FSC Promotions Thread

[A-lister]

FSC#129 - November 2019

SWEDEN

Darin
Hög

It's time to go back to the Swedish language for this edition and also for another comeback to the FSC, this time around with singer Darin, who came third back in the FSC#83 - January 2016 edition with the entry Lagom.

Darin Zanyar shot to fame in Sweden at the age of 16 when he became the runner-up in the first ever season of Swedish Idol back in 2004, which was followed by his debut single Money for Nothing (co-written by Swedish singer Robyn (FSC#118) among others) and later on his debut album The Anthem in 2005, both releases topping the official Swedish Singles and Album charts respectively back then. Seven studio albums later, six of which also topped the Swedish album charts, as well a bunch of radio and charts hits and one attempt at representing Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 when Darin ended up 4th in the final of national selection Melodifestivalen, Darin has clearly established himself as one of the bigger local names on the Swedish Pop scene.

This month's entry Hög (High) is a stand-alone single that got released back in the end of March this year and is simply a catchy, well-produced, Pop tune in Sweden, and is probably going to be included on Darin's upcoming third Swedish language studio album.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Världen den har blivit stum
Dimman kommer sakta, allting snurrar runt
Vänner frågar hur jag mår
Vad jag tagit, om även om kan få

[Bridge]
Och jag vet inte vad du gör
Och alla runt omkring
Dom fattar ingenting
Jag vet inte vad du gör

[Chorus]
Och alla trodde jag va hög när jag flög, fallit för djupt för dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)
Alla trodde jag va hög, att jag ljög, men jag blir sån av dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)

[Verse 2]
Känner hur mitt hjärta slår
Hundratusen slag i minuten, oh
Aldrig riktigt fallit hårt
Kan inte stoppa ruset, jag kan inte stå

[Bridge]
Och jag vet inte vad du gör
Och alla runt omkring
Dom fattar ingenting
Jag vet inte vad du gör

[Chorus]
Och alla trodde jag va hög när jag flög, fallit för djupt för dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)
Alla trodde jag va hög, att jag ljög, men jag blir sån av dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)

[Post-Chorus]
Kommer jag nånsin ner igen? (Kommer jag, kommer jag)
Kommer jag bli mig själv igen? (Kommer jag, kommer jag)
Alla trodde jag va hög när jag flög, fallit för djupt för dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig

[Middle-Eight]
Och jag vet inte vad du gör
Och alla runt omkring
Dom fattar ingenting
Nej, jag vet inte vad du gör (Vad du gör)

[Chorus]
Och alla trodde jag va hög när jag flög, fallit för djupt för dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)
Alla trodde jag va hög, att jag ljög, men jag blir sån av dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig (Vet inte vad du gör med mig)

[Post-Chorus]
Kommer jag nånsin ner igen? (Kommer jag, kommer jag)
Kommer jag bli mig själv igen? (Kommer jag, kommer jag)
Alla trodde jag va hög när jag flög, fallit för djupt för dig
Vet inte vad du gör med mig, vet inte vad du gör med mig

LYRICS [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]:

[Verse 1]
The world has become mute
The fog comes slowly, everything spins around
Friends ask how I feel
What I have taken, if also they can get

[Bridge]
And I don't know what you're doing
And everybody around
They understand nothing
I don't know what you're doing

[Chorus]
And everyone thought I was high when I flew, fallen too deep for you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)
Everyone thought I was high, that I was lying, but I become like that because of you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)

[Verse 2]
Feel how my heart beats
Hundreds of thousands of beats per minute, and
Never really fallen hard
Can't stop the rush, I can't stand

[Bridge]
And I don't know what you're doing
And everybody around
They understand nothing
I don't know what you're doing

[Chorus]
And everyone thought I was high when I flew, fallen too deep for you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)
Everyone thought I was high, that I was lying, but I become like that because of you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)

[Post-Chorus]
Will I ever come down again? (will I, will I)
Will I be myself again? (will I, will I)
Everyone thought I was high when I flew, fallen too deep for you
Don't know what you're doing to me

[Middle-Eight]
And I don't know what you're doing
And everybody around
They understand nothing
No, I don't know what you're doing

[Chorus]
And everyone thought I was high when I flew, fallen too deep for you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)
Everyone thought I was high, that I was lying, but I become like that because of you
Don't know what you're doing to me (Don't know what you're doing to me)

[Post-Chorus]
Will I ever come down again? (will I, will I)
Will I be myself again? (will I, will I)
Everyone thought I was high when I flew, fallen too deep for you
Don't know what you're doing to me, don't know what you're doing to me

 

[JSSArcos]

​

 

[Malagant]

FSC #130 December 2019 - Norway

FSC Norway - December 2019 - Alan Walker ft. K-391 & Emelie Hollow - Lily

Representing Norway in FSC December 2019, and returning to the FSC for Norway, is the talented young, very popular British-Norwegian Electronic Dance Music (EDM) -Producer and artist Alan Walker, this time featuring Norwegian Producer K-391 and Emelie Hollow on vocals. Here is some more information about them.

Alan Walker (born 24th August 1997) is a British-born Norwegian Record Producer and artist in the Electronic Dance Music (EDM)-genre. Born in Northampton, England of an English father and Norwegian mother, he and his family moved to Norway in 1999 at the age of two. He has since (for 17 years) lived in Bergen, Norway and has made his music career here.

His worldwide digital song and EDM-hit "Fade" gained attention after its release on YouTube via the label NoCopyrightSounds (NCS). The tracks "Spectre" and "Force" followed in 2015. He then signed with MER Musikk under Sony Music Sweden and his first single under that label was "Faded", a remastered vocal version of "Fade", released in December 2015.

Alan Walker gained worldwide attention. As of June 2016, "Faded" had over 356 million views on YouTube, an incredible feat. His new EDM-song "Sing Me To Sleep" (featuring Iselin Solheim again on vocals) came in 2016. This was the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC July 2016. In December 2016 Alan Walker released a new single, called “Alone”. It featured the Swedish singer Noonie Bao on vocals. It was another melodic song in his typical musical style which gained huge popularity. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC February 2017.

At the beginning of the new year 2017, Alan Walker's YouTube channel became the most subscribed channel registered in Norway, after passing about 4.5 million subscribers. In May 2017 he released the single “Tired” featuring vocals by Gavin James while the song “Spectre” (based on one of his earlier songs) followed in September 2017. Then in October 2017 he released a new original EDM-single “All Falls Down” featuring Noah Cyrus and Digital Farm Animals on vocals. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC December 2017.

In 2018 Alan Walker featured on a song by Norwegian producer X-391 called “Ignite” released in May 2018 (the Norwegian entry in FSC July 2018) and also released 2 new singles: “Darkside” in July 2018, and “Diamond Heart” (see more info below) in September 2018. “Diamond Heart”, which featured Swedish Sophia Somajo on vocals, was the Norwegian entry in FSC January 2019.

Alan Walker released an album called “Different World” in December 2018 which included most of his singles as well as many new songs, with some variety within his style and genre. One of these new songs was the melodic EDM-style ballad “Lily” which was later also released as a digital single. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC December 2019.

In spring 2019 he released a new single called “On My Way” which had some Spanish parts and which featured Sabrina Carpenter & Farruko on vocals. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC August 2019.

He is certainly a talented young Producer/artist in the EDM-genre, with huge worldwide popularity not the least on digital media/YouTube and similar online sites, from whom we will without doubt hear more in the future.

The man behind the EDM-project K-391 is Norwegian Record Producer Kenneth Nilsen. He is 23 years old and very secretive, there is little personal information about him. He often uses a ‘headset’ as a figure or logo which is meant to ‘conceptualize’ himself. He has made music for a while, his songs have been played millions of times on YouTube and he has a large following. However, his official debut-single was the EDM-song “Ignite”, presented together with Alan Walker and Julie Bergan & Seungri on vocals. It was released in May 2018 and was the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry in FSC July 2018.

