On May 8, 1940, Ulla Billquist entered a recording studio in Stockholm to lend her voice to a melody that would become one of Sweden's most beloved and iconic songs: "My Soldier".
This recording, which marked her first for the Sonora record label, became not only a milestone in her career but also a symbol of Sweden's years of preparedness during World War II.
Ulla Billquist and the shadow of war
Ulla Billquist, born in 1907 in Eslöv, was already an established artist in Sweden by 1940. With her warm, expressive voice and her ability to convey emotions, she had charmed audiences through revues, folk parks and gramophone recordings since the late 1920s. During the 1930s, she had made a name for herself with hits such as "Köp rosor monsieur" and established herself as one of the country's leading pop stars. But it was during the war years, when Sweden was on alert and uncertainty characterized society, that she would reach her absolute peak.
The spring of 1940 was marked by a tense atmosphere. World War II was raging in Europe, and Sweden had mobilized its troops to protect its neutrality. Many Swedish men were called up to standby camps, and at home the artists tried to keep their spirits up. The revue "Det kommer en vår" (There is a Spring Coming) at Folkan in Stockholm, where the song "Min soldat" was first performed by Naemi Briese, captured the spirit of the times. The song, written by Nils Perne under the pseudonym "Jokern", told the story of a woman who longed for her fiancé, a soldier "somewhere in Sweden". The lyrics were both humorous and moving, with a mix of everyday details – such as the soldier's ill-fitting uniform – and deep loyalty and love.
The move to Sonora and a unique contract
Before the recording of "Min soldat", Ulla Billquist had just undergone an important change in her career. Nils Perne, who not only wrote the song but was also an influential figure in the music industry, persuaded her to leave the Columbia record label for Sonora. This was a big step, and Billquist signed a contract that was groundbreaking for its time. As the first artist in Sweden, she was hired by Sonora with a fixed monthly salary of 700 kronor – equivalent to just over 20,000 kronor in today's money (2024). This was the most favorable contract a female artist had been offered in Sweden, and probably only Sven-Olof Sandberg had a better deal at the time. The contract gave her financial stability, but it also reflected her enormous popularity and Sonora's belief in her potential.
The recording on May 8, 1940
The actual recording took place in a studio in Stockholm, and it was a day filled with anticipation. "Min soldat" was one of the first songs Billquist recorded for Sonora, and it was clear that both she and the record company saw the potential in the melody. The orchestra was led by Sven Arefeldt, who also arranged the song. Arefeldt's work gave the song a warm, captivating tone that balanced the melancholy of the lyrics with a lighthearted, hopeful feel. The orchestra consisted of professional musicians, and the recording was made on 78-rpm stone cake, the dominant format for music at the time.
Billquist's vocal contribution was crucial to the song's success. Her voice, developed through regular lessons with Professor Ragnar Hultén, had a unique ability to convey both strength and vulnerability. In "My Soldier", she sang with an sincerity that allowed listeners to feel the woman in the song's longing and pride. The lyrics, with lines such as " His shoes are too big and his hat is too tight, his pants are too narrow and his coat is too long. But it doesn't matter, because he is my soldier, somewhere in Sweden ", came to life through her interpretation. She gave the words a personal touch, as if she herself was standing at the station waving goodbye to her beloved.
The recording resulted in the record with catalog number Sonora 3630, which was first released in June 1940 as the B-side to "Vi gå fram, fram, fram". Already in July of the same year it was released as an A-side with "Blommornas torg" as the B-side, which shows how quickly the record company realized the song's potential. Later it was moved to catalog number 3654, but it was the original recording from May 8 that became the definitive version.
When "Min soldat" was released, it was an immediate success. The song struck a chord with an audience that lived with the uncertainty of war. For the soldiers on standby duty, Billquist's voice became a reminder of home, and for those who remained at home, the song reflected their feelings of longing and hope. The album sold over 50,000 copies in Sweden – a huge number for the time – and reached millions of listeners internationally, especially after it was given English lyrics as "The Shrine of St. Cecilia", recorded by The Andrews Sisters, among others.
Somewhere in Sweden
Billquist herself became a symbol of the war effort. As a leading war effort artist, she traveled the country and the kingdom to perform for the soldiers, often under the direction of Folke Bernadotte, who organized these performances. Her performances, where "My Soldier" was often the highlight, gave comfort and courage to thousands of men in the field. The song became so strongly associated with the war years that in 1973 it was used as the leitmotif in the TV series "Somewhere in Sweden", which gave it a new wave of popularity.
What made Billquist's interpretation of "My Soldier" so special was her ability to choose songs that reflected her own feelings and thoughts. Although she sometimes made concessions to the record companies' wishes for commercial hits, her repertoire was often characterized by an artistic will. Alice Babs, who worked with Billquist in the radio studio, compared her singing to that of the Portuguese fado singer Amália Rodrigues, which says something about the emotional depth of her performances.
At the same time, Billquist's private life was complicated. She was married three times and, according to later documentaries such as "När molnen skingras" (2016), lived a double life in which she had relationships with women – something that was taboo and illegal in Sweden until 1944. Her personal struggles may have contributed to the sense of vulnerability that permeates her interpretation of "Min soldat". For many listeners, it felt like she was singing directly to them, perhaps because she herself carried a deep understanding of longing and sacrifice.
The song lives on.
The recording of "Min soldat" on May 8, 1940 was not only a musical achievement but also a cultural moment that captured the soul of Sweden during a difficult time. Ulla Billquist's voice became a comfort to a nation in readiness, and the song lives on as a reminder of courage, love and community. Despite her tragic death in 1946, at only 38 years old, her recording of "Min soldat" has remained timeless. It is a classic that still touches, not least because it carries the story of a woman who, with her voice, gave hope to a people in the shadow of war.