This is for all of my favorite Norwegian bands and musicians, specifically those who sing in Norwegian. I’ll be adding to it as the year goes on. If anyone has recommendations, let me know!
Kaizers Orchestra: I wonder if anyone saw this coming. Anyway, they’re my favorite band of all, Norwegian or otherwise. They sing in Stavanger’s dialect, which is very different from my own. Some people find them a bit too polka-ish, but I think that adds to their charm.
Favorite songs: Hjerteknuser, Begravespolka, 170, Diamant til kull, Aldri vodka, Violeta, and Den andre er meg.
Kråkesølv: I’ve also mentioned these guys before. They’re from Bodø and sing in a Northern Norwegian dialect kind of like my own. (Definitely closer than Stavanger or the other Vestland dialects.) They’ve got more of an indie vibe to them.
Favorite songs: Kalde føtter, Sjalusen, Snøhvit
Hellbillies: Norwegian country music! They come from Ål i Hallingdal and I just found out about them. Their Halling dialect is very well suited to country. It looks very strange and confusing to me when I read the lyrics, but it sounds cool.
Favorite songs: Råka tå ei pil, Den finaste eg veit, Ei krasafaren steinbu
A song I’ve heard a lot here up North is another version of Hjerteknuser by Rolffa using a Northern dialect, a little Samisk, and some joik. It’s pretty cool and gives you an idea of what Samisk and my dialect sound like.
And if you liked the joiking, here’s some heavy metal joik.
Postgirobygget: First Norwegian band I came across, three years ago. Back then I only ever could figure out that they were singing about summer.
Favorite songs: Idyll, En solskinnsdag, Sløv uten dop, Bohemen leve, Lei av å bli lurt
And another Norwegian song I heard a long time ago. It was the first I actually understood the lyrics to. By di Derre:
Moddi has a lot of music in English, but also some really pretty stuff in Norwegian.
I was lucky enough to see Oslo Ess live in Vadsø.
The singer’s voice isn’t perfect, but that somehow makes the song so much better. It feels very real and emotional.
Another cool Norwegian band: Fjorden Baby!
And one in honor of my new home town:
Vikings and Vadsø 