Emelie Hollow is a fairly new artist and songwriter in Norway who first came to the attention of the public through participation in the tv-show ‘The Stream’. She has released an album and a few singles, her latest EP is from 2019. She has written songs for other artists and she co-wrote the song “Lily”, on which she sings vocals, with Alan Walker. She is best known for this collaboration around the world since the song has had huge success on Youtube, and also on Spotify where the song has more than 50 million views.

The Norwegian entry for FSC December 2019, “Lily”, is a melodic EDM-style ballad by British-Norwegian EDM-Producer and artist Alan Walker ft. K-391 and Emelie Hollow on vocals. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Alan Walker again in the FSC for Norway.


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

Alan Walker ft. K-391 & Emelie Hollow - Lily

Lily was a little girl
Afraid of the big, wide world
She grew up within her castle walls

Now and then she tried to run
And then on the night with the setting sun
She went in the woods away
So afraid, all alone

They warned her, don't go there
There's creatures who are hiding in the dark
Then something came creeping
It told her, don't you worry, just

Follow everywhere I go
Top of all the mountains or valley low
Give you everything you've been dreaming of
Just let me in, ooh

Everything you want in gold
I'll be the magic story you've been told
And you'll be safe under my control
Just let me in, ooh

Just let me in, ooh

She knew she was hypnotized
And walking on cold thin ice
Then it broke, and she awoke again

Then she ran faster, and
Start screaming, is there someone out there?
Please help me
Come get me
Behind her, she can hear it say

Follow everywhere I go
Top of all the mountains or valley low
Give you everything you've been dreaming of
Just let me in, ooh

Everything you want in gold
I'll be the magic story you've been told
And you'll be safe under my control
Just let me in, ooh

Just let me in, ooh
Ooh…

Everything you want in gold
I'll be the magic story you've been told
And you'll be safe under my control
Just let me in, ooh

Follow everywhere I go
Top of all the mountains or valley low
Give you everything you've been dreaming of
Just let me in, ooh

Then she ran faster, and
Start screaming, is there someone out there?
Please help me
Just let me in, ooh

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#130 - December 2019

SWEDEN

Veronica Maggio
Solen har gått ner

To close this year, Sweden is slowing down the tempo again and invites singer-songwriter Veronica Maggio back to the contest for a fifth time. This marks the first time a ballad with the singer is being entered to the contest with the song Solen har gått ner (The sun has set), taken from the Maggio's sixth studio album Fiender är tråkigt (Enemies are Boring).

Since her 2006 debut single Dumpa mig (Dump Me), she has become one Sweden's most successful and popular singers with four #1 albums and various music awards.

An outtake of Maggio's most known singles:

Nöjd? (Satisfied?) [2006]
Måndagsbarn (Monday Child) [2008]
Jag kommer (I'm Coming) [2011] FSC26 - April 2011
Välkommen in (Welcome Inside) [2011]
Sergels torg (Sergel's Square) [2013] FSC57 - November 2013
Hela huset (The Whole House) [2013] FSC64 - June 2014
Låtsas som det regnar (Pretend as if it Rains) [2013]
Vi mot världen (We Against the World) [2016] FSC89 - July 2016
Tillfälligheter (Coincidences) [2019]

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Jag trodde det var glömt och förlåtet
Tusen år sen, sen vi gjorde slut och du gråter
Är vi nu på samma sida i bråken?
Känns som att vi är galaxer ifrån men
Jag undrar om det är som det låter
Flera gånger har jag hört att jag är så svår men
Nu när jag blivit bättre så går det
Sämre än det borde, jag försöker förstå det
Andas, andas, glömmer bort att andas
Mm-mm, alla måste andas

[Chorus]
Solen har gått ner
Inget kvar att se
Snälla ta mig med
Blinkar och sen ler
Jag har ingenstans att va
Bara tomma flaskor kvar
Men solen har gått ner
Och jag hör dig gå

[Verse 2]
Jag ställer mig på tå här i baren
Ser dom andra vänta ute på trottoaren
Dom stänger stället men min stol får stå kvar än
Önskar att du kunde hålla mitt hår sen
Slänger nötter på nån i personalen
Gick iväg när dom fråga "Vem var det?"
Stanna, stanna, snälla förlåt mig
Vi glömmer det men vem såg mig
Andas, andas alla måste andas

[Chorus]
Solen har gått ner
Inget kvar att se
Snälla ta mig med
Blinkar och sen ler
Jag har ingenstans att va
Bara tomma flaskor kvar
Men solen har gått ner
Och jag hör dig gå

[Middle eight]
Det är jag, några kids och en man i kostym
Sitter kvar nån station, det får bli som det blir
Kommer hem, tänder upp, allt på högsta volym
Det får aldrig va mörkt mellan åtta och sju
Kanske flytta nånstans där det aldrig är stängt
Han på 7-Eleven har tröttnat på mig
Jag blir bländad av strålkastarna på din bil
Jag står kvar här på sträcken i ljuset, i ljuset

[Chorus]
Solen har gått ner
Inget kvar att se
Snälla ta mig med
Blinkar och sen ler
Jag har ingenstans att va
Bara tomma flaskor kvar
Men solen har gått ner
Och jag hör dig gå

[Outro]
Och jag hör dig gå
Och jag hör dig gå
Och jag hör dig gå

LYRICS [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]:

[Verse 1]
I thought it was forgotten and forgiven
A thousand years ago, since we broke up and you're crying
Are we now on the same page in the brawls?
Feels like we're galaxies away but
I wonder if it is as it sounds
Several times I have heard that I am difficult but
Now that I've gotten better, it's going
Worse than it should, I'm trying to understand it
Breathe, breathe, forgetting to breathe
Mm-mm, everyone must breathe

[Chorus]
The sun has set
Nothing left to see
Please bring me
Blinking and then smiling
I have nowhere to be
Only empty bottles left
But the sun has gone down
And I hear you leave

[Verse 2]
I'll stand on my toes here at the bar
See the others waiting outside on the sidewalk
They close the place but my chair may still stand
Wish you could hold my hair later
Throwing nuts on someone in the staff
Left when they asked "Who was it?"
Stay, stay, please forgive me
We forget it but who saw me
Breathe, breathe, everyone must breathe

[Chorus]
The sun has set
Nothing left to see
Please bring me
Blinking and then smiling
I have nowhere to be
Only empty bottles left
But the sun has gone down
And I hear you leave

[Middle eight]
It's me, some kids and a man in a suit
Keep sitting some station, it will be as it gets
Coming home, lighting up, everything on maximum volume
It must never be dark between eight and seven
Maybe move somewhere where it's never closed
He at 7-Eleven has got tired of me
I am dazzled by the headlights on your car
I keep standing here on the lines in the light, in the light

[Chorus]
The sun has set
Nothing left to see
Please bring me
Blinking and then smiling
I have nowhere to be
Only empty bottles left
But the sun has gone down
And I hear you leave

[Outro]
And I hear you leave
And I hear you leave
And I hear you leave

 

[Bakinka]

AZERBAIJAN

​

Jony (Jahid Huseynli) is a popular singer born in Azerbaijan on 29 February, 1996 (23 years old).

Career of the Jony started in 2019 .

Alley

I'm always thinking about her,
No one can be closer than her.
She is brighter than lights,
Shining gently at nights.

In the middle of old alleys,
Walking - thinking about her.
And when you'll come to me,
I'll never let you go.

New morning, new sunrise.
New day,but your aren't with me.
New thoughts, new motive
Writing about you inhaling nicotine.

Friends called to hang out with them,
There is nothing to lose.
Whatever I do - she is still the first in my list,
In the list of my thoughts.

In the sky, in the clouds,
Bright moon, bright moon

I'm always thinking about her,
No one can be closer than her.
She is brighter than lights,
Shining gently at nights.

