swedish pop bands of yore

[Gust]

http://www.nyheter.nu/kultur/

[kendalchen]

I keep laughing, but that could just as easily have been Germans.
Speaking of Germans, the German language has at least two idioms I know of that directly refer to Sweden.
One is "du alter Schwede", which is kind of a joky, lighthearted greeting or address for a buddy. Apparently the phrase dates back to the Thirty Years War.
http://www.etymologie.info/~e/s_/se-ismen_.html
(if you don't speak German, use some sad thing like Babelfish, and it will be that much funnier.)
Another one that I picked up from a German Krimi (spy novel!) is to be "hinter schwedischen Gardinen", or "behind Swedish curtains" , meaning "to be in jail." At first I thought this was a German slur on the moral character of the Swedish, but the above referenced page says it's really mostly about the Swedish STEEL used in the jail bar deelies.
Now, I'm sure Swedish has some idioms that refer to Germans. They are probably not all cheerful. Once when I asked a Dutch person what nickname they had for Germans, all he could think of was "Geef mij mijn fiets terug!" (give me my bike back!)

So what do Swedish people say about Germans? What do they say about other Europeans? It's clear no European country is particularly fond of any other country, otherwise the book Wicked French for Travelers wouldn't have an insult that translates "your mother was a Belgian!"

Discuss?

[zer0]

Oh man! That first link soooo ruled!!! This is exactly what I was talking about when I said Sweden never produced anything original outside of shitty, stupid pop bands! Thanks for illustrating it for everyone!

Lessee now... I think the most common Swedish nickname for germans is "tyskjävlar", which means something like "fucking Germans" or "bloody germans". Swedish people in general do not like Germans, mainly bacause of the account that Swedish people in general feel left out of the so-called "new Europe" and would rather not have any part in the European Union, and Germany are one of the central driving forces therin. I'm sure you by now have noticed that my country is really just a bunch of naïve fucking idiot hicks. Cappy insults me on being a Swede from time to time, but really; there's nothing he can say which could make me hate my country more than I already do.

Personally, I've got nothing against the Germans. And the Union, well, hey, that's just big money running the show. As usual. Can't say I've ever heard the "Geef mij mijn fiets terug!" -expression before. Pretty funny. What, did he mean all Germans are thieves, or something?

I really hate the French, though. I didn't have anything at all against them until I took a class in French, but boy howdy do I loathe them now! The grammar of their language alone is enough to make anyone go into an convulsive killing-fit!

Good to have another European on board! Welcome, BTW!

EDIT: I just noticed you live in Portland. This might mean you're not so European after all. Duh. But, hey! The "welcome" still stands!

[Jeff]

Portland is practically Germany. And that's my NA!P-secret-exposing girlfriend who has been just skulking on these boards occasionally until I brought up IKEA. And then she and all of my IKEA loving friends swarmed the boards like rats purchasing tickets on a Disney cruise.

[kendalchen]

Manythanks for the welcome...I'm not a European, but I can talk like one! A German one, anyways! Also? I just spent a chunk of time working with real live Europeans? So that sort of counts?
Yeah, the give me my bike back is a reference to WWII when the Nazis apparently stole the Dutch people's bikes. I certainly wouldn't put it past them to do that, nor would I put it past the Dutch to have a ton of bikes. I enjoy the mental image of Nazis on bikes, which is to say I enjoy the entire image as opposed to enjoying....Nazis?
I would put in a witty pun about backpedaling here, but I just woke up. Also, I am not Cappy.
Yeah. I'm Jeff's girlfriendcreature. I was never going to post, but then he had to go mention IKEA. I like me some IKEA and I like me some Uwajimaya (http://www.uwajimaya.com/retail.html) .

[zer0]

"She's filled with secrets!"

Yeah, uh, so I noticed the quote.

[kendalchen]

Yeah, thanks for reminding me! I mean to keep changing them.

[zer0]

"That gum you like is going to come back in style!"

[kendalchen]

Dang, so far all of these quotes have been from the same episode.
Except maybe fish in the percolator.
Twin Peaks has forever ruined me to hearing Norwegian. Every time I hear someone speak it (which has happened recently more than I ever thought possible) I just hear the line 'The Norwegians are leaving!'
Do Swedishpeople are Norwegians dislike each other also?

