Vreeswijk Cornelis

Cornelis Vreeswijk was a Swedish-Dutch singer-songwriter who began releasing music in the 1960s. He wrote in Swedish and became known for songs that addressed social issues with a direct, sometimes confrontational style. His 1968 track 'Ballad Till En Bra Polis' questioned police authority and became his most recognized work, though it also drew criticism from some quarters.

Born in Amsterdam in 1937, Vreeswijk moved to Sweden in the mid-1950s. His early albums like 'Visor och Ballader' from 1964 established his approach: plainspoken lyrics set to folk melodies. He wrote about ordinary people and their struggles, drawing from folk traditions but applying them to contemporary Swedish life.

Beyond 'Ballad Till En Bra Polis,' his catalog includes songs like 'Deirdres Samba' and 'Ångbåtsblues' that show his range from lighter material to more reflective pieces. He remained an active recording artist through the 1970s and into the 1980s, maintaining his distinctive voice even as musical trends shifted around him.