Also she performed during the intermission of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1986 in Bergen, opening act of the winter Olympic games in 1994 at Lillehammer, voice to the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish version of “the little mermaid, Sung on the Titanic album (‘My heart will go on’ was originally written to her), Royal Variety show in London 1995, Preformed at annual Christmas concert in Vienna, 2000 Nobel peace price concert with Josh Groban singing “the prayer”, toured with The Lord of the Rings Symphony Tour in 2004 and her latest achievement is a number one on the Billboard classical charts with the christmas album “Spirit of the Season - with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Sissel”
Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs to classical vocals. Her work on the soundtrack to Titanic has led to comparisons with Irish singer Enya.
Sissel's combined solo record sales (not including soundtracks and other albums to which she contributed) amount to over 9 million albums sold, most of them in Norway -- a country with only 4.5 million people.
She’s released over 14 studio albums, her Christmas album from 1986 is the best selling album in Norway ever with almost one mill copies sold! She’s featured on several soundtracks and sold well over nine million albums world wide and her popularity continues to grow!
She truly is a northern star!
Here are the lyrics to her song "Ready to go home":
On this street below these walls
Where I used to walk now I can barely crawl
All this darkness rise and tall
Lord shine a light for me I’m ready to be caught
I’m ready to go home
I’m ready to receive forgiveness for my sins
I’m ready to begin
Take this river to the sea
Where the delta flows
The tide is washing over me
Guide this soul to heavens door
Show me where tomorrow lays
I’m waiting to be born
I’m ready to lay down
I’m ready now to sleep a promise I must keep
I’m ready to go home
So time I’ll lay down with these memories
Breathe the shallow deep inside of me
If time has run its course with me
I’m ready to go home
I’m ready to receive forgiveness for my sins
I’m ready to begin
When the evening shadows fall
When the time has come
I let defences fall
To surrenders to survive
I will give up everything to those I leave behind
I’m ready to go home
I’m ready to receive forgiveness for my sins
I’m ready to begin
I’m ready to lay down
I’m ready now to sleep a promise I must keep
I’m ready to go home, again
Going home again
Schubert: Ave Maria D.839
Sissel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
Et benedictus
Ventris tui Jesus
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave ave Dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tui Jesus
Ave Maria
The lyrics of Sissel's rendition of Ave Maria are a beautiful prayer to the Virgin Mary in Latin. The song is an ode to the holy mother and seeks her intercession with God on behalf of the singer, and all who listen to the music. The first verse calls out to Mary with the words "Gratia Plena," which mean "full of grace." The next line repeats her name twice, emphasizing her significance in the Catholic faith. The singer then offers the traditional Catholic greeting of Ave Dominic, which means "Hail, Lord."
The second verse offers praise for Mary, blessing her among all women and specifically acknowledging the miraculous fruit of her womb, Jesus. The final repetition of the chorus ("Ave Maria, gratia plena...") reinforces the sentiment expressed earlier, beseeching Mary to hear the singer's prayer and to offer her intercession with God in their time of need.
Overall, Sissel's Ave Maria is a powerful interpretation of a classic prayer set to music. It offers listeners a chance to connect with centuries of Catholic tradition and to express their own devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Interesting facts about the song:
- The original lyrics for Ave Maria come from a prayer known as the Hail Mary, which Catholics believe is based on the greeting of the Angel Gabriel to Mary in the Gospel of Luke.
- The most well-known musical version of Ave Maria was composed by Franz Schubert in 1825, but there have been countless adaptations and variations since then.
- Sissel's recording of Ave Maria was released in 2006 and quickly became a favorite among fans of religious music.
- Sissel is a Norwegian singer known for her angelic voice and her work with artists like Secret Garden, Michael Bolton, and Josh Groban.
- Many famous singers, including Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, and Celine Dion, have recorded their versions of Ave Maria over the years.
- The song has been used in countless movies, TV shows, and other media, from The Godfather to The West Wing to The Twilight Saga.
- Some versions of Ave Maria include a chorus that is not part of the original prayer to Mary, but rather a hymn of praise to the Holy Spirit.
- Ave Maria is a common choice for weddings, funerals, and other religious ceremonies, and is often performed by choirs or soloists.
- The song has been translated into many different languages, including Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
- Ave Maria remains one of the most beloved and recognizable prayers in the Catholic tradition, and is a testament to the enduring power of faith and devotion.
Chords:
Line by Line Meaning
Gratia plena
You are full of grace.
Maria, gratia plena
Mary, you are full of grace.
Ave ave Dominus
Hail, Hail Lord.
Dominus tecum
The Lord is with you.
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
You are blessed among women.
Et benedictus
And blessed
Et benedictus fructus ventris
And the fruit of your womb is blessed.
Ventris tui Jesus
Jesus, who came from your womb.
Ave Maria
Hail Mary.
Ave Maria
Hail Mary.
Gratia plena
You are full of grace.
Maria, gratia plena
Mary, you are full of grace.
Maria, gratia plena
Mary, you are full of grace.
Ave ave Dominus
Hail, Hail Lord.
Dominus tecum
The Lord is with you.
Benedicta tu in Mulieribus
You are blessed among women.
Et benedictus
And blessed
Et benedictus fructus ventris
And the fruit of your womb is blessed.
Ventris tui Jesus
Jesus, who came from your womb.
Ave Maria
Hail Mary.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: ALAN ARNOLD, FRANZ SCHUBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sisselfan
NEW SISSEL CD/LP BOX OUT NOW
Did you know that you can now order Sissel's collection of 51 songs from the 2019/2020 'Reflections' project as a CD Box or Vinyl Box? It features 5 CD's/LP's, a 'Behind the Scenes' DVD, picture cards and a booklet with all the lyrics. You can also order it with a personal greeting from Sissel. Go to: https://sisselmusic.com/webshop/ and order the CD/LP Box there.
@williamtetrault1300
What this woman does with her voice literally blows my mind! I’ve NEVER! heard anyone with clarity and cleanliness of tone like Sissel!
@sveingrimstad9151
I think that any song becomes more beautiful when Sissel Kurkjebø sings it. She really has a voice of an angel!
@rolandrichiero21
Une étoile est née du coté d'Oslo.... Vous rendez-vous compte ? j'ai eu la chance de l'accompagner dans une cérémonie avec le chœur du Philharmonique de Nice... Inoubliable Sissel... A n'en pas douter, elle fera plusieurs fois le tour du Monde !!! Merci à vous Sissel...
@geraldsmith1992
When SISSEL sings ANGELS stop to listen 🙏🏻
@amarath84
Sissel is so bang on, never breaks vocal NEVER
@robertlytle9752
If the angels sang like her I could almost believe in heaven.
@TStorms005
I listen for any imperfections.....I hear none! Only perfection!
@peterjongsma5297
Schubert !!!!.
Best Ave Maria ever.
And look at The Woman
Singing!!!!!!
@wallypieper8384
Sissel Kyrkjebø is surprise Christmas present under my tree that I will be forever greatful for. God truly gave Sissel a voice to honor him with her songs for the entire world to enjoy.