FSC Norway
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FSC January 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - January 2014 - Helene Bøksle - Hugtatt
Representing Norway in FSC January 2014 - and for the 4th time in the FSC - is the accomplished and popular Norwegian Folk-pop-singer Helene Bøksle. Here is some more information about her.
Helene Margrete Bøksle, or just Helene Bøksle as is her artist-name, was born in 1981 in the Kristiansand-area of southern Norway. A musical talent from an early age, she gained national fame in 2003 when she took part in the Norwegian talent-tv-show “Kjempesjansen” and came a good 4th. In 2004 her musical and theatrical concept called “Elverhøy” was realised and an album of the same name was subsequently released in 2006 to much success both commercially and critically. Helene’s own brand of Norwegian Folk-pop music, with folk-music rhythms and instrumentation (including the famous Norwegian Hardanger-fiddle, the Hardingfele) and also featuring her distinct beautiful crystal-clear voice, became very popular and she quickly established herself as one of the main Norwegian artists in this musical genre.
In 2008 she contributed - with success and acclaim - with her vocals on several songs on the Norwegian-produced MMORPG “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” music Soundtrack. In early 2009 she then released her 2nd album called “Morild” which also became a commercial and popular success. In November 2009 Helene Bøksle released a Christmas album called “Det hev ei rose sprunge”. This album consisted mostly of traditional Christmas songs but it also included the song “Lys Til Nattsvart Jord” (“Light to a Darkened Earth”), a beautiful new song written and composed especially for Helene Bøksle by Elin Nygaard, which was the Norwegian entry in FSC December 2009. She re-released her Christmas album in late 2010 and the album now included 2 added songs.
In February 2011 Helene participated in the Norwegian MGP with her beautiful Folk-pop single “Vardlokk”. She reached the MGP Final but did not make it to the top 4. Her song and performance was appreciated though, as was subsequently seen by fan-reaction both nationally and abroad. In the summer of 2011, in June, Helene Bøksle’s single “Hildring” was released for digital download. This was another beautiful Folk-pop song of hers, and it was the song chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2011.
Helene Bøksle: Discography
2006: Elverhøy
2008: Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (MMORPG Soundtrack)
2009: Morild
2009: Det hev ei rose sprunge (Christmas album)
2010: Det hev ei rose sprunge (re-release, including 2 added songs)
2011: Vardlokk (digital single, January 2011)
2011: Hildring (digital single, June 2011)
2012: Ved havet (digital single, August 2012)
2013: Svalbard (September 2013)
In the spring/summer of 2012 Helene Bøksle worked with the Norwegian composer Tove Kragset on a couple of songs, among them the newly written Folk-ballad “Ved havet” (“By the ocean”) with music by Tove Kragset and lyrics by Cecilie Larsen. “Ved havet” was released as a digital download in August 2012 and was performed by Helene on a few local concerts in the following months. This was the song chosen by the Norwegian Jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2013.
In November and December 2012 Helene performed once again at selected Church Concerts around Norway and many people were overjoyed at seeing her and listening to her crystal-clear and beautiful singing voice in concert.
In September 2013 her new CD-album “Svalbard” was finally released to positive reviews. The album included many beautiful songs performed in Norwegian in Helene Bøksle’s southern Norwegian dialect, and one of these songs was the new, energetic Folk-pop song called “Hugtatt”. This is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2014.
Helene Bøksle is without doubt one of Norway’s most talented and beloved Folk-pop singers and from whom we will without doubt hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC January 2014, “Hugtatt” (‘hug’ is a kind of ‘wild spirit’ that in ancient Nordic Times and folklore people believed could ‘materialize’, i.e. leave a person’s body and move among the citizens, often - but not always - with harmful intent; ‘Hugtatt’ = ‘Taken by the wild spirit’), is alas a melodious, energetic Folk-pop-song filled with mysticism and folklore as well as great folk-instrumentation, performed beautifully in Norwegian by Helene Bøksle. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Helene Bøksle for the 4th time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian lyrics (and a translation into English) for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for January!
Helene Bøksle - Hugtatt
Hugen vil ønske å flyge i natt / The spirit will want to fly tonight
Kle seg i fjøre, ta vengene fatt / Cloak itself in feathers, and take flight
Søke mot straumene, følgja ein hang / Head towards the streams, follow a notion
Finna ein sirkel, ein teslørte vang / Find a circle, a hidden grass hillock
Blodet skal dunke, te alvenes sang / The blood shall soar, in the dance of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
Hugen vil ønske å flyge i natt / The spirit will want to fly tonight
Eg ligge vaken, forvilla og matt / I lay awake, confused and tired
Sveve i spenn mellom lyste og sans / Drifting between sensations of lust and reason
Søke eit ekko, ein djup resonans / Looking for an echo, a deep resonance
Sakne ein sirkel, med alvenes dans / I miss a circle, with the dance of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
-M
FSC Norway - January 2014 - Helene Bøksle - Hugtatt
Representing Norway in FSC January 2014 - and for the 4th time in the FSC - is the accomplished and popular Norwegian Folk-pop-singer Helene Bøksle. Here is some more information about her.
Helene Margrete Bøksle, or just Helene Bøksle as is her artist-name, was born in 1981 in the Kristiansand-area of southern Norway. A musical talent from an early age, she gained national fame in 2003 when she took part in the Norwegian talent-tv-show “Kjempesjansen” and came a good 4th. In 2004 her musical and theatrical concept called “Elverhøy” was realised and an album of the same name was subsequently released in 2006 to much success both commercially and critically. Helene’s own brand of Norwegian Folk-pop music, with folk-music rhythms and instrumentation (including the famous Norwegian Hardanger-fiddle, the Hardingfele) and also featuring her distinct beautiful crystal-clear voice, became very popular and she quickly established herself as one of the main Norwegian artists in this musical genre.
In 2008 she contributed - with success and acclaim - with her vocals on several songs on the Norwegian-produced MMORPG “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” music Soundtrack. In early 2009 she then released her 2nd album called “Morild” which also became a commercial and popular success. In November 2009 Helene Bøksle released a Christmas album called “Det hev ei rose sprunge”. This album consisted mostly of traditional Christmas songs but it also included the song “Lys Til Nattsvart Jord” (“Light to a Darkened Earth”), a beautiful new song written and composed especially for Helene Bøksle by Elin Nygaard, which was the Norwegian entry in FSC December 2009. She re-released her Christmas album in late 2010 and the album now included 2 added songs.
In February 2011 Helene participated in the Norwegian MGP with her beautiful Folk-pop single “Vardlokk”. She reached the MGP Final but did not make it to the top 4. Her song and performance was appreciated though, as was subsequently seen by fan-reaction both nationally and abroad. In the summer of 2011, in June, Helene Bøksle’s single “Hildring” was released for digital download. This was another beautiful Folk-pop song of hers, and it was the song chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2011.
Helene Bøksle: Discography
2006: Elverhøy
2008: Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (MMORPG Soundtrack)
2009: Morild
2009: Det hev ei rose sprunge (Christmas album)
2010: Det hev ei rose sprunge (re-release, including 2 added songs)
2011: Vardlokk (digital single, January 2011)
2011: Hildring (digital single, June 2011)
2012: Ved havet (digital single, August 2012)
2013: Svalbard (September 2013)
In the spring/summer of 2012 Helene Bøksle worked with the Norwegian composer Tove Kragset on a couple of songs, among them the newly written Folk-ballad “Ved havet” (“By the ocean”) with music by Tove Kragset and lyrics by Cecilie Larsen. “Ved havet” was released as a digital download in August 2012 and was performed by Helene on a few local concerts in the following months. This was the song chosen by the Norwegian Jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2013.
In November and December 2012 Helene performed once again at selected Church Concerts around Norway and many people were overjoyed at seeing her and listening to her crystal-clear and beautiful singing voice in concert.
In September 2013 her new CD-album “Svalbard” was finally released to positive reviews. The album included many beautiful songs performed in Norwegian in Helene Bøksle’s southern Norwegian dialect, and one of these songs was the new, energetic Folk-pop song called “Hugtatt”. This is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2014.
Helene Bøksle is without doubt one of Norway’s most talented and beloved Folk-pop singers and from whom we will without doubt hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC January 2014, “Hugtatt” (‘hug’ is a kind of ‘wild spirit’ that in ancient Nordic Times and folklore people believed could ‘materialize’, i.e. leave a person’s body and move among the citizens, often - but not always - with harmful intent; ‘Hugtatt’ = ‘Taken by the wild spirit’), is alas a melodious, energetic Folk-pop-song filled with mysticism and folklore as well as great folk-instrumentation, performed beautifully in Norwegian by Helene Bøksle. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Helene Bøksle for the 4th time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian lyrics (and a translation into English) for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for January!
Helene Bøksle - Hugtatt
Hugen vil ønske å flyge i natt / The spirit will want to fly tonight
Kle seg i fjøre, ta vengene fatt / Cloak itself in feathers, and take flight
Søke mot straumene, følgja ein hang / Head towards the streams, follow a notion
Finna ein sirkel, ein teslørte vang / Find a circle, a hidden grass hillock
Blodet skal dunke, te alvenes sang / The blood shall soar, in the dance of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
Hugen vil ønske å flyge i natt / The spirit will want to fly tonight
Eg ligge vaken, forvilla og matt / I lay awake, confused and tired
Sveve i spenn mellom lyste og sans / Drifting between sensations of lust and reason
Søke eit ekko, ein djup resonans / Looking for an echo, a deep resonance
Sakne ein sirkel, med alvenes dans / I miss a circle, with the dance of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
Syng i meg, dans i meg, dra meg heilt inn / Sing in me, dance in me, pull me all in
Virvla meg om i eit månelyst spinn / Spin me around in a moonlit dance
La meg få gløyme, få drøyme, få døy / Let me forget, let me dream, let me die
Svinna i disen på alvenes øy / Encloak myself in the mists of the isle of the elves
-M
FSC February 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - February 2014 - Sirenia - My Destiny Coming To Pass
Representing Norway in FSC February 2014, and for the 4th time in the FSC, is the popular Norwegian Symphonic (Goth) Metal band Sirenia. Here is some more information about them.
Sirenia, named after the Sirens of Greek mythology, was founded in 2001 by the Norwegian musician Morten Veland (who also has a one-man Metal-band called Mortemia), after he left the Norwegian Gothic Metal band Tristania due to musical disagreements and personal differences.
The band has had several changes in members over the years, but the current members of Sirenia are:
Morten Veland (band founder; songwriter, guitar, male growl vocals, synth-programming)
Jan Erik Soltvedt (guitar)
Ailyn (female clean vocals)
Jonathan Perez (drums)
Jonathan has made his career in Norway with Sirenia. Ailyn, or Pilar Giménez García as is her full name, is a Spanish former X-Factor contestant who has been a member of Sirenia since April 2008.
Back in 2001 the band failed to find a suitable singer prior to recording their debut-album in France, so they conducted auditions and found the singer Fabienne Gondamin for the recording of their 1st album “At Sixes and Sevens” in 2002.
Sirenia’s 2nd album “An Elixir For Existence” came in 2004 plus one EP “Sirenian Shores” also in 2004. For these albums Sirenia recruited the Norwegian singer Henriette Bordvik. Sirenia sounded on their first albums like a mixture of hard Goth Metal and Rock with classical Symphonic influences (including choirs), as well as black and death metal elements. In other words, they combined strong melodic instrumentals, synthesizers, and metal guitars with light female vocals, male death vocals (growls), clean male vocals, a choir, and violins. Together with Theatre of Tragedy and Tristania they were the dominant bands in Norwegian Gothic/Symphonic Metal for several years.
Their album “Nine Destinies and a Downfall” was released in February 2007. This album presented a slight change in musical style for the band, leaving behind most of the harsher Death Metal-elements of their music and moving toward more Symphonic and a somewhat “softer” pop-styled Metal. With this album Sirenia introduced a new female singer, Monika Pedersen (Sinphonia) from Denmark, who joined the band after the departure of former female vocal singer Henriette Bordvik. The “business” side of things also changed: Sirenia signed with Nuclear Blast Records (previously they were signed with Napalm Records) in order to reach an even bigger audience worldwide. A melodious pop-style influenced Symphonic Metal/Rock-single “My Mind’s Eye” from the album became popular, reaching out to a more mainstream-audience.
In 2009 they released an album called “The 13th Floor”. Many saw it as a Symphonic (Goth) Metal album, pop- and mainstream-oriented, which gave the band a broader audience worldwide but which also disappointed many of their more hardcore-fans who wanted a harder metallic edge to Sirenia’s music. A popular single from this CD was “The Path of Decay”. With this album Sirenia once again changed female vocalist, Monika Pedersen having left the band in late 2007 after musical disagreements. The new female Sirenia-singer (from April 2008) became Pilar Giménez García, alco called Ailyn, best known as a Spanish former X-Factor contestant. Her beautiful and angelic-style (but non-operatic) vocals fitted Sirenia’s new sound well.
In late January 2011, Sirenia released a new album called “The Enigma of Life”. With this album Morten Veland showed that Sirenia had fully embraced their new somewhat ‘softer’ pop-oriented Symphonic Metal Sound. The album featured Ailyn again on female vocals and included 12 songs plus some bonus-tracks. The album was preceeded in December 2010 by their first single “The End Of It All” which was accompanied by a music-video. Other great songs on this album were “All My Dreams”, the Norwegian entry in FSC March 2011, and “Fading Star”, the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2011.
Sirenia: Albums
At Sixes and Sevens (2002)
An Elixir for Existence (2004)
Nine Destinies and a Downfall (2007)
The 13th Floor (2009)
The Enigma of Life (2011)
Perils of the Deep Blue (June 2013)
Sirenia: Singles
My Mind's Eye (2007)
The Path To Decay (2009)
The End Of It All (2010)
Seven Widows Weep (2013)
The album received mixed reviews (with hardcore-reviewers thinking the album “too soft and pop-styled”, preferring Sirenia’s older and harder Metal, while other reviewers were positive, praising the album for its nice melodic Metal sound and broader mass-appeal as well as its excellent production) but broadened their fanbase.
During 2011 Michael S Krumins, Sirenia’s guitarist of several years, left the band to focus more on his other projects and Jan Erik Soltvedt (guitar) joined as his replacement. In October 2012 Sirenia then entered the record studio to start work on their next album, which was to be released in spring/summer 2013.
A first single from this forthcoming album, a powerful and epic Symphonic Metal song called “Seven Widows Weep”, was released in May 2013 to great acclaim from reviewers and fans alike. Many commented that the new song represented a ‘fusion’ of Sirenia’s harder Metal of the earlier years and their newer more ‘commercial’ style Metal of later years. “Seven Widows Weep” was the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2013.
Their new album, called “Perils of the Deep Blue”, a kind of concept-album, was finally released in late June 2013. It was an album which received mostly good reviews in the press and great popularity among most of their fans, an album filled with melodious and powerful Symphonic Metal tracks, including the aforementioned single “Seven Widows Weep”, as well as the melodious and epic Metal-song “My Destiny Coming To Pass” which the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC February 2014.
The somewhat harder ‘edge’ on this last album, compared with their previous three albums, has pleased many of their hardcore-fans while the melodious/symphonic nature of the songs and arrangements (with epic choirs/synths/instrumentation) reaches out also to fans of Symphonic Rock/Pop Metal. It is a winning combination - and there is little doubt that Sirenia will continue to play an important part in the Symphonic Metal scene in Norway/Europe in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC February 2014, “My Destiny Coming To Pass”, with text and music by Morten Veland, is alas another melodious, powerful and epic Symphonic (Goth) Metal song by Norwegian Sirenia. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Sirenia for the 4th time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for February!
Sirenia - My Destiny Coming To Pass
This is my destiny
Coming to pass
This is my one and only life torn and splintered
Fallen apart
This is the night
That I’ve been drawn towards so many times
This night consumed
My light
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
This is my legacy
Shattered to dust
This was the one and only hope for my persistence
Wrecked so unjust
This endless strife
That I’ve been broken by so many times
This strife destroyed
My life
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
----
The chains are strong
My hands feel weak and numb
Night lingers on
These chains can’t be undone
Within these walls of devastation
I’m passing through degeneration
Confined in utter desolation
In vile perpetuation, I scream in desperation
----
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
-M
FSC Norway - February 2014 - Sirenia - My Destiny Coming To Pass
Representing Norway in FSC February 2014, and for the 4th time in the FSC, is the popular Norwegian Symphonic (Goth) Metal band Sirenia. Here is some more information about them.
