FSC February 2011 - Norway
FSC Norway - February 2011 - Madcon feat. Ameerah - Freaky Like Me
Representing Norway for the 2nd time in the FSC, in February 2011, is the popular Norwegian Afro dance-pop group Madcon, this time featuring the talented pop-artist Ameerah. Here is some more information about them.
Madcon was founded by Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam in 1992. Tshawe Baqwa (born in Germany in 1980 of South African origin), also known under the artistname «Kapricon», is a Norwegian musician and tv-host. He has made his music career in Norway and is a member of Madcon. Yosef Wolde-Mariam (of Ethiopian and Eritrean origin but born in Norway in 1978), also known under the artistname «Critical», is the other half of the group Madcon. He grew up in Oslo in the 1980s and has made his life and music career in Norway, as a Rap-artist and as a member of Madcon.
Madcon quickly established themselves in the Nordic music industry, and they created a remarkable hype supporting for various international superstars like Destiny's Child, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys and Busta Rhymes. Madcon supported the last official European tour with Gangstarr.
Madcon released their first single "God Forgive Me" in 2000 (Virgin Records), but the first commercial breakthrough was with long time collaborators Paperboys with the hit single "Barcelona" in 2002 (Bonnier Amigo). In 2004, Madcon released their first official album "It's All A Madcon" (AA-Recordings/Bonnier Amigo), which won them a Norwegian Grammy and several other awards. In 2005 Madcon became TV personalities on the Nordic music channel The Voice, while developing their music in the studio. The show "The Voice of Madcon" became a huge success for both Madcon and the network, showcasing the behind the scenes life of the popular group.
In 2007 Tshawe was invited to join the popular Norwegian version of ”Strictly Come Dancing”, and was the winner in the final. Later that same year, their second album, entitled ”So Dark The Con Of Man”, was released on 3rd December 2007. In the UK, released on RCA, the album charted on the UK Albums Chart. In Norway, the album was certified gold in 3 hours, and platinum in 3 days. The album featured soul singer Noora Noor and Paperboys on two of the songs.
In late 2007/early 2008, Madcon released a cover of a 1968 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song, called ”Beggin'”, that became a huge success both nationally and internationally. It is their greatest success to date. It achieved 7 x platinum status in Norway, becoming one of the biggest hits of all time in the Norwegian charts. Madcon's cover of ”Beggin'” was produced by 3Elementz, who also produced the other singles from the "So Dark The Con Of Man"-album, as well as all of the tracks on Madcon’s 2008 album "An InCONvenient Truth", released in December 2008. They subsequently performed at the World Music Awards on 10th November 2008, where they also won the World's Best Selling Norwegian Artist Award.
And then in May 2010, they took part in the interval act in the Eurovision Song Contest Final in Oslo, Norway with their song and 1st single "Glow", which later was chosen as the Norwegian song and entry for FSC July 2010. The song, which was written and produced by the production team Element together with Madcon, was alas the background of the "Eurovision 2010 flashmob dance" music video which was aired at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 interval act. The song became a big single- and radiohit in Norway and internationally.
In August/September 2010 Madcon released their 2nd single from their forthcoming album, the song “Freaky Like Me” which also featured Ameerah on vocals. This happy Caribbean-inspired dance-pop song, which is the song we have chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC February 2011, became very popular and topped the Norwegian pop-charts as well as receiving much radio-play. In November 2010 the new and eagerly awaited Madcon-album “Contraband” was finally released, to fairly good critical acclaim, and it included the two aforementioned singles as well as many other catchy songs in their happy Afro dance-pop style. One thing is for certain: the story of Madcon is far from over.
Ameerah is a Belgian pop-artist (also with North African roots) who came to the media’s attention when she took part in the Belgian pop IDOL-show in 2003. She became one of the top ten finalists and got a record contract. In 2004 she had a big chart-hit in Belgium and also a fairly successful follow-up single. Then she parted ways with her record company due to artistic differences. In the past years she has been working with her music in Sweden (with the production-team Airborn) and in the USA and has worked with many international producers of fame. She has contributed on other artists’s songs (like her vocal-contribution on Madcon’s song “Freaky Like Me”) and has relased new songs of her own, for instance her song and popular dance-hit “The Sound Of Missing You” from 2010. She has also become a songwriter, so this is a highly talented and ambitious pop-artist that we will surely hear more from in the future.
Our entry for FSC February is alas a happy Caribbean-inspired dance-pop song. “Freaky Like Me” was written by Ameerah, TJ Oosterhuis, Arjang "Sha" Shishegar, Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam. It is another happy and catchy Madcon-song, a party-hit to enjoy! Join the dance - once again!
Below are the English lyrics for the song. We hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for February!
Madcon feat. Ameerah - Freaky Like Me
(Haha, Haha) It's Madcon!
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me
It was early in the morning, I hear the shower runnin'
I almost can't remember who this girl might be
And then she came back, I couldn't believe my eyes
This pretty young thang with her eyes on me
I know you like it when I put my hands like that
Whisper in your ear, tell me how you like that
Gettin’ freaky-eaky that's what I do best
So come a little closer, come a little closer
Noone’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me, No one
No one’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me
I'm feeling up her thighs, as I'm running down her curves
I hear my kitty "purr" as she laid on me
We windin' and grindin', a part of me is risin’
Baby, you're like a fire burnin' all around me
I know you like it when I put my hands like that
Whisper in your ear, tell me how you like that
Getting freaky-eaky that's what I do best
So come a little closer, come a little closer
Noone’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me, No one
No one’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me
Shawty, no one ever ever ever could do
Do you as good as freaky as I do
Shawty, no one ever ever ever could do
Do you as good as freaky as I do
You got me going crazy when you do me like that
Your freaky-eaky got me, hooked you right on track
Everytime you leave I wanna put you right back
Turn back, I need that, no one can freak me like that
Mira! Madcon! Ey, no one can freak me like that, Come on!
Noone’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me, No one
No one’s gonna do you as freaky like me, freaky like me, freaky like
Freaky like me, Freaky like me, Freaky like me-me-me
And no one, and no one is freaky freaky like
And no one, and no one is freaky freaky like
Yeah! Freaky like me-me-me
-M