Initially, the band played several concerts in Bergen and Western Norway during 2007 and 2008. Their song "Diamanter & Kirsebær" was released on a compilation disc titled Opplett 2008 featuring music from Bergen-based acts including Fjorden Baby!, Kommode, The New Wine, Razika, Di Kjipe and Lars Vaular. In addition, they opened for Norwegian rock band Fjorden Baby! in a major concert on 18 December 2008.
The band was featured on NRK Urørt broadcast on P3 n 2008, and one of the finalists for best act in Urørt's annual show finishing in third place. In February 2009, they performed at the by:Larm music festival in Oslo. Also in February 2009, they were signed to Norwegian record label Voices Music & Entertainment (also known as VM&E).
The band's debut album was released on 14 September 2009 and well-received by critics and selling over 15,000 of the album. During Spellemannprisen equivalent to the Grammys held on 6 March 2010, they won the classic rock award in addition to being nominated for "best newcomer of 2009".
On 7 February 2011, the band released their second album Det nærmeste du kommer followed by an EP Vinterkarusellen with Nils Bech in February 2012.
JON&Gjengen split up as friends in 2013 as announced on Facebook by John Olav himself, and was followed by several concerts with the last one ever being held in Bergen November 16th.
De vakreste taperne
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eldre menn som burde vært foreldre
Men bare sparker
I støvet av engler med nye sko
Hon elsker dans
Som en kur mot honnes vanlige etternavn
Og at hon vil
Gifte seg med meg e bare så bisart
Vi e de vakreste taperne
De vakreste taperne
Frykten gjør oss fryktelig
Fryktelig fryktløs
Som en god bok
Om dårlige mennesker
Eg kysset sporet
Krysset grensen og spyttet på historien
Alt eg lærte var
Bare se kor lett det e
Hon har blomster i håret
Sitter på skinnene og venter på toget
Ut av en verden som sover
Og som aldri så hon
Frykten gjorde oss fryktelig
Fryktelig fryktløs
Som en god bok
Om dårlige mennesker
Eg ser oss
Eg tror eg ser oss
Eg ser oss i skogen med åpne armer
Der vi prøver å fange
Eg ser oss i skogen med åpne armer
Der vi prøver å fange
Små, små slanger
Vi e de vakreste taperne
De vakreste taperne
Vi e de vakreste taperne
De vakreste taperne
The lyrics for De vakreste taperne by John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen talk about being with people who are older and should be acting like parents but instead are stuck in their old ways. They kick up the dust of what could have been and what should have been, instead of accepting the reality of things. The song also mentions a woman who loves to dance, as a way to escape from her boring last name and the fact that she wants to marry the singer is just bizarre.
The song talks about the fear that makes us fearless, like a good book about bad people. It describes how the singer has crossed the line, kissed the track and spat on history. The only thing the singer really learned from it all is how easy it is to do. The woman mentioned before has flowers in her hair and is waiting for a train that will take her out of this world that's always asleep and never notices her.
The lyrics conclude by saying that they, the people in the song, are the most beautiful losers, with arms wide open in the woods, trying to catch small snakes, as a metaphor for trying to hold on to what they have and make the most out of it.
Line by Line Meaning
Eg henger med
I hang out with
Eldre menn som burde vært foreldre
Older men who should have been parents
Men bare sparker
But they just kick
I støvet av engler med nye sko
In the dust of angels with new shoes
Hon elsker dans
She loves dancing
Som en kur mot honnes vanlige etternavn
As a cure for her common last name
Og at hon vil
And that she wants
Gifte seg med meg e bare så bisart
To marry me is just so bizarre
Vi e de vakreste taperne
We are the most beautiful losers
De vakreste taperne
The most beautiful losers
Frykten gjør oss fryktelig
Fear makes us terribly
Fryktelig fryktløs
Terribly fearless
Som en god bok
Like a good book
Om dårlige mennesker
About bad people
Eg kysset sporet
I kissed the track
Krysset grensen og spyttet på historien
Crossed the border and spat on history
Alt eg lærte var
All I learned was
Bare se kor lett det e
Just see how easy it is
Hon har blomster i håret
She has flowers in her hair
Sitter på skinnene og venter på toget
Sitting on the tracks waiting for the train
Ut av en verden som sover
Out of a world that sleeps
Og som aldri så hon
And never saw her
Eg ser oss
I see us
Eg tror eg ser oss
I think I see us
I skogen med åpne armer
In the woods with open arms
Der vi prøver å fange små, små slanger
Where we try to catch tiny, tiny snakes
Vi e de vakreste taperne
We are the most beautiful losers
De vakreste taperne
The most beautiful losers
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.