Inlägg 270Irina Zhernosek skrev:den 10 augusti 2009 kl. 07:19
Translation of the new phone interview http://novaya.com.ua/?/articles/2009/08/09/154931-9

“I have not written anything new after the « Eurovision-2009”. Last year I wrote 20-30 songs, when I’d understood that, I could win Norwegian Grand Prix and would participate in the contest. Now I will try to release the second, third album. But once you need to finish it! “

A nice Belarusian guy from Norway, Alexander Rybak, quickly conquered the hearts of Europeans with his heart-piercing story of unhappy love. The winner of the ESC – 2009 enjoys communication, which is dosed by the managers of the young talent. Obviously, they try to protect the vocal cords for his tight tour schedule. Curiously enough that an avalanche of glory, which covered the singer, had no impact on his behaviour.

At least, our correspondent didn’t feel any sign of star fever or bumptiousness during a telephone conversation with Alexander Rybak.

«Nastia Prikhodko – is a very beautiful girl»

- Hello!

- Hello! (Alexander said with cheerful and friendly voice and immediately started to use “you” (single) [ in Russian we have 2 variants of “you” ( as in German) The “you is” is used when speaking with friends…]
- As I am calling you from Ukraine, I would like to hear about the memories that our country has left after your visit to the finals of the Ukrainian talent show.

- First of all, people are very warm and open. More open than in Norway.

- Do you continue to communicate with Ukrainian musicians, whom you got acquainted with?

- I would be happy to listen once again to the guy who took second place in the Ukrainian talent show. He sang tenor and soprano. What is his name?

- On stage - travesty Ursula,

in life - Artem Semenov ...

- I like Ruslana very much, but I don’t know her personally. I'd like to meet Anastasia Prikhodko. She is a very, very beautiful girl.

- Did you get any proposals to sing duet with some Ukrainian singers?

- Yes, there were some proposals, but unfortunately we can’t accept them.

I have such a busy schedule so that it is simply impossible to afford. We need think only of concerts, concerts and concerts. If I had time I would sing something with Nastya with pleasure. She has such a strength of will!
And tt is very evident on stage.

- “Once I cut bow hair.”

- I would like to talk a little bit about your childhood. Did parents force you to play music? Or was playing music just a pleasure for you?

- At first I was persuaded to practice music in order to determine whether I had a talent for music. They saw that I had a talent and so they began to force me. The process of music- making music was pleasant, because the parents encouraged me by the new toys, and it was interesting for me. Besides, adults did not limit my communication and walks with friends. But still I had spend more time playing music and I had less free time than my classmates.

- Were you an obedient child or had the parents to punish you?

- No, I punished them. (laughing. - Author.) Once I decided that the parents cooked tasteless dinner. In protest, I cut «hair» of the violin bow on purpose. In order they wouldn’t do it next time. (laughing. - Author.)

- As far as I understood, parents did not punished you, did they?

- No. But sometimes they forbade me to watch TV, if I behaved ill . But I usually didn’t behave very badly.
- In childhood many people have complexes. Did you have?
- Yes. I was the ugliest boy in the class. It was my complex. I remember, that all teased me that no girl liked me. The reason was that I belonged to another culture. But now everybody understands this culture.

- How did you overcome the problems?

- I just didn’t think about it. I’d got 2-3 friends of mine and I was happy to communicate with them.

Actually, I do not know how in Russian it will be when teasing.

- For example, children give you different nicknames, call you all names….

- Yes. When I became older, I realized that I was teased. But at that time I even didn’t understand the offensive remarks. I had friends, and it was enough for me.

«In Russia, many people think only about money»

- Was it difficult to write the next song after the hit, which won the «Eurovision» with?

- I have not written anything new after the « Eurovision-2009”. Last year I wrote 20-30 songs, when I’d understood that, I could win Norwegian Grand Prix and would participate in the contest. And after the contest I have no time to write. I don’t know if you’ve heard that: My album with 9 songs was released in Russia. I like many things from this album. But it is easy for me to judge, I want the audience to evaluate it.

- Going back to my question.
I mean, if something worthwhile has written, the next thing should be much better. Does it create a certain psychological pressure?

