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Laban (band)

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Laban (band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 202513 sources
Laban
Company typeDuo
IndustryMusic
Founded1982
FounderLecia Jønsson, Ivan Pedersen
Defunct1988
Headquarters
Denmark
Area served
Denmark, Europe, United States, Latin America, Scandinavia
ProductsMusic albums and singles

Laban was a Danish Eurodisco duo active during the 1980s, composed of vocalists Lecia Jønsson and Ivan Pedersen. Both artists hail from Denmark and initially performed in Danish, quickly gaining prominence with their debut track "Hvor ska' vi sove i nat?" Throughout the decade, Laban established themselves as one of Denmark's leading musical acts, with several albums achieving platinum certification domestically.

By 1986, the pair transitioned towards international audiences by releasing albums in English, experiencing moderate success worldwide. Their most notable single, "Love in Siberia," charted in the United States and enjoyed popularity across Europe and Scandinavia. The 1986 release Caught by Surprise stands as their most acclaimed album, paving the way for a subsequent international album, Roulette, issued in 1987. The duo parted ways in 1988 after distributing their music across more than forty countries globally.

Origins and Danish Breakthrough

In 1981, producer and manager Cai Leitner recognized potential in the Italian hit "Sarà perché ti amo" by Ricchi e Poveri and aimed to create a Danish adaptation. He recruited producer and singer-songwriter Ivan Pedersen to craft Danish lyrics.[1] Leitner also proposed that Pedersen perform it as a duet alongside Lecia Jønsson, who was then signed with EMI.[2] The track titled "Hvor ska' vi sove i nat?" ("Where Are We Going to Sleep Tonight?") was recorded anonymously under the name Laban—a suggestion from producer Tommy Seebach intended to mirror the double-A naming style of Abba.[3]

Upon its release in March 1982,[4] the single's anonymous nature sparked a promotional buzz as critics speculated about the performers’ identities,[5] which amplified sales and soon disclosed Pedersen and Jønsson as the artists behind it. The single sold over one million copies within Denmark.[6] Their eponymous debut album was released in October 1982,[7] attaining gold certification on its launch day.[8] This album featured another cover track, "Jeg ka' li' dig alligevel," which originated as "Angel from Paradise" by Hot Shot.

Following this success, Laban released two further albums: Laban 2 in 1983 and Laban 3 in 1984, both of which earned platinum status within Denmark. Their follow-up hit single "Meget bedre nu" climbed to number three on the charts during autumn of 1983.[9] In 1985, encouraged by Leitner’s guidance, Laban transitioned from EMI to Mega Records.[10] Under Mega Records, their sound incorporated enhanced synthesizer elements designed to appeal to a younger demographic.[11] In response, EMI issued a greatest hits compilation titled "Laban's bedste," which reached number twenty-six on Danish charts.[12] October of the same year saw the release of Laban 4, featuring the single "Kold som is," which attained number four on Denmark’s charts.[13] The commercial success of this record motivated them to produce English-language versions aimed at international markets.

Unexpected Breakthrough, Love in Siberia, and Global Recognition

Following the release of Laban 4, the duo launched their first English-language album, Caught by Surprise, which included English renditions of their previous tracks. A standout song was "Love in Siberia," an English version of "Kold som is." Inspired by Laura Branigan's hit "Self Control," Pedersen crafted the track aiming to emulate its success. This song became Laban’s most prominent international hit, accompanied by a music video shot in both the Canary Islands and Denmark during August 1986.

The single remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks, reaching a peak position of #88 in November 1986. It also climbed to #38 on the U.S. Dance Chart and attained #47 on the Cash Box chart early in 1987. At that time, Laban became only the fifth Danish act to enter the Billboard Hot 100, significantly elevating their international profile throughout Europe, Latin America, and Scandinavia, including Sweden.

Released in the United States on September 15, 1986, Caught by Surprise featured a title track that was a cover of "Senza Tregua" by Italian band Élite; this single reached #9 in Sweden, where the album itself peaked at #28. Another notable release was "Donna Donna," co-written by Pedersen and a rendition of John Hatting’s original composition. Despite these achievements, both Pedersen and Jønsson began experiencing fatigue; by October 1986, Jønsson contemplated ending their collaboration but decided to continue due to the ongoing momentum from "Love in Siberia."

