Article published in paper-issue of Halden Arbeiderblad, 7.5.1012
Written by Steinar Øystad. Photos by Cathrine Gjerdingen Larsen
Found by Tessa Lande . Translation by Laila Solum Hansen. English revision by Anni Jowett
Photo: Alexander Rybak sparkled and charmed young and old at Brygga Kultursal
Young strings in a great concert with Rybak
The fact that the cooperation between the cultural schools and established artists produces results, was proved to the audience during the concert with Rybak on Sunday.
The excitement ruled amongst parents, other family members and the rest of the audience in an almost packed concert hall, before the young strings from the cultural schools in Halden, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Moss were going to show what they had achieved during the weekend’s musical workshop with Alexander Rybak.
The world’s best gang.
Seriously the young strings lined up before Rybak came on stage to full applause, and ‘Europe’s Skies’ filled the room.
Rybak encouraged the others with smiles and shouts, and the audience participated with rhythmic clapping.
“We have become the world’s best gang, and have had great fun” Rybak exclaimed after the opening number.
“The organizers have been just fantastic, we even had time for dinner together.”
Feeling for the music
“The most important is not to play all the notes clear and correct,” he continued.
“The most important is to get the right feeling for the music” he added before the waltz ‘First kiss’ by Mats Paulson, well backed by the ensemble, spread in three-fourth beat over the audience.
Found by Ulli Cologne. Translation by Zhanna Sergueeva. Revision by Tessa Lande.
The winner of “Eurovision-2009″ told the “Gazeta Kievskaya” what the Ukrainian representative Gaitana should do to make spectators at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku like her.
The winner of “Eurovision-2009″, the Norwegian of Belorusian origin Alexander Rybak, shot his new video in Kiev. During a break between takes Rybak told about a special invitation to perform at the “Eurovision” in Baku and his relation to the competition that brought him the coveted honor a few years ago.
- I know that after participation in “Eurovision” many artists want to forget this competition and become self-sufficient artists – I think it’s wrong. For example, I am pleased that I got an invitation to perform again at the “Eurovision” and I’m not going to ignore that.
The musician and the singer agreed to give some advices to Gaitana that should help her to get a worthy place in Baku.
About the criticism
- I like Gaitana as a performer – she is a wonderful actress, – Alexander Rybak began. – Specific recommendations are needed for weak ones but she is strong and she doesn’t need them. Most important is to pay less attention to criticism. If they criticize your origin – don’t react towards negative by being negative – it is easier to keep silent. Do not lose your faith in yourself and continue to create because the future success is the best remedy against the critics and ill-wishers.
About the outfit
- Gaitana is a beautiful girl. I saw how she was dressed in the national final – I liked that. I think that nothing really should be changed – in such a dress she surely can perform in Azerbaijan.
About the song
- I have heard the song “Be my guest” several times. It’s not a bad song and has a realy groovy tune. I know somebody in Ukraine has doubts about this song but my prediction is that Gaitana should get into the top ten!
On the manner of performing
- The most stupid thing you can do is to copy other artists. I strongly recommend not to do that to all contestants, so no athletes on stage like it was by Bilan or playing the violin being the emphasis as I did. The main thing is not a show but a sincerity of the number, not an intention to imitate someone such as former winners, and only this way it will be a success!
- I was born in Minsk and when I was 5 my parents brought me to the suburbs of Oslo. Gaitana lived for some time in Congo and it seems to me we have a lot in common. When you’re faced with the condemnation of your roots don’t hide your specialties and your culture. On the contrary emphasize your otherness and uniqueness as a carrier of African roots! Surely Gaitana’s sense of rhythm is ten times higher than that one of many Ukrainian colleagues.
About spectators
- On the eve of my performance at “Eurovision” I said that if the Belarusians agreed I would be very pleased to say that if I would be a winner then half of my success would be a merit of Belarus. Maybe Gaitana should share her future success with Africa, all the more since so many African communities live in Europe, especially in France, Britain and Italy.