In the middle of old alleys,
Walking - thinking about her.
And when you'll come to me,
I'll never let you go.​

 

[hawadharma]

FSC
MALAYSIA
DECEMBER 2019

Artist:
DRAMA BAND

Song Title:
"DRAMA"

​

Background:

Drama Band member is Aepul (Vocalist), Adib (Guitarist), Daus (Bassist) and Faeez (Drummer).
They have been in Malaysian mainrstream music industry since 2011 when they come up with single "Babak Pertama" which became soundtrack for blockbuster movie, "Juvana". Since then, they continuously succeed and come up with other singles such as "Biarkanlah", "Mencinta Kamu", "Jiwa", "Drama" and "Satu-Satu".

The song "Drama" has very simple lyrics, however Drama Band took a risk in making the music video a satirical take on some other real life artistes in Malaysia. There is a beauty queen who got stripped off her title after got caught drinking and acting inappropriately in public; another beauty queen who wears hijab in TV but dressed sexy in real life; a teen hearthrob singer who faked depression for attention, and a female pop singer who faked a love life to promote her latest single and music video.

"Drama" music video has received many backlash from fellow artistes especially from the artistes who are satirically portrayed.
Despite that, this song received great feedback from Malaysian audience and will compete in the finals of this year's Anugerah Juara Lagu as one of the 12 finalists.
​

Bonus:

Drama Band without make-up and costume

Lyrics Translation (English):

DRAMA BAND – “Drama”

Hiding behind the beautiful face,
When you smile, I am cast under your spell
The truth is, you have a forked tongue
When I realised, it was almost too late to escape

Chorus:

Doubts, your words are full of doubts
Loyal, I’m stupid to be so loyal
Liar, you’re a liar, and full of drama

Tralalalala~ you are a drama (2x)

The truth is, you have a forked tongue
When I realised, it was almost too late to escape

(repeat chorus)

​

​

 

[Malagant]

FSC #131 January 2020 - Norway

FSC Norway - January 2020 - Shining - Wolves

Representing Norway in FSC January 2020 is another New artist for Norway in FSC, the Norwegian experimental rock band called Shining. Here is some more information about them.

Thirteen musicians have been a part of the band's line-up in its history, with singer, guitarist, saxophonist, and songwriter Jørgen Munkeby as its leading force and only constant member. Shining was created in 1999 in Oslo, Norway as an acoustic instrumental jazz quartet consisting of Munkeby, drummer Torstein Lofthus, pianist Morten Qvenild, and double bassist Aslak Hartberg.

They released their first albums "Where the Ragged People Go" and "Sweet Shanghai Devil" in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Their 2005 album "In the Kingdom of Kitsch You Will Be a Monster" led the band into a more avant-garde, electric, and rock-oriented sound, with Qvenild playing synthesizers and other electronic keyboards and Hartberg mostly using bass guitar instead of double bass.

The band has over the years been innovative with their music and experimental. Under a partially changed line-up Shining released the album “Grindstone” in 2007, an album going into a heavier direction and distancing itself more from jazz, incorporating elements from progressive rock, pop, and 19th and 20th century classical music. On their fifth album "Blackjazz" (2010), which became a critical success, Shining became an extreme avant-garde metal band with the use of growled vocals from Munkeby. Their first live album "Live Blackjazz" and sixth studio album, "One One One", released in 2013, followed the musical direction begun in “Blackjazz”. In the following years more members left the band and were replaced by new faces. Munkeby was the only original member left.

Their studio album "International Blackjazz Society", which helmed the band's shift away from avant-garde jazz-influenced metal towards a more classic hard rock sound, was released in 2015. Shining's metal-oriented albums were received with much acclaim from both jazz, heavy metal, and more mainstream critics.

A new single was released in September 2017 titled "Everything Dies" and solidified their change toward a hard rock-oriented sound. The single "Animal", released in August 2018, followed the same musical direction. Both songs were included on their album titled "Animal" released in October 2018.

Their newest single called "Wolves" was released in November 2019. It was another departure in musical style, now encompassing Nordic Synth / Elektronica rhythms / beats and a primal edge in the lyrics. It had Pop-rock style vocals and echoes of stadium rock in the chorus part, but the heavy dark Synth baseline dominated the song and made it different from their earlier releases (making parts of their fanbase displeased but also gaining new followers). This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC January 2020.

This is a band that enjoys giving surprises and they have admitted as much in interviews. Their experimentation in music styles and genres over the years, from jazz to prog rock to avant-garde electric metal to hard rock and now to dark Synth-pop / Elektronica, shows how versatile they are, a band that enjoy making all kinds of music. We will without doubt hear more from this long-running band in the years to come.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #131 January 2020, called “Wolves”, is a Nordic Dark Synth Pop-rock song by the ever innovative Norwegian band called Shining. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Shining in the FSC for Norway.

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

Shining - Wolves

I was born inside the valley of the thousand stars
Running free, through the dark
I was born through snow and ice, forever running wild
With demon eyes, I’m a nature’s child

It’s been a million years or more
So can you hear it when it calls
And now the animal’s coming out
Because tonight’s the night

We’re running wild, running in the wild
Running through the night


We’re running with the wolves
We’re running wild

Running here tonight
See the animal inside
We’re running with the wolves
We’re running wild

It’s been a million years and I’m still running free
The winter wind, it carries me
I was born beneath the moon, I’ll be forever wild
I am here to hide, I’m a nature’s child

It’s been a million years or more
So can you hear it when it calls
Now the animal’s coming out
Because tonight’s the night

We’re running wild, running with the wolves
Running through the night
We’re running with the wolves
We’re running wild

Running here tonight
See the animal inside
We’re running with the wolves

A million years or more
Can you hear it when it calls
And now the animal’s coming out
Because tonight’s the night

We’re running wild, running with the wolves
Running through the night
We’re running with the wolves
We’re running wild

Running here tonight
See the animal inside
We’re running with the wolves
We’re running wild

We’re running wild

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#131 - January 2020

SWEDEN

LÉON
You and I

PRESENTATION:

Sweden is starting out this new year and decade with a big timeless-styled Pop song which draws inspiration from artists like Adele and classical Pop sounds stemming all the way back to the 1960's Motown going through 1970's glam to the big 1980's Pop ballads.

LÉON is the stage name of 26-year old Lotta Lindgren who is yet fairly unknown to the masses but debuted with the single Tired of Talking back in 2015, and after a handful of EP releases including tracks such as the 2017 single I Believe in Us, she finally released her self-titled debut album in 2019 where also this edition's entry is taken from.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Seeing the sun go down again
Staying in my bed for too long now
Heard you were out last night
My friends say you're looking well, you seem happy
But you're a liar if you say that you're fine
Bet you wonder if I think of you now
Done my best to stay away, but I think I'm going crazy

[Chorus]
You and I
You don't wanna talk about it
You don't wanna talk about
You and I
We don't ever talk about it
But in my head
Oh, you say, say you still want it
That you're done with being lonely now
It's you and I
You and I

[Verse 2]
Standing beneath the flickered lights
When I shut my eyes you seem closer
Dancing to keep the tears away
Get this heavy weight off my shoulder
And every stranger, I pretend they are you
They'll never hold me, never touch me like you do
Done my best to stay away
But I think I'm going crazy
I'm going crazy

[Chorus]
You and I
You don't wanna talk about it
You don't wanna talk about
You and I
We don't ever talk about it
But in my head
Oh, you say, say you still want it
That you're done with being lonely now
It's you and I
You and I

[Bridge]
I know you're out there somewhere, somewhere in the night
For a fleeting moment thought you passed me by
See the sun come up now, as it hits my eyes
All the things I wanna tell you, that you don't wanna talk about

[Chorus]
You and I
You don't wanna talk about it
You don't wanna talk about
You and I
We don't ever talk about it
But in my head
Oh, you say, say you still want it
That you're done with being lonely now
It's you and I
You and I

[Outro]
You and I
You and I

 

[hawadharma]

FSC
MALAYSIA
JANUARY 2020

Artist:
HANI & ZUE

Song Title:
"AKU DAN LAGUKU" (Me & My Song)

Background:
Hani (Hanisah Hasan)& Zue (Zuliana Eusoff) are duet singers under the wings of Yuna Records (owned by Yuna).
Their talents were discovered in a radio competition "Projek EP" where amateurs were given the chance to produce their on EP single, and Hani & Zue won that competition with their song "Biar".

