Top 10 Incredibly Successful Swedish Music Groups

No Swedish act comes close to ABBA's success. Since their victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with Waterloo, they have become one of the most iconic pop groups of all time. They conquered the world with timeless hits such as Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and The Winner Takes It All. Even decades after their heyday, ABBA remains immensely popular, thanks in part to musicals, films and a successful digital comeback. With an estimated 150 million records sold, ABBA is without a doubt the crowning glory of Swedish pop history.

Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle together formed Roxette, a duo that managed to perform both sensitive ballads and energetic pop songs. Hits such as It Must Have Been Love, Listen to Your Heart and Joyride made Roxette a permanent fixture on MTV and radio stations worldwide. Their success in South America, Europe and the United States earned them more than 75 million records sold.

Ace of Base was a pop sensation in the early nineties. Their debut album Happy Nation became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time worldwide. They dominated the international charts with hits such as All That She Wants, The Sign and Don't Turn Around. Their fresh mix of pop, reggae and dance appealed to millions of people worldwide.

Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, who died far too soon, took dance to a new level. With songs such as Levels, Wake Me Up and Hey Brother he combined electronic beats with folk influences. Avicii brought EDM from the clubs to the general public. He sold an estimated 30 million records and his influence is still felt in the global dance scene.

A somewhat forgotten name, but The Spotnicks were pioneers. This instrumental rock group emerged in the early 1960s and was one of the first Swedish bands with international success. With their space themes, science fiction suits and twangy guitar style, they stood out among the early pop crowd. They scored big hits, especially in Japan and Germany, which led to 18 million records sold.

The Cardigans conquered the world with their dreamy, slightly sarcastic pop rock in the mid-nineties. Their biggest hit was Lovefool, best known from the soundtrack of Romeo + Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio. The band also managed to gain a foothold in the US and Japan with their subtle style and alternative appearance. They sold about 15 million albums worldwide.

This Nigerian-Swedish dentist (!) became world famous in the early 1990s with the hit It's My Life. His unique mix of Eurodance, reggae and rap was an international success, with particular success in Europe. Dr. Alban managed to maintain his sound for a few more years with hits such as Sing Hallelujah and Look Who's Talking. Its total sales are estimated at 14 million.

Alcazar is typically Swedish in style: disco pop with a wink. The group was best known for songs such as Crying at the Discoteque and This is the World We Live In. Although they never really broke through outside Europe, they were a fixture on European dance floors and in the charts for years.

Vikingarna is still a phenomenon in Sweden itself. This dance band was extremely popular from the 1970s until well into the 1990s, especially in Scandinavia and German-speaking countries. Their music mixes traditional dance music with light pop influences and mainly attracted an older audience. They sold more than 11 million records, despite their relatively unknown status outside Europe.

This rock band had its worldwide breakthrough in the 1980s with the iconic song The Final Countdown. The accompanying synthesizer intro has now become cultural heritage. Although their peak was short-lived, they sold around 10 million albums worldwide.