In my mind, Sissel isn't JUST a singer, a performer or an entertainer -- but she is a TRUE Artist. To me, an Artist is one who can take their Art and so convey it in their medium that others can sense, feel and become a part of what was in the Artist's heart, soul and spirit - what THEY were feeling and experiencing !! This Sissel does "par excellence" !! In this song, I can feel the aching in my OWN heart, and the hope and joy welling up inside of ME. When she sings - at THAT moment - SHE is feeling and experiencing the Song and conveying that feeling to her audience !!
Almost from the first time that I was introduced to Sissel's singing, I felt a growing spiritual connection with her. I recently realized what the connection consists of -- We both share the following attributes. I especially feel it in THIS song. At heart, Sissel IS and always WAS a dreamer, a searcher, a wanderer and an explorer in heart and spirit - on a "spiritual quest". She realizes that something of EXTREME value has been lost or misplaced - it isn't here anymore, it is missing - and she must search for and find it !! Her life will feel empty, incomplete, unfulfilled - with an aching, longing and yearning crying out inside until it is found. She doesn't know WHAT it is that was lost, WHEN or WHERE it was lost, or even HOW to begin the search. She only knows that she MUST search until either she finds it or she dies !! I believe that it is THIS quality or "gift" (at least in part) that accounts for Sissel's mesmerizing power over her audience. She charismatically imparts this longing to her listeners, and induces them to feel a "part of her search and journey". Only speaking and understanding English myself, I notice this quality far more when she is singing in Norwegian, where I am NOT distracted by the words of the song. As I have viewed over 300 of her videos, I sense that this quality was ALWAYS there in many of the songs that she chooses and in her singing itself, and has grown more intense and prominent as she has matured. I believe that this is a "Spiritual Quest", and NOT to be fulfilled in ANY person, place or thing. However, in her latest "Trilogy", this longing has been personified into the concept of a dearly loved one who has departed to a great distance away. In the first video, "I Rest My Eyes", Sissel explains that this love has gone "far away", and she misses him intensely. In her emptiness and loneliness, she watches and longs for his return. Alas, he doesn't come. In the second video, "The Journey" - she resolves to leave all that she has behind, and go to him. It is a long and dangerous journey - "across the ocean" - and she is ready to undertake this perilous venture in a frail, "sailboat". She isn't mindful of the dangers, or even of the fact that - when she gets there - she may not find him, he may have chosen another, or he simply may not want her anymore. She only knows, "I must search for my beloved or die of loneliness and a broken heart" !! In the third video, "Home" - she finally arrives on the distant shore, her love IS there waiting for her, they are reunited and live happily ever after !! Sissel says that, "She loves happy endings", and, God Bless her warm and wonderful heart, that she, "Wants EVERYONE to lead a happy, fulfilled life" !!
Read the lyrics. REALLY listen to and concentrate on the melody. Watch Sissel's face and her body language. Become immersed in the experience. Do you sense and feel the Spirit that she is emoting with every fiber of her being? Is it not the same Spirit that spoke to the people gathered together over 2,000+ years ago? -- "How often I have longed to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it !!"
Lyrics: ======================== It shone by angels and shepherds on the ground Of kings and people there, a father and a mother It shone by the child who came here with hope About connecting sky and earth It shines by her standing on a corner In too thin dress and freeze blue Of the boy of eight asking good powers Ensure him the gift he hopes to get All that shines Is joint in a link Life by life, Words after words For all that we are, for everything we’ve had It shines like stars, A Bethlehem Night It shines by him who will celebrate alone And think it does well with, a little holiday in among And her singing while tears trills Delicious is the earth, even if it doesn’t know true It shines in blocks and house in December Of glossy pleasure for everything to happen Of eager hands and everything to be reached Before the bell rings, and people sit down All that shines Is joint in a link Life by life Words by word For all that we are, for everything we’ve had It shines like stars, A Bethlehem Night It shines by him in a Christmas room street And in the country’s country now with holiday and free Of her who has his first Christmas in Norway Of what we have received and what we got give
Tusinde tak Sissel!!!
In my mind, Sissel isn't JUST a singer, a performer or an entertainer -- but she is a TRUE Artist. To me, an Artist is one who can take their Art and so convey it in their medium that others can sense, feel and become a part of what was in the Artist's heart, soul and spirit - what THEY were feeling and experiencing !!
