View source for Anna Sahlene

{{Short description|Swedish singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Anna Sahlene
|image = Anna Sahlin 2008.jpg
|caption =
|background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Anna Cecilia Sahlin
|alias = Sahlene, Anna Sahlene, Anna Sahlin
|birth_date =  {{Birth date and age|1976|05|11|df=y}}
|death_date =
|origin = [[Söderhamn]], [[Sweden]]
|instrument =
|genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
|occupation = [[Singing|Singer]]
|years_active = 1999–present
|label =
|website =
|current_members =
|past_members =
}}

'''Anna Cecilia Sahlin''' (born 11 May 1976), known professionally as '''Anna Sahlene''' and formerly by the one-word stage name '''Sahlene''', is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] singer best known for placing third at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2002]] representing [[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002|Estonia]] with "[[Runaway (Sahlene song)|Runaway]]".

==Early life/career==
Born in [[Söderhamn]] on 11 May 1976,<ref>{{sfdb|176055|Anna Sahlin}}. Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref> Sahlene was the oldest of seven children having three younger brothers and three younger sisters. Both her parents had strong musical inclinations which were passed on to their children, with Sahlene herself singing from an early age in addition to learning cello, guitar, oboe and piano. However her performing career began as an actress: at age nine she had a lead role in ''[[The Children of Noisy Village (film)|The Children of Noisy Village]]'' (1986), based on a story by [[Astrid Lindgren]], and subsequently reprised her role - that of Anna - in the sequel ''[[More About the Children of Noisy Village]]'' (1987) appearing in both films billed as Anna Sahlin.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

Sahlene did not pursue a performing career subsequent to these two films - although she appeared on television in 1989 when the two ''Noisy Village'' films were run as a seven part series - until the age of eighteen when she moved to [[Stockholm]] with aspirations to be a singer. She was for several years a member of One Voice a [[gospel choir]] directed by Gabriel Forss whose members also performed as background vocalists on recordings by such artists as [[Eric Gadd]], [[Carola Häggkvist|Carola]] and [[Robyn]].

She was among the members of One Voice who formed the chorale for the [[Charlotte Nilsson]] performance of "[[Take Me to Your Heaven (song)|Take Me to Your Heaven]]" at [[Eurovision Song Contest 1999|Eurovision 1999]] where, representing Sweden, the number won. At the subsequent [[Eurovision Song Contest 2000|Eurovision 2000]], held in Stockholm, Sahlene was again onstage as one of the members of One Voice who formed the chorale for the [[Claudette Pace]] performance of the Maltese entrant "Desire".<ref>{{cite web|title=Lilla Anna har blivit stor|url=http://poplight.zitiz.se/artikel/lilla-anna-har-blivit-stor|work=Poplight|access-date=11 August 2013|language=sv|date=14 February 2006}}</ref> Sahlene's own recording career began in 1997 when she fronted the band Rhythm Avenue on their album ''Twelve Steps Down the Avenue''.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

==As Sahlene==

===''The Little Voice''===
Sahlene's first solo single in 2000 was called "[[The Little Voice]]" ("The Little Voice" did not pick up much airplay until it was later covered and released as a single by [[Hilary Duff]] in 2004, though with almost entirely rewritten lyrics). Three videos were made for tracks recorded by Sahlene for Roadrunner Arcade Music: "Fifth Element"; "The Little Voice", landing in the top 5 of [[MTV Nordic]]'s most played list; and "Fishies", filmed on location in [[Sardinia]], [[Italy]]. "The Little Voice" and the 2001 single release "House" were both minor Swedish chart hits for Sahlene with respective peaks of #51 and #52. Sahlene recorded tracks for a ''The Little Voice'' album release which was shelved due to EMG's buyout of Roadrunner Arcade Music and its eventual fall into bankruptcy. However Sahlene was afforded the opportunity to serve as opening act at Swedish concerts by [[Robert Plant]] and [[Bon Jovi]] as part of the promotion for ''The Little Voice'' album prior to its release being canceled.

