Alexander Rybak celebrating his birthday at the Norwegian embassy in Moscow, 2009 - article in Aftenposten + video

Alexander Rybak celebrated his 23rd birthday at the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday night.
He was given a weapon full of vodka by the head of Universal in Russia. 

Author: Christina Torsøe | Photos: Sara Johannessen | Published in Aftenposten NO |13.5.2009 | Translated by Mónika Menyhért

Alexander celebrated with a single, giant cake and gifts

Alexander Rybak was greeted with a birthday song, gifts and camera flashes when he arrived at the Norwegian embassy in Moscow tonight (watch the video below).

Aftenposten TV: - This is almost a bit embarrassing. Thank you very much, said Alexander Rybak after the Norwegian delegation and about 40 Norwegian press people had sung "Hurra for deg som fyller ditt ar!" (Hurray for You Celebrating Your Birthday!) for him. Rybak arrived at the embassy at 9.30 pm local time, and was welcomed and congratulated by ambassador Knut Hauge.

Kalashnikov with vodka

Then the birthday child received presents. The most special gift he received from the director of Universal Music in Russia, Dmitry Konnov. It was a glass Kalashnikov rifle full of vodka. 

- Oi, it was a good gift, Rybak said and his eyes opened wide. Frikar's Halling dancers and Rybak's management had collaborated on a gift, a balalaika with a sheet music book. 

-  Oh, now I have to learn to play it, Rybak said. He was asked to try and play, and from the strings the first notes of "Fairytale" sounded to eager applause from the party participants. After Alexander had looked a little at his gifts, a large creme cake with fruit in different colors with sparklers at the edges was rolled in. The newly-baked 23-year-old cut up the cake, and everyone wanted a piece of both it and him.

New single

In addition to Alexander's birthday and participating in the Grand Prix circus, he also released a new single on Wednesday. The song is called "Funny Little World". 

- The single release was a gift from the management, and I think it is a great way to celebrate, says Rybak. He says that he has received several positive feedback on the song. 

- Many say that they recognize themselves in the song, which is about being in love. They say it's just the way it is, he says. Although there has been a lot of fuss around him, he has the strength left to give his best during Thursday's semi-final. 

If it goes as well as on the rehearsals today, then it will be a tremendous performance, he says.

The first part of this video is a recording of glimpses of the celebrating, and then (from 4:59) from another party won ESC 4 days later at the Norwegian embassy in Moscow when Alexander, leading the sing-along of "Fairytale"

(The translator of this article is not native either in the Norwegian or the English language, so any correction is welcomed and appreciated.)