Sirenia, named after the Sirens of Greek mythology, was founded in 2001 by the Norwegian musician Morten Veland (who also has a one-man Metal-band called Mortemia), after he left the Norwegian Gothic Metal band Tristania due to musical disagreements and personal differences.
The band has had several changes in members over the years, but the current members of Sirenia are:
Morten Veland (band founder; songwriter, guitar, male growl vocals, synth-programming)
Jan Erik Soltvedt (guitar)
Ailyn (female clean vocals)
Jonathan Perez (drums)
Jonathan has made his career in Norway with Sirenia. Ailyn, or Pilar Giménez García as is her full name, is a Spanish former X-Factor contestant who has been a member of Sirenia since April 2008.
Back in 2001 the band failed to find a suitable singer prior to recording their debut-album in France, so they conducted auditions and found the singer Fabienne Gondamin for the recording of their 1st album “At Sixes and Sevens” in 2002.
Sirenia’s 2nd album “An Elixir For Existence” came in 2004 plus one EP “Sirenian Shores” also in 2004. For these albums Sirenia recruited the Norwegian singer Henriette Bordvik. Sirenia sounded on their first albums like a mixture of hard Goth Metal and Rock with classical Symphonic influences (including choirs), as well as black and death metal elements. In other words, they combined strong melodic instrumentals, synthesizers, and metal guitars with light female vocals, male death vocals (growls), clean male vocals, a choir, and violins. Together with Theatre of Tragedy and Tristania they were the dominant bands in Norwegian Gothic/Symphonic Metal for several years.
Their album “Nine Destinies and a Downfall” was released in February 2007. This album presented a slight change in musical style for the band, leaving behind most of the harsher Death Metal-elements of their music and moving toward more Symphonic and a somewhat “softer” pop-styled Metal. With this album Sirenia introduced a new female singer, Monika Pedersen (Sinphonia) from Denmark, who joined the band after the departure of former female vocal singer Henriette Bordvik. The “business” side of things also changed: Sirenia signed with Nuclear Blast Records (previously they were signed with Napalm Records) in order to reach an even bigger audience worldwide. A melodious pop-style influenced Symphonic Metal/Rock-single “My Mind’s Eye” from the album became popular, reaching out to a more mainstream-audience.
In 2009 they released an album called “The 13th Floor”. Many saw it as a Symphonic (Goth) Metal album, pop- and mainstream-oriented, which gave the band a broader audience worldwide but which also disappointed many of their more hardcore-fans who wanted a harder metallic edge to Sirenia’s music. A popular single from this CD was “The Path of Decay”. With this album Sirenia once again changed female vocalist, Monika Pedersen having left the band in late 2007 after musical disagreements. The new female Sirenia-singer (from April 2008) became Pilar Giménez García, alco called Ailyn, best known as a Spanish former X-Factor contestant. Her beautiful and angelic-style (but non-operatic) vocals fitted Sirenia’s new sound well.
In late January 2011, Sirenia released a new album called “The Enigma of Life”. With this album Morten Veland showed that Sirenia had fully embraced their new somewhat ‘softer’ pop-oriented Symphonic Metal Sound. The album featured Ailyn again on female vocals and included 12 songs plus some bonus-tracks. The album was preceeded in December 2010 by their first single “The End Of It All” which was accompanied by a music-video. Other great songs on this album were “All My Dreams”, the Norwegian entry in FSC March 2011, and “Fading Star”, the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2011.
Sirenia: Albums
At Sixes and Sevens (2002)
An Elixir for Existence (2004)
Nine Destinies and a Downfall (2007)
The 13th Floor (2009)
The Enigma of Life (2011)
Perils of the Deep Blue (June 2013)
Sirenia: Singles
My Mind's Eye (2007)
The Path To Decay (2009)
The End Of It All (2010)
Seven Widows Weep (2013)
The album received mixed reviews (with hardcore-reviewers thinking the album “too soft and pop-styled”, preferring Sirenia’s older and harder Metal, while other reviewers were positive, praising the album for its nice melodic Metal sound and broader mass-appeal as well as its excellent production) but broadened their fanbase.
During 2011 Michael S Krumins, Sirenia’s guitarist of several years, left the band to focus more on his other projects and Jan Erik Soltvedt (guitar) joined as his replacement. In October 2012 Sirenia then entered the record studio to start work on their next album, which was to be released in spring/summer 2013.
A first single from this forthcoming album, a powerful and epic Symphonic Metal song called “Seven Widows Weep”, was released in May 2013 to great acclaim from reviewers and fans alike. Many commented that the new song represented a ‘fusion’ of Sirenia’s harder Metal of the earlier years and their newer more ‘commercial’ style Metal of later years. “Seven Widows Weep” was the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2013.
Their new album, called “Perils of the Deep Blue”, a kind of concept-album, was finally released in late June 2013. It was an album which received mostly good reviews in the press and great popularity among most of their fans, an album filled with melodious and powerful Symphonic Metal tracks, including the aforementioned single “Seven Widows Weep”, as well as the melodious and epic Metal-song “My Destiny Coming To Pass” which the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC February 2014.
The somewhat harder ‘edge’ on this last album, compared with their previous three albums, has pleased many of their hardcore-fans while the melodious/symphonic nature of the songs and arrangements (with epic choirs/synths/instrumentation) reaches out also to fans of Symphonic Rock/Pop Metal. It is a winning combination - and there is little doubt that Sirenia will continue to play an important part in the Symphonic Metal scene in Norway/Europe in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC February 2014, “My Destiny Coming To Pass”, with text and music by Morten Veland, is alas another melodious, powerful and epic Symphonic (Goth) Metal song by Norwegian Sirenia. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Sirenia for the 4th time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for February!
Sirenia - My Destiny Coming To Pass
This is my destiny
Coming to pass
This is my one and only life torn and splintered
Fallen apart
This is the night
That I’ve been drawn towards so many times
This night consumed
My light
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
This is my legacy
Shattered to dust
This was the one and only hope for my persistence
Wrecked so unjust
This endless strife
That I’ve been broken by so many times
This strife destroyed
My life
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
----
The chains are strong
My hands feel weak and numb
Night lingers on
These chains can’t be undone
Within these walls of devastation
I’m passing through degeneration
Confined in utter desolation
In vile perpetuation, I scream in desperation
----
All I ever wanted
Was to break free from the night
All I ever wanted
Was a day of light
-M
FSC March 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - March 2014 - Donkeyboy - Triggerfinger
Representing Norway in FSC March 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the popular and talented Norwegian synth-based Electro-Pop group Donkeyboy. Here is some more information about them.
Donkeyboy is a synth-based Electro-Pop group from Drammen, Norway, formed in 2005. The band currently consists of 4 members: Cato Sundberg (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kent Sundberg (synth, backing vocals), Peter Michelsen (guitar, backing vocals) and Thomas Drabløs (drums).
A 5th member, Alexander Garborg Ågedal (bass guitar), who was with Donkeyboy since 2006, left the group in January 2013 for personal reasons (family life incompatible with touring and the strains of the music business).
Donkeyboy were, it is said, signed to Warner Music after an employee came across their music on MySpace. Their debut-single "Ambitions" was released on 26th March 2009 and became a big Norwegian radio- and chart-hit. "Ambitions", which featured guest vocals by the Norwegian singer Linnea Dale, remained at the number one spot for 12 consecutive weeks, before being replaced by the band's second single "Sometimes" on 22nd September. This was the first time ever for a Norwegian artist/band to occupy the top two spots on the Norwegian singles chart. “Ambitions” was also the song that represented Norway in FSC August 2009.
Donkeyboy's debut-album “Caught in a Life” was released on 19th October 2009 to very good reviews. It was produced by Simen M Eriksrud and Espen Berg at Livingroom Studios in Oslo, Norway. The album quickly sold to Platinum and Donkeyboy went on to win several awards - among them ‘hit’ of the year - at the Norwegian Spellemannspris 2009 (Norwegian Grammys).
Donkeyboy: Albums
Caught in a Life (2009)
Silver Moon (March 2012)
Donkeyboy: Singles
Ambitions (2009)
Sometimes (2009)
Broke My Eyes (2009)
Awake (2009)
Blade Running (2009)
Stereolife (2010)
City Boy (2011)
Pull Of The Eye (2012)
Triggerfinger (August 2013)
Donkeyboy, moreover, supported fellow Norwegians a-ha in the UK and Oslo legs of their ‘Foot of the Mountain’ tour in November 2009.
In 2011 Donkeyboy won a ‘European Border Breakers Award’ for their international success. Later in the same year, in November 2011, they released the 1st single “City Boy” from their forthcoming new album. It was a groovy synth-based Electro-Pop song - in a kind of ‘Pet Shop Boys style’ - which became very popular on the radio and on the dancefloors.
In February 2012 a 2nd single from the coming album, a song called “Pull Of The Eye”, was released. It was another catchy synth-based Electro-Pop number which quickly became very popular among fans and on national radio. “Pull Of The Eye” was the song that represented Norway in FSC June 2012.
Donkeyboy's second album ”Silver Moon” was subsequently released in March 2012 to fairly good reviews. It included their two singles as well as ten other groovy, ‘feel-good’ songs. On some songs they had (female) guest-vocalists, as has been their tradition. They travelled around Scandinavia promoting the album, taking part in music festivals and other events.
In August 2013 Donkeyboy released their latest single, another melodious and popular synth-based Electro-Pop song - and radio-hit - called “Triggerfinger”. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC March 2014.
Their sound has, perhaps, evolved somewhat since the beginning (from pop/rock to more synth-based Electro-Pop music), but fans and (most) critics recognize the group’s style and musical expression and appear to appreciate it. We will without doubt hear more from this talented synth-based Norwegian Electro-Pop group in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC March 2014, “Triggerfinger”, is alas another melodious, synth-based ‘feel-good’ Electro-Pop song performed by Donkeyboy, with the Canadian guest singer Kiesza on co-vocals. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Donkeyboy for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for March!
Donkeyboy - Triggerfinger
You're letting go
But I need to know, what should I do
The more I pull you in
The more that you get loose
We're playing games
But I can never win with you
Every spark
Has an ending, like a burning fuse
I'm on the edge
The more that I try to confess
The more our feelings collide
And all your dreams
Will fade until nothing is left
If you keep looking behind
You drain my heart, then you fill it up
You keep cutting me short
And you always put a pressure
On my triggerfinger
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
We're on a road
Heading nowhere as we're steering blind
We're on our own
With each other, racing side by side
Nowhere to go
But I am heading to the end of time
We'll never know, where we're going
Never know if it's right
I'm on the edge
The more that I try to confess
The more our feelings collide
And all your dreams
Will fade until nothing is left
If you keep looking behind
You drain my heart, then you fill it up
You keep cutting me short
And you always put a pressure
On my triggerfinger
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
Everything's long, long gone
Everything that we know
Everything was easy
Everything hot went cold
Everything's long, long gone
Everything that we know
Everything was easy
Everything hot went cold
-M
FSC Norway - March 2014 - Donkeyboy - Triggerfinger
Representing Norway in FSC March 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the popular and talented Norwegian synth-based Electro-Pop group Donkeyboy. Here is some more information about them.
Donkeyboy is a synth-based Electro-Pop group from Drammen, Norway, formed in 2005. The band currently consists of 4 members: Cato Sundberg (vocals, rhythm guitar), Kent Sundberg (synth, backing vocals), Peter Michelsen (guitar, backing vocals) and Thomas Drabløs (drums).
A 5th member, Alexander Garborg Ågedal (bass guitar), who was with Donkeyboy since 2006, left the group in January 2013 for personal reasons (family life incompatible with touring and the strains of the music business).
Donkeyboy were, it is said, signed to Warner Music after an employee came across their music on MySpace. Their debut-single "Ambitions" was released on 26th March 2009 and became a big Norwegian radio- and chart-hit. "Ambitions", which featured guest vocals by the Norwegian singer Linnea Dale, remained at the number one spot for 12 consecutive weeks, before being replaced by the band's second single "Sometimes" on 22nd September. This was the first time ever for a Norwegian artist/band to occupy the top two spots on the Norwegian singles chart. “Ambitions” was also the song that represented Norway in FSC August 2009.
Donkeyboy's debut-album “Caught in a Life” was released on 19th October 2009 to very good reviews. It was produced by Simen M Eriksrud and Espen Berg at Livingroom Studios in Oslo, Norway. The album quickly sold to Platinum and Donkeyboy went on to win several awards - among them ‘hit’ of the year - at the Norwegian Spellemannspris 2009 (Norwegian Grammys).
Donkeyboy: Albums
Caught in a Life (2009)
Silver Moon (March 2012)
Donkeyboy: Singles
Ambitions (2009)
Sometimes (2009)
Broke My Eyes (2009)
Awake (2009)
Blade Running (2009)
Stereolife (2010)
City Boy (2011)
Pull Of The Eye (2012)
Triggerfinger (August 2013)
Donkeyboy, moreover, supported fellow Norwegians a-ha in the UK and Oslo legs of their ‘Foot of the Mountain’ tour in November 2009.
In 2011 Donkeyboy won a ‘European Border Breakers Award’ for their international success. Later in the same year, in November 2011, they released the 1st single “City Boy” from their forthcoming new album. It was a groovy synth-based Electro-Pop song - in a kind of ‘Pet Shop Boys style’ - which became very popular on the radio and on the dancefloors.
In February 2012 a 2nd single from the coming album, a song called “Pull Of The Eye”, was released. It was another catchy synth-based Electro-Pop number which quickly became very popular among fans and on national radio. “Pull Of The Eye” was the song that represented Norway in FSC June 2012.
Donkeyboy's second album ”Silver Moon” was subsequently released in March 2012 to fairly good reviews. It included their two singles as well as ten other groovy, ‘feel-good’ songs. On some songs they had (female) guest-vocalists, as has been their tradition. They travelled around Scandinavia promoting the album, taking part in music festivals and other events.
In August 2013 Donkeyboy released their latest single, another melodious and popular synth-based Electro-Pop song - and radio-hit - called “Triggerfinger”. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC March 2014.
Their sound has, perhaps, evolved somewhat since the beginning (from pop/rock to more synth-based Electro-Pop music), but fans and (most) critics recognize the group’s style and musical expression and appear to appreciate it. We will without doubt hear more from this talented synth-based Norwegian Electro-Pop group in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC March 2014, “Triggerfinger”, is alas another melodious, synth-based ‘feel-good’ Electro-Pop song performed by Donkeyboy, with the Canadian guest singer Kiesza on co-vocals. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Donkeyboy for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for March!
Donkeyboy - Triggerfinger
You're letting go
But I need to know, what should I do
The more I pull you in
The more that you get loose
We're playing games
But I can never win with you
Every spark
Has an ending, like a burning fuse
I'm on the edge
The more that I try to confess
The more our feelings collide
And all your dreams
Will fade until nothing is left
If you keep looking behind
You drain my heart, then you fill it up
You keep cutting me short
And you always put a pressure
On my triggerfinger
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
We're on a road
Heading nowhere as we're steering blind
We're on our own
With each other, racing side by side
Nowhere to go
But I am heading to the end of time
We'll never know, where we're going
Never know if it's right
I'm on the edge
The more that I try to confess
The more our feelings collide
And all your dreams
Will fade until nothing is left
If you keep looking behind
You drain my heart, then you fill it up
You keep cutting me short
And you always put a pressure
On my triggerfinger
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
You keep pulling my chain in a hurricane
I try breaking away
But is sinking to the pressure
And I sense you're an ember
Everything's long, long gone
Everything that we know
Everything was easy
Everything hot went cold
Everything's long, long gone
Everything that we know
Everything was easy
Everything hot went cold
-M
FSC April 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - April 2014 - Maria Mena - The End
Representing Norway in FSC April 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the popular and talented Norwegian songwriter and pop-artist Maria Mena. Here is some more information about her.
Maria Viktoria Mena (born in 1986), artist name Maria Mena, is a talented and very popular Norwegian songwriter and pop artist. She was born into an artistic family, her mother, a playwright and her father, a drummer. Both Maria and her brother, Tony, are named after characters from Leonard Bernstein's ’West Side Story’. Her mother is Norwegian and her father is Nicaraguan (Afro-Nicaraguan).
Her father played in several bands in Oslo, Norway which influenced Maria to write and record her own music. When she was 9 years old her parents divorced and she went through a very tough time afterwards. When she was 13 years old she moved to live with her father. She sang and wrote lyrics as a form of ’personal therapy’. "My Lullaby", a song from her diary, expresses her pain from her parents' divorce. She made her father help her make a demo of the song which subsequently, with his help, led to her being signed by Sony Music.
