In 1978 she issued '' Miten voi kyllin kiittää '' , an album of Finnish translations of the songs of the Chilean composer and singer Violeta Parra . A Swedish version , '' Jag vill tacka livet '' , came out the following year . The title song , " Jag vill tacka livet " ( " Gracias a la vida " ) was one of her greatest hits . Olof Palme had been a close friend , and his widow wanted Arja to sing at the funeral in 1986 . She sang Enai Megalos O Kaimos in Swedish . In 1987 , she participated at Melodifestivalen with the song " Högt över havet " , ending up second . The same year , she scored a Svensktoppen hit with the song '' Jag vill leva i Europa ''
Melodifestivalen
Melodifestivalen 1987
Arja Saijonmaa