Maj Britt Andersen is without a doubt one of Norway’s most famous artists, and perhaps especially among children. She has released a number of children’s albums – several of them with the late Trond Brænne.
This year, Andersen is relevant in the TV 2 success “Every time we meet”. On Saturday, it’s her turn to be hailed in the program.
– It was incredibly inspiring to work with young musicians who are in the middle of their careers now. I think it is very fun and exciting to be a part of. It is a vitamin injection, says Andersen to Dagbladet.
INSPIRED: Maj Britt Andersen thinks it was inspiring and a “vitamin injection” to be with the other artists on “Every time we meet” Photo: Vegard Breie / TV 2
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Surprises
Without revealing too much about Saturday’s episode, we can say that more surprises await viewers. Jarle Bernhoft has translated one of Andersen’s songs into English, and Arif has written about one of Andersen’s children’s songs.
– I think all the interpretations were very nice, and what you notice is that all the artists have done this with love with the one they are going to pay tribute to. That’s what makes it so nice. You have your day and can sit and enjoy yourself and be served one fine interpretation after another, says Andersen.
During the first program that was broadcast last week, Andreas “Tix” Haukland was to be praised during the program. Andersen dealt with the “Tix” song “Angel, do not go”. “Tix” was clearly affected, and Andersen was only a few meters away from him.
– I think it was special. When you play at concerts, the audience is much further away. If they cry or get tears in their eyes then you do not see it because they are so far away. Here we saw the reactions to each other very well.
There were tears
– A bit scary
In March last year, she was asked to be in the program. After a quiet year without concerts due to the corona pandemic, she makes no secret of the fact that it was one of the reasons why she decided to say yes.
– I started to long to go out and play again, and meet people not least. I thought if I was ever to say yes to “Every time we meet”, now is the time to do it, says Andersen.
She continues:
– Then I had a very good time to prepare for the songs. I think it was a little scary to say yes too. But I’m very happy about that.
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– The girls have taken over
His music career starts
Something that helps to explain why Maj Britt Andersen has invested in music goes back to childhood. She was born in 1956 and grew up on Skreia on Toten – a “tiny little place” she describes it as, with about 2000 inhabitants at the time.
The mother was at home when the children grew up, and focused a lot on being present for the children. The father worked in an installation company, and the job also affected family life.
– The job required a lot of him, but when he was home, he was very present with his music. He played and sang a lot for us. I have many good memories from both, says Andersen.
In her childhood, they sang at school every day, and she also sang in children’s choirs. The father performed in several places on Toten, and 11-year-old Maj Britt Andersen participated and sang.
When she was 14 years old, she took part in a singing competition in Gjøvik. The band Bruno from Gjøvik with, among others, Viggo Sandvik, later known from Vazelina Bilopphøggers, listened to her. It ended with Andersen becoming vocalist in Bruno. She started rehearsing with them one day a week and played concerts on the weekends.
– It was a very fun band to sing and join. I worked with them for several years, before I decided to do something more strenuous in my life: To get a permanent job.
– I have always felt like an outsider
Coincidences
Andersen’s idea was to go back to the dream she had from the time she was five years old: to become a nanny.
The choice should lead to the turning point in her career.
She started working in a kindergarten at Ullevål hospital. Coincidentally, actress and lyricist Trond Brænne had children in the kindergarten she worked for. The two met in the kindergarten when Brænne was to pick up her children. At that time, Andersen had released the solo albums “A Little Wonder” and “It Swings in Me”.
When the two met, Brænne had heard Andersen’s solo records, and came up with the lyrics to what would later become the success «Balloonvisa». He wanted Andersen to write the melody, and she did – with “suitable results” as she herself describes it. The melody was therefore given to her husband Geir Holmsen, with whom she has now soon been married for 40 years.
With that, the collaboration began, and “Balloonvisa” was played on the radio every day, after Brænne had sold the single on NRK for 25 kroner each.
In 1985 they released the children’s album “Have you heard that?”, And the following year they released “People are weird”. The collaboration resulted in 100,000 records sold and appearances on Barne-TV.
TURNING POINT: Maj Britt Andersen released the album “People are weird!” With Trond Brænne and her husband Geir Holmsen. Photo: Archive
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The turning point
She has no doubt that the collaboration with Brænne and her husband was a turning point for her.
– That was when it became really fun. It was so playful the plan we had with all the children’s records and children’s TV programs we made. It was so fun. Trond and I said to each other many times “how lucky we are to be allowed to work with this that we think is so fun, and that there are so many who like it”.
She says that the goal was first and foremost entertainment for the children, but they also wanted to make something that mattered to them.
“Balloon songs” address important things that are relevant in our society today, and in the world in general for that matter, says Andersen.
– It still feels like a wall is gone in my life
YEAR-LONG COOPERATION: Maj Britt Andersen has collaborated with her husband Geir Holmsen (right) for over 30 years. In recent years, the two have also collaborated on music with Lars Saabye Christensen. Photo: Gitte Johannesen / NTB
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– Very many good memories
Almost nine years ago, her good friend and colleague passed away for many years. Trond Brænne died on 16 March 2013, aged 59. At the funeral, Andersen and her husband Geir Holmsen performed “Balloon Song”.
During the filming of “Every time we meet”, Andersen thought a lot about Brænne. Some of the songs that were performed were written by Brænne and Holmsen.
– Then I thought “think what an experience it would be for Trond to see and hear these songs being sung by these artists”. I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately and I’m still thinking about him. I have many good memories from the collaboration we had for so many years.
She describes the former friend and colleague as a “very funny and warm guy”.
– He had a slightly strange sense of humor in many ways. He was ironic and joked a lot. He was always in an insanely good mood. We constantly met for lunch to talk about new projects. He was very easy to work with and good at writing.
She says that Brænne was very good at writing the stories she told him as poems or lyrics.
– It was very strong that he managed to convey what I told him so well. He really lived up to everything we talked about and got it down on paper. It was incredibly fun to work with him, and that after all I got to work with him for as many years as I did.
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“Everyone” would honor Trond Brænne
– Feels lucky
After a career that extends over 35 years, Andersen says that over the years she has received a lot of good feedback from her audience. And it does not end there. In recent years, she has collaborated with both her husband Geir and author Lars Saabye Christensen on the project “A quiet place”.
– I feel lucky to have achieved what we have done. There are often three generations sitting in the hall during the concerts, you can not get better feedback, says Andersen.
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