The band was founded by Janove Ottesen and Geir Zahl, two childhood friends from the small town of Bryne, Rogaland, Norway. The two had earlier played in several bands together, including Blod, snått & juling, and gnom. The musical and lyrical style of Kaizers Orchestra was in part conceptualized during the active period of latter group. Despite the release of a studio album, Mys, any recognition eluded gnom. However, one song written during gnom's active period, called "Hemmelig beskjed", featuring a musical style the group themselves labeled "ompa" music, which elicited significant response from live audiences. This inspired Ottesen to compose a new song, "Bastard"; the song's dissonant sound and absurd storytelling lyrics, clearly inspired by Tom Waits, as well as the unusual inclusion of oil barrels as percussion, inspired them to reinvent their sound, image and name. Kaizers Orchestra was officially founded on 1 January 2000; it was initially a five-piece group that naturally evolved from gnom, with Ottesen as primary vocalist, Zahl as guitarist and secondary vocalist, drummer Rune Solheim, organist Helge Risa, and Jon Sjøen, an educated musician who had become a member of gnom after their previous bassist quit.
Throughout 2000, Kaizers Orchestra held sporadic performances at various small venues in Norway, having received little to no publicity at the time. In July of that year, Ottesen and Zahl performed acoustic shows at Det Beste Stedet in Sandnes, their sets consisting of partly Blod, snått & juling, gnom and newly-written Kaizers Orchestra material. A 14-track demo was recorded, but Ottesen and Zahl grew frustrated at finding it hard to bring their vision for the band to tape. They recorded an unnamed EP in 2000, known as Gul EP (Yellow EP), featuring a recording of "Bastard" (which had not been recorded while gnom was active). After months of struggling, they finally signed a deal with the independent label BroilerFarm. In 2001, Terje Vinterstø (later Terje Winterstø Røthing) joined the band as their first guitarist. In the studio, co-producers Jørgen Træen and Stian Carstensen succesfully aided the group in capturing Ottesen and Zahl's vision for the band's sound, and the album was recorded in six days, "leaving the last day for partying."
Their debut album, Ompa til du dør, was released on 1 September 2001, receiving high praise from critics and launching them into the national spotlight. The album would go on to win a Spellemannspris (the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy Awards) and become the best-selling Norwegian rock album of all time. Subsequently, as bookings became more and more frequent, Kaizers Orchestra performed in nearly every part of Norway until the end of the year. Early 2002 saw the release of their second EP, Død manns tango. In the summer, they released another EP, Mann mot mann, and performed their first international live concert at the prestigious Roskilde Festival in Denmark, to much critical praise. In early 2003, they performed as part of the Eurosonic festival in the Netherlands, where they made a huge impression on both festival-goers and music business executives.
On 3 February 2003, their second studio album, Evig pint, was released. This album was cited as having a darker atmosphere, and notably included only one song featuring oil barrels, which had become a trademark for the band by then. The album did not receive the same level of critical acclaim their debut album did, nor did it sell as well. Despite this, the band went on a highly successful tour, now often including shows outside of Norway as well, helping to build an international fan base. Later in 2003, Ottesen and Zahl released a remastered version of Mys, the only official release by gnom, including a recording of "Bastard", despite the fact that the track had been recorded only after the band's dissolution. In the same year, Jon Sjøen would leave the group for personal reasons, with the group promptly making Øyvind Storesund, who had served as substitute for Sjøen at concerts he was unable to attend, their new bassist.
In 2004, they signed a recording contract with Universal Germany, and a majority of their backlog was re-released in European countries. By this time, the band had performed in nearly all major countries in Europe. In 2005, they released their third studio album, Maestro, which was released in certain European countries as well as Norway. The album received a majority of positive reviews, however, some were disappointed (the album received the lowest marks given from a Swedish magazine in some time) and the album failed to sell as well as the record company planned, something which the band blamed on little support and promotion from Universal Germany. Nevertheless, the Kaizers embarked on the "Maestro Tour", spanning over ten countries, which perpetuated into 2006.