This song "Aku Dan Laguku" breaks the mold of typical pop song in Malaysia, with playback length of only 2 min 30 seconds.
However, in that short time, "Aku Dan Laguku" successfully narrates the feelings and struggle of people with depression and anxiety.

The music video is directed by Yuna herself, with the assistance of her director husband, Adam Sinclair.

Lyrics Translation (English):

HANI & ZUE – “Aku Dan Laguku”

(Hani)
What else am I going to do?
I have given my everything,
What is left to be traded?
What's left are regrets

Those scornful words in my head,
Crashes me away into my past,
My soul crumbles, it felt dark,
My insanity is being questioned

Chorus (both):
I hug my silence tightly
Don't care about the noises
Don't try to approach me
Cause I'm desolated

My space and my self,
This tired heart
I'm a dangerous company
Now, what's left is only
Me and my song

(Zue)
What should I do?
There's nothing left for me,
Just realised that my feelings are numb,
Am I now at the end?

I've gambled everything,
My soul is empty,
My life has shattered because of you,
I've gambled everything,
My soul is empty,
Now, what's left is only
Me and my song

(repeat chorus)
​

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - February 2020 - Ina Wroldsen x Dynoro - Obsessed ​

Representing Norway in FSC February 2020 is a Norwegian - Lithuanian collaboration, the multi-talented Norwegian singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen and the talented Lithuanian DJ/Producer Dynoro. Here is some more information about them.

Ina (Christine) 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 Norwegian 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, Shakira, 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 popular song “Bombo“ which was performed by Adelèn and which came 2nd in the final. In mid-2011 she started a successful collaboration with the Icelandic songwriter and music producer Arnthor Birgisson - and the Ask Embla music project was born.

They released several popular songs in the years 2012-2014 (‘Father’s Eyes’, their biggest hit, ‘Cry Baby’, ‘I Fell In Love’, ‘Legion’ and ‘Lay It On Me’) as well as an album ‘Northern Light’ (2013). They began work on a 2nd album but it was indefinitely delayed as they started to focus on solo-projects. The Ask Embla-project was ‘put on ice’ for the forseeable future and all Ina’s attention was now on her solo-career.

Ina Wroldsen countiued her solo-career in the next few years, releasing several singles including a new version (with Broiler) of “Lay It On Me”. She also spent time on other projects, including being one of the judges on the Norwegian pop-IDOL tv-show in 2016.

In December 2016, after a visit to Africa, she released the gripping ballad “St. Peter”. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2017.

The EP “HEX” (inspired by Norwegian Folklore-tales) was released in June 2018. It consisted of 4 new songs (“Sea”, “Remember Me”, “Mine” and “Mother”). “Mother” was the Norwegian entry in FSC September 2018. The first single from the EP, released in April 2018, was the beautiful ocean-ballad “Sea”. This was the Norwegian entry in FSC March 2019.

That same month she released a new song together with the Lithuanian DJ/Producer Dynoro called ‘Obsessed’. It was a melodic groovy Dance-pop song that quickly became popular many places in Europe. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC February 2020.

Ina Wroldsen is a multi-talented singer and songwriter and there is little doubt that we will hear more from her in the years to come.

Edvinas Pechovskis, known professionally as Dynoro, is a Lithuanian DJ and music producer. He is best known for his international hit "In My Mind" which interpolates the hook from "L'amour toujours" by Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino. Dynoro started releasing tracks and remixes on Soundcloud and Spotify in 2013, gaining fame in Lithuania thanks to a DJ YouTube channel "Lithuania HQ". In December 2017 his song "In My Mind" was released. It was re-released in June 2018 with Gigi D'Agostino added as featuring artist. In July 2018, the song reached number one in the German music charts. It was also a number 1 hit in many other European countries. In March 2019 he released a new song together with Norwegian singer-songwriter Ina Wroldsen, the melody ‘Obsessed’, which also became very popular on dancefloors all over Europe. It featured a creative animated video to accompany the song with ideas/strong influences by Ina Wroldsen. We will for sure hear more from this talented music producer in the years to come.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #132 February 2020, called “Obsessed”, is a melodic Dance-pop song performed by Ina Wroldsen and Dynoro in an effective musical collaboration. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Ina Wroldsen again in the FSC for Norway.

Below are the English lyrics for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for February!

Ina Wroldsen x Dynoro - Obsessed

I tried to climb into your skin
I tried to locate the beating
Of your, your, your, your heart
Of your, your, your, your heart

I walked for hours inside you
I talked in my voice and tried to
Find your, your, your, your heart
Find your, your, your, your heart

I ran through all your veins
I saw all of your visions
I found all of you, babe
But I couldn't find me anywhere

And now I'm stuck
Inside of you

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

You keep my heartbeat in your teeth
And scissors cutting into me
All your, your, your, your lies
All my, my, my, my light

I ran through all your veins
I saw all of your visions
I found all of you, babe
But I couldn't find me anywhere

And now I'm stuck
Inside of you

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

I feel your mouth when you kiss her lips
I trace your skin with your fingertips
I see her the way you do and it, hurts
Ooh-ooh-ooh

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

Baby
You gotta let me
You gotta let me out
I gotta get free
I gotta get free, oh baby
I'm too invested
I can't get obsessed with you

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#132 - February 2020

SWEDEN

Miriam Bryant
Du med dig

Third time the charm? It's time again for singer Miriam Bryant to enter the FSC for Sweden following the successful debut in the contest back in August 2013 with the entry Push Play , that ended up second, and later on her collaboration with NEIKED back in the August 2019 edition with the entry How Did I Find You , which unfortunately flopped, so will she manage to take revenge from that setback with this entry?

The song Du med dig (You with You) is Bryant's first single released from her first Swedish language album, and can be described stylistically as a form of contemporary Vispop , which is a genre that blends Swedish traditional type of lyrical ballads with Pop. Lyrically, the song refers to Bryant's relationship with the Swedish capital Stockholm and the difficulty for an outsider moving into the capital and/-or largest city of a country to really find her place and feel at home there, which is relatable to many people out there who did such a move. The title and the meaning of the song isn't so easy to translate to English, as it plays with the distinction in the Swedish language between the informal version of You (= Du) (used mostly between family members and friends) and the more formal Ni (= Thee) (traditionally used in more formal settings and when there has been a hierarchical ranking), and in the past in Sweden you only used Du to those that were closer to you, which Bryant hints in her lyrics she never managed to become with her new adopted hometown.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Jag har vänt på varje kullersten i denna staden
Har väckt den björn som sover och har hållt den vaken
Jag är sist på festerna
Druckit upp resterna
Sett varenda ledsen grabb i ögona'

[Verse 2]
De har nog i fickan för att klara halva natten
Inte mött någon flicka än som varar längre att de är
Kvar till morgonen
Och allt blir skitit sen
Det är bara dårar som visar tårar

[Bridge]
Stockholm ni
Har spillt er tid

[Chorus]
Jag blev aldrig du med dig
Jag kanske klantade mig
Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat
Jag blev aldrig du med dig

[Verse 3]
Jag satt vid sockerbruket nere där vid älven
Var 16 år och aldrig testat att vara själv än
Jag köpte tågbiljett
Nånstans jag inte sett
Därefter har jag aldrig hittat hem

[Bridge]
Stockholm ni
Har spillt er tid

[Chorus]
Jag blev aldrig du med dig
Jag kanske klantade mig
Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat

Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat
Jag blev aldrig du med dig

[Middle Eight]
Snön som föll gjorde en ängel i hallen
Jag minns den morgonen vi höll varann i handen
Vi flög iväg en sväng
Och lämnade storstaden
På återseende farväl min gamle vän

[Chorus]
Jag blev aldrig du med dig
Jag kanske klantade mig
Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat

Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat
Jag blev aldrig du med dig

Jag blev aldrig du med dig
Jag kanske klantade mig
Från söder till Solna har du mig hånat

[Outro]
Från Söder till Solna så har du mig hånat
Jag blev aldrig du med dig

LYRICS [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]:

