The year after, he competed in the World Idol contest; after performing U2's "Beautiful Day" the Australian judge, Ian Dickson, told him: "You're one hell of a marketing challenge because you've got the voice of an angel but you look like a Hobbit." In spite of this, Kurt went on to win the competition, beating the bookies' favourite, American Idol Kelly Clarkson.
He has recorded several albums, the latest one Rise To The Occasion - with the single "Lost Highway" together with country legend Willie Nelson. _The_ Willie Nelson. Kurt has also played with Willie on his tour here in Norway.
Kurt Nilsen married Kristin Halvorsen in the summer of 2006. He has two kids from a previous relationship. His wife, Kristin, is one of the backupsingers in Kurt Nilsens hit "Push Push".
In the sparetime he enjoys trips to his lodge in the Norwegian mountains, and he is a huge fan of fishing.
Reality Kicks
Kurt Nilsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sinners, the saints in the stories
You judge them all even you're wrong so you can feel better
So when the lack of understanding makes a turningpoint
You wished it was you that made it through
It drags you down, you lose your ground, it doesn't make life better
Yeah, reality kicks in when the light goes out
Just one far shot and it's all pretend
These are the thoughts of a desperate man
You can see them on TV every day, bragging about their lifes
Here's one for the books, it's not how it looks, and still you wanna make it?
So when the yearning for illution takes the upper hand
The kids grow up only to be a star
That's when the whole world go mad
This is so sad, how will they take it?
Yeah, reality kicks in when the light goes out
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
Just one far shot and it's all pretend
This are the thoughts of a desperate man
See you try really hard to pull it of
No mather what the cost might be
Cause they do not even care's for the love of being fair
Somebody could forfill their needs
Reality kicks in when the light goes out
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
Just one far shot and it's all pretend
Ooh, reality kicks in when the light goes out
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
Just one far shot and it's all pretend
These are the thoughts of a desperate man
Reality kicks in when the light goes out
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
Reality kicks in when the light goes out
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
The song "Reality Kicks in" by Kurt Nilsen is a commentary on how we perceive reality through the filter of media and how we often get pulled into the glamorized illusions we see on TV and in the papers. The opening verse talks about how we read stories about sinners and saints in the papers and without knowing the complete narrative, we tend to judge them as per our preconceived notions. The artist calls it "lack of understanding" that forces us to form opinions based on incomplete information. He then talks about how illusions drag us down and make us feel worse, even though we had hoped they would make us feel better.
The chorus refers to how reality kicks in when the light goes out, implying how everything seems rosy when we see it in the light of the media but when the light goes off, we face the harsh reality. The line "And you'll never know what tomorrow's like" implies that the future is uncertain, and we should not let illusions dictate our actions since they are not grounded in reality. The artist also mentions how easy it is to pretend to be something we are not, with just one far shot, or one lucky opportunity.
In the second verse, the song talks about people who appear on TV, boasting about their lives, but in reality, it's not how it looks. The song comments on how people try really hard to pull it off, no matter what the cost might be, just to fulfill their needs. The verse ends with a question "How will they take it?" referring to people who have built their lives on an illusion that eventually faces reality.
Overall, the song highlights how illusions can be detrimental and how we should not let them dictate our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You read about them in the papers every morning
Every morning, the newspaper contains stories about both problematic and exceptional individuals.
The sinners, the saints in the stories
These stories depict characters who are either good or bad.
You judge them all even you're wrong so you can feel better
People, including the listener, judge these characters based on the stories they read, often projecting their own insecurities onto others.
So when the lack of understanding makes a turningpoint
When people fail to comprehend that the stories they read are only one side of the story, it can trigger a change in their perspective.
You wished it was you that made it through
Despite judging others, people ultimately hope for success and recognition for themselves.
It drags you down, you lose your ground, it doesn't make life better
The act of unfairly judging others can actually make people feel worse about themselves and their own lives.
Yeah, reality kicks in when the light goes out
When people face difficult situations, their illusions and pretenses fade away, forcing them to confront reality.
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
Uncertainty looms over the future, and one can never predict what it will hold.
Just one far shot and it's all pretend
Success in one area does not necessarily make up for shortcomings in other areas of life. One cannot fake their way to a fulfilling life.
These are the thoughts of a desperate man
The artist believes that these thoughts are characteristic of people who are unhappy or struggling in their lives.
You can see them on TV every day, bragging about their lifes
Media personalities often promote idealized images of themselves and their lifestyles.
Here's one for the books, it's not how it looks, and still you wanna make it?
Despite knowing that these images are not entirely truthful, people continue to aspire towards these ideals.
So when the yearning for illusion takes the upper hand
When people become too fixated on these illusions, they can lose track of reality.
The kids grow up only to be a star
The singer laments the fact that many young people aspire towards fame as their ultimate life goal.
That's when the whole world go mad
The singer believes that this misplaced focus on fame can have a damaging impact on society as a whole.
This is so sad, how will they take it?
The artist feels upset about this situation and wonders how young people will deal with the harsh realities of the world.
See you try really hard to pull it off
People put in a lot of effort to achieve their goals, especially if those goals are related to fame and success.
No matter what the cost might be
People are willing to sacrifice a lot, including their own well-being and relationships, to achieve their goals.
Cause they do not even care's for the love of being fair
In their pursuit of fame and success, people can become self-centered and neglect the importance of treating others with fairness and kindness.
Somebody could forfill their needs
The artist suggests that if people focused on meeting each other's needs, they would be happier and more fulfilled than if they pursued fame and success at all costs.
Ooh, reality kicks in when the light goes out
The second occurrence of this line serves as a refrain, emphasizing that reality hits hard when one is faced with the absence of a guiding light or security.
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
This line is repeated to reinforce the idea that the future is unpredictable and uncertain.
Reality kicks in when the light goes out
The refrain returns to reinforce that difficult times force people to confront the realities of their lives and abandon their illusions.
And you'll never know what tomorrow's like
The song ends with this line, emphasizing that the future is never certain and highlighting the importance of appreciating the present moment.
Writer(s): KURT NILSEN, EIRIK GROENNER, JORN DAHL
Contributed by Joseph N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.