Swedish vocals
International relevance: */**
Ragnar Borgedahl had a hit of sorts
already before he had released a record. He sent a demo tape to radio
show ”Bandet går” that on a regular basis played contributions
from unsigned musicians, and his largely Dylan inspired song ”Hum,
hum från Humlegårn” soon became a favourite song on the show. An
album with highlights from the programme – including Borgedahl's
track – was released on various artists compilation ”Blandat
band” on Musiklaget (known for putting out Underground Failure
featuring a young John Holm). The popularity of ”Hum, hum från
Humlegårn” prompted the label to release a full Borgedahl album,
aptly named after his signature song. The album became a smash hit.
Few can deny that ”Hum,
hum from Humlegårn” is a catchy song (when Swedish pop artist Lars
Winnerback revived it in 2003 it became a hit for the second time), but
it's a fluke and the album's indisputable peak. ”Flugan” is a
decent track, but the remainder of the LP is
helplessly caught in a web of Dylanisms.
Borgedahl's second and final album
arrived in 1976, and while Dylan still passes through the songs like
a uneasy ghost, it's a bit different to Borgedahl's debut. ”Hum,
hum från Humlegårn” was predominantly acoustic where ”Sagan om
verkligheten” was recorded with a full band including studio
guitarist Thommie Fransson who also worked with John Holm and Ola
Magnell. Richer arrangements can't conceal the fact that Borgedahl
was a mediocre songwriter at best and a below average singer.
Borgedahl had one less than inspiring
45 out in 1979, ”Mullvaden” c/w ”Fula kulor i pungen”, also
on Musiklaget, before leaving the music business for good to run a
video store in his native Stockholm. Borgedahl died in 2017 at the
age of 67.
Sagan om verkligheten
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