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.
Siste dans
Kaizers Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hopp ned frå vinduskarmen
Og dans med meg på din vei
Hold deg fast i armen når en djevel danser seint
Og blåser støv av deg og ditt skinn og bein
La meg få by på en siste dans (Siste dans)
Før du får hjertestans (Hjertestans)
Spring å få luft under vingene på dagen
Kyss en prins og dans (Prins og dans)
Legg deg i armen hans (Armen hans)
La deg forføre av en røver
Eg har plukket en sekskløver
Eg er én
De andre er fem
Du må skru på sjarmen
Hopp ned frå vinduskarmen
Og dans med meg på din vei
Hold deg fast i armen når en djevel danser seint
Og blåser støv av deg og ditt skinn og bein
Kan eg få sette på deg min blomsterkrans
Som eg har plukket mens eg gjekk hagelangs
Og med deg i mine tanker
Er det presanger som vanker
Med fletter som jentene i Paris (Jentene i Paris)
Og kjæraster på benkene i Paradis (Benkene i Paradis)
Enden er ikkje så langt vekke
Alle går bak meg i lang rekke
Eg går fremst
Eg går framfor kem som helst
Du må skru på sjarmen
Hopp ned frå vinduskarmen
Og dans med meg på din vei
Hold deg fast i armen når en djevel danser seint
Og blåser støv av deg
Og du må skru på sjarmen
Hopp ned frå vinduskarmen
Og dans med meg på din vei
Hold deg fast i armen når en djevel danser seint
Og blåser støv av deg og ditt skinn og bein
Lala
Lalalalalalalalaala
Lalalalalalalalala
Lalalalalalala
Mmm, med fletter som jentene i Paris
Lalalalalalalalaala
Som kjærester på benkene i Paradis
Lalalalalalalalala
Og alle de som er vart med inn på en is
Med fletter som jentene i Paris
Som kjærester på benkene i Paradis
The song "Siste dans" by Kaizers Orchestra is a passionate call to dance and celebrate life before it is too late. The lyrics begin by urging the listener to turn on their charm, jump off the windowsill, and dance with the singer. They encourage the listener to hold tightly onto their arm as they dance with the devil, who blows the dust off of them and their skin and bones.
The chorus introduces the idea of a last dance before a heart attack (hjertestans), with a feeling of a butterfly in the stomach (sommerfugl i magen). The singer asks the listener to kiss a prince, sleep in his arms, and be seduced by a thief. They mention a six-leaf clover that the singer has picked, which suggests a desire for luck or fortune.
The second verse leads to an invitation to put a flower wreath on the listener's head, a gift from the singer who picked it while walking through the garden. The lyrics continue with the prospect of gifts and the image of braids like the girls in Paris, and lovers on benches in paradise. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and a la-la-la melody.
Overall, the song seems to be about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the moment. The singer encourages the listener to let go of their inhibitions and dance with them, to embrace and feel the beauty of life before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Du må skru på sjarmen
You need to turn on your charm
Hopp ned frå vinduskarmen
Jump down from the windowsill
Og dans med meg på din vei
And dance with me on your way
Hold deg fast i armen når en djevel danser seint
Hold onto my arm tightly when a devil dances slowly
Og blåser støv av deg og ditt skinn og bein
And blows the dust off you and your skin and bones
La meg få by på en siste dans (Siste dans)
Let me offer you one last dance
Før du får hjertestans (Hjertestans)
Before you have a heart attack
Med en sommerfugl i magen
With a butterfly in your stomach
Spring å få luft under vingene på dagen
Run and get some fresh air during the day
Kyss en prins og dans (Prins og dans)
Kiss a prince and dance
Legg deg i armen hans (Armen hans)
Lay in his arms
La deg forføre av en røver
Let yourself be seduced by a thief
Eg har plukket en sekskløver
I have picked a six-leaf clover
Eg er én
I am one
De andre er fem
The others are five
Kan eg få sette på deg min blomsterkrans
Can I put my flower wreath on you?
Som eg har plukket mens eg gjekk hagelangs
That I picked while walking through the garden
Og med deg i mine tanker
And with you on my mind
Er det presanger som vanker
There are gifts coming your way
Med fletter som jentene i Paris (Jentene i Paris)
With braids like the girls in Paris
Og kjæraster på benkene i Paradis (Benkene i Paradis)
And lovers on the benches in paradise
Enden er ikkje så langt vekke
The end is not so far away
Alle går bak meg i lang rekke
Everyone is walking behind me in a long line
Eg går fremst
I am at the front
Eg går framfor kem som helst
I am walking ahead of everyone
Og du må skru på sjarmen
And you need to turn on your charm
Og blåser støv av deg
And blows the dust off of you
Og du må skru på sjarmen
And you need to turn on your charm
Lala
La la
Lalalalalalalalaala
La la la la la la la la la
Lalalalalalalalala
La la la la la la la la
Lalalalalalala
La la la la la
Mmm, med fletter som jentene i Paris
Mmm, with braids like the girls in Paris
Lalalalalalalalaala
La la la la la la la la la
Som kjærester på benkene i Paradis
Like lovers on the benches in paradise
Lalalalalalalalala
La la la la la la la la
Og alle de som er vart med inn på en is
And all those who were taken in by ice
Med fletter som jentene i Paris
With braids like the girls in Paris
Som kjærester på benkene i Paradis
Like lovers on the benches in paradise
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Flow_3
I'm grateful to see this performance online on the official channel!
How great would it be to have English subtitles for this amazing show?
cringerBB
Not that great in my opinion.
Marte
Kan nesten ikke tro at det snart er 10 år siden. Evig glad for faren min som tok meg med på denne konserten i en alder av 12! 😄
Makkufurai
@Marte Heldige dere, jeg kan ikke kjøpe da jeg skal studere i utlandet! Men blir nok ei lita video som dette håper jeg ^^
Marte
@Thanos snap Gjett om! Billetter er i boks! ;)
Thanos snap
Klar for runde 2? :)
DwightTheGreat
Thank you for posting these videos on your official channel! Last year during covid I ripped DVDs of your live shows and up them on youtube because the DVDs were out of print and there was no official way for fans to view your stuff. I always said as soon as they become officially available again I'd take them down, so I'll be doing that now! Your fans from all over the world are grateful! Love from America.
We eat cigarettes on Sunday
I would literally sell my soul to be in 2013 again and to go see this😭
Marek Olsen
so how much you want for this soul? I got tickets for the 2023 show.
George Pig Man
They're coming back in 2023