After a wild weekend of bicentennial partying, a group of Norwegian elementary school students have left a lasting impression. Led by young rapper Johanne Holmedahl, they’ve been raking in rave reviews for their unconventional take on the historical process that created Norway’s constitution. Even those who can’t understand Norwegian are likely to find their energetic video for state broadcaster NRK entertaining:
The video creatively explains how a large group of men gathered in Eidsvoll in 1814 to write the foundation for Norway’s democracy. Filmed at the historic house in Eidsvoll where the actual writing of the constitution took place, the video runs through events leading up to the signing of the document on the 17th of May, and ends with excerpts from Norway’s national anthem Ja vi elsker and the popular patriotic song Norge i rød, hvit og blått (Norway in red, white and blue), along with Holmedahl’s enthusiastic message of congratulations on the nation’s bicentennial.
Holmedahl, age 12 from Oslo, also performed live with her fellow students at Saturday night’s big bicentennial show on the grounds of the historic house at Eidsvoll, before the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish monarchs, government ministers and thousands of spectators. The applause was loud and long.
Holmedahl also sings in a children’s choir called Oslo Soul Children, which was “discovered,” she told newspaper Aftenposten, by state broadcaster NRK last December. Six members then took part in a Julemorgen choir on NRK and ultimately were asked to participate in the Eidsvoll video. The video’s music was written by Lars Bleiklie Devik, who normally works with the Norwegian hit comedy duo Ylvis, while the lyrics were written by Hanne Vennemo, project leader for NRK’s children’s channel, NRK Super.
The lyrics tell the story of how and why the “Eidsvoll men” wrote the document that established Norway as a constitutional monarchy where the people would determine the law, not the monarch. The refrain repeats the men’s mantra of “Til Dovre faller,” a reference that Norway’s elected representatives must remain true to the people and their beliefs “until the mountains of Dovre fall.”
The video has been wildly popular in Norway, and many predict Holmedahl has a bright career ahead of her.
newsinenglish.no/Nina Berglund
