Raga Rockers is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo. with Michael Krohn (ex- Kj… Read Full Bio ↴Raga Rockers is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo. with Michael Krohn (ex- Kjøtt) on vocals. The band was formed in 1982 by front man Michael Krohn. The other members were Livio Aiello on bass, Bruno Hovden on guitar, Jan Arne Kristiansen on drums Tore Berg on guitar, Hugo Alvarstein on Keyboards, and Nils Aune (ex- Svart Framtid and Kafka Prosess) on guitar and keyboards. They recorded their very first album in 1983, called The Return of the Raga Rockers. One year later they recorded their second album - Maskiner i Nirvana. Bruno Hovden tragically died in a car crash in 1985, shortly after the release of Maskiner i Nirvana.

By the end of the 80s they released three more albums in quick succession - Varme Dager (1987), Forbudte Følelser (1988), Blaff (1989) and Rock'n'roll Party (1990).
By then the frontman Michael Krohn and the rest of the band felt they were "stuck" in the band, and they decided to split.

For the next few years they played a few farewell-shows, but by 1995 they recorded a new album called Perler For Svin. Seemed they wouldn't quit after all...
The 1996 live album Live Again followed, and the studio effort Til Helvete Med Raga Rockers (1997). In 2000 they released an album called simply Raga Rockers, but then they went into some sort of hiatus.

In 2005, a compilation album was released, followed by an extensive tour.
In 2007 they released the album Übermensch, proving they are still to be counted among Norwegian rock's finest.

Paradox
Raga Rockers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vel penger er ikke alt sier de rike
De pene sier skjønnhet kommer innenifra
Det gode vil seire sier de kjipe
Jeg sier la di da

Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av
At ingen kaller tinga det de er
Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av

At alle går i keiserens nye klær

Er sannheten for brysom
Er verden litt for rå
Er menneskeheten for grusom
Er virkeligheten der hvor vi er nå

Vel hele livet må du høre på løgner
Om at onde blir straffet og at gode går fri
Hvis du gråter er det en tragedie
Hvis du ler er det en parodi

Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av
At ingen kaller tinga det de er
Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av
At alle går i keiserens nye klær

Er sannheten for brysom
Er verden litt for rå
Er menneskeheten for grusom
Er virkeligheten der hvor vi er nå

Er sannheten for brysom
Er verden litt for rå

Er menneskeheten for grusom
Er virkeligheten der hvor vi er nå

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Paradox" by Raga Rockers touch on themes of wealth, beauty, good versus evil, and the true nature of reality. The first verse explores the notion that money is not everything, as the rich claim, and that beauty comes from within, as the pretty say. However, the singer disagrees with these notions and simply responds with "la di da," implying a sense of indifference or dismissal.

The second verse questions why people do not call things by their true names and instead conform to societal expectations. It suggests that everyone is pretending, just like in the story of the Emperor's New Clothes, where everyone goes along with the illusion and does not speak up. The perceptive observer wonders what is causing this phenomenon.

The chorus repeats the questioning and explores the possibility that the truth is too troublesome, the world is too harsh, humanity is too cruel, and reality is where we currently reside. It reflects a sense of frustration and contemplation about the state of the world and the illusions people live by.

Overall, "Paradox" challenges societal norms and highlights the contradictions and illusions that exist in our everyday lives. It questions the authenticity of wealth, beauty, and the concepts of good and evil, urging listeners to think critically and seek the truth beyond the facades presented to them.

Line by Line Meaning

Vel penger er ikke alt sier de rike
According to the wealthy, money is not everything

De pene sier skjønnhet kommer innenifra
The attractive say that beauty comes from within

Det gode vil seire sier de kjipe
The mean-spirited say that good will triumph

Jeg sier la di da
I say let it be

Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av
What could be the reason, what could be the reason

At ingen kaller tinga det de er
That no one calls things what they actually are

Hva kan det komme av hva kan det komme av
What could be the reason, what could be the reason

At alle går i keiserens nye klær
That everyone is wearing the emperor's new clothes

Er sannheten for brysom
Is the truth too troublesome

Er verden litt for rå
Is the world a bit too harsh

Er menneskeheten for grusom
Is humanity too cruel