In 2002 she released her debut-album called “Another Phase”. The aforementioned song "My Lullaby" was released as the 2nd single from the album (the 1st single was the song “Free”) and the song reached nr 5 on the Norwegian Singles Chart as well as gaining much radio-play. A successful musical career had begun.
Her 2nd album called “Mellow” was released in 2004. It included a popular single called “You’re The Only One”. Also in 2004 she released a compilation album in the USA called “White Turns Blue” with her best songs. The single reached the US Top 40 Mainstream chart which was a great achievement. In 2005 Maria released another album called “Apparently Unaffected”. Popular singles from this album were ”Miss You Love” and ”Just Hold Me”. A significant success in Norway, the album earned her 3 Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) Nominations; Best Female Artist, Best Hit, and Best Music Video.
In 2008 came her next album called “Cause And Effect”. It was a collaboration with the Norwegian - and for her, new - music producer Martin Sjølie. The 1st single from the album was the song “Belly Up” which became very popular in Norway and elsewhere. The 2nd single was the song “All This Time”, another very popular hit, which subsequently represented Norway in FSC April 2009. For this album she received the Spellemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) for Best Female Artist.
Maria Mena: Album Discography
2002 Another Phase
2004 Mellow
2004 White Turns Blue (USA compilation release)
2005 Apparently Unaffected
2008 Cause and Effect
2011 Viktoria (September 2011)
2013 Weapon in Mind (September 2013)
In late 2010 she released a Christmas-song (cd-single) called “Home For Christmas” which gained much radio-play. She was also working on her new album which was to be released in the autumn of 2011. The first singles from this album were “This Too Shall Pass” and “Homeless”. The album itself called “Viktoria” (like her middle name) was finally released in September 2011 and shortly afterwards a 3rd single, the title-track, was released. This album became very successful in Norway, her songs gained much radio-play and she received much critical acclaim. The final track on this new album was called “Am I Supposed To Apologize” and this was the song chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2012.
In September 2013 Maria released her latest album called “Weapon in Mind”, which was preceeded by the first single from the album, a song called “F*ck you” (a message to ‘Internet-trolls’ and people who bully others online), in spring 2013. A second single was subsequently released in summer 2013, called “I Always Liked That”. Both songs were in Maria’s more mainstream R&B pop-style (she has several styles in her music, ranging from this variety to more dramatic, melodious pop songs) and reflected an album that was more joyful, ‘bouncy’ and up-beat in style compared to her previous albums. The critics were positive in their reviews and some even thought this new album was Maria’s best for a long time.
The last song on the album, fittingly called “The End”, was - however - more dramatic, melodious pop in style and reflected to a greater degree some of her earlier work. This is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC April 2014.
Maria Mena is a very successful Norwegian songwriter and pop-artist. She writes the lyrics to most of her own songs and the message in the lyrics is very important to her, often telling a personal story. She has creative talent, has a very nice and listenable singing voice and enjoys making music. Many of her songs have interesting arrangements, often somewhat dramatic in nature, and her musical style is many-faceted. She is by many in Norway considered one of our best female pop-artists and has achieved both critical acclaim up through the years as well as good commercial sales. Hers is a musical success-story that will surely continue in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC April 2014, “The End”, is alas another dramatic, melodious pop-song performed in her own style by Maria Mena. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Maria Mena for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for April!
Maria Mena - The End
[Is it over?
Is it over now?
Can I open my eyes?
Are you done?]
I hope death is as glamorous as
You dreamt it would be
I pray for your sake
It’s that
I hope you found your way
Got fabulous seats
Tickets, a front row view
To witness our grief
You yearned for the tomb
The comfort of your mother’s womb
The sense of control
When left on your own
I yearned for a part
Of your decision, a place in your heart
A say in the matter
Before you’d depart
Have you ever loved, have you ever feared
That your heart could burst from pain
If I was
Not there
You gave life to us, your father and I
Then took it away
Without
Telling us why
You yearned for the tomb
The comfort of your mother’s womb
The sense of control
When left on your own
I yearned for a choice
A last chance to hear your frail voice
Tell me “it’s alright,
Get back to your night”
I yearn for a fight
A scream that wakes us in the night
And hour of tears
To hug away your fears
Not this clinical silence
And a name I can no longer say
Not bottomless sadness
That you went away
-M
FSC Norway - April 2014 - Maria Mena - The End
Representing Norway in FSC April 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the popular and talented Norwegian songwriter and pop-artist Maria Mena. Here is some more information about her.
Maria Viktoria Mena (born in 1986), artist name Maria Mena, is a talented and very popular Norwegian songwriter and pop artist. She was born into an artistic family, her mother, a playwright and her father, a drummer. Both Maria and her brother, Tony, are named after characters from Leonard Bernstein's ’West Side Story’. Her mother is Norwegian and her father is Nicaraguan (Afro-Nicaraguan).
Her father played in several bands in Oslo, Norway which influenced Maria to write and record her own music. When she was 9 years old her parents divorced and she went through a very tough time afterwards. When she was 13 years old she moved to live with her father. She sang and wrote lyrics as a form of ’personal therapy’. "My Lullaby", a song from her diary, expresses her pain from her parents' divorce. She made her father help her make a demo of the song which subsequently, with his help, led to her being signed by Sony Music.
In 2002 she released her debut-album called “Another Phase”. The aforementioned song "My Lullaby" was released as the 2nd single from the album (the 1st single was the song “Free”) and the song reached nr 5 on the Norwegian Singles Chart as well as gaining much radio-play. A successful musical career had begun.
Her 2nd album called “Mellow” was released in 2004. It included a popular single called “You’re The Only One”. Also in 2004 she released a compilation album in the USA called “White Turns Blue” with her best songs. The single reached the US Top 40 Mainstream chart which was a great achievement. In 2005 Maria released another album called “Apparently Unaffected”. Popular singles from this album were ”Miss You Love” and ”Just Hold Me”. A significant success in Norway, the album earned her 3 Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) Nominations; Best Female Artist, Best Hit, and Best Music Video.
In 2008 came her next album called “Cause And Effect”. It was a collaboration with the Norwegian - and for her, new - music producer Martin Sjølie. The 1st single from the album was the song “Belly Up” which became very popular in Norway and elsewhere. The 2nd single was the song “All This Time”, another very popular hit, which subsequently represented Norway in FSC April 2009. For this album she received the Spellemannspris (Norwegian Grammy) for Best Female Artist.
Maria Mena: Album Discography
2002 Another Phase
2004 Mellow
2004 White Turns Blue (USA compilation release)
2005 Apparently Unaffected
2008 Cause and Effect
2011 Viktoria (September 2011)
2013 Weapon in Mind (September 2013)
In late 2010 she released a Christmas-song (cd-single) called “Home For Christmas” which gained much radio-play. She was also working on her new album which was to be released in the autumn of 2011. The first singles from this album were “This Too Shall Pass” and “Homeless”. The album itself called “Viktoria” (like her middle name) was finally released in September 2011 and shortly afterwards a 3rd single, the title-track, was released. This album became very successful in Norway, her songs gained much radio-play and she received much critical acclaim. The final track on this new album was called “Am I Supposed To Apologize” and this was the song chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2012.
In September 2013 Maria released her latest album called “Weapon in Mind”, which was preceeded by the first single from the album, a song called “F*ck you” (a message to ‘Internet-trolls’ and people who bully others online), in spring 2013. A second single was subsequently released in summer 2013, called “I Always Liked That”. Both songs were in Maria’s more mainstream R&B pop-style (she has several styles in her music, ranging from this variety to more dramatic, melodious pop songs) and reflected an album that was more joyful, ‘bouncy’ and up-beat in style compared to her previous albums. The critics were positive in their reviews and some even thought this new album was Maria’s best for a long time.
The last song on the album, fittingly called “The End”, was - however - more dramatic, melodious pop in style and reflected to a greater degree some of her earlier work. This is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC April 2014.
Maria Mena is a very successful Norwegian songwriter and pop-artist. She writes the lyrics to most of her own songs and the message in the lyrics is very important to her, often telling a personal story. She has creative talent, has a very nice and listenable singing voice and enjoys making music. Many of her songs have interesting arrangements, often somewhat dramatic in nature, and her musical style is many-faceted. She is by many in Norway considered one of our best female pop-artists and has achieved both critical acclaim up through the years as well as good commercial sales. Hers is a musical success-story that will surely continue in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC April 2014, “The End”, is alas another dramatic, melodious pop-song performed in her own style by Maria Mena. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Maria Mena for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for April!
Maria Mena - The End
[Is it over?
Is it over now?
Can I open my eyes?
Are you done?]
I hope death is as glamorous as
You dreamt it would be
I pray for your sake
It’s that
I hope you found your way
Got fabulous seats
Tickets, a front row view
To witness our grief
You yearned for the tomb
The comfort of your mother’s womb
The sense of control
When left on your own
I yearned for a part
Of your decision, a place in your heart
A say in the matter
Before you’d depart
Have you ever loved, have you ever feared
That your heart could burst from pain
If I was
Not there
You gave life to us, your father and I
Then took it away
Without
Telling us why
You yearned for the tomb
The comfort of your mother’s womb
The sense of control
When left on your own
I yearned for a choice
A last chance to hear your frail voice
Tell me “it’s alright,
Get back to your night”
I yearn for a fight
A scream that wakes us in the night
And hour of tears
To hug away your fears
Not this clinical silence
And a name I can no longer say
Not bottomless sadness
That you went away
-M
FSC May 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - May 2014 - Secret Garden - En Passant
Representing Norway in May 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the Norwegian-Irish Neo-Classical/New Age ESC-winners from 1995 Secret Garden. Here is some more information about them.
Secret Garden consists of Rolf Løvland (the Norwegian composer/pianist and Nexus of the duo) and Fionnuala Sherry (Irish violinist) on violin. The duo is based in Norway and has been so from the beginning. With 3-4 million albums sold worldwide they are considered one of the most successful and influential Norwegian groups/musical projects of all time.
Rolf Løvland - born in Kristiansand, Norway in 1955 - was Norway’s perhaps most successful commercial pop-music composer in the 1980s. He wrote many MGP-songs for other artists, including the Norwegian 1985 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner “La Det Swinge” performed by Bobbysocks. He received several national music awards for his work. In the early 1990s he decided to try something different, and so he started the musical project called Secret Garden, together with the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry (born in 1963).
Fionnuala’s violin-playing started at an early age. She graduated with honours from the Music of Trinity College in Dublin. Her professional career started with a 10-year stint as a member of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She has worked with many musicians (incl. Sinéad O'Connor and Bono). She has also recorded Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra. Her instrument of choice is an English John E Betts violin from 1790, with a Hill bow.
With Secret Garden Rolf Løvland wished to make music that was close to his heart: Neo-Classical/New Age, Celtic-inspired instrumental music. And so the story of Secret Garden had begun.
Secret Garden made history by winning the ESC in 1995 with "Nocturne", an instrumental melody which had 24 words added to the beginning of the song. In the 40-year history of the ESC an instrumental piece had never previously won. It was a piece of music so stylistically removed from the common “ESC format”, that the press stated: "Secret Garden has redefined the Eurovision Song Contest”.
This surprise victory at the ESC was the ultimate showcase that successfully launched their first album “Songs from a Secret Garden”. It was released around the globe, including Europe, USA/Canada, Australia and Asia. This was an historic event for a Norwegian artist/group and record company, who for the first time had produced a worldwide release with sales of more than a million. Many international awards followed, and the album stayed an impressive 2 years (101 weeks) in the Billboard New Age charts in the USA.
“White Stones”, Secret Garden’s 2nd album in 1997, was both a critical and commercial success like its predecessor. It too achieved another maximum stay in the US Billboard New Age charts for 2 years. With this album-release Secret Garden formed a touring ensemble and the start of live concerts around the world.
In 1998 Barbra Streisand performed Secret Garden’s song “Heartstrings” (with newly written lyrics for her) at her wedding to James Brolin. She later recorded the song herself.
In 1999 Secret Garden released their third album, “Dawn of a New Century”, as well as a live concert-dvd. The album included three vocal tracks among many instrumentals. It became another commercial success and once again Secret Garden toured extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and the USA.
In 2000 a Best Of-album called ”Dreamcatcher” was released in certain territories.
Secret Garden: Discography
Songs from a Secret Garden (1996)
White Stones (1997)
Dawn of a New Century (1999)
Dreamcatcher: Best of Secret Garden (2000/2001)
Once in a Red Moon (2002)
Earthsongs (2005)
Inside I'm Singing (2007)
Winter Poem (November 2011)
Just The Two Of Us (December 2013)
Secret Garden’s next album, ”Once in a Red Moon”, was released in 2002. It contained the very popular song and hit “You Raise Me Up”, performed by the Irish singer Brian Kennedy, with lyrics by Brendan Graham. “You Raise Me Up” went on to be recorded in over 40 versions worldwide (incl. a notable cover by US artist Josh Groban) with translations of the song into Spanish, Italian, French and more. The album topped the charts in Norway and Ireland and the US New Age Billboard chart.
In 2005 Secret Garden released the album called “Earthsongs”. With this album they continued their Neo-Classical/New Age musical tradition. And two years later, in 2007, then came the album “Inside I’m Singing”, which differed from their earlier albums in that this time all the songs were with vocals by accomplished singers. The album had chart success and popularity and it reached out to a wider musical audience.
Then in 2010 Secret Garden (Rolf Løvland) was commisioned to compose a “Suite” and a song called “Powered By Nature” for the Norway Pavillion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. It was a great success. Also in 2010 Fionnuala Sherry released her solo debut album entitled “Songs From Before”, to critical acclaim. She had wanted for a long time to record some of the beautiful traditional Irish songs that she grew up with and finally she got the chance.
In November 2011, a new album called “Winter Poem” was released. The album included mostly instrumental songs (as has been their tradition), and many beautiful ones at that, but also a couple of beautiful songs with vocals. One of these was the first radio-single taken from the album, the song “The Dream” which featured the Irish vocalist Moya Brennan (of Clannad fame) on vocals. This was the Norwegian FSC-entry in December 2011. Another song on the album was “Lament For A Frozen Flower”, a beautiful Neo-Classical instrumental melody which subsequently was the Norwegian FSC-entry in May 2012.
Secret Garden’s latest album called “Just The Two Of Us”, which received good reviews in the national press, was released in Norway on 27th December 2013. It included ‘stripped down’ versions (featuring just piano and violin) of many of their old songs, as well as two completely new compositions, the Neo-Classical instrumental songs “En Passant“ and the title-track. “En Passant” is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC May 2014.
Secret Garden’s beautiful, soul-soothing, relaxing and melodious music will continue to mesmerize their many fans all over the world in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC May 2014, “En Passant”, is alas another beautiful Norwegian-Irish Neo-Classical instrumental melody written by Rolf Løvland. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Secret Garden for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for May!
Secret Garden - En Passant
-M
FSC Norway - May 2014 - Secret Garden - En Passant
Representing Norway in May 2014, and for the 3rd time in the FSC, is the Norwegian-Irish Neo-Classical/New Age ESC-winners from 1995 Secret Garden. Here is some more information about them.
Secret Garden consists of Rolf Løvland (the Norwegian composer/pianist and Nexus of the duo) and Fionnuala Sherry (Irish violinist) on violin. The duo is based in Norway and has been so from the beginning. With 3-4 million albums sold worldwide they are considered one of the most successful and influential Norwegian groups/musical projects of all time.
Rolf Løvland - born in Kristiansand, Norway in 1955 - was Norway’s perhaps most successful commercial pop-music composer in the 1980s. He wrote many MGP-songs for other artists, including the Norwegian 1985 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner “La Det Swinge” performed by Bobbysocks. He received several national music awards for his work. In the early 1990s he decided to try something different, and so he started the musical project called Secret Garden, together with the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry (born in 1963).
Fionnuala’s violin-playing started at an early age. She graduated with honours from the Music of Trinity College in Dublin. Her professional career started with a 10-year stint as a member of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She has worked with many musicians (incl. Sinéad O'Connor and Bono). She has also recorded Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra. Her instrument of choice is an English John E Betts violin from 1790, with a Hill bow.
With Secret Garden Rolf Løvland wished to make music that was close to his heart: Neo-Classical/New Age, Celtic-inspired instrumental music. And so the story of Secret Garden had begun.
Secret Garden made history by winning the ESC in 1995 with "Nocturne", an instrumental melody which had 24 words added to the beginning of the song. In the 40-year history of the ESC an instrumental piece had never previously won. It was a piece of music so stylistically removed from the common “ESC format”, that the press stated: "Secret Garden has redefined the Eurovision Song Contest”.
