One of Norway’s most popular bands, DeLillos, and its lead singer-songwriter Lars Lillo-Stenberg have suddenly fallen out of harmony with fans over a new song they performed at Sunday’s large memorial concert in Oslo. The song was supposed to be a tribute to the victims and survivors of the terrorist attacks on July 22 last year, but instead was blasted as being inappropriate.
The song set off a storm of protest over social media this week, with commentators calling it everything from “much too direct” to “brutal.” The lyrics referred directly to the confessed terrorist, who otherwise was pointedly ignored during memorial ceremonies throughout the first anniversary of his bombing and massacre on the island of Utøya.
The song was entitled Vi ser dere nå (We see you now) and its lyrics, roughly translated, referred to how the terrorist “set off a bomb and went to an island, where he shot down youngsters as if it was fun, he said it was gruesome but necessary, even though it was troublesome, he smiled.” The lyrics rhyme in Norwegian.
Several music critics, including one for large newspaper VG, harshly criticized the song as both “odd” and insensitive. Lillo-Stenberg told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) he also had positive feedback from some survivors, but NRK reported the song likely wouldn’t be included on DeLillos’ new album.
Views and News staff