In the meantime
Meanwhile the singer herself is diligently preparing for the “Eurovision” to be held in Baku. Her number and details of the concert costume Gaitana holds as a closely guarded secret. But, as “Gazetta” was able to learn, during her performance the singer will not play on any instrument. Earlier journalists speculated that Gaitana could use drums in her show.
- I don’t plan to play instruments on stage in Baku! – the singer commented on her upcoming number. – Maybe I just will come out wearing Ukrainian wreath! – said Gaitana.
According to the contestant from Ukraine, preparation for the “Eurovision” takes a lot of time therefore the traditional party on the eve of departure to Baku had to be cancelled. Unlike her predecessors Gaitana also refused to make a European promotional tour – she will perform only in Ukrainian cities.
Translation by Sonya Luzina. Revision by Anni Jowett
Snow-white wings, charming smile, and violin and bow – instead of bow and arrows. This is how a modern Cupid looks – the winner of “Eurovision”, the singer and composer Alexander Rybak. The artist got the image of the angel of love for a reason: in Kiev the director Alexander Filatovich filmed a new video for Alexander Rybak’s song “Strela Amura” from his Russian album “Nebesa Evropy”.
Found and translated by ZhannaSergueeva. English revision by Tessa Lande.
Alexander has a sea of female fans, but he meets his girl 2-3 times a year.
The winner of “Eurovision-2009″ 25-year-old Alexander Rybak has his beloved one, but he meets her extremely rare. And it is not even because of the singer’s busy tour schedule, but due to the fact that his girlfriend is constantly on the go.
Found by Ulli Cologne. Translated by ZhannaSergueeva. English revision by Lillian Llewellyn
Alexander Rybak came to Kiev for a few days to shoot the video for the song, “The Arrow of Cupid.” Alexander Filatovich is the director of the video .
What the new song is about and why the singer chose the Ukrainian director, we asked the singer personally.
- My new video is for the song ‘The Arrow of Cupid’. The song is about the fact that a person often is lonely even if he looks joyful and happy.
- Why did you choose Ukrainian director Alexander Filatovich for your new video?
- I really like his work. We already made the video for the song “Europe’s Skies” together and it is very easy to work with him, he doesn’t get ‘star fever’. He’s like a friend, and it is not rare in this world and in this business. And in addition he’s a very good director. (more…)
Written by Ekaterina Kamenskaya. Photo by Dmitry Nikonorov.
Found by Ulli Cologne, translated by Zhanna Sergueeva, english revision by Tessa Lande.
While filming at the roof the winner of “Eurovision-2009″ got tested his fear of hight. Photo by Dmitry Nikonorov.
The winner of “Eurovision-2009″ has come to unite hearts and destinies.
Women’s favorite Alexander Rybak worked the whole weekend – he was shooting video for the song “The Arrow of Cupid.” For this purpose he came especially from Oslo to Kiev for one day.
On Sunday traffic jams emerged in the city now and then: it was curious motorists, passersby and fans surrounded the places for shooting. And considering that there were several locations of new video’s shooting and a film crew traveled all over the city, unexpected congestions occurred across all over the Ukrainian capital.
Rybak himself, paying attention to nobody, was occupied with sweat with love affairs . In the plot of the video the artist is a Cupid who appears from nowhere and does everything possible to make lovers find each other, and tell each other the important words. At the same time the Cupid himself is invisible and alone. To make the image complete the video director Alexander Filatovich put angel wings on Alexander and even forced him to sing while standing on the roof of the hotel “Riviera on Podol”. By the way, the building’s administration didn’t like such an idea – safety first. So the film crew had to take full responsibility in case if anything would happen. Fortunately the shooting on the attic went without any incidents.
- I like the idea of the video, at the same time we have a very small budget, – the artist admitted. – I do not need multi-million dollar special effects. Much more pleasant to shoot a video with an interesting storyline and the best team.
How many couples will Amur-Rybak make, and will he find his soul mate – viewers will see that very soon.
May 8, 2012 13:57 UTC