- It is not a pressure. I do not want to write the bad songs now, after I’ve already created a good one. Many, many ideas come to mind, but I always throw them away, because I understand that it’s not the right thing

- What is your favorite song from the album, or may be you have several?

- Most of all I like” If you were gone” because it’s not written by me. I wrote lyrics, but the melody is the old Norwegian. It’s well-known. Therefore, it is easier for me to love it, because it is not mine. But I am proud mostly of the songs about 13 horses – “13 horses”.

- And why 13? Mat be because of the date when you were born?

- No, when I was a child, my mother read me a Russian poem about the horses, sinking in the sea. I’ve taken some plot from this poem, of course. However, I don’t remember the details of this poem, I just remember the plot. So I start to write a long, long song in 6-7 minutes.

- There is another song from the album, Abandoned ...

- Also Russian.

- In the Ukrainian language we also have the song

with the same melody ..
- - And how it sounds in Ukrainian?

- The song, entitled «Cheremshyna», which has these words: «Знов зозулі чути голос в лісі, ластівки гніздечко звили в стрісі»
- But isn’t it an old Russian song? Hmm! [ Actually, “Abandoned” has the melody of the song from the old Russian movie.. it was written by the Russian composer Molchanov] It’s terribly difficult to find mutual understanding with the authors of songs. Much more difficult to do it in Russia than in Norway. In Russia, unfortunately, too many people think only about money. They do not understand that they will get glory and recognition, and hence - a lot of money if I sing their songs. At first, we’d agreed with the authors, and when I won the «Eurovision», some of them started to play pranks. We hope that now everything will be, because the songs are written by the very good people. For example, Alexander Zatsepin wrote «song about bears». He immediately allowed me to sing it, because liked my English version. I am very pleased that he invited my to get acquainted with us. We had a very good conversation. Other authors think only about money. We’d like to sing two more Russian songs. One of them - «Komarovo». I plead the authors to let me sing their songs.

“A few years later I will have a quite different life”

- In some interviews you said that you do not want to become a global star. Don’t you think that you program yourself to failure by such statements?
- When I was eighteen-nineteen years old, I have programmed myself to become a great artist in Europe. I wanted to be a famous artist and I did not try to hide it. And now I say that in 5-6 years I want to live in the country if I find a wife. It will be better to be a composer in this case.. I would not need to travel around the world to give concerts. That’s why I am very, very happy with each concert now. This is a great pleasure because I know: I’ll leave a stage in a few years and I will have another life.

- And why couldn’t the popularity last for15-20 years?

- I want to be a popular composer in a few years.

I do not want in 30 years to take part in the different talent shows. Do you understand? Now I will try to release the second, third album. But once you need to finish it! And it’s better to give a summary when you're on top of success, rather than at the bottom.

- But there are singers who have been singing successfully for 20 years?

- Their family life isn’t very good. Do you see Madonna? I do not think that I will be delighted to change the girls every time when I’ll be 50 years old.

- It is not necessarily. All depends on the person ...

- If I had a family now, it would be difficult for me to leave the wife at home and ...

- ... and to be true to the one girl, right?

- Well, yes, actually. But it would be very easy for me not to look around, when we’ll live together. Is there any sense to have a wife, if you see her only rarely?

- What ado you value most of all in girls?

- Oh, it’s a very difficult question, because almost every day my tastes change

- You confessed that you dream about your own house. What should be the home of your dreams?

- It will be very good if it has not too small rooms, and the house isn’t not too big in order not to feel it’s emptiness. And far away from the city, but not too far, in order my children could get to school. Oh, Yes I am talking now as if were married! I’m single now and I’m looking for a flat.
- Thank you for finding the time and answering my questions.
- Thanks for your call. Sorry for my bad Russian ...

This we have already known:

At the age of 5 he started to receive a musical education on violin and piano, and composes music.

In 2006 he became the winner of the Norwegian talent show Kjempesjansen with the song “Foolin”.

At the moment single Fairytale has become a leader and three times platinum in both the Norwegian charts - sales and rotation.

This is new for us:

The singer has no lactose and milk products on his menu

He is a windsurfer

but he does not like to go fishing
He wants his future wife to have nothing in common show business.

*Here is the russian song "Komarovo", which Alexander woud like to sing, according to the new phone interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiioW5tcowo