Carl Michael Bellman

"Tycker du att graven är för djup? Nå välan, så tag dig då en sup. (Do you think your grave is too deep? Very well, then take a drink."

- Fredmans epistel n:o 21

Carl Michael Bellman was an 18th century Swedish songwriter, and is still considered by many to be Sweden's greatest poet... EVER. His main works are the Songs of Fredman (Fredmans sånger) and the Epistles of Fredman (Fredmans epistlar), each including some 70 songs, many of which are about four major forces that ruled 18th century Stockholm; angst, lust, booze and death.

One interesting thing about Bellman's songs is that they are mostly narrative stories, revolving around a group of characters living in 18th century Stockholm. Also the songs are often quite humorous, so they are kind of like episodes of a sitcom.

Bellman's songs are still very much a living part of Swedish culture. Many contemporary musicians (including Candlemass and Marduk) have recorded versions of one or more of his songs, and you can still hear some of his songs sung by rowdy partyers if you stroll through Stockholm's Old Town late at night.

These are the most common characters that are being used in Bellman's works (mainly the Epistles of Fredman)

Fredman is a watchmaker "without workshop or clocks".

Movitz is an Army bugler by day and virtuoso of many instruments by night. Fredman's constant companion and old drinking buddy.

Ulla Winblad is a "seamstress" and the target of Fredman's mostly unwanted affections.

Bellman, his music and his writings contain examples of:

 * All Women Are Lustful: Pretty much all of Bellman's female characters, with a few noteable exceptions; Susanna, for example.
 * Badass: Lorenz Mollberg
 * Bawdy Song: Bellman defines this trope, while still keeping his songs very artistic and beautiful. This versatility is what many people consider to be why his songs are so popular.
 * Chivalrous Pervert: Every single male character.
 * Drowning My Sorrows: Pretty much every character in the songs, Movitz in particular though.
 * Everybody Has Lots of Sex
 * Everyone Looks Sexier If French: Jergen Puckel (though tecnically he's half-German).
 * My Girl Is a Slut: Ulla Winblad
 * No Sex Allowed: So averted...
 * The Alcoholic: All the chracters of the songs, and Bellman himself.
 * Wretched Hive: Stockholm