After the release of their first live album, Live at Vega (as well as a live DVD, Viva La Vega) in 2006, Kaizers announced that they were embarking on a one-year hiatus from performing in 2007. The "Grand Finale Tour" commenced in the fall of 2006, spanning more than 10 countries, culminating in four consecutive shows at Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark; the same venue in which Live at Vega and Viva La Vega were recorded. Concurrently, Kontroll på kontinentet, a book about Kaizers Orchestra and their past, present and future, chronicling their rise from obscure guitar duo to one of the biggest Norwegian music exports in some time, was released. It was written by Geir Zahl's brother Jan Zahl, and featured photos taken by their staff photographer Paal Audestad.
Despite their previously announced hiatus from live performances, the band played three shows in 2007; One at their old favorite, the club Folken in Stavanger, at the Documenta 12 art expo in Germany, and the Sziget Festival in Hungary. Shortly after the Sziget concert, information was released pertaining to their next album. Their fourth studio album, Maskineri, was released on 18 February 2008. It received favorable reviews in Scandaniavian press. The supporting tour received great response and was followed up with a summer tour, with the band performing at various festivals throughout Europe. In the fall of 2008, the band released 250 Prosent, a live compilation album featuring recordings from the Maskineri Tour. Shortly thereafter, the band embarked on the 250 Prosent Tour, during which they played rare songs that they had dropped from setlists long time ago or had never really played much in the first place. Notably, very few songs from Maskineri were played at these concerts.
Early in 2009, Kaizers Orchestra released information concerning a new studio album called Våre demoner; a compilation of re-recordings of songs that had not been released for various reasons. This selection of songs spanned the band's entire career up to that point, and some songs which ultimately appeared on Våre demoner had been bootlegged by the fan community or otherwise leaked, among them the titular song "Våre demoner", of which a demo version was leaked. The album was released in limited quantities on 27 April 2009, followed by a subsequent mini-tour of small venues in Norway. The events of the week of the tour was captured on film by Geir Zahl, as were the recording sessions for the album.
In 2007, Ottesen composed two to three songs a day for the duration of ten days as part of a massive creative outpouring he was experiencing at that time. In the fall of 2009, basic information regarding the upcoming studio album was released, citing a 2011 release date. The band announced a Studio Tour of venues across Norway; the proceedings from these concerts were to finance the next studio album. Attendees were to be given a special edition of the new album at a later point in time. On 10 February 2010, the album's title and format were revealed; it would be a series of three albums, each a part of a trilogy known as Violeta Violeta, to be released gradually throughout 2011 and 2012.
One of the singles from Violeta Violeta Volume I, "Hjerteknuser", became the most successful single of the band's career, and was also the subject of a contest that allowed unsigned talent to cover the song; the prize was an opportunity to perform as a support act for the band, and have their version officially released. Volume I was released on 31 January 2011, and received a varying reception, although critics accentuated positives more than negatives. Concerts for the supporting tour incorporated abstract storytelling visuals projected onto a screen on-stage. The final concert of the tour, to be held at Oslo Spektrum on 9 April 2011, served as the band's tenth anniversary celebration. The entire performance was recorded and released as Live i Oslo Spektrum on 11 November 2011 on CD as well as home video formats.
Violeta Violeta Volume II was released on 11 November 2011; the album's first single, "Tusen dråper regn", was released on 31 May 2011. Around the same time, the many remixed versions of "En for orgelet, en for meg", a song from Volume I, were released as the En for orgelet, en for meg digital EP. On 11 August 2011, Violeta Violeta Volume II was performed, in its entirety, for the very first time at the Øya Festival in Oslo, Norway. Notably, the album features Zahl's return to the position of lead vocalist on the songs he has composed for the album; this has not occurred since the release of Evig pint ("Stormfull vals", featured on Våre demoner, was originally written before the release of their first album, and as such do not meet the specifics).
