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
What Child Is This
Sissel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What child is this who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary
Why lies he in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear
For sinners hear
The silent word is pleading
Nails, spears shall pierce him through
The cross be borne for me, for you
Hail, hail the word made flesh
The babe, the son of Mary
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king to own Him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise, raise the song on high
The virgin sings a lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The babe, the son of Mary
The lyrics of Sissel's song "What Child Is This" are a reflection on the birth of Jesus Christ, who was born in humble surroundings, yet is revered by angels and shepherds alike. The first stanza describes how the baby Jesus is sleeping in Mary's lap, while angels sing hymns and shepherds watch over him. The second stanza reflects on the irony of Christ's birth in a "mean estate" where animals are feeding, but also the Christian fear that sinners must feel to hear the silent words' plea.
The third and final stanza brings in the gifts of the wise men, incense, gold, and myrrh, which represent worship, royalty, and death respectively, and suggest the scope of the baby's divine power. The final lines declare that the true essence of Christmas is the joy of Christ's birth, the son of Mary, and the need to raise the song high to celebrate it.
Line by Line Meaning
What child is this who laid to rest
Who is this child peacefully lying down?
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Who falls asleep comfortably on the lap of Mary?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
Who is greeted by angels with sweet songs?
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Who is being watched over by the shepherds?
This, this is Christ the King
This is the King, Christ.
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
He is guarded by shepherds and celebrated by angels.
Haste, haste to bring him laud
Hurriedly come to praise Him.
The babe, the son of Mary
He is a baby who belongs to Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate,
Why does He lie in such a humble position?
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Where are the ox and donkeys feeding?
Good Christian fear
It is important to be a good Christian and have fear.
For sinners hear
Sinners should listen carefully.
The silent word is pleading
His silence begs for mercy.
Nails, spears shall pierce him through
Nails and spears will pierce through Him.
The cross be borne for me, for you
He bears the cross for both you and me.
Hail, hail the word made flesh
Greetings to the word made flesh.
The babe, the son of Mary
He is still a baby, the son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh.
Come peasant, king to own Him
Both peasants and kings should acknowledge Him.
The King of kings, salvation brings
The King of kings brings salvation.
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Loving hearts should enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high
Raise the song to the highest level.
The virgin sings a lullaby
The virgin sings a soothing song.
Joy, joy for Christ is born
Rejoice, Christ is born.
The babe, the son of Mary
The baby is still the son of Mary.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lili Gibson
What child is this who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary
Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear
For sinners hear
The silent word is pleading
Nails, spears shall pierce him through
The cross be borne for me, for you
Hail, hail the word made flesh
The babe, the son of Mary
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king to own Him
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise, raise the song on high
The virgin sings a lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The babe, the son of Mary
sisselfan
Christmas with Sissel - Christmasconcert 2014
Tourlist:
November 26. Oslo, Norway. Oslo konserthus. 19:30
November 28. Stavanger, Norway. Stavanger konserthus. 18:00
November 29. Stavanger, Norway. Stavanger konserthus. 18:00
December 02. Bergen, Norway. Grieghallen. 18:00
December 03. Bergen, Norway. Grieghallen. 18:00
December 05. Elverum, Norway. Terningen Arena. 20:00
December 06. Oslo, Norway. Oslo konserthus. 18:00
December 10. Kristiansand, Norway. Kilden kulturhus. 18:00
December 12. Karlstad, Sweden. Karlstad CCC. 19:30
December 13. Örebro, Sweden. Conventum Arena. 19:30
December 14. Uppsala, Sweden. Uppsala Konsert & Kongress. 19:00
December 15. Stockholm, Sweden. Cirkus. 19:30
December 17. Linköping, Sweden. Konsert & Kongress. 19:30
December 19. Norrköping, Sweden. De Geerhallen. 19:30
December 20. Göteborg, Sweden. Liseberghallen. 19:30
December 21. Malmö, Sweden. Malmö Konserthus. 19:00
Order tickets on www.billettservice.no or www.ticnet.se
jms3spinoon
What a hauntingly beautiful rendition. Sissel has the clearest and most pure voice I have ever heard.
CJ JENSON
Actually the word your looking for is "anyone"!
Nancy Petersen
indeed
Robert
Magnificent. She has a most clear and beautiful voice.
jerry from WI
Thank you for sharing! I went through about 20 versions of this song on U tube. This is the BEST. Beautiful voice and backgroud choir, excellent instumentation, good tempo, and ALL 3 verses! So many leave out the 2nd verse which reflects the difficult life Jesus will lead, and his suffering and death. I think people don't want to think about that, but the story of Jesus is certainly incomplete without it.
Christa C
11 years later and have the same feedback! Well this is my second favorite to Andrea Bocelli and MJB
Cecil Richardson
This has got to be the most beautiful version of "What Child Is This?" I've heard yet.
M KKrupp
Bing Crosby’s version is lovely too.
Danny Avitt
This song tells the reason why the birth of jesus is so important.
Sue Sattler
Yes