[zer0]

Dude, are you like kidding? Sweden and Norway hate each other so much that there are a whole bunch of mean jokes that the two countries tell about one another. Don't stand next to a Norveigian, they stink like rotten fish! I'm telling you.

Some (Swedish) jokes about Norway:

"What do Norway have that Sweden doesn't?"

ANSWER: Good neighbours."

----------------------------------

"You know what happen if you add 1 + 1 on a Norveigian made pocket calculator?

ANSWER: The readout says 'PLEASE WAIT...'"

----------------------------------

"Two norveigian aviators discuss the posibility of flying to the Sun:

'It'll probably be too hot.'

'No, not at all! We'll go by night!'"

----------------------------------

"Why wasn't Jesus born in Norway?

They couldn't find three wise men!"

[kendalchen]

I am SO glad I didn't know these when I was doing that translatey project where one of the Germans used to take personal calls on his cellphone, at work, and babble on in Norwegian. I would not have been able to contain the laughter.

This reinforces my impression that each European country is a lot like a member of a big family; nobody really likes each other and periodically one will kick the crap out of another or something.

Hey, so do you find it to be good or bad that another of Sweden's major contributions to the world is Pippi Longstocking? How do they spell her last name in Swedish? Germans spell it Langstrumpf.

[Jeff]

OH MY GOD I HATE SWEDEN! Angelika and Mikael suck Mr. Fucknuts ass so bad. I used to watch Pippi every time it came on during rainy Sunday afternoons when it was the only programming local television could afford. I hate Sweden for suffering this unto me.

Of course, I watched it every time it came on. Go figure.

[zer0]

"Långstrump". It's spelled "Långstrump".

[kendalchen]

I don't remember much about the Pippi books I have except for the part where Pippi and Tommy and Annika and Mr. Nilsson go candy shopping. And I think they pick up a mannequin limb or two along the way. So between that and "Jenny Lind and her Listening Cat", I thought Sweden must be full of animals and candy!

[Nicole]

I've nothing constructive to say except:

"Ducks! On a lake!"

(Pee ess: I don't mind Europeans that much. Of course, I don't know that many, but most were pretty nice to me while I was in Germany and England. So. Gut!)

[Cappy Ahab]

Let's get this straight: Sweden stinks because it is next to fishy Norwegians. Germany sucks because they centralized the economy of the Soviets. Portland sucks because they haven't got an original ikea. Alstralia sucks because Nicole is on vacation in Papua New Guinea, learning to eat her elders. The U.S. sucks because it elected Calvin Coolidge a few years back (forgive us, world! We were young! He was silent!). Canada has too many Canadians in it trying to run things.

No one likes where they are and everyone hates everybody else.

Ken's fault.

[Brent]

Originally posted by Nicole
I've nothing constructive to say except:

"Ducks! On a lake!"

(Pee ess: I don't mind Europeans that much. Of course, I don't know that many, but most were pretty nice to me while I was in Germany and England. So. Gut!)

Ah, but you detest New Zealand!

Probably not.

But neighbors detest neighbors. Texas has a saying: "Why doesn't Texas fall into the sea? Because Oklahoma sucks so hard."

I like that.

I also like that Oregonian cops wait on the California border to issue speeding tickets. Of course, I never drive up there so it doesn't bother me.

[Cappy Ahab]

Speaking of Swedish Pope Bands of Yor... how come they never made a sequel to Yor Hunter from the Future? Why doesn't Yor get a cross-over in Future Retard?

Is Yor also Future Retard? That would explain the casting of Bull Shannon from Night Court.

[Brent]

Future Retard is one, Future Retard is many.

[The Grinch]

*Clicks the link and shudders* You mean Abba wasn't an isolated incident???!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????!!!! :eek: *Curls into a fetal position* Make it stop! Make it stop! Must... hear... *twitch* Jimi... Hendrix...

[Brent]

Yes, yes, but is it music?

