FSC Norway

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - December 2024 - Annie - The Sky is Blue​

Representing Norway in FSC December 2024, and returning to the FSC for Norway after around 3.5 years, is the talented and popular Norwegian (Electro-)Pop artist, songwriter and DJ Annie. Here is some more information about her.

Annie, or Anne Lilia Berge Strand as is her real name, is a Norwegian (Electro-)Pop artist, songwriter and DJ from Bergen, Norway. In 1999, Annie released the single “The Greatest Hit”, which became popular in Norwegian and British underground nightclubs. Annie went on to sign a record deal with UK ”679 Recordings” in 2003, releasing her debut album ”Anniemal” in 2004, an innovative and catchy Electro-Pop album (with influences also from disco, Hip Hop, bubblegum pop, 80s-music, Dance-Pop as well as R&B) for which she received widespread critical acclaim and several Norwegian music awards. The album included her popular club-and-radio-hits ”Chewing Gum” and ”Heartbeat”.

In 2005, Annie released a DJ Mix Album as part of !K7’s DJ-Kicks series and then in 2007 she signed a record deal with UK’s Island Records. She started work on the ”Don’t Stop”-album, an album which was preceeded by the single ”I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me”. The album was delayed several times, however – and Annie finally parted company with Island Records and went on to release the album – including some new tracks – in the autumn of 2009 on an independent record label called Smalltown Supersound. The song “Don’t Stop” from the album subsequently was chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2010.

At this point Annie took a break from the music scene, focusing on other projects in her life, but she returned to music in April 2013 with two new songs: her club-single “Tube Stops and Lonely Hearts”, as well as her Electro-Pop collaboration with fellow Norwegian DJ Ralph Myerz on the song “Take A Look At The World” which was chosen as the Norwegian entry in FSC July 2013.

Later in 2013 she released an EP called ‘The A&R EP’ which featured another single ‘Back Together’. In 2014 she released a song called ‘Russian Kiss’ and in 2015 another EP was released, called ‘Endless Vacation’. After this Annie took a many year break from music, for the second time in her career, and focused on other projects in her life incl. family life.

In October 2020 she returned and released a new album called “Dark Hearts” to much critical/fan acclaim. The first single preceded the album, the song “American Cars” released in June 2020. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC December 2020. A second song from the album, the title-track “Dark Hearts”, was the Norwegian entry in FSC May 2021. She released a couple more songs in 2021 but then focused on music concerts and writing music until 2024.

In 2024 she began collaborating with producers she had worked with before and the result was the Pop-Trance Club-banger called “The Sky is Blue” which was released in August 2024. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC December 2024.

Annie is without doubt a very talented Pop artist, songwriter and DJ from whom we will surely hear more in the future.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #190 December 2024, called “The Sky is Blue”, is a ‘dreamy’ Pop-Trance Club banger by the talented Norwegian Pop-artist Annie which brings back memories of yesteryear, a track perfect for the dancefloor. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Annie again in the FSC for Norway.

Below are the lyrics in English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for December 2024!

Annie - The Sky is Blue

One life full of love
That is the only thing I'm dreaming of
In the world apart
Let the music start

One touch can unify
It's in the air, so why, oh why
Do you feel this way
On a sunny day

The sky is blue, the sky is blue
And it breaks my heart, let it break your heart
The sky is blue, the sky is blue
And it breaks my heart
The sky is blue, blue, blue

The sky is blue, the sky is blue
Let it break your heart
The sky is blue

One life full of love
Nothing matters to the sky above
From a murder scene, to eternity

One touch can unify
It's in the air, that's why, oh why
That I feel this way, on a sunny day

The sky is blue, the sky is blue
The sky is blue, the sky is blue, blue, blue

Blue, the sky is blue
And it breaks my heart, let it break your heart
The sky is blue, the sky is blue
Let it break your heart
The sky is blue

One touch, one life
One drink, one try
One touch, one life
One chance, one sky

And it breaks my heart
The sky is blue

Blue, blue, blue
The Sky is Blue

-M​

 

[Malagant]

INTERMEZZO


On behalf of FSC Norway I wish everyone in our FSC Community


-GOD JUL og GODT NYTT ÅR 2025-
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2025


Christmas-spirit is embodied in this beautiful
Norwegian Christmas hymn performed by the
highly talented choir called Oslo Gospel Choir





Enjoy - and Happy Holidays!!

INTERMEZZO​

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway 2024: Year End Reflections​

Some personal reflections when I look back at the Norwegian FSC Year 2024 and all the songs I have sent to the FSC from Norway.



1. Which Norwegian FSC 2024 entry do I love the most?

Like I usually say, I love all the songs I have sent to FSC for Norway to some extent but some are more special than others. In 2024 I sent lots of great songs to FSC I think, but if I have to choose 1 song I think it has to be “Hertan” by Wardruna in May 2024.

