He Captured Something That People Understand

The artist Ulf Dageby has died, 80 years old. Cultural journalist Kalle Lind remembers his achievements for the Swedish prog scene. He captured something in the combination of text and music that people recognize themselves in or understand, he says.

» Updated: July 18 2024

» Published: July 17 2024

He Captured Something That People Understand
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Share this article

The artist Ulf Dageby has died, 80 years old. Cultural journalist Kalle Lind remembers his achievements for the Swedish prog scene.

He captured something in the combination of text and music that people recognize themselves in or understand, he says.

Ulf Dageby was a leading creative force in Nationalteatern and was behind classics like "Barn av vår tid" and "Livet är en fest".

They were songs that were initially written for theater plays performed in Gothenburg's concrete suburbs, which later ended up on records and those records are still being played, says Kalle Lind, who in his Sveriges Radio podcast "Snedtänkt" often returned to Dageby and Nationalteatern.

They are songs that 100 percent took the side of vulnerable kids who lived in the million program areas and sang about their reality. My impression is that even today's vulnerable kids in concrete areas hear when they listen to Nationalteatern that it's about them.

Nationalteatern

In 1978, Dageby made a Bob Dylan interpretation "Men bara om min älskade väntar" ("Tomorrow is a long time").

During the 2000s, there have probably been six, seven covers of it. Håkan Hellström and Thåström did it at Ullevi last year. It's still two of the country's biggest artists who are obviously in agreement that it's a masterpiece, says Kalle Lind.

Anders Melander and Ulf Dageby were the ones who wrote the music to Nationalteatern. But they worked on their own and wrote music for the performances they themselves were part of.

He describes Dageby's talent as unique.

He was actually not an actor, nor was I, but the ideal at the time was that everyone should do everything. All tasks should rotate. So Ulf played theater according to his own mind. He made several unforgettable performances, even though he was completely uneducated. I had a lot of fun with Ulf on stage, it was very fun to see him.

Composed film music

Dageby also composed a lot of film music, including for "Ett anständigt liv" (1979) and "Hotet" (1987) by director Stefan Jarl.

He was my best buddy, simply. It's painful to lose such a fantastically warm person, he says to Dagens Nyheter.

In 2013, Ulf Dageby participated in "Så mycket bättre" on TV4, among others, together with Ebbot Lundberg and Lill Lindfors.

I'm just damn glad I got to know him. He was a completely wonderful person, says Lundberg to TV4.

Lill Lindfors also remembers him warmly.

He was a talented and fine person. A good human being, she says to Expressen.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Critics Disappointed by Hov1's Farewell Concert in Stockholm
2 MIN READ

Critics Disappointed by Hov1's Farewell Concert in Stockholm

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Debuts at Venice Film Festival
3 MIN READ

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein Debuts at Venice Film Festival

Hov1 Bids Emotional Farewell to Fans at Stockholm Concert
3 MIN READ

Hov1 Bids Emotional Farewell to Fans at Stockholm Concert

Yasin's Canceled Concerts in Sweden: What It Means for His Career
3 MIN READ

Yasin's Canceled Concerts in Sweden: What It Means for His Career

Neil Young Criticizes Trump with New Song on White House Fascism
1 MIN READ

Neil Young Criticizes Trump with New Song on White House Fascism

Social Democrats Summon Culture Minister Over TV4 Network Exit
1 MIN READ

Social Democrats Summon Culture Minister Over TV4 Network Exit

TV4 Exits Terrestrial Network: How to Know If You're Affected
3 MIN READ

TV4 Exits Terrestrial Network: How to Know If You're Affected

Audience Conducts Swedish Symphony Orchestra with AI at Baltic Sea Festival
1 MIN READ

Audience Conducts Swedish Symphony Orchestra with AI at Baltic Sea Festival

TV4's Exit from Terrestrial Network Impacts Public Service Funding
1 MIN READ

TV4's Exit from Terrestrial Network Impacts Public Service Funding

Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Passes Away at 92
1 MIN READ

Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Passes Away at 92

Danny Ramirez to Lead and Produce New Scarface Film
1 MIN READ

Danny Ramirez to Lead and Produce New Scarface Film

Jireel Replaces Yasin at Kristianstad's Trädgården Festival
2 MIN READ

Jireel Replaces Yasin at Kristianstad's Trädgården Festival

Jon Olsson's Wedding Featured in New Reality Series Star Wedding
1 MIN READ

Jon Olsson's Wedding Featured in New Reality Series Star Wedding

Minister Calls Gaming Industry Meeting on Grooming Concerns
1 MIN READ

Minister Calls Gaming Industry Meeting on Grooming Concerns

Elin Cullhed's New Novel Explores Dark Themes After "Eufori" Success
3 MIN READ

Elin Cullhed's New Novel Explores Dark Themes After "Eufori" Success

Ariana Grande Announces First Tour in Seven Years for Next Summer
1 MIN READ

Ariana Grande Announces First Tour in Seven Years for Next Summer

Hov1 Bids Farewell with Final Concert After a Decade of Hits
2 MIN READ

Hov1 Bids Farewell with Final Concert After a Decade of Hits

Jessie J Postpones European Tour Amid Cancer Treatment
1 MIN READ

Jessie J Postpones European Tour Amid Cancer Treatment

TV4 Shifts to Pay Channel as It Leaves Terrestrial Network
2 MIN READ

TV4 Shifts to Pay Channel as It Leaves Terrestrial Network

Noomi Rapace Stars as Mother Teresa in New Film "Mother"
3 MIN READ

Noomi Rapace Stars as Mother Teresa in New Film "Mother"