At the age of one, he was adopted in Colombia by a reindeer-herding Sami family from a village in northern Sweden. And now, thirty-two years later, Jon Henrik Fjällgren is asking an important question about his journey: Is it possible to move a person’s soul?

The two-time Melodifestivalen alum will address that and many other questions in  his biography, Månbarn (Moon Children).

The book will be published in Sweden by Bokus on October 13. But on Wednesday the “Jag är fri (Manne leam frijje)” hitmaker shared the cover of the book on his Instagram account, along with this caption:

“Finally we can show the full cover of my book. In five weeks it will be in stores, but you can already pre-order a signed copy…Fear, excitement and a thousand different emotions are coming.”

The book will explore Jon Henrik’s rise to fame, but also the “bullying, abuse and violence” — and accompanying mental health challenges — that have provided an unsettling background to much of his life.

The publisher describes the book like this.

“He was uprooted from his life in one indigenous population and planted into another. Despite his upbringing in Sweden and his life as a reindeer herder in the mountains, where he spends much of his time alone with his reindeer in beautiful nature, his Colombian heritage is an important part of who he is.”

“His love of music has always been there. At only fourteen years old, he held his first concert in Funäsdalen’s church, with the king and queen present. The joik has been his way of spreading Sami heritage further and an opportunity to share and spread his love for Sami music.”

“Despite his talent and joy in music, bullying, abuse and violence have been ever-present shadows in his life from an early age….Adults looked between their fingers and neither defended him nor took his side.”

“The delusion, the rootlessness and the sadness of not feeling that he belonged drove him into a very dark period where the thought of suicide was no stranger. When his friend died tragically, Jon Henrik wrote ‘Daniel’s joik’, and after that his life was never the same. He wins both [Sweden’s Got Talent] and Let’s Dance, has participated in the Melodifestivalen and Stjärnornas stjärna and has traveled the country and kingdom, supported and acclaimed, with his enchanting music.”

“But Jon Henrik’s new life in the spotlight is not just a dance on roses. Mental illness, cyber-hatred and harassment and hostility from his Sami village are part of the every day…getting rid of old shadows is not easy.”

Jon Henrik has participated in Melodifestivalen on three occasions. In 2015 he placed second with “Jag är fri (Manne leam frijje)” behind Måns Zelmerlöw. Two years later he returned alongside Aninia, placing third with “En värld full av strider (Eatneme gusnie jeenh dåaroeh)”. In 2019 he placed fourth with “Norrsken”.

Do you hope to see Jon Henrik at Melodifestivalen 2021? He’s placed  fourth, third and second…could first be on the horizon soon? Let us know down below!

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Kim
Kim
3 years ago

I adore Jon Henrik’s Mello songs. They are full of emotion and atmospheric. Also the YouTube video of his first audition for Sweden’s Got Talent never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

It KILLS ME that the poor guy always competes in years where he’d be the obvious winner if there wasn’t an even more obvious winner. Why oh why did Jag ar fri have to compete the same year as Heroes? You pit that against any song in, say, 2013 or 2018, you’d have yourself a smash hit. But against Mans? There was no way, and we lost a really good potential Swedish entry.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

And his efforts in 2017 and 2019 were good, but there was no denying that Sweden were on to something with those entries. BTW, Melfest-related: how often does the previous year’s runner-up come back and win? I haven’t gone back and checked everything, but didn’t Robin come second to Frans, then Benjamin came second to Robin, then John came close to second to Benjamin? And before that, Eric Saade came second to Anna Bergendahl. If you follow patterns, that’d be good news for Dotter fans. Notably subverted by eventual champ Loreen, who didn’t even make the final before she came… Read more »

Denis
Denis
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

None of those mentioned were runner-up. Robin got 5th, Benjy too. Saade was third. But I get your point,previous year’s returnees are always dangerous and if Dotter decides to compete again she could be the huge winner!

Diana
Diana
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Robin and Benjamin cane 5th before they won. Eric Saade came third. I don’t remember anyone coming second and then winning