===Eurovision 2002/ ''Runaway''===
Sahlene was subsequently signed to [[Virgin Records]] Sweden but had yet to record for that label when Virgin Sweden was contacted in January 2002 by Estonian pop group 2 Quick Start, who had entered their composition "Runaway" in [[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002|Eurolaul 2002]]: top Estonian pop star [[Eda-Ines Etti|Ines]] had recorded the demo of "Runaway" but opted out of performing the song in Eurolaul and 2 Quick Start, unable to solicit another Estonian singer, were now hoping to recruit a singer from Sweden. Virgin Records telephoned Sahlene with the offer to perform "Runaway" at Eurolaul 2002 the evening of the day the label was contacted by the songwriters and at 6 a.m. the following morning Sahlene flew to the Estonian capital of [[Tallinn]] where she rehearsed with 2 Quick Start over the two weeks remaining prior to Eurolaul 2002.

On 26 January 2002 Sahlene's performance of "Runaway" at Eurolaul 2002 resulted in a first-place finish, with "Runaway" resultantly becoming the [[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest|Estonian entrant for Eurovision 2002]] and on the night of competition for Eurovision 2002 - mounted 25 May 2002 at [[Saku Suurhall Arena]] in Tallinn - Sahlene's performance of "Runaway" resulted in a third-place finish.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bohlman|first=Philip V.|title=The music of European nationalism|year=2004|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara, Calif.|isbn=978-1-57607-270-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fkQf7k2OaDcC&q=the+eurovision+song+contest+2002&pg=PA2|access-date=6 February 2011|page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Eurovision Song Contest 2002|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=316|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=6 February 2011}}</ref>

"Runaway" debuted at #20 on the Swedish singles chart dated 12 June 2002 but failed to rise higher although it did spend 14 weeks in the Top 40 with seven of those weeks in the Top 25.

===2003 (Melodifestivalen/ debut album) - 2004===
In 2003 Sahlene made her first bid to represent her native Sweden at Eurovision participating in [[Melodifestivalen]], the Swedish national preselection round for Eurovision, with the number "We're Unbreakable" which on 8 March 2003 bowed out of [[Melodifestivalen 2003]] with a fifth-place finish in Round #1 of Semi-Final #4.  Sahlene had freely admitted prior to Melodifestivalen 2003 that the intent of her Melodifestivalen participation was to showcase "We're Unbreakable" only to the point of securing a hit in Sweden and Estonia: she was sure "We're Unbreakable" would not be voted by the Swedish public as their Eurovision entrant and Sahlene in fact preferred not to compete on the Eurovision main stage for a second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Galanoff|first=Nikolai|title=Sahlene: I don't wanna participate in Eurovision again|url=http://esc-mp3.narod.ru/news03e.html|work=Eurosong.net.ru|access-date=11 August 2013|author2=Alexandra Manuikian |date=18 February 2003|quote="Unbreakable", which is my song in the final, is very good, but I do not think that it could win. The reason is that Swedes are very conservative towards Eurovision. We have got no international judges as in Estonia, the Melodifestivalen winner is chosen by public. That's why I'm sure that I won't get first place....The fact is that Sweden will choose [an] old-fashioned song. But my entry this year is very very Pop-ish. The aim of my participating in Melodifestivalen 2003 is to make "Unbreakable" a radio hit in Sweden and in Estonia. I don't want to participate in Eurovision again. [That would be] too hard work, too much nerves. Well, I'm quite sure that won't win [Melodifestivalen 2003] this year.}}</ref>

"We're Unbreakable" was included on Sahlene's debut album ''It's Been a While'' which mostly consisted of tracks from her unreleased ''Little Voice'' album and also contained "Runaway": ''It's Been a While'' was released on M&L Records - a [[Lionheart Music Group]] label - in April 2003 and "Unbreakable" became a hit on Swedish radio although it was not released as a physical single and therefore did not chart.

Sahlene's name was leaked as a possible performer for the [[Melodifestivalen 2004]] entrant "Baby I Can't Stop": however the eventual performer of the song was [[Gladys del Pilar]].

Sahlene was a guest performer on the album ''What a Wonderful World'' by the Joybells, singing the [[What a Wonderful World|title track]] for that summer 2004 release.

==As Anna Sahlene==

===2005===
In February 2005 Sahlene's second album ''Photograph'' was released on M&L's parent label Lionheart with artist credit reading '''Anna Sahlene''': the addition of the first name "Anna" to Sahlene's professional name was first evident on this album's advance single "Creeps" - released in January 2005 to become a hit in both Sweden (#28) and Finland (#13) - and the subject of this article has been credited as "Anna Sahlene" in all her subsequent professional endeavors, including voicing the character of "Cappy" in the Swedish-language dubbed version of the animated film ''[[Robots (2005 film)|Robots]]'' (released by [[20th Century Fox]] March 2005).

