Øystein Sunde

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Øystein Sunde (born January 24, 1947) is a Norwegian folk singer and guitarist. He is known for his high-speed guitar and banjo style and his satirical lyrics. Although often regarded as a comedian, Sunde is a versatile jazz guitarist who has played with several dixie bands and jazz combos over the years.

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[edit] Early years

He was born 24. January 1947 in Oslo, but his family moved early to Skarnes in 1954 where Sunde went to school. In 1955, the family moved back to Lambertseter in Oslo and Øystein continued school there. The same year he started playing piano, but Øystein did not like this partially because he was forced to rehearse scales and partially because his teacher could play boogiewoogie and Øystein was not allowed to do so by his teacher. Despite protests form his parents he ended his piano playing career at the age of 7.

The next instrument Øystein played was a recorder but he started to cry after one hour, he got a big grapefruit to comfort him but after eating it he started to cry again. It was as this point his mother realized that he was not fit for playing this kind of instrument and later he started to play a B-Cornet. Even though Øystein did not quite find this instrument comfortable he played it for a few years mainly because he had failed so many times earlier.

When Øystein attended 6th grade his woodwork teacher made him make a mandolinlaika without any drawings. When finished, the instrument was too big but sounded magnificent. This was what caused Øystein to find music fun mainly because he was not forced to practice this instrument. Later Øystein bought a used guitar, and the mandolin was never used again.

In 1960 Øystein heard the song "Apache" played by The Shadows and he was "hooked". Later at his confirmation he got his first electric guitar. He dreamed of a Fender but it would take Øystein 11 years to get one. He also met one of his 'heroes' Chet Atkins in late 1971 who taught him some valuable lessons for 45 minutes.

Øystein attended the obligatory military service in the Norwegian air force base at Kolsås after basic training at Gardermoen. During his military training he wrote one of his hits "Fire melk og dagbla' for i går" on a boring night shift. After a while Øystein was allowed to postpone his military training to attend to "Schous Tekniske Institutt" for education. He did in 1969 have to serve the remainder of his military training at Kolsås.

In the end if the sixties Øystein was working on a education as engineer. However during a class for Norwegian Øystein was to little interested in the lecture and wrote one of his greatest hits "Jaktprat" who is one of the songs he received the post positive response for and Øystein realized that he was on track of something that he should do every now and then.

After some successful cooperation with Mikel Aas in late 1970 after releasing the LP "1001 Fnatt" who had over 25000 sold copies Øystein decides to drop education and work full time as a entertainer.

[edit] The start of a career

In 1976, Øystein Sunde moved back to Skarnes with his wife Gudrun, where he can pursue his hobbies, like model airplanes and garden golf.

Øystein Sunde became a part of the musician social environment in the capital, and he could often be found at the singer's club Dolphins with talented people like Kari Svendsen, Lillebjørn Nilsen, Ole Paus, Finn Kalvik and Hege Tunaal. He has played in bands like Hitch-Hikers, Hi-Five, Christiania Fusel & Blaagress and Gitarkameratene (with fellow guitarists Lillebjørn Nilsen, Halvdan Sivertsen and Jan Eggum), and he has participated in matinees, but he gained most fame as a solo artist. His lyrics are often about everyday situations from his own life, like nappy changing and model airplanes. He has said that he cannot write a song that contains no comic element. Expressions like "kjekt å ha" ("nice to have") have entered the Norwegian everyday language.

His recordings also include several instrumentals, like the folk tune Fanitullen or the high-speed, technical Ned Vøringsfossen (Down the Vøringsfossen Waterfall) and Lynavleder'n and the challenging Kulingbarsel.

Andreas Diesen once described Sunde as "a master with words and a great musical talent". "When describing Øystein Sunde, I can quote Andrè Bjerke, who once said about himself that he 'was into words'. Sunde sings about the Danish caravan on Norwegian roads or about artisans at their worst - all with a lot of irony."

[edit] Trivia

  • For a period of time Øystein was only able to play one way (upwards) with the plectrum.
  • Øystein have the ability to talk/sing faster than most people and at the same time combining this with high-speed guitar playing.

[edit] Publications

[edit] Music

  • 1001 Fnatt (1970)
  • Det året det var så bratt (1971)
  • Som varmt hvetebrød i tørt gress (1972)
  • Sunderfundigheter (1973)
  • Ikke bare tyll (1974)
  • Klå (1974)
  • Hurtbuller i hvit saus (1975)
  • På sangens vinger (1976)
  • Øystein Sundes beste (1977)
  • Hærtata hørt (1979)
  • Barkebille Boogie (1981)
  • I husbukkens tegn (1984)
  • Overbuljongterningpakkmesterassistent (1986)
  • Kjekt å ha (featuring Béla Fleck) (1989)
  • Øystein Sundes 40 beste (1990)
  • Du må'kke komme her og komme her (1994)
  • Nå er begeret nådd (1999)
  • Sånn er'e bare (2005)
  • Sundes Verden (2006)

[edit] Books with lyrics and musical notes for his own songs

  • Viser uten slips (1972)
  • Kjekt å ha–1 (1990)
  • Kjekkere å ha–2 (1992)
  • Du må'kke komme her og komme her (1997)
  • Sånn Er'e Bare (2005)

[edit] External links

Nordic music

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