The brothers debuted professionally on 19 October 2000 at the Ole Bull Theater in Bergen with the show "Ylvis – en kabaret" ("Ylvis – a cabaret"). In connection with the show was the song "Rumor says" recorded, pressed as a CD-single, and sold during the show, but was never put out for regular sales.
In 2001, after the Norway tour with "Ylvis - a cabaret", Ylvis' main characters performed in the Grieghallen with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert called "Ylvis goes philharmonic". That same year debuted Bård and Vegard on TV as regular guests in Rune Larsen's "Absolutt Norsk" on NRK. In 2002 NRK added Ylvis as an element in Trond-Viggo Torgersens "TVT".
In 2003, Ylvis guest-starred on the Swedish vocal group The Real Group's Christmas CD, "Julen er her".
In the summer of 2004 they sold tickets worth 4.8 million NOK for the show "Ylvis – en konsert" ("Ylvis – a concert"), which played in Tønsberg, Norway. In this concert Ylvis covered Ole Ivars's song, "I kjempeform" (I'm in great shape). The song was popular with audiences and Ylvis recorded a music video for it. When rower Olaf Tufte won Olympic gold at the Olympics 2004 in Athens, he yelled "Ylvis" and sang "I kjempeform, I kjempeform!" during the victory dance.
The duo were hosts for the radio program "O-fag" ("O-subjects") on NRK P3 summer 2006 and summer 2008
"YLVIS III" premiered 27 January 2007 at the Ole Bull Theater in Bergen, and 31 October 2007, in Oslo. "YLVIS III" was recorded on tour in a large part of Norway several times and ended with a final performance at the Grieghallen 19 December 2008. The content of the show is described as challenging and surreal musical comedy. Vegard and Bård write much of the lyrics and the music they perform. Ylvis collaborated with director Arvid Ones and choreographer Hilde Sol Erdal on both "Ylvis-a cabaret" and "YLVIS III".
"YLVIS III," was released on DVD 3 December 2008 (from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Norway).
Bård and Vegard hosted their own show in the Fall of 2007 on TVNorge called Norges herligste (Norway's Best)- a Norwegian edition of the Swedish program "100 höjdare". Norges Herligste premiered in November 2007, and was later broadcast on Swedish television and released on DVD in Norway 15 October 2008.
Ylvis were officials in the television program "Ylvis møter veggen", which is a Norwegian version of a Japanese television concept, known as the Human tetris or Hole in the wall. The Japanese original Brain Wall was part of a larger game show called Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage deshita. "Ylvis møter veggen" was broadcast in autumn 2008 on TVNorge with high ratings.
From 2009 on Ylvis hosted the entertainment show "Hvem kan slå Ylvis" on TV Norge, the Norwegian version of "Schlag den Raab".
In September 2011, they premiered their TV talkshow "I kveld med YLVIS" on TV Norge.
In September 2013, they uploaded a music video called "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" to YouTube, which went viral. The song was later released as a digital single and was an international hit peaking at 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping digital download charts in the U.S. Internationally, the song ranked number one in Norway VG-lista, and ranged from second to one hundred sixty seventh on other major international rankings.
Da vet du at det er jul
Ylvis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Snøen laver ned
Stjernen viser vei
Hjem til julefred
For da samles de, som du kjenner så godt
Med et håp om fred på jord
Julenatt, stjernen er tent
Og vi spiser fredet fugl
Ja, da vet du at det er jul
Far går prestebukk
Med falske dødsbudskap
Brygger tissegløgg
Baker Lai wong bao (赖皇宝)
Mobber barn som går til logoped
Leser høyt fra Wikileaks
Julenatt, stjernen er tent
Mor gjemmer lik, pappa leter spent
Før han setter i et ul:
Der er liket, ja nå er det jul!
Julenatt, stjernen er tent
Far viser sår som har blitt betent
Og vi skyper med Kabul
Ja, da vet
Du det er jul
Gledelig jul
Deilig jul
Det er jul
The lyrics to Ylvis's song "Da vet du at det er jul" (translated to "Then you know it's Christmas") paint a scene of a snowy, peaceful night where everyone is gathered together in the hopes of finding peace on earth. The imagery of the star leading to home, the warm gruel, and the gathering of friends and family all evoke a sense of coziness and warmth that is often associated with the holiday season. However, as the song continues, the lyrics turn tongue-in-cheek and satirical, poking fun at some of the more absurd traditions and behaviors associated with Christmas.
For example, the line "dad goes around as a goat priest with false death announcements" refers to the Scandinavian tradition of having someone dress up as a goat-like creature called a "julebukk" to prank their friends and neighbors during the holiday season. Similarly, the line "reads aloud from Wikileaks" may be a nod to the increased scrutiny that comes with this time of year, as people often find themselves under the microscope for their actions and behaviors.
The repeated refrain of "julenatt, stjernen er tent" (translated to "Christmas night, the star is lit") reinforces the idea that despite all of the chaos and absurdity of the holiday season, there is still something beautiful and meaningful about coming together with loved ones to celebrate.
Line by Line Meaning
Nå er natten her
The night has arrived
Snøen laver ned
Snow is falling heavily
Stjernen viser vei
The star guides the way
Hjem til julefred
Back to Christmas peace
For da samles de, som du kjenner så godt
Because then they gather, as you know so well
Med et håp om fred på jord
With a hope for peace on earth
Julenatt, stjernen er tent
Christmas night, the star is lit
Grøten er klar, barna venter spent
The porridge is ready, the children are waiting eagerly
Og vi spiser fredet fugl
And we eat a protected bird
Ja, da vet du at det er jul
Yes, then you know it's Christmas
Far går prestebukk
Father goes as a Christmas goat
Med falske dødsbudskap
With false messages of death
Brygger tissegløgg
Brews pee-gløgg
Baker Lai wong bao (赖皇宝)
Bakes Lai wong bao (a type of Chinese pastry)
Mobber barn som går til logoped
Bullies children who go to speech therapy
Leser høyt fra Wikileaks
Reads out loud from Wikileaks
Mor gjemmer lik, pappa leter spent
Mother hides a corpse, father searches anxiously
Før han setter i et ul
Before he starts howling
Der er liket, ja nå er det jul!
There's the corpse, yes, now it's Christmas!
Far viser sår som har blitt betent
Father shows wounds that have become infected
Og vi skyper med Kabul
And we Skype with Kabul
Ja, da vet
Yes, then you know
Du det er jul
It's Christmas
Gledelig jul
Merry Christmas
Deilig jul
Delightful Christmas
Det er jul
It's Christmas
Writer(s): Lars Bleiklie Devik, Christian Lochstoer, Baard Ylvisaaker, Vegard Ylvisaaker
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lkrnpk
Ilya here. Great song. Such typical Norway traditions!!!!
@annedigranes3356
:))
@Martina-Kosicanka
I so want you to be the real Ilya.
@HowardSterling
My first thought was "That's quite an innocent peaceful sounding song."
And then I turned on the subtitles...
@tfamadventures2080
Are the subtitles a joke? Then again , they topped the tree with meat
@paulkviding3842
@@tfamadventures2080 subtitles are not a joke
@ProfessorPrel
@@tfamadventures2080 I am glad to tell you that they are not a joke
@cvhannes
I'm from Sweden and I can vouch for that like 90% of Norway is fluent in English.
@yymmrn
From Japan! Thanks to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' performance, I started to listen to Ylvis. Though I don't understand Norwegian, I read English sub and laughed a lot. This song and Trucker's Hitch are my favorite.
@TheWinjin
When I started watching, they actually got me there for a moment, thinking that they made a genuine nice Christmas song. But nope, they made it better.