This surprise victory at the ESC was the ultimate showcase that successfully launched their first album “Songs from a Secret Garden”. It was released around the globe, including Europe, USA/Canada, Australia and Asia. This was an historic event for a Norwegian artist/group and record company, who for the first time had produced a worldwide release with sales of more than a million. Many international awards followed, and the album stayed an impressive 2 years (101 weeks) in the Billboard New Age charts in the USA.
“White Stones”, Secret Garden’s 2nd album in 1997, was both a critical and commercial success like its predecessor. It too achieved another maximum stay in the US Billboard New Age charts for 2 years. With this album-release Secret Garden formed a touring ensemble and the start of live concerts around the world.
In 1998 Barbra Streisand performed Secret Garden’s song “Heartstrings” (with newly written lyrics for her) at her wedding to James Brolin. She later recorded the song herself.
In 1999 Secret Garden released their third album, “Dawn of a New Century”, as well as a live concert-dvd. The album included three vocal tracks among many instrumentals. It became another commercial success and once again Secret Garden toured extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and the USA.
In 2000 a Best Of-album called ”Dreamcatcher” was released in certain territories.
Secret Garden: Discography
Songs from a Secret Garden (1996)
White Stones (1997)
Dawn of a New Century (1999)
Dreamcatcher: Best of Secret Garden (2000/2001)
Once in a Red Moon (2002)
Earthsongs (2005)
Inside I'm Singing (2007)
Winter Poem (November 2011)
Just The Two Of Us (December 2013)
Secret Garden’s next album, ”Once in a Red Moon”, was released in 2002. It contained the very popular song and hit “You Raise Me Up”, performed by the Irish singer Brian Kennedy, with lyrics by Brendan Graham. “You Raise Me Up” went on to be recorded in over 40 versions worldwide (incl. a notable cover by US artist Josh Groban) with translations of the song into Spanish, Italian, French and more. The album topped the charts in Norway and Ireland and the US New Age Billboard chart.
In 2005 Secret Garden released the album called “Earthsongs”. With this album they continued their Neo-Classical/New Age musical tradition. And two years later, in 2007, then came the album “Inside I’m Singing”, which differed from their earlier albums in that this time all the songs were with vocals by accomplished singers. The album had chart success and popularity and it reached out to a wider musical audience.
Then in 2010 Secret Garden (Rolf Løvland) was commisioned to compose a “Suite” and a song called “Powered By Nature” for the Norway Pavillion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. It was a great success. Also in 2010 Fionnuala Sherry released her solo debut album entitled “Songs From Before”, to critical acclaim. She had wanted for a long time to record some of the beautiful traditional Irish songs that she grew up with and finally she got the chance.
In November 2011, a new album called “Winter Poem” was released. The album included mostly instrumental songs (as has been their tradition), and many beautiful ones at that, but also a couple of beautiful songs with vocals. One of these was the first radio-single taken from the album, the song “The Dream” which featured the Irish vocalist Moya Brennan (of Clannad fame) on vocals. This was the Norwegian FSC-entry in December 2011. Another song on the album was “Lament For A Frozen Flower”, a beautiful Neo-Classical instrumental melody which subsequently was the Norwegian FSC-entry in May 2012.
Secret Garden’s latest album called “Just The Two Of Us”, which received good reviews in the national press, was released in Norway on 27th December 2013. It included ‘stripped down’ versions (featuring just piano and violin) of many of their old songs, as well as two completely new compositions, the Neo-Classical instrumental songs “En Passant“ and the title-track. “En Passant” is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC May 2014.
Secret Garden’s beautiful, soul-soothing, relaxing and melodious music will continue to mesmerize their many fans all over the world in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC May 2014, “En Passant”, is alas another beautiful Norwegian-Irish Neo-Classical instrumental melody written by Rolf Løvland. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Secret Garden for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for May!
Secret Garden - En Passant
-M
FSC June 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - June 2014 - Margaret Berger - Scream
Representing Norway in FSC June 2014 - and for the 2nd time in FSC - is the talented and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop-singer and songwriter of ESC 2013-fame Margaret Berger. Here is some more information about her.
Margaret Berger was born in 11th October 1985 in Trondheim, Norway and grew up in the place called Hitra. She sang in a local gospel choir and began writing her own songs already at the age of twelve. She studied music at her local high school (Heimdal videregående skole). Margaret made her debut as a lyricist with the local band ‘Slim Void’ with the song "In Company With Bottles" on their album ‘Slim Void released on a local label’. She came to the attention of the Norwegian public in 2004, when she was one of the participants in the Norwegian tv IDOL show. She ended 2nd in the end, only beaten by the winner Kjartan Salvesen, and became very popular in Norway, having what later came to be known as the x-factor.
Her debut album, “Chameleon”, which was a mix of musical genres from rock to electronic to R&B to Pop, was released in October 2004. The album reached number four on the Norwegian albums chart and included the singles “Lifetime Guarantee”, which became a big national radio-hit, and the title-track “Chameleon”. The music video for “Lifetime Guarantee” went on to receive the Norwegian Grammy (“Spellemannsprisen”) and she was also nominated in the category “Best Newcomer”.
Her second album, “Pretty Scary Silver Fairy”, was released in October 2006. The album reached number eight on the Norwegian albums chart and received positive reviews. Influenced by Björk, Daft Punk and The Knife, the album was a musical departure from her previous effort, and featured a mixture of electronic (Electro-Pop/Electronica) and dance-pop music. The lead single, "Samantha", reached number six on the Norwegian singles chart. Two more singles followed: "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" and "Robot Song".
Margaret then took a break from the music scene for the next few years, focusing instead on other projects in her life.
In 2011 she returned, releasing a new single, the hard-hitting critically acclaimed Electro-Pop song “In a Box” which received popularity and a fair amount of play in club-circles. That same year, her label Sony BMG issued the 4-track EP compilation “Four Hits: Margaret Berger”, which included the singles "Lifetime Guarantee", "Samantha", "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" and "Chameleon".
Margaret Berger: Albums
Chameleon (2004)
Pretty Scary Silver Fairy (2006)
Four Hits: Margaret Berger (EP, 2011)
Margaret Berger: Singles
Lifetime Guarantee (2004)
Chameleon (2004)
Samantha (2006)
Will You Remember Me Tomorrow? (2006)
Robot Song (2006)
In a Box (2011)
I Feed You My Love (2013)
Human Race (2013)
Scream (March 2014)
It was, however, in 2013 that Margaret Berger was to get her international breakthrough with her participation in the Norwegian MGP and subsequently the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). She represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden with the song "I Feed You My Love" (released in January 2013) after winning the Norwegian MGP national final on 9th February 2013.
This very popular Electro-Pop song, written by Karin Park and MachoPsycho, reached number four on the Norwegian singles chart. On 18th May 2013, Margaret Berger finished in a great 4th place in the ESC with 191 points - Norway's best result at the contest since their victory in 2009, and their sixth best result ever. The song went on to become an international hit in Europe and she received rave reviews on the Internet from fans all over the continent.
She has been working on her forthcoming new album “New Religion” (formerly titled “Chastisement”) since early 2013 (the album release date has been pushed back a few times). A second single from the forthcoming album was released in September 2013, the popular Electro-Pop song “Human Race”. This was the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC October 2013. A new third single from the forthcoming album, another popular Electro-Pop song called “Scream”, was released on 14th March 2014. This is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC June 2014.
Margaret Berger is without doubt a very accomplished and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop artist and songwriter from whom we will hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC June 2014, “Scream”, is alas a melodious, synth-based Electro-Pop song peformed in her signature style by Margaret Berger. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Margaret Berger for the 2nd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for June!
Margaret Berger - Scream
My feet keep walking straight
Even though I’m terrified
Don’t know what is coming next
How to make it through the night
I’ve been riding my own fear
‘Cause I hear them breathing near
I must confess my innocence
Escape the animal eyes
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
I can see them slithering
And their reptile smile
Their scratching at my human skin
Reveal my naked lie
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
I’m riding my own fear
I hear them breathing near
Escape their hollow eyes
Escape their reptile smiles
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
-M
FSC Norway - June 2014 - Margaret Berger - Scream
Representing Norway in FSC June 2014 - and for the 2nd time in FSC - is the talented and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop-singer and songwriter of ESC 2013-fame Margaret Berger. Here is some more information about her.
Margaret Berger was born in 11th October 1985 in Trondheim, Norway and grew up in the place called Hitra. She sang in a local gospel choir and began writing her own songs already at the age of twelve. She studied music at her local high school (Heimdal videregående skole). Margaret made her debut as a lyricist with the local band ‘Slim Void’ with the song "In Company With Bottles" on their album ‘Slim Void released on a local label’. She came to the attention of the Norwegian public in 2004, when she was one of the participants in the Norwegian tv IDOL show. She ended 2nd in the end, only beaten by the winner Kjartan Salvesen, and became very popular in Norway, having what later came to be known as the x-factor.
Her debut album, “Chameleon”, which was a mix of musical genres from rock to electronic to R&B to Pop, was released in October 2004. The album reached number four on the Norwegian albums chart and included the singles “Lifetime Guarantee”, which became a big national radio-hit, and the title-track “Chameleon”. The music video for “Lifetime Guarantee” went on to receive the Norwegian Grammy (“Spellemannsprisen”) and she was also nominated in the category “Best Newcomer”.
Her second album, “Pretty Scary Silver Fairy”, was released in October 2006. The album reached number eight on the Norwegian albums chart and received positive reviews. Influenced by Björk, Daft Punk and The Knife, the album was a musical departure from her previous effort, and featured a mixture of electronic (Electro-Pop/Electronica) and dance-pop music. The lead single, "Samantha", reached number six on the Norwegian singles chart. Two more singles followed: "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" and "Robot Song".
Margaret then took a break from the music scene for the next few years, focusing instead on other projects in her life.
In 2011 she returned, releasing a new single, the hard-hitting critically acclaimed Electro-Pop song “In a Box” which received popularity and a fair amount of play in club-circles. That same year, her label Sony BMG issued the 4-track EP compilation “Four Hits: Margaret Berger”, which included the singles "Lifetime Guarantee", "Samantha", "Will You Remember Me Tomorrow?" and "Chameleon".
Margaret Berger: Albums
Chameleon (2004)
Pretty Scary Silver Fairy (2006)
Four Hits: Margaret Berger (EP, 2011)
Margaret Berger: Singles
Lifetime Guarantee (2004)
Chameleon (2004)
Samantha (2006)
Will You Remember Me Tomorrow? (2006)
Robot Song (2006)
In a Box (2011)
I Feed You My Love (2013)
Human Race (2013)
Scream (March 2014)
It was, however, in 2013 that Margaret Berger was to get her international breakthrough with her participation in the Norwegian MGP and subsequently the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). She represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden with the song "I Feed You My Love" (released in January 2013) after winning the Norwegian MGP national final on 9th February 2013.
This very popular Electro-Pop song, written by Karin Park and MachoPsycho, reached number four on the Norwegian singles chart. On 18th May 2013, Margaret Berger finished in a great 4th place in the ESC with 191 points - Norway's best result at the contest since their victory in 2009, and their sixth best result ever. The song went on to become an international hit in Europe and she received rave reviews on the Internet from fans all over the continent.
She has been working on her forthcoming new album “New Religion” (formerly titled “Chastisement”) since early 2013 (the album release date has been pushed back a few times). A second single from the forthcoming album was released in September 2013, the popular Electro-Pop song “Human Race”. This was the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC October 2013. A new third single from the forthcoming album, another popular Electro-Pop song called “Scream”, was released on 14th March 2014. This is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC June 2014.
Margaret Berger is without doubt a very accomplished and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop artist and songwriter from whom we will hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC June 2014, “Scream”, is alas a melodious, synth-based Electro-Pop song peformed in her signature style by Margaret Berger. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Margaret Berger for the 2nd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for June!
Margaret Berger - Scream
My feet keep walking straight
Even though I’m terrified
Don’t know what is coming next
How to make it through the night
I’ve been riding my own fear
‘Cause I hear them breathing near
I must confess my innocence
Escape the animal eyes
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
I can see them slithering
And their reptile smile
Their scratching at my human skin
Reveal my naked lie
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
I’m riding my own fear
I hear them breathing near
Escape their hollow eyes
Escape their reptile smiles
Isn’t it true
Nobody knows
Somebody ran, somebody crawl
No one to blame, you’re on your own
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
Somebody wept, and somebody howled
No one to save you, pray for dawn
Somebody’s gonna make you scream
-M
FSC July 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - July 2014 - Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Representing Norway in FSC July 2014 is the accomplished and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop duo Röyksopp in a musical collaboration with the Swedish Electro-Pop Star Robyn. Here is some more information about them.
Röyksopp is a Norwegian Electro-Pop \ Electronica \ Electronic Music duo from Tromsø, Norway. The group consists of the members Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland. Röyksopp was formed in 1998.
The word ‘röyksopp’ is alas a stylized version of the Norwegian word for the ‘puffball mushroom’, "røyksopp". The band has stated that the word could also evoke the mushroom cloud resulting from an atomic blast
They have experimented with different genres within electronic music, like ambient, house music, synth-pop and non-Euro American sounds. The band is also known for its elaborate concert performances, which often feature eccentric outfits.
Since their 1998 debut, the duo has gained critical acclaim and popular success around the world. To date, Röyksopp has been nominated for 1 Grammy Award, Brit Awards, won a total of 7 Spellemannprisen awards (Norwegian Grammys), performed worldwide tours, and produced albums which have topped the charts in several countries, including 4 consecutive number-one albums in Norway.
Röyksopp solidified their place in the Electro-Pop \ Electronica scene with their 2001 debut-album “Melody A.M.”, released on the Wall of Sound record label.
The album ”Melody A.M.” became a commercial success in 2001, in Norway and also internationally. Popular singles from this album were “Eple”, “Poor Leno” and “Remind Me”. The band's popularity was boosted by several graphically experimental music videos, many of which were put into heavy rotation by MTV.
Their 2nd album, “The Understanding”, was released in 2005. Popular singles from this album were “Only This Moment”, “49 Percent”, and “What Else Is There?”, a song which featured the Swedish singer Karin Dreijer Andersson on vocals.
Röyksopp: Album Discography
Melody A.M. (2001)
The Understanding (2005)
Junior (2009)
Senior (2010)
Do It Again [with Robyn] (2014)
Their 3rd album, called “Junior”, was released in 2009. It included the singles “Happy Up Here” and “This Must Be Here”, as well as the popular radio-hit “The Girl And The Robot” which featured the Swedish singer Robyn on vocals. This song subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC June 2009.
The 2009 album “Junior” was in 2010 followed by its ‘ambient twin’, “Senior”, which was more quiet/atmospheric in style (or as they themselves termed it, "..withdrawn and introspective.. made to create an atmosphere and an ambiance.."). This was their first album to consist solely of instrumental tracks. The song “The Drug” gained some popularity and the album sold fairly well, although the press reviews were more mixed this time around due to the album’s more laid-back\less instant sound.
In December 2012 Röyksopp released a new Electro-Pop single called "Running To The Sea". It featured the talented Norwegian pop-artist Susanne Sundfør on vocals. This was subsequently the Norwegian entry in FSC March 2013.
In May 2014 Röyksopp released a new EP-album called “Do It Again” in a musical collaboration with the Swedish Electro-Pop Star Robyn. The EP - or ‘mini-album’ - which included 5 songs, was preceeded by the popular Electro-Pop title-track single “Do It Again” in April 2014, and this is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC July 2014.
Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12th June 1979), better known by her stage name Robyn, is a famous Swedish Electro-Pop artist. Robyn became known in the late 90s for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know (What It Takes)" from her debut-album ‘Robyn Is Here’ (1997). In 2005 she released an album called ‘Robyn’ which featured Electro-Pop and Electronic Dance Music. Very popular in Sweden, it later got an international release and proved to be a big success for her. It included many popular singles. In 2009 she featured as vocalist (featured singer) on the popular Röyksopp radio-hit “The Girl And The Robot” and then in 2010 she released a trilogy of very popular albums called “Body Talk“ (parts 1 to 3). In 2013 she embarked on another musical collaboration with the Norwegian Electro-Pop duo Röyksopp on their aforementioned ‘Do It Again’ project.
