Friends

Formation and Early Years (1999–2000)

Friends was formed in 1999 as a six-member Swedish pop/dance band. The group was assembled through a TV4 reality show called “Friends på turné” (“Friends on Tour”), created by Bert Karlsson. The show’s auditions brought together singers Nina Inhammar and Kim Kärnfalk as the front duo, backed by four male musicians. This reality TV exposure quickly led to national attention. In 2000, Friends entered Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s music competition to choose its Eurovision entry. They performed the song “När jag tänker på i morgon” and finished as runners-up in the Melodifestivalen 2000 final. The song became a hit in Sweden, peaking at #14 on the Swedish charts and spending six weeks on Svensktoppen (the radio chart). This strong start marked Friends as an emerging force in Swedish pop music.

Melodifestivalen Victory and Eurovision (2001)

Building on their previous success, Friends returned to Melodifestivalen in 2001 with the upbeat “Lyssna till ditt hjärta” (“Listen to Your Heart”). This time, they won the competition, earning the right to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001. The song was translated into English as “Listen to Your Heartbeat” for Eurovision. At the contest in Copenhagen, Friends delivered an energetic performance with Nina and Kim sharing lead vocals. Despite facing strong international competition, they achieved an impressive 5th place in the Grand Final with 100 points. However, soon a controversy emerged around their Eurovision entry.

Controversy and First Plagiarism Case

After Eurovision 2001, it was noticed that “Listen to Your Heartbeat” bore a striking resemblance to Belgium’s 1996 entry “Liefde is een kaartspel.” The resemblance led to accusations of plagiarism. At first, the Swedish songwriters denied any wrongdoing. However, the Belgian composers and the authors’ organization SABAM pressed for legal action. Ultimately, the Swedish delegation agreed to a cash settlement before the issue escalated. This made Friends’ song the first officially admitted case of plagiarism in Eurovision history. Despite this setback, the group’s reputation in Sweden remained strong, and they continued their musical activities after the contest.

Continued Career and Final Year (2002)

In 2002, Friends attempted to return to Eurovision. They entered Melodifestivalen for a third consecutive year with the English-language pop track “The One That You Need.” The song advanced to the national final, showing the band’s continued popularity. In the Melodifestivalen 2002 final, Friends finished in 8th place out of 10 finalists. Though they didn’t win this time, the group kept touring and released a final album titled Dance with Me in late 2002. By the end of that year, after a brief but high-profile run, the band decided to split up in 2002. Their whirlwind career had spanned only three years, yet it included multiple hit songs, two Melodifestivalen finals, one Eurovision appearance, and a lasting impression on Swedish pop fans.

Nina & Kim: Duo Years (2002–2006)

After Friends disbanded, lead vocalists Nina Inhammar and Kim Kärnfalk continued performing together as a duo, aptly named Nina & Kim. They carried forward the legacy of Friends’ upbeat schlager-pop style. In 2004, Nina & Kim entered Melodifestivalen once again with the song “En gång för alla” (“Once and for All”), hoping to return to Eurovision. They did not reach the finals. The duo placed 7th in their semi-final heat. However, the same year they released an album called Bortom tid och rum (“Beyond Time and Space”). Nina & Kim became a familiar act on the Swedish music scene, touring and appearing on television, and their album showcased their close vocal harmonies. By late 2006, however, the duo gave their farewell performances and officially split in 2006, marking the end of Friends’ musical chapter.

Later Activities

Nina Inhammar, after the duo ended, decided to retire from the music industry in 2006. She stepped away from public life to pursue a more private path outside of show business. Kim Kärnfalk continued in entertainment, transitioning into work as a television and radio presenter in Sweden. She also became an author, publishing an autobiography in 2008 recounting her experiences during and after Friends. In recent years, Kim made headlines for bravely sharing personal news: in 2024 she revealed that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this difficult turn, she remains remembered for her contributions to Swedish pop music.