[Verse 1]
I have turned on every cobblestone in this city
Has woken the bear that sleeps and has kept it awake
I'm the last at the parties
Drunk up the leftovers
Looked every sad guy in the eyes'

[Verse 2]
They have enough in their pocket to handle half the night
Have not met any girl yet that lasts longer that they...
Are left until morning
And everything gets shitty later
It's only fools that shed tears

[Bridge]
Stockholm you
Have wasted your time

[Chorus]
I never became you with you
Maybe I messed up
From Söder* to Solna** you have mocked me
I never became you with you

[Verse 3]
I sat at the sugar mill down there by the river
Was 16 years old and never tested to be by myself yet
I bought a train ticket
Somewhere I haven't seen
After that I have never found my way home

[Bridge]
Stockholm you
Have wasted your time

[Chorus]
I never became you with you
Maybe I messed up
From Söder to Solna you have mocked me

From Söder to Solna you have mocked me
I never became you with you

[Middle Eight]
The snow that fell made an angel in the hallway
I remember the morning we held each other's hands
We flew away for a while
And left the big city
See you later, farewell my old friend

[Chorus]
I never became you with you
Maybe I messed up
From Söder to Solna you have mocked me

From Söder to Solna you have mocked me
I never became you with you

I never became you with you
Maybe I messed up
From Söder to Solna you have mocked me

[Outro]
From Söder to Solna you have mocked me
I never became you with you

*Söder (South) is short for Södermalm, which is the southmost borough of inner-city Stockholm .
**Solna is a municipality northwest of central Stockholm which belongs to the "Greater Stockholm" - area .

 

[honzak11]

CZECH REPUBLIC

Entry for FSC #132: Naděje - NEPŮJDU SPÁT

About the Band
The official foundation of the band Naděje dates back to year-end 2015, although the guys had been preparing for their big official entrée for almost a year before then.
Band members Petr (lead singer) and Filip (guitar player) used to be part of the band "Totální Skrat" before the new formation "Naděje" was created in order to "create something new that is not yet on the Czech musci scene". The guys started creating new songs which took them a bit longer as they had huge ambitions going forward. Petr comes up with the lyrics and melody first, and Filip follows with the idea of the end sound and dynamics. Later on, Tomáš joined the guys as a former member of the 2R band and has been playing drums.
The first performance of this trio took place on Christmas markets in the city of Opava, Czech Republic. Following their first performance, a rocket start of their success followed. The success was further fuelled by their collaboration with the music producer Wendel Dreiseitl in the BOMB JACK studio which gave life to their first official single „Intimita“. The song has immediately entered radio stations in the Czech Republic, such as Kiss and Helax in March 2016. In the Kiss radio chart, the song reached 1st place instantly and in the Helax radio, the song stayed on the first place for the maximum duration possible, 9 weeks. Following this success, the Kiss radio added the song to their daily playlist, which is what the band considers to be their biggest achievement to date.

G2 Band Academy - 8-month long journey

In April 2016, the band played at the casting for the TV show "G2 Band Academy" by Óčko TV. The band had gone through a tough improvised performance and in the middle of the night they were eventually shortlisted to the TOP3 bands to take part in this show. During the 8-month long TV show, the band had to tackle tasks assigned to them by the talent scout, producer and founder of Bandzone.cz Majkláč. The band has gained great amount of experience, feedbacks and guidance from big music personas of the Czech music scene - Matěj Homola, Vladimir518, David Koller, Xindl X as part of the TV show.

One of the tasks in the TV show "G2 Band Academy" was the creation of an entirely new single and videoclip. The result of this challenge is their single ,,Pardon dámy". The videoclip took three weeks to shoot and they travelled to the northern Poland to get the perfect scenery for the video. The videoclip portrays "a journey of a man who had to get through a lot for nothing". The song premiered on 26th September 2016.


About the song “NEPŮJDU SPÁT” (FSC #132 entry)
The song NEPŮJDU SPÁT is being promoted along with a hashtag #jdizasvymsnem (English: #followyourdream).

The song urges everyone to "follow their dreams". In this song, the journey of the band is being reflected and sends a message to the fans that "we are all on the same boat". Simply put, one cannot achieve any targets and dreams without any will and courage. They claim that it does not matter what the end goal is - sport achievements, happy family, successful career etc - but in all instances a daily work on one's self is key.

The videoclip presents 2 motivational stories. Two people, with totally different interests, try hard to get over the initial failures and keep on improving themselves day by day. The video showcases a professional acrobat and gymnast Alžběta Moravcová and a talented actor Jakub Krybus (as a boxer).

Lyrics (unofficial Czech & English lyrics) [Lyrics]:

Stmiva, stmiva, nad rekou mesto zvolna usina, usina, usina // Getting dark, getting dark, a city falls asleep, falls asleep, falls asleep above the river
pada, pada, obloha hvezdami sypana, sypana, sypana. // the sky full of, full of, full of stars falls down, falls down, falls down

Nepujdu spat, nepujdu spat // I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep,
az naporad, naporad // until forever, forever

Stoupam, stoupam, na vyssi mista jak sam v to doufam, doufam, doufam. // I rise, rise to the higher places, as I believe, believe, believe in it
Vnimam, vnimam, cely vesmir a jeste mnohem dal, mnohem dal, mnohem dal. // I sense, sense the entire universe and beyond, beyond, beyond.

Nepujdu spat, nepujdu spat // I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep,
az naporad, naporad // until forever, forever

Nenecham si prejit uz ani jediny den, nez pujdu navzdy spat // I won't let go any single day, any longer before I fall asleep forever
chci prozit kazdy svuj sen, tak to mam naporad. // I want to experience every single dream of mine, I have it that way always.
Tak to mam, tak to mam, // I have it that way, I have it that way
chci mnohem dal, mnohem dal // I want to get a lot further, a lot further

Svita, svita, zivot vetrem rychle utika, utika, utika, // It's sunrise, it's sunrise, the life runs, runs, runs with the wind
kouzelna, kouzelna ta chvile na to co den rozlehla, rozlehla, rozlehla. // magical, magical is the moment for the entire day

Nepujdu spat, nepujdu spat // I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep, I won't go to sleep,
az naporad, naporad // until forever, forever

Nenecham si prejit uz ani jediny den, nez pujdu navzdy spat // I won't let go any single day any longer, before I fall asleep forever
chci prozit kazdy svuj sen, tak to mam naporad. // I want to experience every single dream of mine, I have it that way always.
Tak to mam, tak to mam, // I have it that way, I have it that way
chci mnohem dal, mnohem dal // I want to get a lot further, a lot further

Chci se probouzet jen k tobe, uniknout vsi zlobe, svetlem po me // I want to wake up only next to you, escape all the angriness,
sam v prapodivnem svete, netouzim po odvete, nez pujdu sbohem dat. // alone in the strange world, I don't aim for a revenge before I say bye
Nez pujdu spat, nez pujdu spat // before I go to sleep, before I go to sleep
Uz naporad, uz naporad. // this time forever, this time forever.

Nenecham si vzit uz ani jediny den. // I won't let go any single day any longer.

*Czech* out the band's other songs!

• Their first ever released song: NADĚJE - INTIMITA (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
• A song recorded and release as part of their G2 Band Academy participation: NADĚJE - PARDON DÁMY (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - G2 Band Academy.

 

[hawadharma]

FSC#132 - FEBRUARY 2020

MALAYSIA

Naim Daniel
"Sumpah"​

Naim Daniel is one of the most promising star in Malaysia today. Starting his career in acting from an early age, he starred in many TV series and films such as "Cucu Betong", "Bisik Pada Langit", "Pia", etc. His role as a physically and mentally challenged teenage named Budi in the series "Pia" has been acclaimed as one of the most accurate portrayal of a disabled person on screen ever.

