MP3: Margaret Berger - Naive (16)

Of all the Norwegian pop I've subjected myself to the past couple months, Norwegian Idol runner-up Margaret Berger is by far the best. Other promising Norwegian artists such as Marit Larsen have one or two great singles, but Berger's record "Pretty scary silver fairly" is all-killer, no filler. I'd say it's the catchiest pop album I've heard since Robyn's latest. There's plenty of songs worth posting, but I've decided to go with "Naive (16)" since that "Gentle on my mind" (John Hartford) loop gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. Lyrically, there's nothing special going on, but it's simplicity is also its strength. See if the "I should've known better" refrain doesn't get permanently imprinted into your brain. I dare you! And besides, I don't need pop music to be deep - there's plenty of other artists who've got that angle covered. They can't all be Hello Saferide, y'know?

Margaret Berger - Naive (16)

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Askil Holm - Harmony Hotel
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
04. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
05. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
06. Ane Brun - Live in Scandinavia
07. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
08. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
09. Herodes Falsk/Tom Mathisen - De beste
10. Skambankt - Elixir
11. 120 Days - 120 Days
12. Tungtvann - 96% Tungtvann
13. Pleasure - Pleasure 2
14. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
15. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
16. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss
19. Div. Artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2007
20. Ane Brun - Duets

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
04. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
05. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
06. Herodes Falsk/Tom Mathisen - De beste
07. Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss
08. Jan Werner - Stronger
09. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
10. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
11. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
12. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
13. Bjørn Berge - I'm The Antipop
14. 120 Days - 120 Days
15. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
16. Tungtvann - 96% Tungtvann
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
19. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
20. Malin - Malin på månen

The winners of this year's Spellemannprisen, aka the Norwegian Grammys:

Female artist: Marit Larsen - Under The Surface (EMI Music Norway)
Male artist: Thomas Dybdahl - Science (Universal Music AS)
Pop group: Minor Majority - Reasons To Hang Around (Big Dipper Records)
Electronica: Lindstrøm - It's A Feedelity Affair (Smalltown Supersound)
Rock: 120 Days - 120 Days (Smalltown Supersound)
Metal: Enslaved - Ruun (Tabu Recordings)
Hip-hop: Darkside Of The Force - El Dia De Los Puercos (C+C Records)
Jazz: Atomic - Happy New Ears! (Jazzland)
Open class: Hanne Hukkelberg - Rykestrasse 68 (Propeller Recordings AS)
Best newcomer: 120 Days - 120 Days (Smalltown Supersound)
Best song: Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes, Askil Holm - Hallelujah (Playroom/SonyBMG/Universal)
Music video: Marit Larsen - Don't Save Me (EMI)
Spellemann: Vamp
Hederspris: Sissel Kyrkjebø, Bjørn Eidsvåg and Åge Aleksandersen

Read more: https://www.ifpi.no/spellemann/vinner.html

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Christel Alsos - Closing The Distance
02. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
03. William Hut - Nightfall
04. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
05. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
06. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
07. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
08. Jan Werner - Stronger
09. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
10. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
11. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
12. 120 Days - 120 Days
13. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
14. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
15. Malin - Malin på månen
16. Rockettothesky - To sing you apple trees
17. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
18. Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons
19. Datarock - Datarock
20. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan

Norwegian country artist Olav Larsen & the Alabama Rodeo Stars have signed a deal with US label Hyena Records and will have their debut album "Love's come to town" released over here on March 13. They'll also tour the UK in February:

02/01 - Celtic Connections (Festival), Glasgow
02/03 - Americana UK (House Gig), Liverpool
02/04 - Klondyke, Manchester
02/05 - St Bonaventure's, Bristol
02/06 - Borderline, London

Listen to samples at myspace: Larsenampthealabamarodeostars" target=_blank>https://www.myspace.com/olavLarsenampthealabamarodeostars

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
04. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
05. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
06. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
07. Jan Werner - Stronger
08. 120 Days - 120 Days
09. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
10. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
11. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
12. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
13. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
14. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
15. Rockettothesky - To sing you apple trees
16. Malin - Malin på månen
17. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
18. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
19. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
20. Mari Boine - Idjagiedas - In The Hand Of The Night

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
04. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
05. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
06. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
07. Jan Werner - Stronger
08. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
09. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
10. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
11. 120 Days - 120 Days
12. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
13. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
14. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
15. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
16. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
17. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
18. Malin - Malin på månen
19. Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons
20. Rockettothesky - To sing you apple trees

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Sivert Høyem & The Volunteers - Exiles
02. William Hut - Nightfall
03. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
04. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
05. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
06. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
07. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
08. Jan Werner - Stronger
09. 120 Days - 120 Days
10. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
11. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
12. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
13. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
14. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
15. Malin - Malins Jul
16. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
17. Malin - Malin på månen
18. Diverse artister - Jul i Svingen
19. Rockettothesky - To sing you apple trees
20. Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons

The nominees for the 2006 Spellemannprisen, the Norwegian Grammy, have been annnounced:

Female artist:
Elvira Nikolaisen - Quiet Exit (Sony BMG)
Marit Larsen - Under The Surface (EMI Music Norway)
Mira Craig - Mira Mira (Homemade Records)
Male artist:
Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde (Petroleum/Sony BMG)
Odd Nordstoga - Heim Te Mor (Universal Music AS)
Thomas Dybdahl - Science (Universal Music AS)
Pop group:
Delillos'85 - Suser Videre (Universal Music AS)
Jim Stärk - Turn Around And Look (Sweet Recordings)
Minor Majority - Reasons To Hang Around (Big Dipper Records)
Electronica:
Lindstrøm - It's A Feedelity Affair (Smalltown Supersound)
Splaxxter Watts - The Shakeout (Cafe Superstar DA)
The Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams (Smalltown Supersound)
Rock:
120 Days - 120 Days (Smalltown Supersound)
Bonk - Bonk Against Nothing (Racing Junior)
Madrugada - Live At Tralfamadore (EMI Music Norway)
The Low Frequency In Stereo - The Last Temptation Of... (Rec 90)
The School - Espionage (Kong Tiki Records)
Metal:
Benea Reach - Monument Bineothan (Tabu Recordings)
Enslaved - Ruun (Tabu Recordings)
Gorgoroth - Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam (Regain Records)
Keep Of Kalessin - Armada (Tabu Recordings)
Hip-hop:
Darkside Of The Force - El Dia De Los Puercos (C+C Records)
Karpe Diem - Rett Fra Hjertet (Bonnier Amigo Music Norge)
Tungtvann - Siste Skanse (C+C Records)
Jazz:
Atomic - Happy New Ears! (Jazzland)
Helge Sunde/Norske Store Orkester - Denada (Act)
Håkon Kornstad/Håvard Wiik - The Bad And The Beautiful (Moserobie)
Ken Vandermark/Paal Nilssen-Love - Seven (Smalltown Superjazzz)
The Thing - Action Jazz (Smalltown Superjazzz)
Open class:
Hanne Hukkelberg - Rykestrasse 68 (Propeller Recordings AS)
Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook (Universal Music AS)
Mari Boine - Idjagiedas - In The Hand Of The Night (Universal Music AS)
Terje Isungset - Igloo (All Ice Records/Grappa)
Wibutee - Sweet Mental (Sonne Disk)
Best newcomer:
120 Days - 120 Days (Smalltown Supersound)
Elvira Nikolaisen - Quiet Exit (Sony BMG)
Marte Wulff - Jacket (It's Definitly Records)
Mira Craig - Mira Mira (Homemade Records)
Rockettothesky - So Sing You Apple Trees (Trust Me Records)
Music video:
Bjørn Eidsvåg M/Elvira Nikolaisen - Floden (Sony BMG)
Christel Alsos - Come On (Sony BMG)
Grand Island - Us Annexed (Racing Junior)
Marit Larsen - Don't Save Me (Emi)
The White Birch - Seer Beliver (Racing Junior)

The rest of the categories are here: https://www.spellemann.no/nomine.html

The release of Larsen & Furious Jane's next album has been pushed back to 2008, giving the band all of 2007 to build a new studio, write music and record.

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
02. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
03. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
04. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
05. Jan Werner - Stronger
06. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
07. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
08. Malin - Malins Jul
09. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
10. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
11. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
12. Arve Tellefsen/Nidarosdomens Guttekor - Aria
13. Christian Ingebrigtsen - Paint Christmas White
14. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i Skippergata
15. 120 Days - 120 Days
16. Diverse artister - Jul i Svingen
17. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
18. Paal Flaata - Christmas Island
19. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
20. Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons

Stine Falk has left Larsen & Furious Jane in order to "dedicate herself to her own music."

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
02. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
03. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
04. Morten Abel - Some Of Us Will Make It
05. Jan Werner - Stronger
06. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
07. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
08. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
09. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
10. Arve Tellefsen/Nidarosdomens Guttekor - Aria
11. Malin - Malins Jul
12. Diverse artister - Jul i Svingen
13. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes og Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
14. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
15. Paal Flaata - Christmas Island
16. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i Skippergata
17. Christian Ingebrigtsen - Paint Christmas White
18. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
19. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
20. Maj Britt Andersen - Onger er rare

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
02. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
03. Jan Werner - Stronger
04. Sissel - De beste 1986-2006
05. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
06. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
07. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
08. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
09. Arve Tellefsen/Nidarosdomens Guttekor - Aria
10. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes & Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
11. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
12. Anne Nørdsti - Her vil jeg bo
13. Aleksander With - Coming Home
14. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
15. Maj Britt Andersen - Onger er rare
16. Sondre Lerche - Duper Sessions
17. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
18. Christian Ingebrigtsen - Paint Christmas White
19. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i Skippergata
20. Malin - Malin på månen