Barbados

Sweden’s pop-dansband Barbados first assembled in Gothenburg in 1992, its core lineup consisting of Mathias Lager on guitar and vocals, Peter Samuelsson on bass and vocals, Magnus Wictorinsson on drums, and Håkan Swärd on keyboards. Fronted at the outset by Magnus Carlsson, the group issued its self-titled debut album in 1995, then continued with The Lion Sleeps Tonight in 1997, Nu Kommer Flickorna in 1998, Belinda in 1999, and Rosalita later that same year. Widespread recognition arrived only in 2000, when “Se Mig” secured second place at Melodifestivalen; the band repeated the feat the following year with “Allt Som Jag Ser,” placed fourth with “Världen Utanför,” and reached the Swedish Top Five with both Kom Hem (2000) and Världen Utanför (2002). Carlsson’s exit at the close of 2002 to join Euro-dance outfit Alcazar triggered an immediate decline in the group’s fortunes. Mathias Holmgren assumed lead vocals for Hela Himlen (2003), yet the album underperformed next to the retrospective Best of Barbados 1994-2004, which appeared in 2005. Chris Lindh subsequently took the microphone for Stolt, released the same year, but sales remained weak. Björn Lagerström became the next frontman in 2007, and the band returned to the charts modestly with “Vinterstorm” in 2008.