Although, Grinch, I do hope Swedes don't think so ill of us for importing Linkin' Park (think of a word, then build a you/me/high/by/say/way/day/okay song around, and there's your LP) into their culture.

Culture war -- it's the best!

[zer0]

I don't listen to Linkin Park, and hardly ever any other mainstream bands. Your sneaky culture war will have no effect on me boy! You tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it didn't even matter!

[Xbunny]

We're goin' on a Disney Cruise?? Neat!

[Nicole]

I don't hate NZers. I might mock their accent sometimes, but on the whole I think they're groovy. One day i'll visit NZ, too. It's purty.

(PS. zer0 gets a bazillion points for not liking Linkin Park. Word.)

[Brent]

But he loses a bazillion plus one points for quoting them

[Nicole]

Ok, all the points go to me for being so clueless to not know, which means I *really* don't like them! Go me!

[Brent]

My mind's a polluted wreck. What really sucks about living in America is being required to implant radio receivers in our heads by age nine. Then Gingrich passed the GPS-in-ass law. That's pretty uncomfortable. My ass has become so numb I can't feel you there, become so tired, so much more aware, I'm becoming this, all I want to do, is be more like me, and be less like Bush.

[Nicole]

You want less Bush. Check.

[Brent]

Double check that, yo! :P

[Jeff]

Double check 'Less Bush'? Sounds gay to me!

Hey, how long has it been since we had our last Someone Else is Gay post?

[Brent]

Need I spell out what I mean? Need I? Heh. Heh heh heh ha ha ha HA HA HA HA HARRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[The Grinch]

Grinch busily checks his Christmas list, and notices that Brent has asked for "Less Bush". He ponders for a minute, and then wraps up Brent's present - a gift certificate for a free bikini wax.

[Brent]

Ken got me "Electric Six" for Xmas -- sweet jebus, it's good!

[Jeff]

Ken got me "Electric Six" for Xmas -- sweet jebus, it's good!

[kendalchen]

Because this is the Swedish pop bands of yore thread, I had to mention the Fark thing where some idiot posted that ABBA were releasing a new album. Nice reading comprehension, sir. Agnetha what's-her-name is recording something new, not Abba.
At any rate, I figured it would make Zero's skin crawl, but we're about the truth here, or something.
Besides, I like Abba. ;b

[Brent]

Many Fark headline submitters are notorious for not actually reading what they're submitting

[kendalchen]

As in, for being stoopid!

I posted something in there about ABBA's cutting edge lyrics. Listen to "Hey Hey Helen" and tell me that's not about a post-operative transsexual person. Just tell me.

I HAD to hear Abba songs, and my old tapes are lost or broken, but I have a vhs tape of their "Gold" album, and the videos are terrible. Ask Jeff how terrible, beyond the heinous costumes, makeup and hair. Just ask him.

[kendalchen]

So at last you're free
It's the way you wanted it to be
And the price you pay
To become a woman of today
Is it worth the pain to see the children cry
Does it hurt when they ask for Daddy

Hey hey Helen
Now you live on your own
Hey hey Helen
Can you make it alone
(Yes you can)

So you're free at last
And beginning to forget the past
Does it make you sad
When you think about the life you had
But you're right, you had to take a second chance
So you fight to find your freedom

Hey hey Helen
Now you live on your own
Hey hey Helen
Can you make it alone
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)
What's the matter with you
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)
Don't you know what to do
(Yes you do)
(Ahah, yes you do yes you do)
(Ahah, yes you do yes you do)

Hey hey Helen
Now you live on your own
Hey hey Helen
Can you make it alone
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)
What's the matter with you
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)
Don't you know what to do
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)
Now you live on your own
Hey hey Helen (hey hey Helen)

[Brent]

Nice Fark handle, Kendel!

[kendalchen]

Brent! Spell my name with me. one "L" (from another time) and only one "e" (from this time). ;b

yeah, that's from an ooooooooooooold magnetic poem that went something like "squirrely girl twirls, whispering: 'though boild in wax, he produces puppies in the tiny pound' and jumps once at his love"
Or something. I used to do magnetic poetry sleep deprived or hyper. It shows.