Arne Joachim Bendiksen, born October 19, 1926 in Bergen, Norway, is a Norwe… Read Full Bio ↴Arne Joachim Bendiksen, born October 19, 1926 in Bergen, Norway, is a Norwegian singer, composer and producer.

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, he was a major figure in Norwegian popular music. First, as a member of the group The Monn Keys, later as soloist and composer for other artists. Besides writing his own songs, he also translated many foreign hits into Norwegian, making them Norwegian hits. Arne Bendiksen took part in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selections several times, both as an artist and as a songwriter. Three times he represented Norway in Eurovision as singer; in 1964 with Spiral as soloist, in 1973 with Å, for et spill and in 1974 with Hvor er du?. Four times he took part as composer, most memorable as songwriter for Åse Kleveland's Intet er nytt under solen in 1966, finishing a strong third.

Beginning in 1964 he was the boss of his own record company. Thanks to him, popular artists like Wenche Myhre and Kirsti Sparboe reached fame. However, in the Eurovision Song Contest finals of 1969, Norway received a mere 1 point for the song Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli, which was composed by Arne Bendiksen and performed by Kirsti Sparboe.

Arne did not let this crush his spirits though, and he continued his dedicated work as a singer/songwriter throughout the 70s. In the 80s, he gave a shot at the popular children's cassette industry and released his major children's work Barnefest i Andeby - Children's party in Duckburg - a cassette filled with catchy songs about the various Disney characters inhabiting the fictional city of Duckburg. This popular cassette got a sequel, released especially for the christmas season, called Jul i Andeby - Christmas in Duckburg.

He is still active today. In June 2006, his all-new self-composed children's musical stage debuted in the small elementary school Fjellstrand Skole in Nesodden, Akershus.

Spiral
Arne Bendiksen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Livet har nå fått fasong
Jeg føler meg sveisen og fjong
Svever i lykkerus
Rundt i et kremmerhus
Under en rosa ballong

Verden er bare sol
Ballongen er mitt symbol

Å, som jeg svever
Å, som jeg lever
Bong

Nynner så glad på en trall
Hjem frå et vellykket ball
Månen som viser vei
Smiler så glad til meg
Hjernen er tøm som et skall

Jeg simpelthen bare er
Til på den veien her
Danser av sted mens
Tanker går i spiral

Ta deg sammen, min venn!
Hvor går idéene hen?
Til det poenget
I det refrenget
Som stadig kommer igjen

Livet har nå fått fasong
Jeg føler meg sveisen og fjong
Svever i lykkerus
Rundt i et kremmerhus
Under en rosa ballong

Verden er bare sol
Ballongen er mitt symbol
Å, som jeg svever
Å, som jeg lever
Bong

Livet har nå fått fasong
Jeg føler meg sveisen og fjong
Svever i lykkerus
Rundt i et kremmerhus
Under en rosa ballong

Verden er bare sol
Ballongen er mitt symbol
Å, som jeg svever
Å, som jeg lever
Bong, bong
Bong, bong
Å, som jeg svever

Å, som jeg lever
Bong, bong

Overall Meaning

In Arne Bendiksen's song "Spiral," the first verse describes a feeling of contentment and joy in life. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels stylish and elated as they spin through life like a top "under a pink balloon." The balloon seems to represent a symbol of freedom, and the singer feels as if they are radiating happiness and positive energy. In the second verse, the singer continues to hum contentedly after returning home from a successful ball. They describe feeling emptied of negative thoughts and worries while dancing with their mind spiraling in contemplation.

In the bridge, the singer questions where their ideas go and where their thoughts are focused. However, the refrain's resounding message is that life has taken on a new shape, and the singer is feeling cool, calm, and collected. The song's repetition of "Å, som jeg svever, Å, som jeg lever, Bong" emphasizes the idea of feeling light and free.

Line by Line Meaning

Livet har nå fått fasong
My life has now taken shape

Jeg føler meg sveisen og fjong
I feel cool and good-looking

Svever i lykkerus
I'm floating in happiness

Rundt i et kremmerhus
Around in a wonderland

Under en rosa ballong
Under a pink balloon

Verden er bare sol
The world is just sunshine

Ballongen er mitt symbol
The balloon is my symbol

Å, som jeg svever
Oh, how I'm floating

Å, som jeg lever
Oh, how I'm living

Bong
Bong

Nynner så glad på en trall
Humming happily to a tune