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
November
Odd Nordstoga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I kjellaren bråkar ein skummel ein
Og ute er eit skrømt frå den tid slike fanst
Han dansar utpå marka ein skummel dans
Og veden vil 'kje brenne, og livet det er stutt
(så alle dei ringer og gjer det slutt)
Og koppane dei skranglar når toget fér forbi
Ååå, d'er noko som fer
Ååå, d'er noko som skjer
Åååå, d'er noko som hender
og d'er ein som eg kjenner:
Det er November
Og katten er så rar av det vonde han ser
på sin blodige tur der ute
iblant halvetne fuglar og livredde mus
som nok aldri kjem heim til sitt musehus
Ååå, d'er noko som fer
Ååå, d'er noko som skjer
Åååå, d'er noko som hender
og d'er ein som eg kjenner:
Det er November
Det er eit troll på loftet og draugen er på dass
I kjellaren bråkar ein skummel ein
Og eg er ikkje heime, så alt det eg fortel
ja, det høyrde eg i lufta av ei daud og plaga sjel
Ååå, d'er noko som fer
Ååå, d'er noko som skjer
Åååå, d'er noko som hender
og d'er ein som eg kjenner:
Det er November
The song "November" by Odd Nordstoga is a hauntingly beautiful piece that highlights feelings of unease, uncertainty, and unease associated with the month of November. The lyrics depict a scene where strange events seem to be happening all around, such as a troll in the attic, a ghost in the toilet, and a scary creature dancing in the fields. The mood is further heightened by the fact that the firewood won't burn, trains clang past, and cups rattle on their saucers. The singer notes that the cat is acting bizarre, and prey animals like birds and mice seem to sense danger on their midnight stroll.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer is not comfortable in their own skin and is, in some way, disconnected from what's going on around them. They mention that they are not at home and can only share what they've heard from the air, presumably because they lack a tangible connection to their surroundings or are unable to process their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Det er eit troll på loftet, og draugen er på dass
There is something eerie happening in the house, with a troll on the loft and a ghost in the washroom.
I kjellaren bråkar ein skummel ein
A scary noise is coming from the basement.
Og ute er eit skrømt frå den tid slike fanst
Outside, there is something terrifying that reminds one of old, spooky tales.
Han dansar utpå marka ein skummel dans
This spooky presence dances wildly in the fields.
Og veden vil 'kje brenne, og livet det er stutt
The wood refuses to burn and life seems bleak.
(så alle dei ringer og gjer det slutt)
(People are calling and ending things.)
Og koppane dei skranglar når toget fér forbi
The cups rattle loudly when the train passes by.
Det skingrar gjennom byen, men det er ingen i
The noise echoes through the town, but there is no one around.
Ååå, d'er noko som fer
Oh, something is happening.
Ååå, d'er noko som skjer
Oh, something is going on.
Åååå, d'er noko som hender
Oh, something is occurring.
og d'er ein som eg kjenner:
And it is someone I know:
Det er November
It is November.
Og katten er så rar av det vonde han ser
The cat is behaving strangely because of the horrors it has witnessed.
på sin blodige tur der ute
While out on its bloody nightly hunt.
iblant halvetne fuglar og livredde mus
Preying on wounded birds and terrified mice.
som nok aldri kjem heim til sitt musehus
Most likely, these innocent prey will not make it back home to their mousehole.
Og eg er ikkje heime, så alt det eg fortel
I am not at home, so everything I tell is heard from some distressed and wandering soul.
ja, det høyrde eg i lufta av ei daud og plaga sjel
Yes, it was heard in the air from some desperate and tormented spirit.
Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.