No summer torment this year - because of the corona: "There was no room for another brain-dead summer hit"

"A song that enjoys great popularity during the summer and then disappears from the spotlight."

This is roughly how the phenomenon of summer torment is described on Wikipedia. And who doesn't remember songs like "Macarena", "The ketchup song" and "Hey hey Monika" (even though you might prefer to forget them)?

This year, however, we do not get any summer plague - the new corona virus has ensured that. At least SVT Nyheter's editorial staff has not seen a glimpse of any summer torment. And Kulturnyheter's music critic Per Sinding-Larsen agrees:

- It was a good reconnaissance, that's probably true. Many have tried to make this year's Mambo no 5 and Bailando, but no one has yet fully succeeded. This depends more on the state of the world than on the music, he says.

What do you think is the reason?

- I think it can be so simple that the recommendations on social distancing have changed the conditions. The combination of climate change and all covid-19 restrictions is directly killing for a style that is fully born and nurtured by sun, laughter, fellowship and celebration.

Do you miss the summer torments then?

- Yes, the summer torment plays a role. It reminds us who live in the northern hemisphere that it is summer at all. And that we are free. The soul of a true summer torment rests in total release from responsibility.

Aftonbladet's music critic Markus Larsson thinks it is entirely reasonable that we have not had any summer torment this year.

- It is in the nature of things. The pandemic is worse than any possible summer torment. There was no room for another brain-dead summer hit this year. In other words, not all hope is out for humanity, he says and continues:

- A vaccine against summer ailments should also be the highest priority for the world and the WHO after covid-19. We must be afraid of the musical public health as well, he says.