Röyksopp and Robyn are now embarking on a joint ‘Do It Again Tour’ this summer 2014. They are without doubt talented and popular Scandinavian musicians/singers/songwriters from whom we will hear more in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC July 2014, “Do It Again”, is alas a melodious Scandinavian Electro-Pop song written and peformed by Röyksopp and Robyn in a musical collaboration. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Röyksopp for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for July!
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
One more time, let’s do it again
Blow my mind, do it again
And then it arrives, the moment before
The anticipation, you know it’s like
Mmm..
Wait for it, wait for the build up
And then let’s
Do it again
We do what we want
And as soon as it’s done
We just do it again
Let’s do it all
And when we come down
We just do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
But let’s do it again
One more time, let’s do it again
The thing you did, do it again
And when it arrives
The moment before
The anticipation, you know it’s like
Mmm..
Wait for it, wait for the build up
And then let’s
Do it again
We do what we want
And as soon as it’s done
We just do it again
Let’s do it all
And when we come down
We just do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
We should not be friends
We’ll just do it again
If you stay around
We’ll just do it again
We should not be friends
We’ll just do it again
If you stay around
We’ll just do it again
Let’s do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
Mmm..
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
But let’s do it again.
Again.
-M
FSC Norway - July 2014 - Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Representing Norway in FSC July 2014 is the accomplished and popular Norwegian Electro-Pop duo Röyksopp in a musical collaboration with the Swedish Electro-Pop Star Robyn. Here is some more information about them.
Röyksopp is a Norwegian Electro-Pop \ Electronica \ Electronic Music duo from Tromsø, Norway. The group consists of the members Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland. Röyksopp was formed in 1998.
The word ‘röyksopp’ is alas a stylized version of the Norwegian word for the ‘puffball mushroom’, "røyksopp". The band has stated that the word could also evoke the mushroom cloud resulting from an atomic blast
They have experimented with different genres within electronic music, like ambient, house music, synth-pop and non-Euro American sounds. The band is also known for its elaborate concert performances, which often feature eccentric outfits.
Since their 1998 debut, the duo has gained critical acclaim and popular success around the world. To date, Röyksopp has been nominated for 1 Grammy Award, Brit Awards, won a total of 7 Spellemannprisen awards (Norwegian Grammys), performed worldwide tours, and produced albums which have topped the charts in several countries, including 4 consecutive number-one albums in Norway.
Röyksopp solidified their place in the Electro-Pop \ Electronica scene with their 2001 debut-album “Melody A.M.”, released on the Wall of Sound record label.
The album ”Melody A.M.” became a commercial success in 2001, in Norway and also internationally. Popular singles from this album were “Eple”, “Poor Leno” and “Remind Me”. The band's popularity was boosted by several graphically experimental music videos, many of which were put into heavy rotation by MTV.
Their 2nd album, “The Understanding”, was released in 2005. Popular singles from this album were “Only This Moment”, “49 Percent”, and “What Else Is There?”, a song which featured the Swedish singer Karin Dreijer Andersson on vocals.
Röyksopp: Album Discography
Melody A.M. (2001)
The Understanding (2005)
Junior (2009)
Senior (2010)
Do It Again [with Robyn] (2014)
Their 3rd album, called “Junior”, was released in 2009. It included the singles “Happy Up Here” and “This Must Be Here”, as well as the popular radio-hit “The Girl And The Robot” which featured the Swedish singer Robyn on vocals. This song subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC June 2009.
The 2009 album “Junior” was in 2010 followed by its ‘ambient twin’, “Senior”, which was more quiet/atmospheric in style (or as they themselves termed it, "..withdrawn and introspective.. made to create an atmosphere and an ambiance.."). This was their first album to consist solely of instrumental tracks. The song “The Drug” gained some popularity and the album sold fairly well, although the press reviews were more mixed this time around due to the album’s more laid-back\less instant sound.
In December 2012 Röyksopp released a new Electro-Pop single called "Running To The Sea". It featured the talented Norwegian pop-artist Susanne Sundfør on vocals. This was subsequently the Norwegian entry in FSC March 2013.
In May 2014 Röyksopp released a new EP-album called “Do It Again” in a musical collaboration with the Swedish Electro-Pop Star Robyn. The EP - or ‘mini-album’ - which included 5 songs, was preceeded by the popular Electro-Pop title-track single “Do It Again” in April 2014, and this is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC July 2014.
Robin Miriam Carlsson (born 12th June 1979), better known by her stage name Robyn, is a famous Swedish Electro-Pop artist. Robyn became known in the late 90s for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know (What It Takes)" from her debut-album ‘Robyn Is Here’ (1997). In 2005 she released an album called ‘Robyn’ which featured Electro-Pop and Electronic Dance Music. Very popular in Sweden, it later got an international release and proved to be a big success for her. It included many popular singles. In 2009 she featured as vocalist (featured singer) on the popular Röyksopp radio-hit “The Girl And The Robot” and then in 2010 she released a trilogy of very popular albums called “Body Talk“ (parts 1 to 3). In 2013 she embarked on another musical collaboration with the Norwegian Electro-Pop duo Röyksopp on their aforementioned ‘Do It Again’ project.
Röyksopp and Robyn are now embarking on a joint ‘Do It Again Tour’ this summer 2014. They are without doubt talented and popular Scandinavian musicians/singers/songwriters from whom we will hear more in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC July 2014, “Do It Again”, is alas a melodious Scandinavian Electro-Pop song written and peformed by Röyksopp and Robyn in a musical collaboration. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Röyksopp for the 3rd time in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for July!
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
One more time, let’s do it again
Blow my mind, do it again
And then it arrives, the moment before
The anticipation, you know it’s like
Mmm..
Wait for it, wait for the build up
And then let’s
Do it again
We do what we want
And as soon as it’s done
We just do it again
Let’s do it all
And when we come down
We just do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
But let’s do it again
One more time, let’s do it again
The thing you did, do it again
And when it arrives
The moment before
The anticipation, you know it’s like
Mmm..
Wait for it, wait for the build up
And then let’s
Do it again
We do what we want
And as soon as it’s done
We just do it again
Let’s do it all
And when we come down
We just do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
We should not be friends
We’ll just do it again
If you stay around
We’ll just do it again
We should not be friends
We’ll just do it again
If you stay around
We’ll just do it again
Let’s do it again
Don’t care what they say
It hurts so good
Mmm..
I don’t wanna stop
I know I should
But let’s do it again.
Again.
-M
FSC August 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - August 2014 - Ask Embla - Legion
Representing Norway in FSC August 2014 is the talented and popular Norwegian/Icelandic Electro-Pop duo Ask Embla. Here is some more information about them.
The Nordic Electro-Pop duo (music project) Ask Embla [the name ‘Ask Embla’ comes from Old Norse mythology, where Ask and Embla were the first two humans created by the Old Norse Gods] consists of the Norwegian singer and songwriter Ina Wroldsen and the Icelandic songwriter and music producer Arnthor Birgisson. Ask Embla was founded in mid-2011 when Arnthor and Ina came together to realize the vision of an Electro-Pop project with a true Nordic flavour, to mirror their national heritage. They both had long experience from creating music for other artists, but now they wished to try a music project of their own.
Ina Wroldsen (born in Oslo, Norway in 1984) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter who has for many years lived in London, England (with frequent work-visits to Los Angeles, USA). She lived most of her childhood years in the town of Sandefjord south of the capital. Early in her career she got a record contract and released some music on her own, but has for many years focused on writing songs for other international artists. She has written popular and successful songs for famous artists like Britney Spears, One Direction, Shontelle, The Saturdays and The Pussycat Dolls to name a few. In the 2013 Norwegian MGP she also wrote (together with Quiz & Larossi) the song "Bombo" which was performed by Adelèn and which came 2nd in the final. In mid-2011 she started a collaboration with the Icelandic songwriter and music producer Arnthor Birgisson - and the Ask Embla music project was born.
Arnthor Birgisson (born in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1976) is an Icelandic songwriter and music producer who has lived in Sweden since early childhood. He began his professional songwriting and production career in 1996 working at Cosmos Studio stogether with Kent (Gillström) Isaacs and Bloodshy. Arnthor's breakthrough came in 1998 with the song "Because of You" written for 98 Degrees. In the following years he wrote successful songs for famous artists like Janet Jackson, Ronan Keating, Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion among others. Arnthor has also worked with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music, EMI Group and Warner Music Group. In 2008 Arnthor co-founded the Swedish-based record and production company, Aristotracks. Since then he has written and produced songs for artists such as Britney Spears, Leona Lewis, The Saturdays and Shontelle (some of this in collaboration with Ina Wroldsen). In mid-2011 he then started the Ask Embla Electro-Pop project with Ina Wroldsen.
Their first written song for Ask Embla was "Father’s Eyes" which was uploaded to their Soundcloud-webpage on the Internet in 2012. The song was re-released as a digital single in 2013, but already from those early days this was the song which gave them faith in their vision. Their songs on Soundcloud brought them many fans who rejoiced when the Ask Embla CD-album "Northern Light" was finally released in May 2013. Singles from the album were: "Father’s Eyes" (a popular national chart-hit), "Cry Baby" and "I Fell In Love". Other popular songs on the album were "Einn" and "Northern Light (Ida’s dans)". The album received mixed reviews in the national press, but gained popularity and acclaim on several international music websites and among their growing fanbase in Norway and abroad.
Ask Embla: Albums
Northern Light (2013)
Ask Embla: Singles
Father’s Eyes (2012, re-released 2013)
Cry Baby (2012)
I Fell In Love (2013)
Legion (January 2014)
In late 2013 they started work on a 2nd Ask Embla album, as yet untitled, which is expected to be released in late 2014. A 1st single (demo-version) from this upcoming album, an Electro-Pop song with their typical Nordic flavour called "Legion", was digitally released on 29th January 2014. This release was greeted with much enthusiasm by their many fans and on several international music websites. "Legion" is the song chosen by the Norwegian FSC-jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC August 2014.
Ask Embla will continue the work on their upcoming new album in the months ahead. They are without doubt a very accomplished and popular Norwegian/Icelandic Electro-Pop duo from whom we will hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC August 2014, "Legion", is alas a melodious, Nordic-ethnic flavoured Electro-Pop song written and peformed in their typical style by Ask Embla. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Ask Embla in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for August!
Ask Embla - Legion
I am Legion. I am more.
I am soldier. I am more.
I am ocean. I am earth.
I am human.
I am Legion. I am here.
I am the warrior. I do not fear.
I am daughters. I am son.
I am human.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
I am Legion. I am yours.
I am ruthless. I am torn.
I am sister. I am son.
I am human.
I am Legion. I am here.
I am the energy, I do so fear.
I am thousand. I am one.
I am human.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
Fight! When you lose control.
Believe in, Light! When you think you fall.
And we will fight ‘till we conquer all.
Legion. We are Legion.
Fight! When you lose control.
Believe in, Light! When you think you fall.
And we will fight ‘till we conquer all.
Legion. Legion.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
-M
FSC Norway - August 2014 - Ask Embla - Legion
Representing Norway in FSC August 2014 is the talented and popular Norwegian/Icelandic Electro-Pop duo Ask Embla. Here is some more information about them.
The Nordic Electro-Pop duo (music project) Ask Embla [the name ‘Ask Embla’ comes from Old Norse mythology, where Ask and Embla were the first two humans created by the Old Norse Gods] consists of the Norwegian singer and songwriter Ina Wroldsen and the Icelandic songwriter and music producer Arnthor Birgisson. Ask Embla was founded in mid-2011 when Arnthor and Ina came together to realize the vision of an Electro-Pop project with a true Nordic flavour, to mirror their national heritage. They both had long experience from creating music for other artists, but now they wished to try a music project of their own.
Ina Wroldsen (born in Oslo, Norway in 1984) is a Norwegian singer and songwriter who has for many years lived in London, England (with frequent work-visits to Los Angeles, USA). She lived most of her childhood years in the town of Sandefjord south of the capital. Early in her career she got a record contract and released some music on her own, but has for many years focused on writing songs for other international artists. She has written popular and successful songs for famous artists like Britney Spears, One Direction, Shontelle, The Saturdays and The Pussycat Dolls to name a few. In the 2013 Norwegian MGP she also wrote (together with Quiz & Larossi) the song "Bombo" which was performed by Adelèn and which came 2nd in the final. In mid-2011 she started a collaboration with the Icelandic songwriter and music producer Arnthor Birgisson - and the Ask Embla music project was born.
Arnthor Birgisson (born in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1976) is an Icelandic songwriter and music producer who has lived in Sweden since early childhood. He began his professional songwriting and production career in 1996 working at Cosmos Studio stogether with Kent (Gillström) Isaacs and Bloodshy. Arnthor's breakthrough came in 1998 with the song "Because of You" written for 98 Degrees. In the following years he wrote successful songs for famous artists like Janet Jackson, Ronan Keating, Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion among others. Arnthor has also worked with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music, EMI Group and Warner Music Group. In 2008 Arnthor co-founded the Swedish-based record and production company, Aristotracks. Since then he has written and produced songs for artists such as Britney Spears, Leona Lewis, The Saturdays and Shontelle (some of this in collaboration with Ina Wroldsen). In mid-2011 he then started the Ask Embla Electro-Pop project with Ina Wroldsen.
Their first written song for Ask Embla was "Father’s Eyes" which was uploaded to their Soundcloud-webpage on the Internet in 2012. The song was re-released as a digital single in 2013, but already from those early days this was the song which gave them faith in their vision. Their songs on Soundcloud brought them many fans who rejoiced when the Ask Embla CD-album "Northern Light" was finally released in May 2013. Singles from the album were: "Father’s Eyes" (a popular national chart-hit), "Cry Baby" and "I Fell In Love". Other popular songs on the album were "Einn" and "Northern Light (Ida’s dans)". The album received mixed reviews in the national press, but gained popularity and acclaim on several international music websites and among their growing fanbase in Norway and abroad.
Ask Embla: Albums
Northern Light (2013)
Ask Embla: Singles
Father’s Eyes (2012, re-released 2013)
Cry Baby (2012)
I Fell In Love (2013)
Legion (January 2014)
In late 2013 they started work on a 2nd Ask Embla album, as yet untitled, which is expected to be released in late 2014. A 1st single (demo-version) from this upcoming album, an Electro-Pop song with their typical Nordic flavour called "Legion", was digitally released on 29th January 2014. This release was greeted with much enthusiasm by their many fans and on several international music websites. "Legion" is the song chosen by the Norwegian FSC-jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC August 2014.
Ask Embla will continue the work on their upcoming new album in the months ahead. They are without doubt a very accomplished and popular Norwegian/Icelandic Electro-Pop duo from whom we will hear more in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC August 2014, "Legion", is alas a melodious, Nordic-ethnic flavoured Electro-Pop song written and peformed in their typical style by Ask Embla. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Ask Embla in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for August!
Ask Embla - Legion
I am Legion. I am more.
I am soldier. I am more.
I am ocean. I am earth.
I am human.
I am Legion. I am here.
I am the warrior. I do not fear.
I am daughters. I am son.
I am human.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
I am Legion. I am yours.
I am ruthless. I am torn.
I am sister. I am son.
I am human.
I am Legion. I am here.
I am the energy, I do so fear.
I am thousand. I am one.
I am human.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
Fight! When you lose control.
Believe in, Light! When you think you fall.
And we will fight ‘till we conquer all.
Legion. We are Legion.
Fight! When you lose control.
Believe in, Light! When you think you fall.
And we will fight ‘till we conquer all.
Legion. Legion.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
To holy water. And devil’s fire.
And I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
And you are a tiger. So run like tigers.
Fear no other. Escape your wire.
I will light up the way for you.
I will light up the way for you.
-M
FSC September 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - September 2014 - Marte Wulff - Denne vinden
Representing Norway in FSC September 2014, with a Symphonic Folk-ballad performed in Norwegian, is the talented Norwegian Singer-Songwriter and ‘music poet’ Marte Wulff. Here is some more information about her.
Marte Helene Wulff - artist name Marte Wulff - born in 1980 in Oslo, Norway - is a well known Norwegian Singer-Songwriter and ‘music poet’. She grew up in the city of Kristiansand along the Norwegian southern coast (‘Sørlandet’) and has always identified mostly with this part of Norway.
She started her music career as a backing-singer and duet-partner in Norwegian singer Thom Hell’s former backing-band ‘The Love Collection’ and contributed on several of his albums. She also contributed with backing-vocals on several other artist’s albums including Norwegian artists Erik Faber and John Erik Kaada.
In 2006 she released her first solo album called “Jacket”. The album included several popular radio-hits, among them “Carousel (Of Love)”, “Lady” and “Run”. For the critically acclaimed album she received a ‘Spellemannspris nomination’ (Norwegian Grammy) as best newcomer.
