Buy, borrow, read

I've been thinking. If I were ever held at gunpoint and asked who my favourite writer was (don't know how often this happens), I would probably answer Tarjei Vesaas. I was never forced to read his books in school, so I've been saved from hearing ridiculus interpretations of his works by more or less qualified teachers, this is surely a blessing. Some of his books are translated, I don't know how this interferes with his incredible flow, but you might want to check it out. Yes you do. Trust me. Here are some titles.

Flate steiner er til å sitja på.

old times

Found this really old collection of negatives in a drawer. Turned out it was pictures from an old story in the local newspaper with 11 years old Soda and musician friends Ingvild and Rita.

THE NEW SONG: Pray for the first time

Soda Fountain Rag - Pray for the first time by sodafountainrag

Rest in your arms tonight

The wind is cold and I forgot how to fight

Close the door then throw the key

I got food to keep me going in eternity

Stay inside

Stare out of the window

Run and hide from the cold eyes

Whisper low

No-one will come

Then you pray for the first time in years

Get lost, go on, be gone!

The thoughts you fear

The silence alone

Stretch your arms and legs out now

This was how they would be saved

A thousand years ago

Stay inside

Stare out of the window

Run and hide from the cold eyes

Whisper low

No-one will come

Then you pray for the first time

This is a song related to an old Nordic myth: From the night before the 13. of December and all through the Christmas holiday one had to be careful not to run into Åsgårdsreien (the Wild Hunt). This was a travelling group of witches and bad spirits, led by Guro Rysserova and Lussi. You were in big trouble if everything wasn’t ready for Christmas. If you were outside when Åsgårdsreien came, they would take your soul for a ride, and you would never be yourself again. A way to be saved was to lie down, and stretch your arms and legs out to shape a cross with your body.

Lussi and the saint Lucia has actually been mixed together to create the Nordic Lucia-celebration on the 13 (en artikkel på norsk). 

Here is the old photo of the kindergarden Lucia from 1987

Is it too sad if I say that this is one of the very great moments in my life?

Welhaven had some words to say about Åsgårdsreien also (maybe there's a translation somewhere out there?)

Lydt gjennem Luften i Natten farer

et Tog paa skummende sorte Heste.

I Stormgang drage de vilde Skarer.

de have kun Skyer til Fodefæste.

Det gaaer over Dal, over Vang og Hei,

gjennem Mulm og Veir; de endse det ei.

Vandreren kaster sig ræd paa Veien.

Hør hvilket Gny - det er Asgaardsreien! 

Part V: Sing Sing and A December Night

This is the other one from 2009, Sing Sing:

Soda Fountain Rag - Sing Sing by sodafountainrag

And the one from last year - a little short song made and recorded in Italy last December:

Soda Fountain Rag - A December Night by sodafountainrag

And tomorrow? THE NEW ONE!!!11 

Part IV: Jullåten 2007

Here is the song from 2007 - the title is of course an hommage to SKWBN's Jullåten 2004. The earmuffs in question was a gift from my grandmother the christmas of 1986, and I think it was the gift I wished for the most.

Soda Fountain Rag - Jullåten 2007 by sodafountainrag

Shortly before falling asleap?

Part III: The Christmas where it ends

I thought I could just keep going with the sad christmas songs (with stolen elements), and then we get the happy ones a little closer to christmas.
This one is from 2008, and written just after I finished my masters degree in philosophy. With my personality this was clearly not a wise choice of education, but who knows, it might come in handy one day (positive thinking...).
I'm kinda satisfied with the "fugue-ish" ending.

Soda Fountain Rag - the christmas where it ends by sodafountainrag

If you listen carefully, you can hear elements of this old childrens tv intro from the 80s.

Happy weekend all!

PS. I forgot to mention one thing about Snow will fall yesterday; I got a version of that song on my email one day, recorded on accordion. That's one of the greatest things I've ever rercieved!

Part II:Snow will fall

Hi!
This is one of the two songs from the christmas of 2009. None of you pointed out that you've heard the opening theme/chorus before, but I think you have:

Soda Fountain Rag - Snow will fall by sodafountainrag

The bus in question is Bergens line 2 - actually a trolleybus.