Tag: Tom Hugo

Round up of 23 with KEiiNO

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The year of 2023 is over, and we have started 2024, with the wonderful news of KEiiNO participating in Norwegian MGP this year.
2023 was a busy year for them all, as a band and for each one of the members as individuals.
Fred became a dad for the first time, Alexandra moved in with KEiiNO-band’s amazing guitarist, Markus, and Tom released his first solo album in 11 years. But what do they each feel has been the biggest moments of 2023, and what do they expect from 2024, personally as well as professionally?

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KEiiNO returns to Melodi Grand Prix

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KEiiNO returns to Melodi Grand Prix

It is time for a new round of Norway’s largest music competition, and many artists return to the MGP stage.

Indsæt billede:
BACK IN THE MANEGE: KEiiNO is among the artists returning to Eurovision

PHOTO: JULIA MARIE NAGLESTAD / NRK

The trio, KEiiNO, is back for the third time, after they won the popular vote in Eurovision 2019 and came second in MGP 2021.

Is the third time the one to strike luck?

“We hope so! Its been a dream of ours to win Eurovision since we were children. And now we’re back with an energetic song that hopefully gets people to enjoy themselves. We’re excited,” said Keiino member, Alexandra Rotan.

Third semi-final, January 27 – KEiiNO: “Damdiggida”

Lyrics and music: Alexandra Rotan, Fred Buljo, Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexander N. Olsson and Jakob Redtzer

Indsæt billede:
FOTO: JULIA MARIE NAGLESTAD / NRK

Listen to, “Damdiggida”, on Spotify

Five years have passed since KEiiNO combined indigenous Norwegian melodies, joik and danceable pop for the first time, and the unique sound has gained a large international audience. Since KEiiNO won the hearts of viewers in Eurovision in 2019, they have released 28 songs, topped the charts, become radio favourites, won awards and been nominated for the Spellemann award.

Most of the trio’s 150 million plays on Spotify and YouTube come from abroad. KEiiNO has, among other things, toured Australia twice and played to large crowds in Europe several times.

For Alexandra, Fred and Tom Hugo, the Eurovision Song Contest is the European Pop Championship. When they suddenly had a song they thought would engage a lot of people, they wanted to make another attempt to take the victory home.

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KEiiNO in MGP 2024

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By Linda Karina Brandt, KEIiNO NEWS, January 5th, 2024

After KEiiNO reached 6th place in Eurovision 2019, the speculations have gone on yearly, wether or not they would participate in Melodi Grand Prix again. Every year, fans have speculated, hoped, crossed their fingers and they were THRILLED when the announcement came in 2021, that KEiiNO would participate that year, with their amazing song, Monument, where during the filming of the music video, in Norway’s most beautiful places, Fred slipped and nearly fell off a mountain. A big scare, which we all didn’t know about until a few months later, when it was revealed in an article. Thank goodness he “only” hurt his head, and it didn’t go worse than that.

As all fans know, in the MGP finale, Monument came in second after “Fallen Angel” with Tix. Fans were bummed, disappointed and some also angry, although we have to admit that Fallen Angel WAS a good song, and Tix presented it beautifully at Eurovision that year. I think it grew on all of us, once the disappointment had settled.

Since 2021, fans have again speculated, yearly, wether or not KEiiNO would join MGP again. In 2022, no. in 2023, no. but around new year 2024, little hints in form of recap videos began showing on their instagram. Very soon fans picked up the hints and the theory of them joining THIS year was larger than the two years before. As the week went by, more and more hints, fans became more and more sure – in fact so sure that the KEiiNO Fan Group Official on Facebook, last night had a special balloon made for KEiiNO with, “good luck” printed on, for the fan group manager to hand to them at the MGP reveal today.

It was a very long hour from 12.50 and the news started, and when the participants were presented one by one, from 13.00, but FINALLY all the fans’ hopes and expectations were fulfilled – KEiiNO was presented as participants, with their brand new single, “Damdiggida”, written by Alexander N. Olsson, Tom Hugo Hermansen, Alexandra Rotan, Jakob Redtzer, and Fred Buljo.

With this to look very much forward to, we wish KEiiNO all the best of luck in MGP 2024, can’t wait to see them perform again.

