Alice Babs: The Versatile Songbird
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Alice Babs, born Hildur Alice Nilson on January 26, 1924, in Kalmar, Sweden, was a Swedish singer and actress. Her musical journey began at a young age, and she quickly developed a passion for a wide number of genres – Swedish folklore, Elizabethan songs, and opera. She started singing in clubs in 1939, and her talent soon caught the attention of the music industry.
Career and Musical Innovations
In the 1940s, Babs made her breakthrough in the film “Swing it, magistern!” (‘Swing It, Teacher!’, 1940), and she appeared in more than a dozen Swedish-language films. Despite being cast as the well-behaved, good-hearted, cheerful girl, the youth culture forming with Babs as its icon caused outrage among members of the older generation. A vicar called the Babs cult the “foot and mouth disease of cultural life”.
Recordings and Performances
Over the years, Babs recorded several albums that showcased her unique musical style. Some of her notable albums include “After You’ve Gone”, “Auntie”, and “Alice Babs Serenading Duke Ellington”. In 1963, her recording of “After You’ve Gone” reached No. 29 on the British New Musical Express charts. In 1972, she contributed to the recording of “Auntie”, a Dutch song commemorating the beginning of British Broadcasting Corporation’s radio broadcasts 50 years before.
Contributions to Music
Babs’s contributions to music go beyond her performances and recordings. She was a pioneer in fusing classical music with jazz and incorporating Latin American rhythms into her music. This innovative approach to music had a significant impact on the Swedish music scene and influenced many musicians who came after her.
Babs passed away on February 11, 2014, in Stockholm, Sweden, at the age of 90.
- “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise”– This album showcases Babs’s unique approach to jazz, combining classical music with jazz and Latin American rhythms.
- “Blues My Naughtie Sweetie Gives to Me”– This album, released in 1960, is a testament to Babs’s unique and personal performance style.
- “What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry”– This 1961 recording showcases Babs’s innovative approach to music.
- “Dixielanders at the RFH”– This album features collaborations with other musicians and showcases Babs’s ability to create captivating jazz compositions.
- “Tansy”– This single peaked at No. 45 in the BBC Top 50 and remained on the UK Singles Chart for 4 weeks.
- “After You’ve Gone”– This track showcases Babs’s unique musical style.
- “Auntie”– This track provides a glimpse into Babs’s musical genius and her ability to create unique jazz compositions.
- “Swing It, Teacher!”– This track showcases Babs’s incorporation of Latin American rhythms into her music.
- “Heaven”– This track provides a comprehensive overview of Babs’s musical journey.
- “Swing It!”– This track, released with Duke Ellington, does a fine job of summing up her first 15 years on records.
