One of the most worn out sayings in the history of music is the concept of … Read Full Bio ↴One of the most worn out sayings in the history of music is the concept of «the difficult second album». Especially when you have made a grand debut, like Daniel Kvammen made with «Fremad i alle retninga» in 2015. The album was nominated to three Norwegian Grammys, the single «Du fortenar ein som meg» was one of the most played songs on the radio channel NRK P3, and Kvammen’s journey from the ski lift at Geilo to glossy magazine pages and big TV appearances quickly became a genuine, modern music fairytale.

But when you start playing «Vektlaus» it’s soon evident that Kvammen is an artist who enjoys having a knife to his throat. With the help of famous musicians and his producer Even Ormestad, the man from Geilo has carved out an astoundingly vital album that bubbles with melodies, big emotions and a reckless delight in conveying music.

The sound is a lot more synth-driven and modern than on the debut album, but thematically, Kvammen’s lyrics on «Vektlaus» are centered around the eternal topic. Love, and specifically the loss of it, permeates the nine songs that constitute the record. With a commendable openness, the different stages of a breakup is portrayed, and our thoughts go to classic breakup albums like Springsteen’s «Tunnel Of Love» and Dylan’s «Blood On The Tracks».

But there’s light even in the deepest darkness, and in the album’s epic final song, «Det beste ventar fortsatt», Daniel rises from the ashes and the chaos, and establishes that:

Universet det er stort
Og me er så små me to
Men har du tenkt på kor befriande det er at det er uendeleg
Og av alt ditt auge ser
Så er lyset det sterkaste som er

23. desember
Daniel Kvammen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Strømmen gikk i huset i dag
15 minutt, og det vart kaldt som faen
Far min forbanna, Hallingdal kraftlag
Nå sitt eg her aleina med eit vealag
For her i Skålen feira eg
Her er det fint, her er det fred
For her i Skålen feira eg
Eg svina øksa, kløve ved

Inne pynta dei juletre
Mens dei starta vedenskrig 3
Jævla koselig med familie tid
Med nervevrak etter syster mi sitt psykopati
For her i Skålen feira eg
Her er det fint, her er det fred
For her i Skålen feira eg

Eg svina øksa, kløve ved
Og kanskje eg skulle blitt her til over nyttår
Komplementert på stubben og slept alt bråk
Men eg er redd at mor mi snart for slag
Får gå inn til ho og si at alt går bra
For her i Skålen feira eg
Her er det fint, her er det fred
23. Desember, her er eg
Eg svina øksa, kløve ved
For her i Skålen feira eg
Her er det fint, her er det fred
23. Desember, her er eg
Eg svina øksa, kløve ved

Eg svina øksa, kløve ved
Lyrics Submitted by Håvard Halvorsen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Daniel Kvammen's song "23. desember" reveal a complicated mix of emotions as the singer spends Christmas Eve in his family's cabin in Skålen. The singer notes that the power went out in the cabin earlier, leaving him alone and cold. As he splits wood with an axe outside the cabin, he observes the warm glow of Christmas decorations inside and reflects on the strange combination of emotions the holiday season brings. On one hand, he is grateful for the peace and beauty of the cabin and the chance to split wood and enjoy solitude. On the other hand, he is aware of the tension and trauma within his family, including a sister struggling with mental illness.

The chorus repeats the phrase "For her i Skålen feira eg" ("Here in Skålen, I celebrate") several times, emphasizing the singer's intention to find joy and meaning in the present moment despite the challenges he faces. Overall, the song paints a complex picture of the holiday season, alternating between moments of warmth, beauty, and joy and darker, more painful memories and realities.

Line by Line Meaning

Strømmen gikk i huset i dag
The power went out in the house today

15 minutt, og det vart kaldt som faen
It only took 15 minutes for it to get freezing cold

Far min forbanna, Hallingdal kraftlag
My father is angry at Hallingdal power company

Nå sitt eg her aleina med eit vealag
Now I'm sitting alone with a bad mood

For her i Skålen feira eg
Here in Skålen I celebrate

Her er det fint, her er det fred
It's beautiful and peaceful here

Eg svina øksa, kløve ved
I'm chopping wood with my axe

Inne pynta dei juletre
Inside they're decorating Christmas trees

Mens dei starta vedenskrig 3
While they started World War 3

Jævla koselig med familie tid
Damn cozy with family time

Med nervevrak etter syster mi sitt psykopati
With anxiety after my sister's psychopathy