga Amelie 1910 - Tre jobbande pojkar 1911 - Spasmiga Wahlund 1912 - Stockholmsgask 1912 - Stockholmsgreker 1913 - Sankt Jönsson och Draken 1914 - Stockholmsflugor 1915 - Stockholm runt på 140 minuter 1915 - Restaurant Pumpen 1916 - Stockholmsjobb 1917 - Teaterflugan 1917 - Malla 1918 - Tokstollar 1918 - Filmkungen 1919 - Tutti-Frutti 1919 - Lev livet leende 1920 - Cirkus Jönsson 1922 - Venuspassagen 1922 - Med pukor och trumpeter 1923 - Kungarevyn 1924 - Festprissar 1925 - Genom kikaren 1926 - Slag i slag

Gallery