Lena Philipsson

Lena Philipsson is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, and media personality. She was born on January 19, 1966, in Vetlanda, Sweden. Her real name is Maria Magdalena Filipsson. She is one of Sweden’s most famous pop stars. Many people know her from her performance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She also became a household name thanks to Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s national selection for Eurovision. Lena has worked in music, television, and theatre for over 35 years.

Early Music Career

Lena Philipsson started singing at a young age. In 1982, she took part in a Swedish talent show called New Faces. After that, she released her first single in 1984. The song was called “Boy/You Open My Eyes.” This marked the beginning of her music career.

She gained national attention in 1986. That year, she joined Melodifestivalen with the song “Kärleken är evig”. It means “Love is Eternal” in English. The song finished in second place. This gave her a breakthrough in Sweden.

In 1987, she returned to Melodifestivalen. She sang “Dansa i neon” and finished fifth. The song became very popular. It is still remembered as one of her biggest hits. In 1988, she tried Melodifestivalen again. Her entry “Om igen” placed second. This made her one of the most popular artists in Sweden.

Albums and 1990s Success

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Lena released several albums. Her 1989 English-language album My Name was a success. It included songs like “Standing in My Rain” and “Why”. Her style mixed pop and synthpop, which was trendy at the time.

In 1991, she created a stage show and album called “Agent 006“. It told the story of a female secret agent. This project showed her creativity and love for storytelling.

In the 1990s, Lena continued to release albums and singles. Although none of them were international hits, she stayed popular in Sweden. She toured the country and performed live frequently.

She also wrote songs for other artists. For example, in 1991 and 1999, she wrote songs for Melodifestivalen that were performed by other singers.

In 1991, the Swedish postal service even released a stamp with her face on it. This showed how important she had become in Swedish pop culture.

Lena Philipsson’s Comeback

After a break in the late 1990s, Lena returned with a live show in 2001. The Lena Philipsson Show was a big hit. It ran for more than two years and played in many cities across Sweden.

In 2004, she returned to Melodifestivalen. She performed the song “Det gör ont“, which means “It Hurts.” The song was a pop track with a catchy melody. She wore a short pink dress and used a microphone stand in a fun and confident way. The performance was simple but strong.

She won the Melodifestivalen final and became Sweden’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. The contest was held in Istanbul, Turkey. Lena performed an English version of her song called “It Hurts“. She gave a memorable performance and finished in fifth place. This was a good result for Sweden and one of her biggest international moments.

After Eurovision, “Det gör ont” became a number-one hit in Sweden. Her album, Det gör ont en stund på natten men inget på dan, went gold. It included other hits like “Delirium” and “Lena Anthem”. The year 2004 was one of the most successful of her career.

She also won several awards that year. One of them was “Female Artist of the Year” at the Swedish radio show Tracks. Another was “Song of the Year” for Det gör ont.

Continued Music and TV Work

In 2005, Lena released another album called Jag ångrar ingenting, which means “I Regret Nothing.” The album sold well and continued her success.

That same year, she hosted her own TV special. In 2006, she was chosen to host Melodifestivalen. Her hosting style was bold and humorous. It received mixed reviews, but many fans enjoyed it.

In 2007, she teamed up with Swedish pop singer Orup. They created a stage show called Lena + Orup. It was performed in Stockholm and later toured the country. Over 100,000 people saw the show. In 2008, they released an album together called Dubbel.

In 2011, Lena released a new solo album called Världen snurrar. This was followed by Jag är ingen älskling in 2015. She wrote most of the songs herself. Her style had become more personal and calm compared to her earlier pop music.

Lena Philipsson in the 2020s

In 2020, Lena released the album Maria Magdalena. The title uses her full birth name. This was her 14th studio album. The album was well received by Swedish media and showed her continued popularity.

That same year, she received a royal award. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden gave her the Litteris et Artibus medal. This is an honor given to people who contribute to arts and culture.

In 2022, she released her autobiography. It was called I händelse av min död (“In the Event of My Death”). The book told stories from her life and career. That summer, she was also featured on Sommar i P1, a famous Swedish radio program. In the show, she talked about her life, music, and views on fame.

She also began working as an actress. In 2023, she played the lead role in a drama series called På gatan där jag bor (“The Street Where I Live”). The series aired on the Viaplay streaming platform. It was based on a song she had written earlier in her career.

In 2024, she entered the world of business. She launched her own wine brand in Sweden. This showed that she remained active not just in music, but in other fields too.

Joining Roxette in 2025

In May 2024, it was announced that Lena Philipsson would join Roxette. Roxette is one of Sweden’s most famous pop bands. After the passing of original singer Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle wanted someone new to continue the group’s music.

Lena was chosen as Roxette’s new lead female singer. In 2025, she will tour with the band across Europe, South Africa, and Australia. This marks another major chapter in her career.