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Alexandra (27) shares happy news with her boyfriend, Markus (29)

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Alexandra Rotan (27) shares happy news with boyfriend Markus (29)

Aexandra Rotan (27) is a Norwegian artist, who has really shown that she is skilled and talented.
We know her best as the lead vocalist of the band “KEiiNO”, which back in 2019 won the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Spirit in the Sky”.
The song was a huge hit and in the Eurovision final, held in Tel Aviv, the band finished in sixth place.
In 2021, the band tried again with the song “Monument” but finished in second place behind artist TIX.
Alexandra impressed again when she participated in “Battle of the stars” in 2021. She then finished in second place, after Bjorn Tomren who won the title.
It was last year that the artist was able to reveal that life also smiled in private. Rotan confirmed that she had a boyfriend.
“Yes, I’ve got a boyfriend! I’m happy. Have no comment beyond that,” Rotan told Dagbladet.
Alexandra’s chosen one is guitarist Markus Maaren Bastøe (29).
Alexandra Rotan reveals new step in their relationship.
The KEiiNO artist has until now lived at Eidsvoll Verk, but now Rotan announces that the couple is moving to the capital together, she tells Eidsvoll Ullensaker blad.
Thus, the 27-year-old has put her apartment up for sale.
– It is quite sad as I have enjoyed it immensely, and have spent time and effort to make the apartment gorgeous if I dare to say so myself. But then my boyfriend is gorgeous too, and he drew the longest straw,” she told the newspaper.
Alexandra adds that her heart will always belong to Råholt, but that “it will be very exciting to try out living in the city”.
Lovely Alexandra! Congratulations and good luck with your move.
This article Alexandra Rotan (27) shares the happy news with her boyfriend Markus (29) was first published by Newsner Norsk.

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NEW PLANS: Alexandra Rotan opens up about new plans. Photo: Andreas Fadum/See and Hear

New step with the boyfriend

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New step with the boyfriend
– He drew the longest straw

Dagbladet.no Monday, September 18th, 2023
Translated by Karina Brandt. KEiiNO NEWS

Last year, artist and KEiiNO star Alexandra Rotan, 27, shared the pleasant news that she had a boyfriend.
“yes, I’ve got a boyfriend! I’m happy. Have no comment beyond that,” Rotan told Dagbladet, while choosing to keep her chosen one secret.
Later that year, however, she revealed that it was guitarist Markus Maaren Bastøe (29) who had captured her heart.
To Eidsvoll Ullensaker Blad, Rotan can now reveal that they are taking their relationship a step further and moving to the capital together. Until now, she has lived at Eidsvoll Verk, but now the apartment has been put up for sale.
– It is quite sad as I have enjoyed it immensely and have spent time and effort to make the apartment gorgeous if I dare to say so myself. But then my boyfriend is gorgeous too, and he drew the longest straw,” she told the newspaper.
The 27-year-old does not hide the fact that her heart will always belong to Råholt, but that she thinks “it will be very exciting to try out living in the city”.
Earlier this year, Rotan revealed to Se og hør, that she met her boyfriend when he was a guitarist in KEiiNO.
“I noticed right away that he’s the right one,” she said.

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Stjernesludd

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Stjernesludd

November har vært her

Lagt igjen sludd

Ser solen går ned i svarthvitt

Gatene her har bare brente broer

I kveld blinker byen som et mareritt

Året så langt har vært bare myke pakker

Er redd det er for sent å ta det pent

Glorien falmet før bladene falt

Grenene hvisket jeg fikk som fortjent

Det er ikke alt jeg har sagt som er bull

Hadde jeg gods skulle du fått gull

For i natt

Når snøen laver ned

Lager vi engler

Og vi er i himmelen

Alle snille barn er kjøpt og betalt

På skjermen har sjarmen gått bort

Gatens løse fugler er lagt under tre

Herberg er lagt ned så ingen har rom

Jeg trenger et svar

Så jeg ringer en svarer

Stemmen lyder kjent

Så lenge det varer

I natt

Når snøen laver ned

Lager vi engler

Og vi er i himmelen

I natt

Når snøen laver ned

Lager vi engler

Vi er i himmelen

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Insomnia

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Insomnia

We don’t need to sleep
Light is all we need
You can take my breath away
You don’t have to fade
We can stay the same
Long as we can stay awake

All the colors in the sky got me hypnotized
And the light in your eyes

In our insomnia
Dreaming of a lost utopia
We could live forever – never die
(Joik)
So close to heaven – I need you by my side
Our Insomnia
Dancing in a light euphoria
We could live forever – never die
(Joik)
So close to heaven – I need you by my side
In the

Endless summer night
See the embers fly
C’mon set my heart on fire
Stay forever young
In the midnight sun
C’mon we could still get higher

All the colors in the sky got me hypnotized
And the light in your eyes

In our insomnia
Dreaming of a lost utopia
We could live forever – never die
(Joik)
So close to heaven – I need you by my side
Our Insomnia
Dancing in a light euphoria
We could live forever – never die
(Joik)
So close to heaven – I need you by my side
In me

I can feel the night grow colder
Time is running out
In insomnia
Insomnia

Tell me we could still be stronger
And the night is young
In insomnia
Insomnia

(Joik)
Stay in the midnight sun
(Joik)
Stay in the midnight sun
We’ll be forever young
(Joik)
Stay in the midnight sun
We’ll be forever young

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Over ten thousand fans are waiting for KEiiNO in Amsterdam

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Over ten thousand fans are waiting for KEiiNO in Amsterdam

By Emma Hoff, iFinnmark, November 2nd, 2023
Translated by Karina Brandt, KEiiNO NEWS

The three artists make up the music group KEiiNO.

