Nordstoga comes from a hugely musical family. Both parents, Ellen and Olav Nordstoga, and brother Aasmund Nordstoga (additionally famous as a TV presenter, radio comedian and actor in commercials) have released albums as well.
His career as a recording artist spans 8 years. He made his debut as a recording artist in 1997 with the band Something Odd and their self-titled debut. This album earned them a record deal with BMG Norway and they swiftly released the follow up "Solreven" in 1998. Two minor radio-hits, the beautiful "Fuggel i Karmen" and "Ingen eg kjenner", came out of this album, but the album sold poorly and the band was dropped from their label. In 2000, Odd Nordstoga changed the name of Something Odd to simply Nordstoga, signed to the Norwegian label Grappa and released a self titled album. A couple of minor radio hits, '"Dag"' and "Bie på deg", ensued. Nordstoga won the prestigious Edvardprisen Award for "Bie på Deg". However, soon afterwards they disbanded.
Between 2001-2003 Odd Nordstoga concentrated most of his efforts towards the more traditional folk music of Telemark. With his other band Blåmann Blåmann, consisting of Nordstoga and his friends from Vinje, guitarist Asgaut H. Bakken, flute player Silje Hegg and harding fiddle virtuoso Lars Underdal, he released a self-titled album to great reviews in 2001, and scored a radio hit in "Tippe Tippe Tuve". In 2002 he teamed up with the Norwegian and highly respected folk musician Øyonn Groven Myhren (amongst other things known from the folk ensemble Dvergmål) to write, perform and release the album "Nivelkinn", based on poems by Telemark poet Aslaug Vaa. This collaboration scored a couple of minor radio hits in "Uppi Måneskin" and "Guten og Folen", and earned them the Spellemannsprisen award (Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy) in 2003 for best folk music album.
It was also in 2003 that the mainstream opened its eyes for Nordstoga as he teamed up with famous singer/actress/writer Herborg Kråkevik to write and perform the title track from her Edith Piaf-cabaret, entitled "Eg & Edith". The cabaret and its soundtrack, although met with great anticipation, was a minor flop in terms of album sales and tickets sold, whereas the title track proved to be a nice radio hit for the pair. Nordstoga, together with lyricist Stein Versto (another Vinje native), also contributed with the track "Rosevev" on this album. Nordstoga had previously worked with Kråkevik in a film based on a short story by famous Norwegian writer Tarjei Vesaas.
In 2004 Nordstoga signed for Universal and made his definitive breakthrough with the album "Luring", selling 150.000 copies and spending 14 weeks on top of the Norwegian album charts. The lead single from the album, about a howling pig entitled "Kveldssong for deg og meg", is already a Norwegian evergreen and one of the most played songs on Norwegian radio in 2004. "Texas", "Lause Ting", "Hallo Hallo" and "Farvel til deg" from the same album also became massive radio hits for Nordstoga. The tour in the wake of the album, the so-called "Luringtur" tour, which Nordstoga played together with his backing band Daz Nordstogaz Allstars, played to a 60.000 strong crowd. At the Spellemannsprisen Awards in February 2005, Nordstoga won two awards as he was named best male artist and Artist of the Year. In the summer of 2005, Nordstoga once again took to the road for the "Luringtur" MK II tour.
Nordstoga has also been involved in TV productions. In 2004 he did the music for the Norwegian children's series "Linus i Svingen" that was broadcast on NRK 1, Norway's public broadcaster. The theme song, "Svingensongen", is being released in 2005 on the compilation album "Tidenes beste barneplate 2". He has also been involved with the music for the vastly popular "UHU!" series.
In June 2005, Nordstoga teamed up with some of Norway's finest jazz musicians and performed the piece "Pilegrim" to great acclaim at Festspillene i Bergen (Bergen Music Festival). the lyrics were written by lyricists Stein Versto and Ragnar Hovland, both previously involved in the "Luring" production. In August 2005, he made a cameo appearance with Norwegian rap-collective Klovner i Kamp, singing the chorus to their single "Syng".