Her second album was released in 2007, called “Safety Pins”. It too became popular and included radio-played songs such as “Accident”, “Last Dance” and “Racing” (a duet with Erik Faber). In 2010 she released her third album, “Handler i selvforsvar”. This was her first album with songs written in the Norwegian language and with it she upheld her established Singer-Songwriter tradition, writing all her own songs, with meaningful lyrics and playful melodies.
Marte Wulff: Album Discography
2006 Jacket
2007 Safety Pins
2010 Handler i selvforsvar
2014 Utlengsel (April 2014)
Her latest album, called “Utlengsel”, another album with new songs in Norwegian only, was released in April 2014. The album was recorded together with / accompanied by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra because Marte wanted a ‘symphonic feel’ for her newly written songs. The result is another collection of beautiful songs, in Marte Wullf’s musical style, but with that added ‘symphonic touch’.
One of the beautiful songs on this new album is the Symphonic Folk-ballad “Denne vinden”, written and performed by Marte herself, a kind of regional anthem to her home area: the Southern Norwegian coastal region called ‘Sørlandet’, which is the song the Norwegian FSC-jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC September 2014.
As a solo artist Marte Wulff has played more than 300 concerts around Norway, with or without band, in the past 8 years. She has toured with her own music and her talent has been appreciated by her many fans in the many venues, small and large, that she has visited and in the music festivals she has played in (among them the major Norwegian music festivals ‘Norwegian Wood’ and ‘Quart’). In additon she has been the opening act/warm-up act for artists such as Katie Melua on her concerts in Norway. Multi-talented (she also plays the piano), she always aims to give her audiences a special experience and plenty of unforgetful moments.
Marte Wulff is without doubt a very talented Norwegian Singer-Songwriter, composer and ‘music-poet’ from whom we will hear more in the future.
The Norwegian entry for FSC September 2014, “Denne vinden” (“This Wind”), is a sweet little song, a melodious, Norwegian Symphonic Folk-ballad, in an almost ‘light waltz’-kind rhythm. It is very well suited, I believe, for the ‘late-summer’ month of September, performed in Norwegian by the talented artist Marte Wulff. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Marte Wulff in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian lyrics for the song and a translation into English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for September!
Marte Wulff - Denne vinden / This Wind
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører sommeren til / It belongs to the summer
Den puster blidt i håret mitt / It blows ‘smilingly’ in my hair
Så varmen som trykker litt / So that the heat which presses somewhat
Blir lettere til å holde ut / Becomes easier to bear
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører Sørlandet til / It belongs to Sørlandet (Southern Norwegian coastal region)
Den blåser inn av vinduet / It blows in through the window
Og rusker i gardinene / And grabs the curtains
Og hvisker til meg, kan du ikke bli / And whispers to me, can’t you stay
Denne all vinds formildende omstendighet / This wind’s extenuating circumstance
Alle stormers englevakt / Guardian angel of all storms
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt kan ende godt / That everything may end well
Denne vinden, vemodig og vis / This wind, mournful and wise
Betaler vinterens pris / Is paying the price of winter
Den tar med seg siste rest / It takes with it the last remnant
Av vonde minners kalde blest / Of bad memories’ cold traces
Og vugger meg, så jeg kan finne ro / And cradles me, so I can find peace
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører Sørlandet til / It belongs to Sørlandet (Southern Norwegian coastal region)
Den stryker over huden min / It brushes across my skin
Forsiktig, som for å si / Carefully, as if to say
Endelig, er du kommet hjem / Finally, you have come home
Denne all vinds formildende omstendighet / This wind’s extenuating circumstance
Alle stormers englevakt / Guardian angel of all storms
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt ender godt / That everything ends well
Den sniker seg ikke inn / It does not sneak inside
Inn under klærne og blir der / In under one’s clothes and stays there
Som vinterens bitende, omstendige storm / Like the bitingly cold enduring winter storm
Den er ikke mektig, og modig, og vill / It is not powerful, nor brave, nor wild
Som høstens løv i virvlende kast / Like the forceful swirl of Autumn leaves
Den er ikke uforutsigbar / It is not unpredictable
Eller bærer i seg et drag / Or carries a remnant within
Av det som nettopp var / Of what has just been
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Forteller om forsoning / Speaks of reconciliation
Og gir løfter om frihet / And gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt kan ende godt / That everything may end well
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt, fremdeles, kan ende godt / That everything may, still, end well
-M
FSC Norway - September 2014 - Marte Wulff - Denne vinden
Representing Norway in FSC September 2014, with a Symphonic Folk-ballad performed in Norwegian, is the talented Norwegian Singer-Songwriter and ‘music poet’ Marte Wulff. Here is some more information about her.
Marte Helene Wulff - artist name Marte Wulff - born in 1980 in Oslo, Norway - is a well known Norwegian Singer-Songwriter and ‘music poet’. She grew up in the city of Kristiansand along the Norwegian southern coast (‘Sørlandet’) and has always identified mostly with this part of Norway.
She started her music career as a backing-singer and duet-partner in Norwegian singer Thom Hell’s former backing-band ‘The Love Collection’ and contributed on several of his albums. She also contributed with backing-vocals on several other artist’s albums including Norwegian artists Erik Faber and John Erik Kaada.
In 2006 she released her first solo album called “Jacket”. The album included several popular radio-hits, among them “Carousel (Of Love)”, “Lady” and “Run”. For the critically acclaimed album she received a ‘Spellemannspris nomination’ (Norwegian Grammy) as best newcomer.
Her second album was released in 2007, called “Safety Pins”. It too became popular and included radio-played songs such as “Accident”, “Last Dance” and “Racing” (a duet with Erik Faber). In 2010 she released her third album, “Handler i selvforsvar”. This was her first album with songs written in the Norwegian language and with it she upheld her established Singer-Songwriter tradition, writing all her own songs, with meaningful lyrics and playful melodies.
Marte Wulff: Album Discography
2006 Jacket
2007 Safety Pins
2010 Handler i selvforsvar
2014 Utlengsel (April 2014)
Her latest album, called “Utlengsel”, another album with new songs in Norwegian only, was released in April 2014. The album was recorded together with / accompanied by the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra because Marte wanted a ‘symphonic feel’ for her newly written songs. The result is another collection of beautiful songs, in Marte Wullf’s musical style, but with that added ‘symphonic touch’.
One of the beautiful songs on this new album is the Symphonic Folk-ballad “Denne vinden”, written and performed by Marte herself, a kind of regional anthem to her home area: the Southern Norwegian coastal region called ‘Sørlandet’, which is the song the Norwegian FSC-jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC September 2014.
As a solo artist Marte Wulff has played more than 300 concerts around Norway, with or without band, in the past 8 years. She has toured with her own music and her talent has been appreciated by her many fans in the many venues, small and large, that she has visited and in the music festivals she has played in (among them the major Norwegian music festivals ‘Norwegian Wood’ and ‘Quart’). In additon she has been the opening act/warm-up act for artists such as Katie Melua on her concerts in Norway. Multi-talented (she also plays the piano), she always aims to give her audiences a special experience and plenty of unforgetful moments.
Marte Wulff is without doubt a very talented Norwegian Singer-Songwriter, composer and ‘music-poet’ from whom we will hear more in the future.
The Norwegian entry for FSC September 2014, “Denne vinden” (“This Wind”), is a sweet little song, a melodious, Norwegian Symphonic Folk-ballad, in an almost ‘light waltz’-kind rhythm. It is very well suited, I believe, for the ‘late-summer’ month of September, performed in Norwegian by the talented artist Marte Wulff. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Marte Wulff in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian lyrics for the song and a translation into English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for September!
Marte Wulff - Denne vinden / This Wind
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører sommeren til / It belongs to the summer
Den puster blidt i håret mitt / It blows ‘smilingly’ in my hair
Så varmen som trykker litt / So that the heat which presses somewhat
Blir lettere til å holde ut / Becomes easier to bear
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører Sørlandet til / It belongs to Sørlandet (Southern Norwegian coastal region)
Den blåser inn av vinduet / It blows in through the window
Og rusker i gardinene / And grabs the curtains
Og hvisker til meg, kan du ikke bli / And whispers to me, can’t you stay
Denne all vinds formildende omstendighet / This wind’s extenuating circumstance
Alle stormers englevakt / Guardian angel of all storms
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt kan ende godt / That everything may end well
Denne vinden, vemodig og vis / This wind, mournful and wise
Betaler vinterens pris / Is paying the price of winter
Den tar med seg siste rest / It takes with it the last remnant
Av vonde minners kalde blest / Of bad memories’ cold traces
Og vugger meg, så jeg kan finne ro / And cradles me, so I can find peace
Denne vinden, forsiktig og mild / This wind, careful and mild
Den hører Sørlandet til / It belongs to Sørlandet (Southern Norwegian coastal region)
Den stryker over huden min / It brushes across my skin
Forsiktig, som for å si / Carefully, as if to say
Endelig, er du kommet hjem / Finally, you have come home
Denne all vinds formildende omstendighet / This wind’s extenuating circumstance
Alle stormers englevakt / Guardian angel of all storms
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt ender godt / That everything ends well
Den sniker seg ikke inn / It does not sneak inside
Inn under klærne og blir der / In under one’s clothes and stays there
Som vinterens bitende, omstendige storm / Like the bitingly cold enduring winter storm
Den er ikke mektig, og modig, og vill / It is not powerful, nor brave, nor wild
Som høstens løv i virvlende kast / Like the forceful swirl of Autumn leaves
Den er ikke uforutsigbar / It is not unpredictable
Eller bærer i seg et drag / Or carries a remnant within
Av det som nettopp var / Of what has just been
Den forteller om forsoning / It speaks of reconciliation
Gir løfter om frihet / Gives promises of freedom
Forteller om forsoning / Speaks of reconciliation
Og gir løfter om frihet / And gives promises of freedom
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt kan ende godt / That everything may end well
Mens den hinter / While hinting
Om at alt, fremdeles, kan ende godt / That everything may, still, end well
-M
FSC October 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - October 2014 - C-Systems - Aeneas
Representing Norway in FSC October 2014, and with an Instrumental Trance song for the 1st time in Norway’s 5+ year 68 editions FSC-history, is the talented Norwegian/British Trance Music Project C-Systems. Here is some more information about them.
C-Systems is a Norwegian/British Trance Music Project based in Oslo, Norway. It currently consists of Norwegian Music Producer Akki Hisham from Oslo and British Music Producer Matt Allen from the UK.
Akki was interested in music from an early age. He started playing the guitar already at the age of 10. In 1989, he started producing music on the Amiga 500, using Pro-tracker to make hip hop tracks with friends. It wasn’t until 2002 that he started producing on Cubase. In 2005 he and Christian Zechner released a song on the radio which became very popular, claiming the number 1 spot in club-charts for some time. Subsequently Akki met Staro and they started the first incarnation of C-Systems. However, over time, Staro unfortunately had other commitments and needed time away.
After working alone for almost a year, Akki met Matt Allen and began writing music with him in November of 2011. They were both signed to Unearthed Records and were asked to work on a project together. They quickly realized that their skills complemented each other. After writing together for over 6 months with incredible energy and fresh creativity, they decided to re-invent themselves as the second incarnation of C-Systems.
Matt (‘Bushi’) is a classically trained composer and teacher. Although he began piano lessons when young, he quickly realized that playing other people's music wasn't for him. Over a few years, Matt began to experiment with basic music technology. He realized that combining his instrumental skills with studio tech was the way to go. Matt pursued a solo career in the dance music industry for 3 years under the alias of 'Bushi' before starting the musical collaboration with Akki. Matt has had successful releases from a multitude of labels and enjoyed extensive DJ support between 2009 and 2011.
C-Systems: Singles (a selection)
2009 Heat*
2011 Pieces*
2013 Listen To The Wind*
2013 Leading Destiny*
2013 Save The Moment*
2013 Love Again
2013 Just Begun*
2014 Hard To Feel*
2014 Aeneas (March 2014)
2014 Shooting Stars
*(feat. Hanna Finsen on vocals)
C-Systems are a very productive and creative music-duo and they have digitally released a lot of their Trance-songs in the past few years. In addition to writing many of the songs themselves, they also remix other artists’ Trance Music songs often with great success. On many of their songs a Norwegian female singer called Hanna Finsen has provided the vocals, but they have also had other artists featuring on some of their tracks and some of their songs are pure instrumentals.
In 2013 they digitally released many new songs, to acclaim and support among DJs and the Trance Music Community, and they continued their high productivity level well into 2014. They released a song called “Hard To Feel” in early 2014, a popular song on the Internet and among several DJs, and this was followed by their 2nd single of the year in March 2014, the Instrumental Trance song “Aeneas” which received popular acclaim, great DJ-support and was included on the playlist of the famous Dutch Trance Music Producer and legend (DJ)Tiesto in his Trance Music Radio-show. “Aeneas” is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC October 2014.
Another single has followed in summer 2014 and with C-Systems’ ambitious release-schedule more will certainly come before the year is out. They are very talented and professional and their music is appreciated by DJs, other Trance Music Producers and fans alike. We will without doubt hear more from this successful Norwegian/British Trance Music Project in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC October 2014, “Aeneas”, is alas a melodious, Intrumental Trance song created and performed by the talented duo C-Systems. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter C-Systems in the FSC for Norway.
Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for October!
C-Systems - Aeneas
-M
FSC Norway - October 2014 - C-Systems - Aeneas
Representing Norway in FSC October 2014, and with an Instrumental Trance song for the 1st time in Norway’s 5+ year 68 editions FSC-history, is the talented Norwegian/British Trance Music Project C-Systems. Here is some more information about them.
C-Systems is a Norwegian/British Trance Music Project based in Oslo, Norway. It currently consists of Norwegian Music Producer Akki Hisham from Oslo and British Music Producer Matt Allen from the UK.
Akki was interested in music from an early age. He started playing the guitar already at the age of 10. In 1989, he started producing music on the Amiga 500, using Pro-tracker to make hip hop tracks with friends. It wasn’t until 2002 that he started producing on Cubase. In 2005 he and Christian Zechner released a song on the radio which became very popular, claiming the number 1 spot in club-charts for some time. Subsequently Akki met Staro and they started the first incarnation of C-Systems. However, over time, Staro unfortunately had other commitments and needed time away.
After working alone for almost a year, Akki met Matt Allen and began writing music with him in November of 2011. They were both signed to Unearthed Records and were asked to work on a project together. They quickly realized that their skills complemented each other. After writing together for over 6 months with incredible energy and fresh creativity, they decided to re-invent themselves as the second incarnation of C-Systems.
Matt (‘Bushi’) is a classically trained composer and teacher. Although he began piano lessons when young, he quickly realized that playing other people's music wasn't for him. Over a few years, Matt began to experiment with basic music technology. He realized that combining his instrumental skills with studio tech was the way to go. Matt pursued a solo career in the dance music industry for 3 years under the alias of 'Bushi' before starting the musical collaboration with Akki. Matt has had successful releases from a multitude of labels and enjoyed extensive DJ support between 2009 and 2011.
C-Systems: Singles (a selection)
2009 Heat*
2011 Pieces*
2013 Listen To The Wind*
2013 Leading Destiny*
2013 Save The Moment*
2013 Love Again
2013 Just Begun*
2014 Hard To Feel*
2014 Aeneas (March 2014)
2014 Shooting Stars
*(feat. Hanna Finsen on vocals)
C-Systems are a very productive and creative music-duo and they have digitally released a lot of their Trance-songs in the past few years. In addition to writing many of the songs themselves, they also remix other artists’ Trance Music songs often with great success. On many of their songs a Norwegian female singer called Hanna Finsen has provided the vocals, but they have also had other artists featuring on some of their tracks and some of their songs are pure instrumentals.
In 2013 they digitally released many new songs, to acclaim and support among DJs and the Trance Music Community, and they continued their high productivity level well into 2014. They released a song called “Hard To Feel” in early 2014, a popular song on the Internet and among several DJs, and this was followed by their 2nd single of the year in March 2014, the Instrumental Trance song “Aeneas” which received popular acclaim, great DJ-support and was included on the playlist of the famous Dutch Trance Music Producer and legend (DJ)Tiesto in his Trance Music Radio-show. “Aeneas” is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC October 2014.
Another single has followed in summer 2014 and with C-Systems’ ambitious release-schedule more will certainly come before the year is out. They are very talented and professional and their music is appreciated by DJs, other Trance Music Producers and fans alike. We will without doubt hear more from this successful Norwegian/British Trance Music Project in the years to come.