Now, the trio is looking forward to finally getting back together and playing for their overseas fans.

The band plays in Copenhagen on the Danish Eurovision club’s anniversary, before they for the third time are part of the big Eurovision fan party, Het Grote Songfestivaalfest, in Amsterdam on November 16th. Close to 15,000 Eurovision fans from all over the world will attend.

“Its quite unique and fantastic that we almost five years after we participated in Eurovision, still get the opportunity to play on the biggest Eurovision stages in the world, outside of the competition itself. We’ve always had a close relationship with our fans and work daily to maintain that relationship and accessibility for them. So now we are extremely excited to go to Copenhagen and Amsterdam to feel the love of the amazing Eurovision fans, says Alexandra Rotan.

In a few days, they will release their new single, “Insomnia”. And just like in the monster hit “Spirit in the Sky”, known from the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision, North Sámi joik is an important part of the soundscape.

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Fade Out

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They will teach you how to be a girl
About Jesus and how sinners burn
They own half your lovin’ city
Wanna fade out
I just fade out

Fade out now
Fade out now

They tell lies about a Nordic race
It’s just politics to kill all gays
When free speech is cutting of my head
Wanna fade out
I just fade out

Fade out now
Fade out again

Tell me: Who needs police
That let nazis walk our streets
I’m so angry
I can’t sleep
I’m so angry
But I fade out

Fade out now
Fade out again

Fade out again
fade out again

Fade out again

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Photo: Scope/ Martin Myklebust and cover art: Simen Løvgren

New Single – Fade Out

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On Friday I’ll release a very special song: Fade Out. Not only because I’m happy with the composition and think the musicians play fantastically, but because the text (written by Alexander Nyborg Olsson ) has clearly become the subject of debate before its release. A small piece of art for a text with no harsh words or references to illegalities in the pop world in 2023.
Now, after a little if and but, we get to play this (and many other songs on my upcoming album) for the youth at Flekkerøy until Wednesday, and we will do everything we can to make sure that absolutely everyone feels included at the concert! For those who do not get to hear the song at the junior school concert, I would be VERY happy if you follow the link below to “pre-save”. Then you will automatically get Fade Out on your release radar ????
Song lyrics are rarely autobiographical, and are not these days made as historical depictions. Something about fade out is self experience though. It’s the feeling of anger that ends up in powerlessness. There were many of us who knew this when people with a disgust for most people who can be considered “different” marched in pace, with police protection, down Markens in Kristiansand. Another thing that triggers me, is when people claim that certain people are “different” from what they ARE. Many have experienced this both in and outside Kristiansand.
There are also countless forms of “difference”, not just who you fall in love with, and we hope that the board around Fade Out can help some challenge their own attitudes towards those around them. For others it might just be a nice song. For some, it may be a little stiff. But that’s still fine, as we like to say in the southern part of the country ????

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CONCERT: Lindebøskauen school at Flekkeroy has cancelled the concert with Tom Hugo Hermansen after complaints from several parents. Photo: Google Street View

People at Flekkeroy react after cancelled concert:- Embarrassing to be associated with

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Several have expressed great disappointment after it became known that Lindebøskauen school at Flekkeroy has cancelled the concert with Tom Hugo Hermansen.

It was announced on Friday, that several schools have cancelled concerts with artist, Tom Hugo Hermansen, known from KEiiNO, as a result of several complaints from parents.
The concert is part of Den KulturSkolesekken and contains love songs written by the artist and his husband Alexander Olsson. It is the content of some of the songs that should be the reason for the concerts have been cancelled.

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CONTROVERSIAL: Tom Hugo Hermansen (43), known from MGP and the group KEiiNO, is currently performing the performance, "Eden – Straight pop with queer role models", at schools in Kristiansand. Photo: Tom Hansen

It affects innocent children who work to accept their differences

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Tom Hugo Hermansen (43), known from MGP and the group KEiiNO, is currently performing the performance, “Eden – Straight pop with queer role models”, at schools in Kristiansand. Photo: Tom Hansen

I really feel sorry for the children who had been looking forward to going to a concert with their role model, Tom Hugo, as part of the cultural schoolbag, but is deprived of the opportunity.

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