It is the best song I ever heard from them which thrilled me from the first time I heard it. Old Norse Folk music with a pulsating arrangement, a spiritual vibe and an accompanying video which was quality and which I simply loved. Unfortunately it did not resonate with the FSC Community, underperforming with a 21st place that month. See further comment below under pt 4.


2. What is the strangest/most unconventional Norwegian FSC 2024 entry?

I did not enter a very strange/unconventional entry per se in 2024 though the Norwegian songs were in several different music genres. If I have to select an entry which sticks out, perhaps the song by Annie (‘The Sky is Blue’) in FSC December 2024 which is Pop-Trance in style, high-BPM retro-vibed from the early 2000s, in a style which I seldom send to FSC (though I do send slower EDM/Electro-pop songs yearly).


3. What Norwegian 2024 entry was the biggest (positive) surprise result wise?

I would have to say my FSC October 2024 entry by Metteson (“Waves”) which came a surprisingly high 2nd that FSC-month. It is a melodic dynamic pop-song with slow and faster parts which I really liked myself but was uncertain how would fare and I never believed it could come top 3. A great positive surprise indeed!

I was also positively surprised to see Thomas Bergersen’s epic cinematic song (‘One Last Day’) come 5th in FSC April 2024. His classical-inspired epic cinematic music is dear to me and I have sent him to FSC several times, often ending 8th to 12th. Happy to see others enjoy this type of beautiful music.


4. Which Norwegian 2024 entries were the biggest disappointment result wise?

2024 was a very good FSC-year for Norway: we got 2 x 2nd place and 7 top 10 placings in all.

My biggest disappointment was probably that Wardruna’s aforementioned song only managed a poor 21st place. I thought it had a good chance of making the top 8 with its quality, uniqueness and seeing as FSC-juries often rate ethnic entries high. But sometimes a song just does not click with the members/juries, and for some reason this was such a time.

I was also somewhat disappointed that Alan Walker’s entry in FSC July (“Unsure”) only came 11th. He is a legend in FSC with his many victories and I thought this catchy quality EDM-Dance pop entry would do better.

Let me also add Maria Mena’s beautiful ballad in FSC March. Ending 17th baffled me for such a quality artist with a quality ballad.


5. Which new Norwegian artist/band was it especially fun to enter in FSC for Norway in 2024?

Maria Bella who took part in FSC February with her catchy Electro-pop song. I had considered entering her before in FSC but waited for the ‘right’ song. “Different Kinda Love” was the one for me. Glad to see it embraced by many members.


6. Best result for Norway in FSC 2024?

As mentioned, 2 x 2nd place for Norway in FSC 2024 (January and October). No victory this year but very close on those 2 occasions.


7. Anything special with regards to Norway’s entries in 2024?

This year I focused on sending artists I am a big fan of myself and whose music I love. This meant less variety than in previous years (fewer new artists and fewer songs in Norwegian).

But I did enter songs in many different music genres to get some variety in the entries. In 2024 Norway sent the following genres to FSC: EDM, Epic Cinematic music, Neo-Classical music, Old Norse Folk music, Electro-pop, Pop-ballad, Folk-pop, Scandipop and Pop-Trance.


8. My favourite non-Norwegian FSC-song of 2024?

It was Bosnia & Herzegovina - Armin Muzaferija - Lasto mala.

A beautiful Balkan-ballad which I loved from the first time I listened to it. It is also my favourite FSC-song of 2024, so in my opinion the best song FSC has produced this year of 400+ songs in all. Congratulations, Bosnia & Herzegovina!


9. My favourite FSC-countries as of the end of 2024?

Serbia and Russia top my list of points as of the end of 2024. In a clear 3rd place is Bosnia & Herzegovina. Well done, all three!


10. Any particular Norwegian artist/band I miss not being able to send to the FSC?

I have usually quoted Christine Guldbrandsen and that still stands. Maria Arredondo too. Both focus on other aspects of their career and the few songs they have released in recent years have not been suitable for FSC as I see it. I hope one day to be able to send either but with a song I love.


11. Final reflections

It has been another enjoyable FSC-year and I am happy I have been able to share so many great Norwegian songs with you all.

As always, the greatest pleasure is to share songs and to get to know new songs and artists from all over the world which one would seldom come across otherwise. Result wise it has, as mentioned, been a very good year for Norway, I cannot complain, even though there have been some disappointments as mentioned. Also, Norway still ranks top of the FSC League Table over time in the contest, being the consistently highest performing country over time, which is great and a proud achievement.