The Norwegian entry for FSC October 2014, “Aeneas”, is alas a melodious, Intrumental Trance song created and performed by the talented duo C-Systems. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter C-Systems in the FSC for Norway.
Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for October!
C-Systems - Aeneas
-M
FSC November 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - November 2014 - Sophie Elise - Lionheart
Representing Norway in FSC November 2014 is the young Norwegian Fashion Blog’er / Pop-singer newcomer Sophie Elise. Here is some more information about her.
Sophie Elise Isachsen, artist name Sophie Elise, is a 19 year old young Norwegian woman and fashion-blog’er from Harstad in Northern Norway, best known nationally to the teenage/pre 20-year public. She has one of Norway’s most visited/popular and profitable fashion-blogs on the Internet where she shares her views on everything from fashion, clothes, cosmetics (incl. surgery) / make-up and food to music, tv, photo-shoots, life in general / reality and other of her many hobbies.
She is a slightly controversial figure having at a young age added silicons to her breasts and other cosmetic surgery (nose-operation and lip-enhancement), but while adult critics are negative of the ‘bad example’ she sets in this time and age with more and more fixation for girls on having perfect (thin) bodies wth resulting eating disorders etc, she has thousand of followers in her own age-group who love her blog, support her viewpoint that ‘everyone should do whatever they feel is right for them, whatever others may think and say’, and dream of following in her footsteps.
Sophie Elise was from an early age interested in music and wrote her own songs in her early teen-years. She always dreamed of one day being able to release a song, and when the opportunity arose - and she was offered a record contract with the local Studio 6 record label - she grabbed it with both hands.
Her Dance-Pop debut-single ‘Lionheart’ was released digitally in May 2014 and became popular on iTunes / streaming sites / the Internet. It subsequently sold to Gold status in Norway, which was an achievement for such a pop-music newcomer. ‘Lionheart’ is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC November 2014.
There are rumours that more music - and possibly an album - is coming from Sophie Elise in the coming year, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Sophie Elise is a creative and popular young woman and fashion-blog’er, now also in the pop-music business, from whom we will hear more in the future.
The Norwegian entry for FSC November 2014, “Lionheart”, is alas a melodious, Norwegian Dance-Pop song performed by the pop-music newcomer Sophie Elise. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Sophie Elise in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for November!
Sophie Elise - Lionheart
Long live the King, in the darkest night
Roaming the street, fighting to survive
Bring me down, burn me up
Leave me in the dark, but it’s not enough
Every time when I’m moving close
I see your eyes, my world implodes
Track you down, you lift me up
Addicted to your smile, I can’t get enough
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t hide like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
You make me roar like an animal
I’m going wild, and I lose control
We’re speeding up, I’m closing in
Feel the fire underneath my skin
We’re spinning fast, I’m hypnotized
You’re the one, my Kryptonite
My private call, I’m falling hard
I’m giving in, guess I’ve played my card
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t hide like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
Going ‘Mayday’ ( x 3 )
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t strike like a lion
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
-M
FSC Norway - November 2014 - Sophie Elise - Lionheart
Representing Norway in FSC November 2014 is the young Norwegian Fashion Blog’er / Pop-singer newcomer Sophie Elise. Here is some more information about her.
Sophie Elise Isachsen, artist name Sophie Elise, is a 19 year old young Norwegian woman and fashion-blog’er from Harstad in Northern Norway, best known nationally to the teenage/pre 20-year public. She has one of Norway’s most visited/popular and profitable fashion-blogs on the Internet where she shares her views on everything from fashion, clothes, cosmetics (incl. surgery) / make-up and food to music, tv, photo-shoots, life in general / reality and other of her many hobbies.
She is a slightly controversial figure having at a young age added silicons to her breasts and other cosmetic surgery (nose-operation and lip-enhancement), but while adult critics are negative of the ‘bad example’ she sets in this time and age with more and more fixation for girls on having perfect (thin) bodies wth resulting eating disorders etc, she has thousand of followers in her own age-group who love her blog, support her viewpoint that ‘everyone should do whatever they feel is right for them, whatever others may think and say’, and dream of following in her footsteps.
Sophie Elise was from an early age interested in music and wrote her own songs in her early teen-years. She always dreamed of one day being able to release a song, and when the opportunity arose - and she was offered a record contract with the local Studio 6 record label - she grabbed it with both hands.
Her Dance-Pop debut-single ‘Lionheart’ was released digitally in May 2014 and became popular on iTunes / streaming sites / the Internet. It subsequently sold to Gold status in Norway, which was an achievement for such a pop-music newcomer. ‘Lionheart’ is the song the Norwegian jury has chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC November 2014.
There are rumours that more music - and possibly an album - is coming from Sophie Elise in the coming year, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Sophie Elise is a creative and popular young woman and fashion-blog’er, now also in the pop-music business, from whom we will hear more in the future.
The Norwegian entry for FSC November 2014, “Lionheart”, is alas a melodious, Norwegian Dance-Pop song performed by the pop-music newcomer Sophie Elise. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Sophie Elise in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for November!
Sophie Elise - Lionheart
Long live the King, in the darkest night
Roaming the street, fighting to survive
Bring me down, burn me up
Leave me in the dark, but it’s not enough
Every time when I’m moving close
I see your eyes, my world implodes
Track you down, you lift me up
Addicted to your smile, I can’t get enough
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t hide like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
You make me roar like an animal
I’m going wild, and I lose control
We’re speeding up, I’m closing in
Feel the fire underneath my skin
We’re spinning fast, I’m hypnotized
You’re the one, my Kryptonite
My private call, I’m falling hard
I’m giving in, guess I’ve played my card
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t hide like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
Going ‘Mayday’ ( x 3 )
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
I can’t strike like a lion
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane
We could do it all night
Come with me to this wild life, ey!
I’m going ‘Mayday’
Thrown to you just like an airplane, ey!
We could do it all night
I can’t strike like a lion
I can’t fight like a lion
But God knows I’ve been trying
‘Cause I’ve got a Lionheart
-M
FSC December 2014 - Norway
FSC Norway - December 2014 - Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy
Representing Norway in FSC December 2014, and returning to the FSC for Norway, is the famous Norwegian ESC 2009 -Winner Alexander Rybak. Here is some more information about him.
Alexander Rybak was born in Minsk, Belarus on 13th May 1986. When he was 4 years old he and his family moved to Norway and Nesodden just outside of Oslo. He has lived in Norway ever since and has made his music-career here in Norway. At the age of 5 years, Alexander began to play the piano and violin, but as time went by he focused more and more on mastering the violin (being tutored first by his father, later by professional music-teachers and professors in music-academies). Both his parents were musicians; his mother a classical pianist, his father a classical violinist. In many ways Alexander was destined to become a musician and entertainer. As he has stated in later years: "I always liked to entertain and somehow that is my vocation".
Alexander was a student at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo for many years. He has attained music-scholarships, has studied abroad and has played with many established Norwegian musicians, at music-festivals and with symphony orchestras. He has also taken part in musical theatre productions, perhaps most well known is his role and acclaimed performance as the fiddler in Oslo Nye Teater’s production of ”Fiddler on the Roof”. His popular breakthrough and what made him come to the Norwegian people’s attention was his winning the talent competition ”Kjempesjansen”, hosted by the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, in 2006.
His international and commercial breakthrough came, of course, with his triumphant victory for Norway with the song ”Fairytale” in the 54th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2009 in Moscow, Russia. The song, written and composed by Alexander himself and inspired by Norwegian folk-music but also (Bela)Russian rhythms, was performed together with the modern folk dance company Frikar - and having first cruised to victory in the Norwegian MGP it then went on to win a landslide victory in the international ESC-final with a record-breaking 387 points.
Alexander Rybak's first album called ”Fairytales” was released shortly after his ESC-win. It included besides ”Fairytale” several other songs in the same style, among them ”Roll With The Wind”, the song that participated for Norway in FSC July 2009. The album got great reviews in several Norwegian newspapers (especially VG), though not all reviewers were entirely convinced. The album went to nr 1 on the Norwegian album charts and it was a commercial success in many other European countries also.
In June 2010 Alexander released his second album, called “No Boundaries”. The album showed a new side of Alexander, with songs in many different musical styles, but it also included “Europe’s Skies”, his popular hit-single in his more traditional Folk-pop style, which subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2010.
In 2011 he released the album "Visa Vid Vindens Ängar”, a musical collaboration with the Swedish poet, singer and songwriter Mats Paulson whom he describes as "a legend and a great friend". In 2012 he released a new music video for his Russian song "Strela Amura" (a Russian version of one of his previous singles, “Oah”), as well as the Pop-duet “I’ll Show You” with Paula Seling (of Romanian ESC-fame) in spring/summer 2012. In the following months he ‘toured’ around Europe with Paula, promoting their song on tv and in different events.
In October 2012 Alexander Rybak then released a new single - in a style that can be called ‘Electronic Folk-pop’ - called “Leave Me Alone” (with lyrics describing a, for Alexander, real-life stalker). This song was the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2012. A Christmas-album (“Christmas Tales”) was subsequently released in December 2012.
In June 2014 a new single was released by Alexander Rybak called “Into A Fantasy”. It was a melodious Norwegian Folk-pop song - with folkloristic Norwegian fiddle-play and harmonies - and the song was also included on the international version of the movie soundtrack ‘How To Train Your Dragon 2’. “Into A Fantasy” is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC December 2014.
Alexander has recently, in October 2014, released another new single called “What I Long For” and there may be more music coming from him in the year to come. He is without doubt a very talented, energetic and productive musician and artist. His schedule is often full and it has at times come to the point that his advisors have had to make him take a break - and say no to assignments - for health reasons. Alexander is one of a kind, that is for certain, and his many fans and admirers all over Europe appreciate his talent, his exuberant energy and his constant enthusiasm.
The Norwegian entry for FSC December 2014, “Into A Fantasy”, is alas a melodious, catchy Folk-pop melody with strong echoes of Norwegian Folklore music traditions, performed in his accomplished style by the multi-talented Alexander. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Alexander Rybak again in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for December!
Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy
I have a dream, you are there
High above the clouds somewhere
Rain is falling from the sky
But it never touches you, you're way up high
No more worries, no more fears
You have made them disappear
Sadness tried to steal the show
But now it feels like many years ago
And I, I will be with you every step (Hey! Hey!)
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I'll keep you close
Forever
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me
We can fly all day long
Show me the world, sing me a song
Tell me what the future holds
You and me, we’ll paint it all in gold
And I, I will believe your every word (Hey! Hey!)
'Cause I, I have a friend in you
We'll always stay
Together
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me (Hey!)
And I, I will be with you every step
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I keep you close
Forever
Come fly with me
Into a fantasy
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me (Hey!)
-M
FSC Norway - December 2014 - Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy
Representing Norway in FSC December 2014, and returning to the FSC for Norway, is the famous Norwegian ESC 2009 -Winner Alexander Rybak. Here is some more information about him.
Alexander Rybak was born in Minsk, Belarus on 13th May 1986. When he was 4 years old he and his family moved to Norway and Nesodden just outside of Oslo. He has lived in Norway ever since and has made his music-career here in Norway. At the age of 5 years, Alexander began to play the piano and violin, but as time went by he focused more and more on mastering the violin (being tutored first by his father, later by professional music-teachers and professors in music-academies). Both his parents were musicians; his mother a classical pianist, his father a classical violinist. In many ways Alexander was destined to become a musician and entertainer. As he has stated in later years: "I always liked to entertain and somehow that is my vocation".
Alexander was a student at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo for many years. He has attained music-scholarships, has studied abroad and has played with many established Norwegian musicians, at music-festivals and with symphony orchestras. He has also taken part in musical theatre productions, perhaps most well known is his role and acclaimed performance as the fiddler in Oslo Nye Teater’s production of ”Fiddler on the Roof”. His popular breakthrough and what made him come to the Norwegian people’s attention was his winning the talent competition ”Kjempesjansen”, hosted by the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, in 2006.
His international and commercial breakthrough came, of course, with his triumphant victory for Norway with the song ”Fairytale” in the 54th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2009 in Moscow, Russia. The song, written and composed by Alexander himself and inspired by Norwegian folk-music but also (Bela)Russian rhythms, was performed together with the modern folk dance company Frikar - and having first cruised to victory in the Norwegian MGP it then went on to win a landslide victory in the international ESC-final with a record-breaking 387 points.
Alexander Rybak's first album called ”Fairytales” was released shortly after his ESC-win. It included besides ”Fairytale” several other songs in the same style, among them ”Roll With The Wind”, the song that participated for Norway in FSC July 2009. The album got great reviews in several Norwegian newspapers (especially VG), though not all reviewers were entirely convinced. The album went to nr 1 on the Norwegian album charts and it was a commercial success in many other European countries also.
In June 2010 Alexander released his second album, called “No Boundaries”. The album showed a new side of Alexander, with songs in many different musical styles, but it also included “Europe’s Skies”, his popular hit-single in his more traditional Folk-pop style, which subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2010.
In 2011 he released the album "Visa Vid Vindens Ängar”, a musical collaboration with the Swedish poet, singer and songwriter Mats Paulson whom he describes as "a legend and a great friend". In 2012 he released a new music video for his Russian song "Strela Amura" (a Russian version of one of his previous singles, “Oah”), as well as the Pop-duet “I’ll Show You” with Paula Seling (of Romanian ESC-fame) in spring/summer 2012. In the following months he ‘toured’ around Europe with Paula, promoting their song on tv and in different events.
In October 2012 Alexander Rybak then released a new single - in a style that can be called ‘Electronic Folk-pop’ - called “Leave Me Alone” (with lyrics describing a, for Alexander, real-life stalker). This song was the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2012. A Christmas-album (“Christmas Tales”) was subsequently released in December 2012.
In June 2014 a new single was released by Alexander Rybak called “Into A Fantasy”. It was a melodious Norwegian Folk-pop song - with folkloristic Norwegian fiddle-play and harmonies - and the song was also included on the international version of the movie soundtrack ‘How To Train Your Dragon 2’. “Into A Fantasy” is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC December 2014.
Alexander has recently, in October 2014, released another new single called “What I Long For” and there may be more music coming from him in the year to come. He is without doubt a very talented, energetic and productive musician and artist. His schedule is often full and it has at times come to the point that his advisors have had to make him take a break - and say no to assignments - for health reasons. Alexander is one of a kind, that is for certain, and his many fans and admirers all over Europe appreciate his talent, his exuberant energy and his constant enthusiasm.
The Norwegian entry for FSC December 2014, “Into A Fantasy”, is alas a melodious, catchy Folk-pop melody with strong echoes of Norwegian Folklore music traditions, performed in his accomplished style by the multi-talented Alexander. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Alexander Rybak again in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for December!
Alexander Rybak - Into A Fantasy
I have a dream, you are there
High above the clouds somewhere
Rain is falling from the sky
But it never touches you, you're way up high
No more worries, no more fears
You have made them disappear
Sadness tried to steal the show
But now it feels like many years ago
And I, I will be with you every step (Hey! Hey!)
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I'll keep you close
Forever
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me
We can fly all day long
Show me the world, sing me a song
Tell me what the future holds
You and me, we’ll paint it all in gold
And I, I will believe your every word (Hey! Hey!)
'Cause I, I have a friend in you
We'll always stay
Together
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me (Hey!)
And I, I will be with you every step
Tonight, I found a friend in you
And I keep you close
Forever
Come fly with me
Into a fantasy
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me
Come fly with me (oh-oh oh-oh)
Into a fantasy (oh-oh oh-oh)
Where you can be, whoever you want to be
Come fly with me (Hey!)
-M
INTERMEZZO
On behalf of the Norwegian FSC-jury I wish everyone here
-GOD JUL og GODT NYTT ÅR 2015-
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015
The Christmas-spirit is embodied in the 3 beautiful, sacred Norwegian
Christmas-hymns below that I want to share with you all.
1. Maria Arredondo - Himmel på jord
2. Oslo Gospel Choir - En stjerne skinner i natt
3. Sissel - Mitt hjerte alltid vanker
Enjoy! xsanta
INTERMEZZO
On behalf of the Norwegian FSC-jury I wish everyone here
-GOD JUL og GODT NYTT ÅR 2015-
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015
The Christmas-spirit is embodied in the 3 beautiful, sacred Norwegian
Christmas-hymns below that I want to share with you all.
