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.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Nordstoga
Borga i Ur
Odd Nordstoga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eit bord med safirpynta beger av gull, hyller med kunnskap, rull på rull. Salar med strengespel , song og lått, ringdans med fløyter og harpeslått.
Så snør det i landet: gløymselsnø. Borte blir borga og gløymde dei brød. Som metta dei fem tusen munnar frå korg: Andlet ber blindt på ei tusenårssorg.
Og ingen kan minnast dei linne drag i dronningas andlet den fagre dag Då landet her kvilte i heilag fred og alle hadde kjærleik å elske med.
Ei hand spelar terning i fakkelskin, ein fot trør i dans under ljost, mjukt lin; Dei er her, dine bortgløymde systrer og brør: Detter er noko do kjenner frå før.
Gløym slitet for glede og frykta for sorg; det er her, alt do treng, Det er brød i ei korg frå eit løyndomsfullt bord i så fast ei borg.
Sjå her er dagen som renn. Sjå, her stig sola for deg Sjå, her er korga med brød for alle, i borga i landet Ur.
The first verse of the song talks about how two rivers meet and flow together, and from a high wall, one can observe a parade with banners and flags. As the two rivers converge, the procession joins and passes by. The second verse describes a table with decorated goblets made of gold, shelves filled with knowledge, and music rooms with stringed instruments, songs, and dance. It paints a picture of a vibrant and thriving society with a rich cultural heritage.
The third verse describes a snowfall of forgetfulness that covers the country, and the city is gone, and the loaves of bread are forgotten. People with faces filled with a thousand-year grief and blindness beg for food. In the fourth verse, the memory of the queen's beauty and love in the country's peaceful days is lost. The last two verses talk about a door opening on a quiet evening, and one sees the light of the fire and hears the wind carrying familiar voices. The forgotten siblings and sisters are here, and they invite you to forget the toil of joy and the fear of pain. They offer bread from a secretive table in a solid fortress.
Overall, the song describes a once-bustling society now forgetful and lost, surviving its fall through the remnants of its rich cultural heritage. It speaks of the comfort that can be found in familiarity and the sadness felt in the loss of love and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
To elver renn gjennom landet you're, møtest der, og høgt fra ein mur Ser do opptog med faner og vimplar i vind; der elvene møtest skrid opptoget inn.
Two rivers flow through your land and meet there, with a parade and flags waving high from a wall. As the rivers meet, the parade enters.
Eit bord med safirpynta beger av gull, hyller med kunnskap, rull på rull. Salar med strengespel , song og lått, ringdans med fløyter og harpeslått.
A table adorned with sapphire cups made of gold, shelves filled with knowledge and scrolls upon scrolls. Rooms filled with string instruments and singing, ring dancing with flutes and harp playing.
Så snør det i landet: gløymselsnø. Borte blir borga og gløymde dei brød. Som metta dei fem tusen munnar frå korg: andlet ber blindt på ei tusenårssorg.
Snow falls in the land, a forgetfulness snow. The castle disappears and the forgotten bread too. As if feeding the mouths of five thousand from a basket, the faces bear blindly a thousand-year-old sorrow.
Og ingen kan minnast dei linne drag i dronningas andlet den fagre dag Då landet her kvilte i heilag fred og alle hadde kjærleik å elske med.
No one remembers the gentle features of the queen on the fair day when the land rested in holy peace and everyone had love to give.
Ei dør slår opp i den stille kveld, gjennom opningen anar do skinet av eld Og stemmer som vinden ber fram der do trør: Dette er noko do kjenner fra før.
A door opens on a quiet evening, through the opening you see the shine of fire and you hear voices carried by the wind wherever you step: This is something you know from before.
Ei hand spelar terning i fakkelskin, ein fot trør i dans under ljost, mjukt lin; Dei er her, dine bortgløymde systrer og brør: Detter er noko do kjenner frå før.
A hand plays dice amidst torchlight, a foot dances gracefully on bright, soft linen. Your forgotten sisters and brothers are here: this is something you know from before.
Gløym slitet for glede og frykta for sorg; det er her, alt do treng, Det er brød i ei korg frå eit løyndomsfullt bord i så fast ei borg.
Forget the struggle for joy and fear of sorrow; everything you need is here. There is bread in a basket from a secretive table in such a strong castle.
Sjå her er dagen som renn. Sjå, her stig sola for deg Sjå, her er korga med brød for alle, i borga i landet Ur.
Look, here comes the day that rises. Look, the sun rises for you. Look, here is the basket of bread for all in the castle of Ur.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrStensnask
På min gamle højskole i Danmark var der en af mine venner fra Norge, der plejede at spille denne sang, når vi sad rundt om bålet om natten i kulden. Der var noget meget...magisk og dragende over sangen og mens han spillede, var der ingen, der frøs. Det vil jeg aldrig glemme.
MrStensnask
I keep coming back to this song. These are some of the most beautiful words I have ever read:
"Sjå her, her er dagen som renn
Sjå her, her stig sola for deg
Sjå her er ei korg med brød for alle
I borga i landet Ur"
Ágnes Balázsfalvi
I think, this is the most beautiful song I have ever heard in my life. I learn Norwegian language lately, and it isn't easy, but so beautiful.... When I have a hard time, I usually listen to this song, and it gives me a lot of strength. Tusen takk. <3 ^_^ <3
Yağmur Ekebil
Thank you so much for translation... a song beyond perfect, a musician beyond words
Michael Miner
Beautiful and soulful song. Thanks for sharing.
vivianmari
great translation, and such a lovely song
Marja-Lena
Underbart!! Mange Takk for denne
Kjell Randeberg
trodde vi nordmenn bare kunne black metal, men dette gjør meg enda mer stolt av å være nordmann. fantastisk sang!
Jette Nielsen
Det lyder som et fantastisk minde. Hørte selv ssangen første gang, da jeg selv var på højskole i Norge for 5 år siden - blev forelsket i den med det samme. :) Den er en perfekt sammensætning af melodi og tekst!
Oscar espinoza quezada
me gusta mucho esta canción, I like too much this song (from Chile, Teacher Oscar Espinoza)