Sweden's most famous pop group is not included on the list of Swedish cultural heritage, writes astonished writers in both New York Times and Der Spiegel. The newspapers understand the rules, of course: only works older than 50 years may be included in the cultural canon. But Der Spiegel quotes the lyrics: ”The winner takes it all/the loser's standing small” and writes that the Swedish pop band now gets ”to experience these bitter lines from their hit from 1980 up close.”
New York Times adds that the band has declined an interview.
Otherwise, both of the above-mentioned newspapers as well as The Guardian report that the project has been driven primarily by The Sweden Democrats, while Ritzau states that it is a result of the Tidö Agreement.
The Guardian quotes social anthropologist Marlen Eskander who left the committee last year, and who has claimed in Svenska Dagbladet that they deliberately excluded contemporary experiences that reflect how the country has changed. The Guardian also notes that no Islamic landmarks are included, despite the country's Muslim inhabitants.
As examples from the list, among others, Pippi Longstocking, Ingmar Bergman, Selma Lagerlöf, Ikea, parental leave, and the Nobel Prize are mentioned.