Roulette Era and Declining Popularity

Building on their previous successes with Caught by Surprise and earlier singles, Laban unveiled their second and final international album, Roulette, in August 1987. This record featured English adaptations from the unreleased Laban 5 alongside selections from Laban 4, marking a stylistic shift from Eurodisco and Synthpop toward new wave and rock influences. Four singles were released during this period, including "Prisoner of the Night," a cover of Heinz Rudolf Kunze’s "Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz." Nevertheless, neither Roulette nor its singles matched their prior international acclaim; the album reached #25 in Sweden for two weeks and experienced only moderate sales elsewhere. The single "Prisoner of the Night" peaked at #16 in Denmark, yet overall popularity waned by late 1987 with stagnant domestic sales figures.

Their final studio album released domestically, Laban 5, came out in October 1987. The last Danish single from this album, "De vilde er de værste," penned by Pedersen, was never translated into English.

Disbandment

Continuous touring coupled with internal conflicts placed strain on Pedersen and Jønsson. Without a subsequent hit following "Love in Siberia," Laban’s prospects diminished by 1988. Their final single was a cover of Dusty Springfield’s "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten," featured on the compilation Laban: Greatest Hits, which was partly released due to the disappointing performance of Roulette. In 1988, producer Cai Leitner departed from Mega Records, leaving Laban without production backing. These factors—declining popularity and disagreements regarding their artistic direction—led to Laban’s dissolution during summer 1988 after completing a brief Swedish tour promoting Laban 5.

After the group disbanded, Pedersen continued his musical career through solo projects and participation in bands such as Backseat, while Jønsson pursued a more private solo path. There have been no indications or plans for a Laban reunion.

In 2010, a box set titled "Komplet & Rariteter" was issued, compiling remastered albums along with previously unreleased and rare tracks. Pedersen authored his memoir Med Hjerte Udenpå in 2017, reflecting on his experiences within the music industry and his tenure with Laban. In 2023, Jønsson published her account titled "Det' en hem’lighed," sharing insights into her time with Laban and related conflicts; this work received criticism from Pedersen.

Albums

Singles

Compilations

  • Laban's bedste (1985)
  • Laban: Greatest Hits (1988)
  • De største narrestreger (1997)
  • The Collection (2000)
  • De 36 bedste narrestreger (2009)
  • Komplet & rariteter (2010)
  • Love in Siberia - The Best Of Laban (2010)
  1. ↑ "Laban: Ivan Pedersen Interview Entrevista 2020". YouTube.com. Retro Talking Mix. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan (2017). Med Hjertet Udenpå. Denmark: Dreamlitt Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 978-87-7171-487-6.
  3. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan (2017). Med Hjertet Udenpå. Denmark: Dreamlitt Publishing. p. 131. ISBN 978-87-7171-487-6.
  4. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan. "History - 1982". ivanpedersen.com. Ivan Pedersen.
  5. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan (2017). Med Hjertet Udenpå. Denmark: Dreamlitt Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 978-87-7171-487-6.
  6. ↑ "Laban tørret i bagdelen". Avisen.dk. Jens Norre. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan. "Laban 1". ivanpedersen.com. Ivan Pedersen.
  8. ↑ "Laban: Ivan Pedersen Interview Entrevista 2020". YouTube.com. Retro Talking Mix. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Danish Chart Archive Singles". ukmis.org. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan (2017). Med Hjertet Udenpå. Denmark: Dreamlitt Publishing. p. 176. ISBN 978-87-7171-487-6.
  11. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan (2017). Med Hjertet Udenpå. Denmark: Dreamlitt Publishing. p. 176. ISBN 978-87-7171-487-6.
  12. ↑ Pedersen, Ivan. "Laban's bedste". ivanpedersen.com. Ivan Pedersen. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Danish Chart Archive Singles". ukmis.org. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
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