The promotion for the final installment of the Violeta Violeta trilogy began with "The Kaizervirus", an enigmatic viral marketing campaign. The first single from the album, "Aldri vodka, Violeta", was released in September 2012, and Violeta Violeta Volume III was released on November 2, 2012. Following several tour dates in 2013 (including their first ever concert in the UK), they have announced an indefinite hiatus from performing as a group after an extended series of concerts at the DNB Arena in Stavanger, situated in Ottesen and Zahl's home county of Rogaland. The final concert performance for the foreseeable future took place on 15 September 2013. While the group has cited that a reunion is more or less inevitable, when this will occur is unknown for now.
Markedet bestemmer
Kaizers Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me skal gjer furore på markedet i Lahore
Og svarte katter smyger rundt mi datter
Snart bader me i Østens skatter
Mmm, markedet bestemmer
Mmm, markedet bestemmer
Mmm, markedet bestemmer
Hør lyden av fløyta til en slangetemmer
Det er ikkje opp til oss
For markedet bestemmer
For når eg drømmer er livet som det kunne vært
Om me to var sammen
For det kan de aldri ta fra meg
Gud vett at de har prøvd
Men ditt nærvær er fortsatt sterkt
For når eg drømmer
Alt svever fint forbi, eg glemmer sted eg glemmer tid
For når eg drømmer
Ingen kan ta fra meg det eg ser i drømme
Du har lovt at én dag skal me dra her ifra
Og om et speil kan ta så feil, då må alt vær et bedrag
Orda som du sa til meg i drømmane du planta for meg
Løfta meg opp, ut av min kropp til deg
Oh, og når eg våkner, eg står opp kver morgen, til et svart savn
Og når du mangler; det er som å bli hogd i hjerta av en svart ravn
Og orda som du sa til meg i drømmane du planta for meg
Løfta meg opp, ut av min kropp til deg
The lyrics of Kaizers Orchestra's song "Markedet Bestemmer" tells a story about sailing to Singapore and making a name for oneself in the market of Lahore. The song talks about black cats and bathing in the treasures of the East, setting the scene for an adventurous voyage. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that the market decides and that one should follow their instincts and take things as they come. The sound of a snake charmer's flute is mentioned, highlighting the exotic ambiance.
The second verse changes the tone to a more personal one, where the singer dreams about what life could have been like if they were together with someone they loved. They express how no one can take away those dreams, and that even in dreams, everything is perfect. The third verse brings back the idea of leaving the current situation and starting anew with the one they love. The ending emphasizes the power of dreams and how they can lift a person out of themselves and towards something better.