I have been in FSC for over 15 years now and 183 consecutive editions. All the time and effort I have put into running this contest as FSC Administrator over the years together with the FSC Mods is worth it when I ‘see’ the smiles and joy it puts on people’s faces every month; at the LL, the detailed high quality FSC Shows I create, and in our FSC Community. Together with you all I cherish this beloved song contest of ours which keeps bringing me much joy and excitement.

Looking forward to the FSC Year 2025 with Norway. Thank you to you all for all your great songs/entries, for supporting and enjoying Norwegian entries in FSC, and for sharing in / being part of this valuable online FSC Community of ours! Happy New Year 2025, everyone!


Regards,

Malagant
FSC Administrator
Head of FSC Norway

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - January 2025 - Dagny - Strawberry Dream​

Representing Norway in FSC January 2025, and returning to the FSC for Norway after around 2.5 years, is the talented and popular Norwegian singer-songwriter and pop-artist Dagny. Here is some more information about her.

Dagny Norvoll Sandvik (born 1990 in Tromsø, northern Norway), known in music circles as Dagny, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter who has risen to become one of Norway’s most accomplished pop-stars and pop-princesses.

She is the daughter of the vocalist Marit Sandvik and the jazz musician Øystein Norvoll so music runs in the family. After moving to the UK in 2012, she performed on the small club circuit there for a while. After University studies she recorded the song “Backbeat”, which caught the attention of Zane Lowe at Apple Music’s Beats 1 station and appeared on Spotify’s New Music playlist, achieving 300.000 plays in a few days.

She had big success on Spotify and signed with Republic Records. “Backbeat” in an acoustic version was subsequently included in an episode of the famous tv-show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. She was also credited as a songwriter on Katy Perry’s 2019 song “Never Really Over”, which also interpolated Dagny’s song “Love You Like That”. After a series of singles (incl. “Used To You” and “Hit Your Heart”), the agreement with Republic Records ended and her first album, “Strangers / Lovers”, was released in October 2020 on her own label, Little Daggers.

Before this, in May 2020, she released an EP with the first 6 songs from the album which included her first single, the popular “Come Over”, and also the even more successful second single, the Nordic Electro-pop banger and hit “Somebody”. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC February 2021. That same year she also released a single called “Pretty” in a collaboration with the Norwegian singer Astrid S. In early Summer 2022 she then released a new single called “Brightsider”. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2022. She also released a song called “Highs & Lows” later the same year. In 2023 she played concerts and events.

In June 2024 she released a new EP called “Elle”. It had 8 songs incl. a single called “Heartbreak in the Making” which preceeded the EP. Another song on the album was the catchy melodic Scandipop-song “Strawberry Dream”. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2025.

Dagny has been nominated for Norwegian Grammies (‘Spellemannsprisen’) several times in the past recognizing her talent. She has also collaborated with several artists. She is an artist, singer and songwriter from whom we will without doubt hear more in the coming years.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #191 January 2025, called “Strawberry Dream”, is a catchy melodic Pop-banger that has become popular among her fans and in several pop-circles. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Dagny again in the FSC for Norway.

Below are the lyrics in English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for January 2025!

Dagny - Strawberry Dream

You spent the year in Mexico and I spent it breakin' up
Since you've been back, we're gettin' close, but it's still not close enough
Been chewin' all my words, so they don't ever leave my mouth
But if it's now or never, then it might as well be now

You should come a little closer
While the summer's still sweet
Before the season's over
Come and be my strawberry dream

'Cause someone's gonna leave you high
And someone's gonna leave you low, low
But it's killin' me, killin' me not to know

So come a little closer
While the summer's still sweet
Before the season's over
Come and be my strawberry dream

'Cause someone's gonna leave you high
And someone's gonna leave you low, but not me
So come and be my strawberry dream

We take awkward silences and turn 'em into art
If I'm some kind of Bridget Jones, then you would be my Mark
I'm waitin' for that morning text, you're waitin' for a call
But if we never make a move, then we don't move at all

Ooh, before you're halfway home
Stay for a moment
'Cause it's killin' me, killin' me not to know

You should come a little closer
While the summer's still sweet
Before the season's over
Come and be my strawberry dream

'Cause someone's gonna leave you high
And someone's gonna leave you low, but not me
So come and be my strawberry dream

Let it play out for a moment like a Hollywood scene
Before the season's over
Come and be my strawberry dream

'Cause someone's gonna leave you high
And someone's gonna leave you low, but not me
Come and be my strawberry dream

So come and be my strawberry dream

It's been forever, but you're still in my head
It's been forever, so why can't I forget?
It's now or never for you and me
So come and be my strawberry dream

It's been forever, but you're still in my head
It's been forever, so why can't I forget
It's now or never for you and me
So come and be my strawberry dream

-M​