Countries all over Europe are currenty involved in their national competitions that will choose the performers that will represent them at the Eurovision 2009 contest.
Last week,Norway's competition — Melodi Gran Prix — held its semi-finals. A new pop star, Alexander Rybak, won with his tune "Fairytale".
He performed the tune backed by members of the FRIKAR dance company. Fans of Norway's traditional dance and music scene will recognize the FRIKAR dancers as laus / halling dancers Hallgrim Hansegård, Sigbjørn Rua og Torkjell Lunde Børsheim. Their dance, based on laus/halling, was choreographed by Hansegård.
Rybak, who immigrated to Norway from Belarus as a child, has said that he didn't plan to write a "folk tune", but he found that the music went in that direction. Hansegård has noted in interviews that the tune is a "groovy" pop number and well-suited for laus/halling.
By winning the semi-finals, Rybak and FRIKAR now head for the Melodi Gran Prix finals and — if they win that — they will advance as Norway's representatives to the Eurovision 2009 competition which will be held in Moscow in May.
Can't say that the lyrics impress me that much, nor do the female backup singers. But I like the beat and really like the inclusion of FRIKAR, giving it more of a Norwegian flavor than your average Eurovision entry. Norwegian halling dancers — delightful to the eyes!
Fairytale
Music & lyrics by Alexander Rybak
Years ago when I was younger,
I kinda liked I girl I knew,
She was mine and we were sweethearts,
That was then, but then it's true.I'm in love with a fairytale,
Even though it hurts.
'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind.
I'm already cursed.Everyday we started fighting.
Every night we fell in love.
No one else could make me sadder
No one else could lift me high above.I don't know what I was doing
But suddenly we fell apart.
Nowadays I cannot find her,
but when I do, we'll get a brand new start.I'm in love with a fairytale,
even though it hurts.
'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind.
I'm already cursed.She's a fairytale, yeah,
Even though it hurts.
I don't care if I lose my mind.
I'm already cursed.