Naim Daniel started singing professionally at the age of 20, and come up with hit singles like "Sekali Lagi" and "Sempurna" in 2018. His third single "Sumpah", fully composed and written by himself, is produced in 2019 and is made the original soundtrack of the series "Pia". This melancholic ballad song has been a major hit in Malaysian radios and TV shows. There are controversies surrounding this song, as his ex-girlfriend (now married to another man) claimed that this song is also co-written by her when they were a couple. However, this claim has not been proven and Naim Daniel has settled this issue with his ex-girlfriend prior to joining the 34th Anugerah Juara Lagu (Champion of Songs Award).

On the 9th February 2020, "Sumpah" has been awarded the Best Song in the 34th Anugerah Juara Lagu against 11 other finalists, making him one of youngest singer-songwriters who has won the competition ever. In his winning speech, he thanked everyone and laid out a powerful message, "Write good words because if our intentions are good, so our songs will be good. If our intentions are bad, so our songs will be bad as well. God Willing."

Well, enjoy the song + bonus (his winning live performance from AJL 34) !

BONUS: LIVE FROM AJL 34

Lyrics (English Translation)

If I have to be patient with all this suffering
I accept
If this pain feels like imprisonment without trial
I surrender
My dear, I will always love you
Until my pulse no longer sings

Chorus:
Even if the moon no longer shines
Please be my light, even in pitch darkness
Hear me out, my soul is sincerely for you

I hope you listen to what I whispered all this while
Without you, my whole existence has no meaning

Even if the earth stops spinning,
My loyal oath wil always be here,
Hear me out, my soul is sincerely for you

My oath..

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - March 2020 - Wardruna - Grá ​

Representing Norway in March 2020 is a New artist for Norway in FSC, the Norwegian Old Norse-Folk band Wardruna. Here is some more information about them.

Wardruna is a Norwegian Old Norse-Folk music band formed in 2003 by Einar Selvik along with Gaahl (Kristian Eivind Espedal) and Lindy Fay Hella. Selvik and Gaahl were previously members of the Norwegian Black Metal-band Gorgoroth. Wardruna have from the start been dedicated to creating musical renditions of Norse cultural and esoteric traditions, and make significant use of Nordic historical and traditional instruments including primitive deer-hide frame drums, flutes, kraviklyr, tagelharpe, mouth harp, goat horn, and lur. Non-traditional instruments and other sources of sound like trees, rocks, water, and torches are also used in their music.

There have been some changes in members of the band over the years, but the current members are:

Einar "Kvitrafn" Selvik - vocals, all instruments, composer (the nexus of the band)
Lindy Fay Hella - vocals, flute
Arne Sandvoll - backing vocals, percussion
HC Dalgaard - backing vocals, percussion, drums
Eilif Gundersen - horns, flutes
John Stenersen - moraharpa

The band have released four full-length albums, the first three based on Norse mythology, the last based on the sayings of Odin from the Völuspá and other Old Norse sources. They have a sizable fan-following around the world and are Norway’s most famous band in this music genre.

The group's debut album ‘Runaljod - Gap Var Ginnunga’ was released in 2009 by Indie Recordings, followed by ‘Runaljod - Yggdrasil’ in 2013. In 2014 Selvik announced on the group's official Facebook page that they would take part in composing the score for season 2 of Vikings along with Trevor Morris. He later appeared as an actor on the show. In 2014 Gaahl left Wardruna on amicable terms. Wardruna's third album, ‘Runaljod - Ragnarok’, was released in 2016 to critical acclaim and was quickly embraced by their devoted fanbase. Thanks in part to the success of Vikings, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart.

In August 2017 Wardruna headlined the 20th alternative music, folk music, and experimental music festival ‘Mėnuo Juodaragis’ in Lithuania, and in early 2018, they embarked on their first tour of North America. The band's fourth album, the acoustic ‘Skald’, was released in 2018.

In 2019 they began work on a forthcoming album, and the first piece from this new musical production was the song ‘Grá’ (‘Grey’) which was released as a digital single in February 2020. This is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC March 2020.

Wardruna have also announced the release of this new upcoming album, their fifth studio album, in June 2020. The album will be named ‘Kvitrafn’, which means 'White Raven', and they will embark on a promotional tour this coming summer 2020.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #133 March 2020, called “Grá” is a spiritual song in Old Norse-Folk style written and performed by the Norwegian band Wardruna. It is in many ways an Ode to the Wolf (the ‘Old Grey’) and to Nature and the Old ways. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Wardruna in the FSC for Norway.

Below are the Norwegian lyrics (in Nynorsk, New Norwegian language) for the song and a translation into English. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for March!

Wardruna - Grá

Gamle Grå / Old Grey…

Eg hugsar ringen før den bråtna / I remember the circle before it was broken

Songen min rører djupt i meg / My song stirs something deep within me
Som tau ma rak minna dreg / Like chords pulling straight from memory
Eg finn ikkje ord, dei er før meg gøymd / I can’t find the words, they are hidden from me
Men det er noko gamalt, det er noko gløymd / Yet I know it is old, it is something forgotten

Eg hugsar når du jaga fritt / I remember when you roamed freely
Eg hugsar når me jaga saman / I remember when we hunted together
Eg hugsar oss før vegen skildast / I remember us before our paths got separated
Eg hugsar ringen før den bråtna / I remember the circle before it was broken

Alltid var på meg, og eg på deg / Always wary of me, and I of you
Alltid var på deg, og du på meg / Always wary of you, and you of me

Der du spring i mine skoger / There you run in my forests
Der du jag i mine fjell / There you hunt in my mountains
Før din flokk til mine dalar / Lead your (wolf)pack to my valleys
Låt oss laga ringen heil / Let us mend the broken circle

Eg skal syngja deg vel at heim / I shall sing you safe on your way
Eg syngja deg heimat heim / I shall sing you safely home

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#133 - March 2020

SWEDEN

Winona Oak
Let Me Know

PRESENTATION:

For this edition, Sweden is sending the 25-year old newcomer Johanna Ekmark, known under her stage name Winona Oak and the entry Let Me Know , taken from the singer's debut EP titled Closure , which was released earlier this year. Ekmark debuted in 2018 and was featured on the American DJ and Production duo The Chainsmoker's single Hope followed up by solo singles such as He Don't Love Me and Break My Broken Heart .

This edition's entry draws inspiration from acts such as Marina & The Diamonds and Florence & The Machine , and is a melodic indie-Pop song with a nice build-up that eventually ends up in a big, almost anthemic-like, Pop chorus.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Help me, I don't know how to begin
Never thought that I would let you in

[Pre-Chorus]
But you're the one I choose
I belong with you
Every hand I've lost
Has brought me something I can't lose

[Chorus]
So if you love me, let me know
We don't have to fall so fast
Take it slow
Unless you want to hold me close
We can make a good thing last
Don't let go
You know perfect is impossible
But you got me hoping
If the world is falling down
You're the one I'm holding
Don't let go

[Verse 2]
I've been tired of waking up alone
Second guessing, shaking on the phone

[Pre-Chorus]
But you're the one I choose
I belong with you
Every hand I've lost
Has brought me something I can't lose

[Chorus]
So if you love me, let me know
We don't have to fall so fast
Take it slow
Unless you want to hold me close
We can make a good thing last
Don't let go
You know perfect is impossible
But you got me hoping
If the world is falling down
You're the one I'm holding
Don't let go

[Bridge]
I think of all the wasted time
We're standing on the sideline waiting for a sign
I found you there
No, nothing is a waste of time
I had to take a hit to learn to read the signs
I found you there

[Chorus]
So if you love me, let me know
We don't need to fall so fast
Take it slow
Unless you want to hold me close
We can make a good thing last
Don't let go
You know perfect is impossible
But you got me hoping
If the world is falling down
You're the one I'm holding
Don't let go
Don't let go

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - April 2020 - Secret Garden - The Pilot ​

Representing Norway in April 2020, and returning to the FSC for Norway after about 1 year, is the Norwegian-Irish Neo-Classical 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. 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. She has also recorded Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra.