Overall, the song seems to be about finding one's place in the world, and how sometimes we have to leave what we know behind and take risks in order to find success and happiness. The lyrics also touch on the idea that dreams and imagination can be powerful tools for escaping reality and finding hope in difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Lang natts seilas til Singapore
We are embarking on a long journey to Singapore, hoping to make a name for ourselves in the markets of Lahore
Me skal gjer furore på markedet i Lahore
We aim to cause a stir in the marketplaces of Lahore with our unique offerings and skills
Og svarte katter smyger rundt mi datter
Dark omens surround my daughter, symbolized by the presence of black cats
Snart bader me i Østens skatter
Our efforts will soon be rewarded with the spoils of the East, as we succeed in the markets
Mmm, markedet bestemmer
The market holds all the power and control
Følg ditt instinkt og ta det som det kommer
Trust your instincts and take things as they come, adapting to the whims of the market
Hør lyden av fløyta til en slangetemmer
Listen to the sound of the snake charmer's flute, a reminder that we are not in control
Det er ikkje opp til oss
The outcome is not in our hands
For markedet bestemmer
The market dictates all
For når eg drømmer er livet som det kunne vært
In my dreams, my life takes on a different, more fulfilling path
Om me to var sammen
If only we could be together
For det kan de aldri ta fra meg
They can never take away the memories and emotions that exist in my dreams
Gud vett at de har prøvd
Attempts have been made to take away those dreams and feelings
Men ditt nærvær er fortsatt sterkt
But your presence still remains strong in my dreams and thoughts
Alt svever fint forbi, eg glemmer sted eg glemmer tid
Everything floats by effortlessly, making me forget where I am and what time it is
Ingen kan ta fra meg det eg ser i drømme
No one can take away what I see in my dreams
Du har lovt at én dag skal me dra her ifra
You promised that one day we would leave this place behind
Og om et speil kan ta så feil, då må alt vær et bedrag
If a mirror can be so wrong, then everything else could be a deception as well
Orda som du sa til meg i drømmane du planta for meg
The words you spoke to me in my dreams, which have stayed with me
Løfta meg opp, ut av min kropp til deg
Lifted me up, out of my body and towards you
Oh, og når eg våkner, eg står opp kver morgen, til et svart savn
And when I wake up, every morning I face a deep black longing
Og når du mangler; det er som å bli hogd i hjerta av en svart ravn
When you are absent, it feels like a sharp claw is piercing my heart
Løfta meg opp, ut av min kropp til deg
Lifted me up, out of my body and towards you
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Malin Johansen
Denne sangen har magi! :')
Johanne Hansen
"Og når eg drømmer... Alt svever fint forbi, eg glemmer sted eg glemmer tid For når eg drømmer... Ingen kan ta fra meg det eg ser i drømme" <3
Kyle Tidgwell
bridge at around 5:38 to 5:48 is totally like Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother Suite at around 19:00 to 19:15 LOVE IT
turbandre
Helt klart ganske likt! Fortsatt en helt enorm sang.
Julia Kaizer
Nu när du säger det så kan jag höra lite Alley Cat I den! Kul med fler SW fans förresten! Orkesterstycket I den här låten är fantastisk <3
Kyle Tidgwell
4:26 and on is just absolutely delicious
Parus _
Denne sangen er guld. Kjempegod.
MarkFilipAnthony
Together with Violeta, the brothers Kenneth and Corvino are headed for Lahore, Pakistan, and the market there, which is known for selling everything from truffles to eternal youth and yellow and green smaragd. One person swears that he has seen three-headed dogs there. Corvino has contacts in the market that will pay a whole lot of money for a young girl with the kind of abilities that Violeta possesses. Kenneth has really been in doubt. He feels that he is in big debt to his brother, after having ratted on him and generally having let him down that time, many years ago, so that he doesn't have a choice. Violeta has started to take more and more after her mother anyway, and when she smiles, he sees her mother instead. Kenneth has started to lose control over her. Violeta, on the other hand, has gotten her mother's ring from Corvino. With the ring on her finger, her dreams are clearer and her visions more explicit. She notices that first and foremost, she has been the victim of manipulation by her father, not love. It dawns on her that the emptiness she has been feeling is actually the longing for her mother ...
headcrabnew
4:23 og utover minner meg også om noe, jeg har melodien i huet men vet ikke hviken sang det er. Tilfeldigvis minner den meg også om Seventh Wonder - Alley Cat også. Som om den er en MYE tregere utgave av den.
headcrabnew
Kaizer er jo kjent for å legge inn en eller annen del fra en annen sang. Blitzregn Baby har jo et parti som ligner veldig på The White Stripes - Seven Nation. Army. Ond sirkel ligner veldig på In Bloom fra nirvana på noen partier. Mens starten på evig pint er absurd lik Emmerhoff & The Melancholy Babies - The Emisarry. Jeg prøver bare å informere at Kaizers noen ganger gjør melodier så like at jeg hører det med engang. Kaizers Orchestra er forsatt en av mine favorittband!