Alexander Rybak won the talent contest Kjempesjansen2006 with his own song Foolin'

Alexander showed his musical talent and great entertaining  spirit, when played concerts and went on concert tours with his family from an early age.
He was from the beginning also preoccupied with thinking “outside the box”. He began playing jazz and popular standards as well as pop hits. He composed music from an early age. 

Born with a competitive streak, he signed up to audition for Kjempesjansen for the first time in 2003. Then he was still considered a "fledgling", a little too young, so he did not get the chance to move on.

Then he joined the Norwegian talent contest “Idol” in 2005, but it was the “Kjempesjansen” (literally "The Big Opportunity", Norway's Got Talent on the channel NRK (Norwegian national broadcaster NRK) he participated in one year, in 2006 later and won it with his own jazzy composition “Foolin'”. That was when his extraordinary career began. 

His performance of "Foolin'" in the TV-show, a 1,5 min version (source)

Lyrics:
Nobody knows the way I’m feelin’

I try to scream instead I smile

The world is strange

I must be dreamin’

How can I stop this just for a while

The morning rain will soon be falling

But I don’t care ‘cause I’ve already cried

Can’t see the meaning of this

But one thing’s certain

I’m afraid I’m loosin’ my mind

Somebody else will be her boyfriend

Somebody else will have her heart

But still I love her so

How could I let her go

I was foolin’ myself

The sky is blue and birds are singing

The sun does shine

And kids are playing game

What have I done

What was I thinking

The only thing to do is hiding shame

Somebody else will be her boyfriend

Somebody else will have her heart

But still I love her so

How could I let her go

I was foolin’ myself

And here is another recording:

Some reviews in the days after the victory:
-- Translated by Mónika Menyhért who is not native either in the Norwegian or in the English language, so any correction is welcomed and appreciated. --

From thomasstranghelle.com

✔Article in the local paper Oksvalposten

[...]
Alexander stood out in the music scene both inside and outside the region during the last years, it was still a big surprise also for him to go to the top with his own song, while both singing and playing the violin.

Alexander Rybak is a classically educated violinist, but he has made no secret of that he is interested in introducing himself as a musician of multiple genres.
The collaboration with Thomas Stranghelle as well as the participation in "Idol" a few years ago were signs for that. But it was a well kept secret to the most of us, that he has also written good and swingin' songs. In "Kjempesjansen" he appeared to be greatly talented in both, and it will be exciting to follow his career. In any case, it is a good step made forward and the contest prize can be used for further studies and improving. But performance requests will surely be pouring in: we can expereince him already in Spring as the Fiddler in the theater show "Fiddler on the Roof" in Oslo Nye Teater. Congratulations!

He also performed the song 

“Beyond the Sea” in the TV-show

✔Article on nrk.no, 18.11.2006

With the host of the TV-show Dan Børge Akerø
Photo: Birte Njøsen Horne

It was a happy 20 year old who got the message that he was the one who got the most votes, and of all who have been on the program he is the one who won the 2006 chance to win!

- I can't believe it! This is absolutely unreal! Imagine I won!!!

It was a great cheer when Alexander Rybak realized that he was in fact the winner, that he was the one who got the most money from the judges and the audience.
He got a total of NOK 226 900 in the final, and together in the whole Kjempesjansen he got NOK 382 200.

What will you spend the money on?
- First I'm going to buy a chocolate, then I do not know ... Studies and in the bank maybe.

Many congratulations
Many people would congratulate the winner once the scrolling text was over.
Eddie Skoller was one of those who arrived in the queue.
- You have a huge talent! What a talent!

In a flood of flashes, the 20-year-old stood with this year's smile on his mouth.
- This is absolutely incredible!


✔Article on nrk.no, 18.11.2006 

It was exciting at the end when Dan Børge Akerø announced that it was either the Hemsing sisters or Alexander Rybak who would win. And it was the voices of NRK's ​​viewers that decided it all.




There's going to be a fiddle
Alexander has previously stated that it is a new fiddle that is at the top of his wish list.
- Everything is better than the one I have now!

But it was now the fiddle that brought him to the top with a distinctive voice and a self-composed song that he had arranged for the orchestra himself.


Some more photos while celebrating the victory

He also performed "Fever" in the talent show

From thomasstranghelle.com

✔Artricle in the local paper Opptur 

In addition to a considerable prize, his performances have opened many eyes to his talent. The performance requests has exploded on everything from appearances, model assignments and now also teather performances. In January, "The Fiddler on the Roof" has premiere in Oslo Ny Teater with Dennis Storhøi in the role of "Tevje". Alexander got the role of the fiddler and actually without audition. Perhaps no wonder, after all, as Alexander is a masterful violinist.

Alexander, we are proud of you. We all from OPPTUR wish you all the best in the future. Trust yourself, you have everything there what takes for both a human and performing artist.

✔Artricle in SEHER.NO, 19.11.2006:

The 20-year-old - classically trained violinist - used both the voice and the instrument to gather in a total of $ 382,000 in the talent competition.

And some of the prize money the single musician will use for sweet music also outside the concert scene.

- I'm going to please a girl I like very much. And who I hope will be my girlfriend, he says to Dagbladet.

Rybak has also tried "Idol" before, but was rejected by the judges - except for Anneli Drecker. Yesterday she sat in the professional jury and again boasted the multi-talent.

The Dane Eddie Skoller also praised the winner.

- You remind me of Jamie McCullum. There is such a glow of atistry in your eyes while performing, he said.

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And one of the very few occasions he performed "Foolin"" live, Sandnes 1.12.2010

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10 years later, Alexander has recorded a new version of "Foolin'" that he performs in crooner style in this music video:

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Also this year, in 2016, Alexander was invited to the quiz-show "QuizDan" on NRK, where he had a short interview with the same host Dan Børge Akerø as in "Kjempesjansen". 

Here is a part of that, referring to the big final he won back then:

Dan Børge Akerø: - Nice to have you here again.

Alexander: - Nice to be invited, especially to the final. I'm very fond of finals.

DBA: - That's good. I can understand that. You have had big success in finals.

A: - It's nostalgic to be here, ten years after I was in "Kjempesjansen".

DB: - Which also was the final in "Kjempesjansen".

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He also released "Fever" again along with a music video, which was recorded first time in 1956 by Eddie Cooley & Otis Blackwell, and has since then been covered by numerous artists in various musical genres like Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley or Madonna. 

Here with text with multilingual translation.

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You'll find more events, articles, reviews etc. about Alexander's art
BEFORE Fairytale ➡HERE and many videos ➡HERE