===2006 (Melodifestivalen) - 2007===
In 2006 Anna Sahlene again vied to represent Sweden at Eurovision participating in [[Melodifestivalen 2006]] with the song "This Woman" which Sahlene composed with Bobby Ljunggren and Henrik Wikström: "This Woman" bowed out of Melodifestivalen 2006 in the first semi-final having finished that round in fifth place and thus just missing the cut-off for advancement. However Sahlene's recording of "This Woman" - released on M&L - did return her to the Swedish Top 20 for the first time since "Runaway" with "This Woman" peaking at #19 in March 2006 although the eight-week chart tenure of "This Woman" was far briefer than that of the #20 hit "Runaway".

Sahlene was one of the contestants on the 2007 season of the Swedish TV show ''[[Dancing with the Stars#Sweden|Let's Dance]]'' on TV4. Sahlene was voted off the show, which was won by [[Lasse Brandeby]].

On 11 August 2007 Sahlene began an extended run in the female lead Ariel Moore in the musical ''[[Footloose (musical)|Footloose]]'' in [[Gothenburg]]: the show moved to Stockholm on 20 February 2008.

===2008 - 09 (Melodifestivalen)===
In January 2008 it was announced that Sahlene would possibly participate in that year's [[Selecția Națională]]: the national preselection round for [[Romania]] in Eurovision: although the [[demo (music)|demo]] of the number "Dr Frankenstein" had only featured vocalist [[LaGaylia Frazier]] it was tentatively planned that the number would be performed in Selecția Națională as a duet by Frazier and Sahlene with the duo being billed as LaSal. However, by the month's end it was confirmed that Sahlene's schedule would not permit her to participate in Selecția Națională ("Dr Frankenstein" as performed by LaGaylia Frazier at the Selecția Națională final of 23 February 2008 finished in tenth place). Sahlene was a guest performer at [[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008|Eurolaul 2008]] broadcast live from the [[Eesti Televisioon]] Studio in Tallinn on 2 February 2008 previewing her upcoming single release, a [[cover version]] of [[Maria Arredondo]]'s #4 2007 Norwegian hit "[[Brief and Beautiful]]".

Sahlene again bid to represent Sweden at [[Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009|Sweden at Eurovision 2009]], competing in [[Melodifestivalen 2009]] with "[[Killing Me Tenderly]]" a duet with [[Maria Haukaas Storeng]]: conceived as a solo, the song's composers had recast "Killing Me Tenderly" as a duet upon finding the [[demo (music)|demo]] submitted by Sahlene and that submitted by Storeng equally impressive. "Killing Me Tenderly" bowed out of [[Melodifestivalen 2009]] in Semi-Final #4  - held 28 February 2009 - in seventh place: however the recording of "Killing Me Tenderly" by Anna Sahlene and Maria Haukaas Storeng - released on M&L - rose as high on the Swedish charts as #10 (though with a very brief overall chart tenure of three weeks).

On 24 October 2010 Sahlene performed at a "Eurovision Night After Dark" party held at the Swedish embassy in [[Washington D.C.]]

===Recent career===
In 2010 Sahlene was one of several artists featured "Ta Min Hand" a [[charity record|charity single]] in support of [[SOS Children's Villages]]; Sahlene was also among the personnel of "Ta Min Hand" who performed at an accompanying fundraising concert held at [[Kungsträdgården]] on 20 November 2010 - the day of the single's release.<ref>{{cite web|title=Swedish Pop Stars Do Their Thing for Charity|url=http://www.scandipop.co.uk/swedish-pop-stars-do-their-thing-for-charity/|work=Scandipop|access-date=11 August 2013|date=17 November 2010}}</ref>

From autumn 2010, Anna Sahlene and LaGaylia Frazier extensively toured Sweden with an [[rhythm and blues|R&B]]-oriented live show entitled the Blues Mothers.

2012 saw the first release of any new recordings by Sahlene in four years, with the single "Jamie" released on 27 February and the follow-up "Horns of Mississippi" released on 6 July 2012: these two singles are included on the eleven-track album ''Roses'' released on 26 September 2012.

