Secret Garden – joined elements from Norwegian and Irish music expresses the strongest feelings

For they who hate the music from the Eurovision Song Contest circus, Secret Garden's masterpiece of a song was a great relief. It was impossible to avoid being touched by this song. Seldom has a song in his song contest waked up so strong feelings as this song. The audience was in ecstasy except the envious Norwegian neighbour Sweden, who didn't like the song because, as they said, it was almost without lyrics and voice. After the song contest Secret Garden continued to write history. This surprise victory at the Eurovision Song Contest was the ultimate showcase that successfully launched their first album "Songs from a Secret Garden". It was made available around the globe, including most European territories, the USA, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Hong Kong, China and Korea.

This was a historic event for a Norwegian artist and record company, who for the first time had produced a worldwide release with sales of more than a million. Awards followed, including Platinum record in Norway and Korea, Gold record in Ireland, Hong Kong Korea and New Zealand as well as 2 years (101 weeks) in the Billboard New Age charts in USA.

I had the great pleasure to experience Secret Garden in Drammen (near Oslo), Norway, this autumn. This was the start of their tour in Norway. It was a concert of strong emotions expressed in art and music. Their music is very symbolic. It was a great story behind many of the songs, and it made it even more emotional.

Photo. Cover from their first album. I am sure many in the crowd felled some tears when they heard the excellent Norwegians and Irish musicians played together in perfect harmony.

It sounded very much like the music on their four albums with some improvising. Could it be better?

- Irish Fionnuala Sherry's played on her crystal clear violin
- Norwegian Steinar Ofsdal played on several kind of flutes
- Irish Katie MacMannam (known previously from Riverdance) song and played on her emotional vibrating harp. Her beautiful voice can even make a stone melted - Everything was well directed by Rolf Loveland's sensitive piano and synthesizer playing
- Two new songs (one of them sounded real great)
- Almost full crowded with enthusiastic audience in different ages.

It clung so well together, and touches everyone who loves music. By combining Norwegian and Irish elements in the music, Secret Garden is nearly a completely unique dimension in today's music. Some facts (referred from Secret Garden's website):

- Released in more than 80 countries.
- Their four CD releases have sold three million albums.
- USA Billboard charts, a record 2 years with "Songs From A Secret Garden" and "White Stones", "Dawn Of A New Century" over one year and "Once In A Red Moon" still in the Billboard New Age chart for over 30 weeks. 
- Twice nominated World Music Awards, Monaco.
- Voted best International Production, Shanghai.
- In total over 25 individual Gold albums around the world.
- Performed several Live and TV concerts such as The Nobel Peace Price concert with Sting, Tina Turner, Brian Ferry, and The Corrs.

One example how famous Secret Garden has grown since the start in 1995: Barbra Streisand used "Heartstrings" in her wedding to James Brolin and recorded the track, which was released as the first single from the album "A Love Like Ours". "Heartstrings" from Secret Garden`s first album, "Songs from a Secret Garden" was recorded by Barbara Streisand with added lyrics by Ann Hampton Callaway. Her version is called "I've Dreamed of You". A completely new version is planned released with new Italian lyrics and recording by the English Soprano Kathleen Jenkins. Norwegian Rolf Lovland (composer and artist) in Secret Garden is second to only A-HA in terms of copyright revenue in Norway.

I really look forward to their new album, and my expectations are high.

Stein Morten Lund, 22 October 2003

Additional information
For more information about this beautiful music, take a look at Secret Garden's website: www.secretgarden.no