With Secret Garden Rolf Løvland wished to make music that was close to his heart: Neo-Classical, 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. In the years that followed Secret Garden released several popular albums, among them “White Stones” (1997), “Dawn of a New Century” (1999) and “Once in a Red Moon” (2002) which contained their huge hit “You Raise Me Up” (ft. Irish Brian Kennedy on vocals) which went on to be recorded in over 40 versions worldwide.

The following albums were “Inside I'm Singing” (2007), which differed in that all songs were with vocals, and “Winter Poem” (2011), which included the song “The Dream” (ft. Irish Clannad-singer Moya Brennan on vocals), which was the Norwegian FSC-entry in December 2011, and “Lament For A Frozen Flower”, which was the Norwegian FSC-entry in May 2012. In 2013 they released the album “Just The Two Of Us” which included the beautiful song “En Passant” which was the Norwegian FSC-entry in May 2014.

In the next years Secret Garden focused on side-projects and tours/concerts around the world, including several visits to Asia and China, but in 2018 they began to work on new songs for an album planned for release in 2019. This new album was finally released on 26th April 2019, called “Storyteller”. It included many beautiful songs, among them “The Voyage”, which was the Norwegian entry in FSC May 2019, and “The Pilot” which was pre-released in early April 2019 as a digital single. “The Pilot” is the song chosen as the Norwegian entry here in FSC April 2020.

Rolf Løvland is working on a parallel music project creating a musical which will premiere in Norway in 2021. Some of his songs intended for that musical, incl. “The Pilot”, were included on their 2019-album as a pre-listen. Secret Garden will for sure continue to mesmerize their many fans all over the world in the years to come with their beautiful Neo-Classical instrumental music and other melodies.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #134 April 2020, called “The Pilot” is another beautiful melodic Neo-Classical instrumental song written by Rolf Løvland and performed by Secret Garden. Let this beautiful, relaxing music soothe your soul in these troubling times. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter Secret Garden again in the FSC for Norway.

Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for April!

Secret Garden - The Pilot

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#134 - April 2020

SWEDEN

Klara & Jag
Måste jag dö?

PRESENTATION:

For this edition, Sweden is sending the female Pop-duo Klara & Jag consisting of 25-year olds Klara Wörmann and Johanna Frostling. The duo debuted back in 2017 with the single Samma gamla nätter [Same Old Nights] and released their debut EP Storyn of My Life the following year. The duo blends Pop with indie-Pop and sometimes also Swedish-styled Schlager-Pop and 80's Pop, the latter influences can be heard in this edition's entry Måste jag dö? [Do I Have to Die?], the duo's sixth single to date which was released in 2019. The catchy Pop song has traces of both Swedish Schlager-Pop as well as 1980's synth-Pop, and like so many other songs, talks about a relationship that is about break down.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
Ser dig över stan, det börjar mörkna nu
Fåglarna flyr som att dom vet nåt mer
Det har vart stormigt ett tag (Uh-uh)
Svårt att andas med regn i luften
Ändå stannar vi kvar (Uh-uh)
Sprickor i våra glas, jag fryser
Jag fryser

[Chorus]
Måste jag dö för att du ska förstå?
Du sabbar mitt hjärta när du håller på
What is love? Ska det vara så svårt?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Verse 2]
I dunkelt ljus, vi borde pratat ut (Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh)
Hur vet man att det är dags att gå nu? (Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh)
Trött på vardagens brus (Uh-uh)
Trött på myrornas krig på TV:n
Känns som dom är som vi (Uh-uh)
Gamla vanor helt utan mening
Det var aldrig med mening

[Chorus]
Måste jag dö för att du ska förstå?
Du sabbar mitt hjärta när du håller på
What is love? Ska det vara så svårt?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Bridge]
Om det här var domedagen
Om det var vår chans tillbaka
Hade vi gjort annat?
Sagt förlåt och blivit sams?

[Chorus]
Måste jag dö för att du ska förstå?
Du sabbar mitt hjärta när du håller på
What is love? Ska det vara så svårt?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö för att du ska förstå?
Du sabbar mitt hjärta när du håller på
What is love? Ska det vara så svårt?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Måste jag dö?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Outro]
(Baby, don't hurt me no more)
(Baby, don't hurt me no more)

LYRICS [ENGLISH TRANSLATION]:

[Verse 1]
Seeing you over the city, it's getting dark now
The birds flee as if they know something more
It's been stormy for a while (Uh-uh)
Hard to breathe with rain in the air
Still we stay (Uh-uh)
Cracks in our glasses, I'm freezing
I'm freezing

[Chorus]
Do I have to die for you to understand?
You destroy my heart as you go on
What is love? Should it be so difficult?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Verse 2]
In dim light, we should have talked it out (Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh)
How do one know it's time to go now? (Uh-uh-uh, uh-uh-uh)
Tired of the everyday noise (Uh-uh)
Tired of the noise* on the TV
Feels like they're like us (Uh-uh)
Old habits completely without meaning
It was never on purpose

[Chorus]
Do I have to die for you to understand?
You destroy my heart as you go on
What is love? Should it be so difficult?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Bridge]
If this was the doomsday
If that was our chance (coming) back
Had we done otherwise?
Say sorry and make up?

[Chorus]
Do I have to die for you to understand?
You destroy my heart as you go on
What is love? Should it be so difficult?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die for you to understand?
You destroy my heart as you go on
What is love? Should it be so difficult?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more
Do I have to die?
Baby, don't hurt me no more

[Outro]
(Baby, don't hurt me no more)
(Baby, don't hurt me no more)

*TV noise refers to a random dot pixel pattern of static displayed when no transmission signal is obtained in analog video or television, in Swedish this is called "myrornas krig" (= "war of the ants")

 

[theditz83]

FSC #134 APRIL 2020

UK ENTRY

Skinny Living - No Messiah

This month, UK is lowering the tempo and letting the vocals do the talking with a beautiful, heartfelt ballad from the band Skinny Living.

Skinny Living are a three piece English indie rock band from Wakefield, England. The band is made up of a blend of vocalists, songwriters and musicians; namely Ryan Johnston (lead vocals), Will Booth (guitar), and Danny Hepworth (guitar). The band signed to RCA Records in 2017, before switching to Polydor in 2019. That same year saw them have their tracks featured on the likes of Clash Magazine, play over 250 shows, and being selected to headline the "Live at Leeds festival alongside the likes of Tom Grennan, Sam Fender and Lauren Aquilina. For 2020 (subject to COVID-19 passing) they are going to be touring with The Kaiser Chiefs as well as headlining their own shows in London and Leeds. (source: Wikipedia)

"No Messiah" tells the story of a man who gives everything to a partner in terms of emotional support and love, but ultimately he has come to the terrible realisation that no amount of support can help mend the mental and emotional scars that the partner suffers from. He vows to always be there but that the only way that things can improve is for his partner to help themselves. A real raw and relatable message that definitely hit home for me, and it's delivered with passion and pain by Ryan with his vocals beautifully expressing the pain of helplessness.

Lyrics:
I don't know what to tell ya
I can see that you're scared and you're reaching out
I've always com running to the rescue
I told you come whatever
I'd be there, I would fight to protect you
I'm trying but the battle's inside you

I hear you cry for help
But you gotta save yourself
This is the only thing that I can't do for you
If I could draw out your pain
I'd colour you in again
You know I'm here
But there is nothing I can do
You don't need me
No prayer, no messiah
To save you

Looking in the mirror
You see weak, you see small, you see hopeless
Whatever's on your mind comes back to you
If you could see what I see
You are brave, you are beautiful
Darling, your saviour's inside you

I hear you cry for help
But you gotta save yourself
This is the only thing that I can't do for you
If I could draw out your pain
I'd colour you in again
You know I'm here
But there is nothing I can do
You don't need me
No prayer, no messiah

I know you
Oh, I know you
Darling, you'll pull through again

I hear you cry for help
But you gotta save yourself
This is the only thing that I can't do for you
If I could draw out your pain
I'd colour you in again
You know I'm here
But there is nothing I can do
You don't need me
No prayer, no messiah
You don't need me
No prayer, no messiah
To save you​

 

[Malagant]

FSC Norway - May 2020 - KEiiNO - Colours ​

Representing Norway in FSC May 2020, and returning to the FSC for Norway, are the Eurovision-famous Norwegian/Sami group KEiiNO who won the popular televote in ESC 2019. Here is some more information about them.