It was announced that as of 27 December 2012 Sahlene will perform in the role of [[Mary Magdalene|Maria Magdalena]] in the [[Göta Lejon]] Theatre production of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]''.

In 2013 Sahlene voiced the character of Queen Tara in the Swedish-language dubbed version of the animated film ''[[Epic (2013 film)|Epic]]'' released by [[20th Century Fox]] in May 2013.

It was announced on 5 May 2016 that Sahlene and Dea Norberg will be the backing vocalists for [[Dami Im]] when she performs the [[Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016|2016 Australian entry for Eurovision]]: "[[Sound of Silence (Dami Im song)|Sound of Silence]]", which Im is scheduled to perform in the second semi-final on 11 May 2016 at the [[Ericsson Globe|Globen]]: a Top Ten place in the semi-final will entitle Im to perform "Sound of Silence" in the [[Eurovision 2016]] Grand Final held at the Globen on the night of 14 May 2016. At the 5 May 2016 rehearsals for Im's semi-final performance Sahlene and Norberg performed their background vocals offstage.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://escreporter.com/anna-sahlene-estonia-2002-returns-eurovision/| title=Anna Sahlene (Estonia 2002) returns to Eurovision!| work=ESC Reporter| date=5 May 2016| publisher=ESCReporter.com| access-date=5 May 2016}}</ref>

In autumn 2018 she played the role Grace Farrell in Nöjesteaterns production of the stage musical [[Annie (musical)|''Annie'']]. She reprised her role in the spring of 2019 in Lorensbergsteatern in Göteborg.

In May 2019, she provided backing vocals at [[Eurovision Song Contest 2019|Eurovision 2019]] for the [[United Kingdom]]'s entry “[[Bigger than Us (Michael Rice song)|Bigger Than Us]]” by [[Michael Rice (singer)|Michael Rice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.euromix.co.il/2019/04/30/%d7%90%d7%a0%d7%94-%d7%a1%d7%94%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%99%d7%9f-%d7%90%d7%a1%d7%98%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%94-2002-%d7%aa%d7%9c%d7%95%d7%95%d7%94-%d7%94%d7%a9%d7%a0%d7%94-%d7%90%d7%aa-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%99%d7%98/|title=אנה סהליין (אסטוניה 2002) תלווה השנה את בריטניה|website=EuroMix}}</ref>

She finished in 4th place in [[Eesti Laul 2022]] with the song "Champion" and in 11th place in [[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025|Eesti Laul 2025]] with the song "Love Me Low".

In 2023, she participated in the [[Netflix]] series ''[[Squid Game: The Challenge]]'' as Player 142.

==Albums==
===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|- 
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:17em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''It's Been a While''
|
* Released: 2003
* Label: M&L Records (MLCD003)
* Formats: [[Compact disc|CD]]
|-
! scope="row"| ''Photograph''
|
* Released: 2005
* Label: Lionheart Records (LHICD0020)
* Formats: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''Roses''
|
* Released: 2012
* Label: Lionheart Records (LHICD0144)
* Formats: CD, digital
|}

===Charted singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:85%;"| [[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]<br/><ref name=SWE>{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=s&search=Anna+Sahlene|title=Sahlene at Swedish Charts |website=Swedish Charts|date=13 December 2024|access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "[[The Little Voice]]"<br/><small>(as Sahlene)</small>
| 2000
| 51
|rowspan="3"| ''It's Been a While''
|-
! scope="row"| "House"<br/><small>(as Sahlene)</small>
| 2001
| 52
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Runaway (Sahlene song)|Runaway]]"<br/><small>(as Sahlene)</small>
| 2002
| 20
|-
! scope="row"| "Creeps"
| 2005
| 28
| ''Photograph''
|-
! scope="row"| "This Woman"
| 2006
| 19
| 
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Killing Me Tenderly]]"<br/><small>(with [[Maria Haukaas Storeng]])</small>
| 2009
| 10
| 
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Tanel Padar]], [[Dave Benton]] & [[Soul Militia|2XL]]<br>with "[[Everybody (Tanel Padar and Dave Benton song)|Everybody]]"
| title=[[Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest]]
| years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 2002|2002]]
| after=[[Ruffus]]<br>with "[[Eighties Coming Back]]"
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2002|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahlene}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Söderhamn]]
[[Category:English-language singers from Sweden]]
[[Category:21st-century Swedish singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Swedish women singers]]
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants]]