This Sissel does "par excellence" !! In this song, I can feel the aching in my OWN heart, and the hope and joy welling up inside of ME. When she sings - at THAT moment - SHE is feeling and experiencing the Song and conveying that feeling to her audience !!
Skøn sang ! Dejligt at høre Sissel Kyrkjebø synge på sit modersmål - Frantz Olfert / Danmark
Sweet as the hope in a winter kiss // 'Neath starry skies we wait, O Lord, for Thee. - jh
Almost from the first time that I was introduced to Sissel's singing, I felt a growing spiritual connection with her. I recently realized what the connection consists of -- We both share the following attributes. I especially feel it in THIS song.
At heart, Sissel IS and always WAS a dreamer, a searcher, a wanderer and an explorer in heart and spirit - on a "spiritual quest". She realizes that something of EXTREME value has been lost or misplaced - it isn't here anymore, it is missing - and she must search for and find it !! Her life will feel empty, incomplete, unfulfilled - with an aching, longing and yearning crying out inside until it is found. She doesn't know WHAT it is that was lost, WHEN or WHERE it was lost, or even HOW to begin the search. She only knows that she MUST search until either she finds it or she dies !!
I believe that it is THIS quality or "gift" (at least in part) that accounts for Sissel's mesmerizing power over her audience. She charismatically imparts this longing to her listeners, and induces them to feel a "part of her search and journey". Only speaking and understanding English myself, I notice this quality far more when she is singing in Norwegian, where I am NOT distracted by the words of the song.
As I have viewed over 300 of her videos, I sense that this quality was ALWAYS there in many of the songs that she chooses and in her singing itself, and has grown more intense and prominent as she has matured. I believe that this is a "Spiritual Quest", and NOT to be fulfilled in ANY person, place or thing. However, in her latest "Trilogy", this longing has been personified into the concept of a dearly loved one who has departed to a great distance away.
In the first video, "I Rest My Eyes", Sissel explains that this love has gone "far away", and she misses him intensely. In her emptiness and loneliness, she watches and longs for his return. Alas, he doesn't come.
In the second video, "The Journey" - she resolves to leave all that she has behind, and go to him. It is a long and dangerous journey - "across the ocean" - and she is ready to undertake this perilous venture in a frail, "sailboat". She isn't mindful of the dangers, or even of the fact that - when she gets there - she may not find him, he may have chosen another, or he simply may not want her anymore. She only knows, "I must search for my beloved or die of loneliness and a broken heart" !!
In the third video, "Home" - she finally arrives on the distant shore, her love IS there waiting for her, they are reunited and live happily ever after !!
Sissel says that, "She loves happy endings", and, God Bless her warm and wonderful heart, that she, "Wants EVERYONE to lead a happy, fulfilled life" !!
?…………………
Read the lyrics. REALLY listen to and concentrate on the melody. Watch Sissel's face and her body language. Become immersed in the experience. Do you sense and feel the Spirit that she is emoting with every fiber of her being? Is it not the same Spirit that spoke to the people gathered together over 2,000+ years ago? -- "How often I have longed to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it !!"
Lyrics:
========================
It shone by angels and shepherds on the ground
Of kings and people there, a father and a mother
It shone by the child who came here with hope
About connecting sky and earth
It shines by her standing on a corner
In too thin dress and freeze blue
Of the boy of eight asking good powers
Ensure him the gift he hopes to get
All that shines Is joint in a link
Life by life, Words after words
For all that we are, for everything we’ve had
It shines like stars, A Bethlehem Night
It shines by him who will celebrate alone
And think it does well with, a little holiday in among
And her singing while tears trills
Delicious is the earth, even if it doesn’t know true
It shines in blocks and house in December
Of glossy pleasure for everything to happen
Of eager hands and everything to be reached
Before the bell rings, and people sit down
All that shines Is joint in a link
Life by life Words by word
For all that we are, for everything we’ve had
It shines like stars, A Bethlehem Night
It shines by him in a Christmas room street
And in the country’s country now with holiday and free
Of her who has his first Christmas in Norway
Of what we have received and what we got give
Sissel's daughter at 1.42