Odd Nordstoga has also done projects for The Salvation Army and folk music projects with different people, amongst other things, renditions of the famous Telemark piece "Storegut" with brother Aasmund Nordstoga and Lars Underdal, and guest appearances with the band Fake It or Leave It who plays Beatles songs Norwegian folk music style.
Odd Nordstoga is related to the renowned organist Kåre Nordstoga from Notodden.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Nordstoga
Bestevenn
Odd Nordstoga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Når du er redd og er aleina, då er du ikkje slik du trur.
Det e’kje slik at ingen hev ein tankje i for ein liten,
som ligg der så aleina og er redd.
Og lengtar fram mot morgoen te ljos og vind og vêr,
og skremmast av det myrke store skumle.
Og det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
Det er eit ljos der ute, som mitt auga kviler på.
Når det knuser imot strande, men du ingenting kan sjå.
Det e’kje slik at ingen andre også då er liten.
For havet knuser sjølv det harde fjell.
Men ute der så sveiper det eit ljos for meg og deg.
Og viser heim att te det stille havet.
Og det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
Ser du gjerde? Gå te grinda.
Ser du døre? Kom no inn då.
Ser du trappe? Ta eit trinn, kom no inn!
For det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
The song “Bestevenn” by Odd Nordstoga describes the feeling of loneliness and fear, and how one can find comfort and solace by reaching out to others. The overall message of the song is that no matter how small or insignificant we may feel, we are never truly alone. There is always someone who cares and someone who can help us through difficult times. The first verse speaks of a light that shines in the darkness and serves as a symbolic guide for those who are lost and afraid. The lyrics emphasize that even when we feel alone, we are not truly alone, as there are always people who care about us.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to the ocean, and how even though it can seem daunting and overwhelming, there is still a light that shines and guides us through the darkness. The metaphorical message of the song is that no matter how hard life may seem, there is always a reason to keep moving forward and to never give up. The final verse is an invitation to others to come in and be with friends, and to take comfort in knowing that we all have a best friend who cares for us.
Overall, the song “Bestevenn” is a message of hope and reassurance, reminding us that we are never truly alone and that there is always someone who cares for us.
Line by Line Meaning
Det er eit ljos der ute, som du ser frå der du bur
There's a light out there, that you can see from where you live.
Når du er redd og er aleina, då er du ikkje slik du trur.
When you're scared and alone, you're not how you think.
Det e’kje slik at ingen hev ein tankje i for ein liten,
It's not true that no one thinks about those who are small,
som ligg der så aleina og er redd.
who lie there so alone and scared.
Og lengtar fram mot morgoen te ljos og vind og vêr,
And long for morning, for light and wind and weather,
og skremmast av det myrke store skumle.
and are scared of the dark big scary.
Og det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
And it's not true that you don't have a best friend.
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
No, it's not true that you don't have a best friend.
Det er eit ljos der ute, som mitt auga kviler på.
There's a light out there that my eyes rest on.
Når det knuser imot strande, men du ingenting kan sjå.
When it crashes against the shore, but you can't see anything.
Det e’kje slik at ingen andre også då er liten.
It's not true that no one else is small at such times.
For havet knuser sjølv det harde fjell.
For the sea crushes even the hard rock itself.
Men ute der så sveiper det eit ljos for meg og deg.
But out there, there's a light sweeping for you and me.
Og viser heim att te det stille havet.
And shows the way back to the still sea.
Ser du gjerde? Gå te grinda.
Do you see the fence? Go to the gate.
Ser du døre? Kom no inn då.
Do you see the door? Come inside.
Ser du trappe? Ta eit trinn, kom no inn!
Do you see the stairs? Take a step, come inside!
For det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn
For it's not true that you don't have a best friend
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
No, it's not true that you don't have a best friend.
Nei, det e’kje slik at du ikkje hev ein bestevenn.
No, it's not true that you don't have a best friend.
Contributed by Layla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.