KEiiNO is a Norwegian/Sami Folk-pop group consisting of Norwegian singers Tom Hugo and Alexandra Rotan, and Norwegian Sámi rapper/joiker Fred Buljo.

The group was established in the late summer of 2018 when Tom Hugo (songwriter) and partner Alex Olsson began writing "Spirit in the Sky", a Norwegian/Sami Folk-pop song inspired by historical struggles for equality. Later the singer Alexandra Rotan and Sámi rapper/joiker Fred Buljo (also member of the Norwegian-Sami group Duolva Duottar) joined the project which became a Norwegian-Sami co-project.

The group name KEiiNO was inspired by the name of Fred Buljo's home town Kautokeino (Sami: Guovdageaidnu). The last part -geaidnu translates to the "way" or "road" which Buljo stated "represents the road that brought us together".

Although the three singers had had some success as solo artists, their dreams were truly realised after joining forces - a force the Sámi (the indigenous people of Norway) believe you can find connecting with nature. The northern lights, dancing colourful and free, serve as a symbol of how KEiiNO believes everyone should be allowed to feel - regardless of who they love, how they look or where they are from. KEiiNO dares to dream that their music will inspire people all over the world to rise above differences and work together.

“Spirit in the Sky” was entered in Melodi Grand Prix (MGP) 2019, quickly became a fan favourite, and it ended up winning the national final. In the ESC-final the entry received the highest points from the European public’s televoting, winning the televote with an impressive 291 points, ending 6th in the end (including jury-votes).

“Spirit in the Sky” became a huge and popular hit around Europe entering the charts in many countries. After ESC, KEiiNO released several other songs, a cover-version of the US-song “Shallow”, the single “Praying”, another cover in Swedish “Vill Ha Dig”, and finally a new original single “Dancing in the Smoke” released in October 2019. This new single was the Norwegian entry in FSC November 2019.

The song resembled their ESC-song in style and was another Norwegian/Sami Folk-pop melody with catchy joyous rhythms and ethnic joik, all set in KEiiNO’s familiar musical style and universe.

In 2020 KEiiNO have released several new singles, among them “Black Leather” and “Would I Lie” which both are slightly different in style from their signature sound. They have, however, also released the single “Colours”, performed in both Sami language and English, which is more in their traditional style of music. This is the song chosen by the Norwegian jury as the Norwegian entry here in FSC May 2020.

KEiiNO are going to release their debut-album in mid-May 2020 which it is believed will include all their released singles.

This is a talented and popular Norwegian/Sami Folk-pop group from whom we will without doubt hear more in the years to come.

The Norwegian entry for FSC #135 May 2020, called “Colours”, is a melodic Sami/Norwegian Folk-pop Schlager-song by the popular ESC-famous Norwegian/Sami group KEiiNO. The Norwegian jury is happy to enter KEiiNO again in the FSC for Norway.

Below are the lyrics in Sami language and English for the song. Hope you’ll enjoy the Norwegian entry for May!

KEiiNO - Colours

Dovddus jiena
Mun gulan čuorvumen
Ja ii ge goassege játta šat
Addá fámu
Ja addá jáhku munnje
Ja ahte visot šaddá buorre fas

Call me when the light is fading
I will find you
We can find the colours in the night

Oh, colours
Break the silence
Together now
You're stronger when you're with me
Ja min luđiin
Together now

Čuođi ivnni
Rájiid baddjel mannet
Čohkke olbmuid birra máilmmi (Máilmmi)
Addá fámu
Ja addá ráhkisvuođa
Dego dolla jigŋon duoddaris (Duoddaris)

Oh, colours
Break the silence
Together now
You're stronger when you're with me
Ja min luđiin
Together now

Show me where your heart is singing
I will follow your colours
We will be a choir in the night

Oh, colour the night
Break the silence
Together now
You're stronger when you're with me
Ja min luđiin
Together now

-M​

 

[A-lister]

FSC#135 - May 2020

SWEDEN

Måns Zelmerlöw
One

PRESENTATION:

May usually means Eurovision month, but due to the circumstances we currently face, as every Eurovision fan out there is aware of, we need to wait until next year to (hopefully) have that same annual feeling again. However, in celebration of the Eurovision spirit, in timing with the month, Sweden is sending our latest winner of the contest Måns Zelmerlöw and the catchy and timeless, almost Eurovision-esque, mid-tempo Pop entry One , taken from the singer's sixth standard studio album released in the autumn of 2019.

Zelmerlöw's career started back in 2005 at the age of 19 when he entered, and ultimately ended up fifth, in the Swedish Idol -TV talent show. It wasn't until two years later however that he would release his first single Cara Mia, which was also his first entry to the Swedish selection Melodifestivalen for the Eurovision Song Contest, where he ended up third in the final. The single also gave Måns his first number 1 single on the official Swedish Singles charts, followed by his debut album titled Stand by For... which also topped the Swedish Album charts as well as included the top. 10 single Brother Oh Brother.

In 2009, Zelmerlöw would once again try his luck at representing Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time with the entry Hope & Glory, which ended up fourth in the final of the national selection and gave Zelmerlöw his second top. 3 single in the charts, followed by his second chart topping album MZW. Skipping past two Christmas album releases and his third standard studio album, Zelmerlöw would have his 'third time the charm'- moment in 2015 when he ultimately won the ticket to represent Sweden in Eurovision Song Contest that year with the entry Heroes which also went on to win the whole European final, giving Sweden its sixth victory in the contest since the country's debut in 1958.

Apart from his career as a recording artist, Zelmerlöw has also starred in various musicals and had a quite successful career as a TV-host, co-hosting Melodifestivalen 2010 , Eurovision Song Contest 2016 and the British national selection to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 as well as being the the sole host of the popular annual Swedish music sing-a-long TV summer show Allsång på Skansen between the years 2011-12.

LYRICS:

[Verse 1]
You're saying that we fight too much
Don't make any sense
Been telling your friends
And they don't ever fight like us
They just playing pretend
And making amends
They're saying we don't try enough
That you gotta give in
To win anything
They're saying that we might break up
'Cause we fight too much

[Bridge]
Why're you listening to what they have to say?
Like there's no exception to the rules we never made

[Chorus]
All I know's if one burst
Break us down to two hurting
In just a few words
I'm still here for you
And if it's working for us
Going through a few turns
'Til it's just the two of us
Starting from new
Then maybe we're the one

We could be the one, the one exception
We could be the one, the one exception
To all the other ones who never guessed
We're the one, the one, the one, the one, the one

[Verse 2]
'Cause baby I believe in us
We can battle the wind
We'll come back again
'Cause no one knows a storm like us
Baby I believe in us

[Bridge]
Why're you listening to what they have to say?
Like there's no exception to the rules we never made

[Chorus]
All I know's if one burst
Break us down to two hurting
In just a few words
I'm still here for you
And if it's working for us
Going through a few turns
'Til it's just the two of us
Starting from new
Then maybe we're the one

We could be the one, the one exception
We could be the one, the one exception
To all the other ones who never guessed
We're the one, the one, the one, the one, the one

We could be the one, the one exception
We could be the one, the one exception
To all the other ones who never guessed
We're the one, the one, the one, the one, the one

One burst
Break us down to two hurting
In just a few words
I'm still here for you
And if it's working for us
Going through a few turns
'Til it's just the two of us
Starting from new

All I know's if one burst
Break us down to two hurting
In just a few words
I'm still here for you
And if it's working for us
Going through a few turns
'Til it's just the two of us
Starting from new
Then maybe we're the one

We could be the one, the one exception
We could be the one, the one exception
To all the other ones who never guessed
We're the one, the one, the one, the one, the one

We could be the one, the one exception
We could be the one, the one exception
To all the other ones who never guessed
We're the one, the one, the one, the one, the one