19 February – Don’t call for first aid or the fire brigade

Do you always pay attention to the lyric of a song? Or do you get carried away by sequins and stage shows. Well today, you possibly you get the whole gamut, so this is likely to please you whatever you’re into.

It’s argued that our friends in Sweden ‘get’ Eurovision. Even when they don’t win, they can often push the right buttons of your average viewer. Sometimes. In 2007, Sweden sent The Ark, fronted by today’s birthday boy Ola Salo (né Rolf Ola Anders Svensson). He and his pals had a song with a profound lyric, and he also satisfied those that like shiny things. Having said that, The Ark didn’t do that well in the Grand Final they’d already qualified for. They were the favourite or second-favourite song with some countries. But maybe the heady combination of deep lyric AND sparkles put some people off.

Ola is 48 today.

Grattis på födelsedagen, Ola!