STOCKHOLM - Marie Fredriksson will be singing the title song for the upcoming sequel to last year's "Arn" movie. The song, "Där du andas (Where You Breathe)," is written by Niklas Strömstedt and Anders Glenmark. Marie was asked to record the song and she says "It was an easy choice to say yes, and of course, it is great to participate in such a big Swedish film."

"Arn – Tempelriddaren (Arn – The Knight Templar)" is a 2007 epic film based on Jan Guillou's trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knight Templar Arn Magnusson. The film was released in December 2007 and the sequel, "Arn – Riket vid vägens slut (Arn - The Kingdom at Road's End)," will be released August 22 , 2008. While the films are mostly in Swedish and most of the production was made in Sweden, they are a joint production between Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Germany. With a total budget of around US$30 million, it's the most expensive production in Scandinavian film history.

This song, as well as several others inspired by Arn, will be released on the album "Alla himlens änglar (All the Angels of Heaven)" on August 27. Anders Glenmark is the producer. The song will be released on July 23.

Other singers include Sonja Aldén, Uno Svenningsson, Helena Paparizou, Tommy Körberg and Fred Johansson. Composers include Anders Glenmark, Niklas Strömstedt, Mauro Scocco, Uno Svenningsson, Tomas Andersson Wij, Patrik Isaksson, Bobby Ljunggren and Eva Dahlgren.

Listen to a snippet at Expressen.

Additional reporting by "Strest" and Ted Holgersson.

Few talk about the "Swedish musical wonder" anymore, which was strongly connected to successful Swedish artists, but Swedish music is still popular outside of Sweden. Swedish songwriters still hold the fort.
"Sweden is a small country, but Swedish music is big abroad. The foreign proceeds are a receipt showing that Swedish songwriters are of high international class" says Margita Ljungberg, senior adviser at STIM.
"I'm happy that ABBA does so well! " Per Gessle comments to The Daily Roxette.

The most played songs by Swedish composers outside of Sweden 2007:

1. Listen To Your Heart
Per Gessle/Mats MP Persson
2. Dancing Queen
Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (Buma/Stemra)/Stig Anderson
3. Since U Been Gone
Max Martin/Lukasz Gottwald (Ascap)
4. Hung Up
Madonna (Ascap)/Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (Buma/Stemra), Stuart
Price (BMI)
5. Who Knew
Max Martin/Lukasz Gottwald (Ascap)
6. Behind These Hazel Eyes
Max Martin/Lukasz Gottwald (Ascap)/Kelly Clarkson (Ascap)
7. It Must Have Been Love
Per Gessle
8. Mamma Mia
Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (Buma/Stemra)/Stig Anderson
9. Gimme Gimme Gimme
Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (Buma/Stemra)
10. The One
Max Martin/Brian Littrell (Ascap)

Swedish heavy metal band Opeth have released their newest album "Watershed," featuring a cover of Marie Fredriksson's song "Den ständiga resan." Marie fans will be relieved to know that the cover version is instantly recognizable as Marie's song. Opeth have chosen to keep the original arrangement - the vocal is subdued, the melody is driven by acoustic guitar, and the song is punctuated with occasional splashes of electric guitar, just as in Marie's original. It wasn't certain that the song would make the album.

We just received the following message from Marie Fredriksson:

Tack till alla som skänkt mig tankar, ord och gåvor i samband med min 50-årsdag. Jag blir så varm och tacksam och glad över att ni finns. Tack också för allt stöd de senaste åren - nu ser jag med tillförsikt framåt!

Soliga hälsningar från Marie

And in English:

Thanks to everybody who has given me thoughts, words and gifts in connection with my 50th birthday. I am happy and grateful for all of you. I would also like to thank you for all your support over the last years - I am looking forward to the future with great excitement.

Sunny regards, Marie