1. Maria Arredondo - Himmel på jord
2. Oslo Gospel Choir - En stjerne skinner i natt
3. Sissel - Mitt hjerte alltid vanker
Enjoy! xsanta
INTERMEZZO
FSC January 2015 - Norway
FSC Norway - January 2015 - Maria Haukaas Mittet - Himmel imella oss
Representing Norway in FSC January 2015, with a Norwegian Folk-ballad performed in her Northern Norwegian dialect, and returning to the FSC for Norway after a 4 year break, is the talented and popular Norwegian 2008 ESC-artist Maria Haukaas Mittet. Here is some more information about her.
Maria, born on 3rd August 1979, is a popular Norwegian pop-artist. She was born in Finnsnes but grew up in Senja in Troms County in northern Norway. She first received national media attention when she had her first musical role at the age of 12, with the lead in the musical ”Annie” at the theater Bryggeteatret in Oslo in 1991. Maria and her family moved to Oslo for the musical, and when the show run was over, they moved back to Senja.
She has since performed in several musicals, both in the capital Oslo and in Troms County where she grew up, and has received much critical acclaim for her beautiful singing voice.
At the age of 24, in 2003 she was part of the Norwegian pop-IDOL-show on national tv. She was by many considered the top performer and was a favourite among the professional critics but was, surprisingly, voted out by the public halfway through the competition. Even so, she came to the public’s attention and also took part in the 2004 IDOL-tour together with other contestants in the show’s top ten.
In 2005 she got a record contract and released her debut solo album called ”Breathing”. The album peaked at a decent 13th position in the Norwegian album charts. The single and title-track "Breathing" peaked at nr 5 in the singles chart and was certified Gold in Norway, while the next single "Should've" peaked at nr 20. She went on a four month national tour to promote the album and already had a devoted fanbase. In 2006 came another single called ”Nobody Knows”.
Then in 2008 she was chosen by Mira Craig to perform Mira’s song ”Hold On Be Strong” in the 2008 Norwegian MGP and she went on to celebrate victory, gaining the privelige to represent Norway in the ESC in Belgrade in May 2008. She achieved an impressive 5th place in the International ESC-final and gained an international fanbase. The song became a big hit in Norway, topping the singles chart, and also charted elsewhere. Maria’s second album called ”Hold On Be Strong”, which included her ESC-song and many other popular melodies, was released in the spring of 2008. The album peaked at nr 3 in the Norwegian album charts.
The next year, in 2009, Maria also participated in the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2009, singing the song "Killing Me Tenderly" with the Swedish pop-artist Anna Sahlene. They did not qualify for the final, but the song and the performance was appreciated by many.
Maria Haukaas Storeng: Discography:
Albums
Breathing (2005)
Hold On Be Strong (2008)
Make My Day (June 2010)
Lys imot mørketida (with Oslo Gospel Choir) (2011)
Heim (October 2014)
Singles
Breathing (2004)
Should’ve (2005)
Nobody Knows (2006)
Hold On Be Strong (2008)
Mine All Mine [feat. Mira Craig] (2008)
Lazy (2008)
Killing Me Tenderly [feat. Sahlene] (2009)
Make My Day (2010)
Precious To Me [feat. Måns Zelmerlöw] (2010)
Glorious (2011)
Høyt under himmelens stjerner (with Oslo Gospel Choir) (2011)
Himmel imella oss (June 2014)
In 2010 she took part once again in the Norwegian MGP, this time with her song and ballad ”Make My Day”. She advanced to the final from her semifinal but did not make the top 4. The song was released as a single and gained some radio-play. She also released a second single during the first part of 2010, the song ”Precious To Me” together with the Swedish pop-artist Måns Zelmerlöw, and this song (a cover of an earlier hitsong) became popular among the fans and also got some radio-play.
Maria released ”Make My Day”, her third solo album, on 14th June 2010 and it included her singles as well as several other good pop-songs, among them the catchy pop-song ”My Heart Is Singing” which subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC October 2010. Maria married her sweetheart Hans Marius Hoff Mittet in June 2010, around the time of her album-release, and some speculated at the time that the song ”My Heart Is Singing” was a partial reference to the personal happiness she felt that year. After her marriage she then decided to take her husband’s surname Mittet instead of her own surname Storeng, becoming Maria Haukaas Mittet.
In 2011 she released a new single called ‘Glorious’ which became the official anthem for the Nordic Cross Country Skiing World Championships in Norway that year. In 2011 she also collaborated with Oslo Gospel Choir on their album ‘Lys imot mørketida’ and a single was digitally released called ‘Høyt under himmelens stjerner’. For the next few years Maria put her singing career on hold to focus on her family life and she became a mother of a beautiful son in 2013.
In 2014 she started on a new project, an all Norwegian song album - and in June 2014 she released the first single from the coming album, a new song called ‘Himmel imella oss’. This song, a Norwegian Folk-ballad performed in her Northern Norwegian home dialect, was newly written by Maria herself and was almost a personal tribute to her coastal home region (‘Nord-Norge’). ‘Himmel imella oss’ is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2015.
Her new album called ‘Heim’ (‘Home’) was finally released in October 2014 and included the single ‘Himmel imella oss’ as well as 10 other songs (most of them cover-versions of traditional Norwegian Folk-songs, but also with 3 new original melodies, one of them being the aforementioned ‘Himmel imella oss’). This was Maria’s first album in Norwegian and she felt that to ‘come home’ and sing - in her local dialect - about her home region was precious and very rewarding for her. She has held several concerts in Norway since the album-release, sharing her new Norwegian songs - highlighting her proud national heritage - with her many fans and the Norwegian public at large.
Maria is ever a popular and talented Norwegian singer and pop-/musical artist from whom we will without doubt hear much more in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC January 2015, “Himmel imella oss” (‘Heaven Between Us’), is alas a melodious Norwegian Folk-ballad written and performed by Maria herself in her local Northern Norwegian dialect. It is in many ways her own personal tribute to her home-region of Northern Norway, a coastal region dominated by the sea and the darkness that comes with winter so far north in Europe. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Maria Haukaas Mittet again in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian (Northern dialect) lyrics for the song as well as a translation into English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for January!
Maria Haukaas Mittet - Himmel imella oss
Har du tida te’ mæ? \ Do you have time for me?
Kan æ slæppe inn? \ Can you let me in?
Æ vil gjerne høre dæ sei \ I want to hear you say
Du e bære min \ You are only mine
Vi kan klatre høgar \ We can climb higher
Opp i fjell og tind \ Up to the mountain tops
Kjenne brisn’ ta oss me’ \ Feel the breeze carry us
Dit tunge tanka svinn \ To where heavy thoughts are gone
Æ ser skyan gli forbi \ I see the clouds drift by
Og føle æ e fri \ And I feel I am free
Det glittre’ nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’\ And with your hand in mine
Kan øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment can give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Vi har kava nok nu \ We have struggled enough now
Både æ og du \ You and I both
Dagan har vært lang og kald \ The days have been long and cold
Vi møsta næssn tru \ We almost lost the belief
Men nu bråne snyen \ But now the snow is melting
Vi får varme kinn \ Our chins warm up
Vi har mørke’ bak oss glømt \ We have left the darkness behind
Den sure nordavjinn \ The ice-cold northern wind
Vi ser skyan gli førbi \ We see the clouds drift by
Og kjenne vi e fri \ And feel that we are free
Det glittre nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’\ And with your hand in mine
Kan øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment can give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Æ lar skyan gli forbi \ I let the clouds drift by
Nu føle æ mæ fri \ Now I feel free
Det glittre nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’ \ And with your hand in mine
Vil øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment will give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Ja, en himmel \ Yes, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
-M
FSC Norway - January 2015 - Maria Haukaas Mittet - Himmel imella oss
Representing Norway in FSC January 2015, with a Norwegian Folk-ballad performed in her Northern Norwegian dialect, and returning to the FSC for Norway after a 4 year break, is the talented and popular Norwegian 2008 ESC-artist Maria Haukaas Mittet. Here is some more information about her.
Maria, born on 3rd August 1979, is a popular Norwegian pop-artist. She was born in Finnsnes but grew up in Senja in Troms County in northern Norway. She first received national media attention when she had her first musical role at the age of 12, with the lead in the musical ”Annie” at the theater Bryggeteatret in Oslo in 1991. Maria and her family moved to Oslo for the musical, and when the show run was over, they moved back to Senja.
She has since performed in several musicals, both in the capital Oslo and in Troms County where she grew up, and has received much critical acclaim for her beautiful singing voice.
At the age of 24, in 2003 she was part of the Norwegian pop-IDOL-show on national tv. She was by many considered the top performer and was a favourite among the professional critics but was, surprisingly, voted out by the public halfway through the competition. Even so, she came to the public’s attention and also took part in the 2004 IDOL-tour together with other contestants in the show’s top ten.
In 2005 she got a record contract and released her debut solo album called ”Breathing”. The album peaked at a decent 13th position in the Norwegian album charts. The single and title-track "Breathing" peaked at nr 5 in the singles chart and was certified Gold in Norway, while the next single "Should've" peaked at nr 20. She went on a four month national tour to promote the album and already had a devoted fanbase. In 2006 came another single called ”Nobody Knows”.
Then in 2008 she was chosen by Mira Craig to perform Mira’s song ”Hold On Be Strong” in the 2008 Norwegian MGP and she went on to celebrate victory, gaining the privelige to represent Norway in the ESC in Belgrade in May 2008. She achieved an impressive 5th place in the International ESC-final and gained an international fanbase. The song became a big hit in Norway, topping the singles chart, and also charted elsewhere. Maria’s second album called ”Hold On Be Strong”, which included her ESC-song and many other popular melodies, was released in the spring of 2008. The album peaked at nr 3 in the Norwegian album charts.
The next year, in 2009, Maria also participated in the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2009, singing the song "Killing Me Tenderly" with the Swedish pop-artist Anna Sahlene. They did not qualify for the final, but the song and the performance was appreciated by many.
Maria Haukaas Storeng: Discography:
Albums
Breathing (2005)
Hold On Be Strong (2008)
Make My Day (June 2010)
Lys imot mørketida (with Oslo Gospel Choir) (2011)
Heim (October 2014)
Singles
Breathing (2004)
Should’ve (2005)
Nobody Knows (2006)
Hold On Be Strong (2008)
Mine All Mine [feat. Mira Craig] (2008)
Lazy (2008)
Killing Me Tenderly [feat. Sahlene] (2009)
Make My Day (2010)
Precious To Me [feat. Måns Zelmerlöw] (2010)
Glorious (2011)
Høyt under himmelens stjerner (with Oslo Gospel Choir) (2011)
Himmel imella oss (June 2014)
In 2010 she took part once again in the Norwegian MGP, this time with her song and ballad ”Make My Day”. She advanced to the final from her semifinal but did not make the top 4. The song was released as a single and gained some radio-play. She also released a second single during the first part of 2010, the song ”Precious To Me” together with the Swedish pop-artist Måns Zelmerlöw, and this song (a cover of an earlier hitsong) became popular among the fans and also got some radio-play.
Maria released ”Make My Day”, her third solo album, on 14th June 2010 and it included her singles as well as several other good pop-songs, among them the catchy pop-song ”My Heart Is Singing” which subsequently became the Norwegian entry in FSC October 2010. Maria married her sweetheart Hans Marius Hoff Mittet in June 2010, around the time of her album-release, and some speculated at the time that the song ”My Heart Is Singing” was a partial reference to the personal happiness she felt that year. After her marriage she then decided to take her husband’s surname Mittet instead of her own surname Storeng, becoming Maria Haukaas Mittet.
In 2011 she released a new single called ‘Glorious’ which became the official anthem for the Nordic Cross Country Skiing World Championships in Norway that year. In 2011 she also collaborated with Oslo Gospel Choir on their album ‘Lys imot mørketida’ and a single was digitally released called ‘Høyt under himmelens stjerner’. For the next few years Maria put her singing career on hold to focus on her family life and she became a mother of a beautiful son in 2013.
In 2014 she started on a new project, an all Norwegian song album - and in June 2014 she released the first single from the coming album, a new song called ‘Himmel imella oss’. This song, a Norwegian Folk-ballad performed in her Northern Norwegian home dialect, was newly written by Maria herself and was almost a personal tribute to her coastal home region (‘Nord-Norge’). ‘Himmel imella oss’ is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2015.
Her new album called ‘Heim’ (‘Home’) was finally released in October 2014 and included the single ‘Himmel imella oss’ as well as 10 other songs (most of them cover-versions of traditional Norwegian Folk-songs, but also with 3 new original melodies, one of them being the aforementioned ‘Himmel imella oss’). This was Maria’s first album in Norwegian and she felt that to ‘come home’ and sing - in her local dialect - about her home region was precious and very rewarding for her. She has held several concerts in Norway since the album-release, sharing her new Norwegian songs - highlighting her proud national heritage - with her many fans and the Norwegian public at large.
Maria is ever a popular and talented Norwegian singer and pop-/musical artist from whom we will without doubt hear much more in the coming years.
The Norwegian entry for FSC January 2015, “Himmel imella oss” (‘Heaven Between Us’), is alas a melodious Norwegian Folk-ballad written and performed by Maria herself in her local Northern Norwegian dialect. It is in many ways her own personal tribute to her home-region of Northern Norway, a coastal region dominated by the sea and the darkness that comes with winter so far north in Europe. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Maria Haukaas Mittet again in the FSC for Norway.
Below are the Norwegian (Northern dialect) lyrics for the song as well as a translation into English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for January!
Maria Haukaas Mittet - Himmel imella oss
Har du tida te’ mæ? \ Do you have time for me?
Kan æ slæppe inn? \ Can you let me in?
Æ vil gjerne høre dæ sei \ I want to hear you say
Du e bære min \ You are only mine
Vi kan klatre høgar \ We can climb higher
Opp i fjell og tind \ Up to the mountain tops
Kjenne brisn’ ta oss me’ \ Feel the breeze carry us
Dit tunge tanka svinn \ To where heavy thoughts are gone
Æ ser skyan gli forbi \ I see the clouds drift by
Og føle æ e fri \ And I feel I am free
Det glittre’ nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’\ And with your hand in mine
Kan øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment can give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Vi har kava nok nu \ We have struggled enough now
Både æ og du \ You and I both
Dagan har vært lang og kald \ The days have been long and cold
Vi møsta næssn tru \ We almost lost the belief
Men nu bråne snyen \ But now the snow is melting
Vi får varme kinn \ Our chins warm up
Vi har mørke’ bak oss glømt \ We have left the darkness behind
Den sure nordavjinn \ The ice-cold northern wind
Vi ser skyan gli førbi \ We see the clouds drift by
Og kjenne vi e fri \ And feel that we are free
Det glittre nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’\ And with your hand in mine
Kan øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment can give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Æ lar skyan gli forbi \ I let the clouds drift by
Nu føle æ mæ fri \ Now I feel free
Det glittre nedi vann, \ The sun glitters in the water
Skinne over land \ And shines over the land
Og me’ handa di i mi’ \ And with your hand in mine
Vil øyeblikke’ gi \ The moment will give
Oss, en himmel \ Us, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
Ja, en himmel \ Yes, a heaven
Imella oss \ Between us
-M
r3gg13
Well-known member
I'm totally in love with your song this month! 
This, "Do It Again" and "Signals" will be in my playlist for some time 
I think a song like this would be great in ESC. Something ethereal, gospel-esque, light yet substantial would be super awesome to see in ESC
This, "Do It Again" and "Signals" will be in my playlist for some time I think a song like this would be great in ESC. Something ethereal, gospel-esque, light yet substantial would be super awesome to see in ESC
I'm totally in love with your song this month!
Thank you for your kind words, Reggie! Happy to hear you truly enjoy this Norwegian Folk-ballad by Maria!
I think a song like this would be great in ESC. Something ethereal, gospel-esque, light yet substantial would be super awesome to see in ESC
I agree. I really enjoy these kinds of songs
Talking of good songs, great American FSC-ballad this month as well, really enjoying it!
r3gg13
Well-known member
Thank you for your kind words, Reggie! Happy to hear you truly enjoy this Norwegian Folk-ballad by Maria!I had originally planned an other entry for January, but then came across this beautiful Norwegian melody which (though I was a little unsure if it was, perhaps, a 'mostly for Norwegian ears' kinda song, very lyrics-based and traditional) I really wanted to share with everyone
I agree. I really enjoy these kinds of songs[/img]
This song is too good to pass up! It definitely had to be sent
. I love it so much. In fact, I'm listening to it right now 
I hope your song gets a good placement come the results show!
Thank you! I quite like it, and I have a weakness for songs like that 