I here you Kyle, this is a primair feeling I think those drums' their way they prevormed, it made me cry instantly! Super weird but after that I got a feeling of release... like all the daily stress moments with the emotions' came out while listen to this masterpiece. It made me realise that we humans are not alowe to realese emotions while they their" Wrong time and place ".. so we do what we have learned the best, we suck it up 'and go back to work or whatever. Unhealty if I think abouth that.
So Einar, the lead singer, has explained before that in the days before Christianity spread, their people had songs for everything...songs for planting and harvesting, songs for birth and death...that when you were on your deathbed, people would gather around and sing you to the other side. Those songs are long forgotten...so they are making new songs. This is kind of a new song to sing you across to the other side. So, sowing new seeds from old ideas. The a capella bit that closes it out is from the Hávamál.
Indigenous American cultures have this too. A lot of it was stolen from them as well and there is a movement to bring back their songs as well. I’m a Christian but dang, Christians kind of ruined a lot of rich cultures worldwide.
Full-blood Tohono O'odham (southern Arizona) here: When my grandmother passed away a few years back, there were native songs sung during the wake; and after the mass (melding of Catholicism and Native beliefs), the drumming and singing accompanied her spirit home. I still get teary-eyed and chills thinking about it. It's the drums, the heart beat.
@ap9970 Yes, i always wonder how the songs of the old germanic tribes must have sounded. Probably a bit similar to the nordic, but i can just imagine. Sadly the language and songs got forgotten because they havent written down anything. Most of it was given from generation to generation with speach, until the romans and christianity came. Today the scientist can only guess how the language would have looked like. Sometimes i wish to just have a time machine to experience the life of my ancestors. -> though, i dont even really know from wich parts of the world my ancestors came from. Well, only guess some parts.
@@chelseap9970 christianity is poison. Religion is to do what you are told regardless of what is right, so for instance homosexuality is a sin and homosexual men can not be priests. Morality is to do what is right regardless of what you are told, like ignoring a person's sexual preference because it's none of your fucking business. modern eligions is the root of all evil. - Heathen and proud.
This song is basically a death song. It touches on the ancient ritual of singing the dying into the afterlife, as to lessen their anxiety about death and making the passing easier. I imagine having your loved ones singing to you as a last act of love is really beautiful. Here are the lyrics roughly translated. (Ps, Hel isn't hell, but rather a cold and neutral realm reserved for common folk who didn't die in battle). I sought the songs I sent the songs when the deepest well offered drops so mighty of Valfather’s pledge
I know it all, Odin where you hid your eye
Who will sing me in the death-sleep sling me when I walk the road to Hel and the tracks I tread are cold, so cold
Early or in fading day still the raven knows if I fall
When you stand by the gate of Hel and when you must tear loose follow you I shall across the bridge of Gjöll with my song
You become free from the bonds that bind you You are free from the bonds that bound you
And the last part In acapella “Håvamål” Cattle die, Friends die, So, too, must you die. Though one thing Never dies; The fair fame one has earned. Cattle die, Friends die, So, too, must you die. I know one, That never dies; Judgement of a dead man's life."
The last spoken part from Hávamál is in Icelandic (or old Norse, depending who you ask😊): Deyr fé, deyja frændur, deyr sjálfur ið sama. En orðstír deyr aldregi hveim er sér góðan getur.
It's not about singing during their death, but about singing about them after they die. That was the old way to be remembered for eternity by others. And in Norse mythology it was important ta have a good reputation so that you would be remembered this way. If you behaved badly there was also songs about you, but no one wanted to be remembered that way (these songs are called nid-viser or ridiculing songs). In this song it is stated very well. After the heart beats of the dying person stops (beautifully illustrated by the drummer), Einar quotes Håvamål verse 76 & 77.
Einar Selvik and his band Wardruna are unbelievable. I’ve been a fan from the beginning. Such artists. Keeping true to the root of human music from our ancestors
Einar Selvik, who is the lead singer, and founder of Wardruna, used to be the drummer of the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. So he has had a long career in music, and I am very intrigued by his current project with Wardruna. He is definitely tapping into something primordial in our collective psyche with his music.
The lead singer Einar Selvig and his band Wardruna composed and performed a lot of songs and music for the epic series "Vikings" from HBO. Superb reaction Ken !
@@lordkhalFacts. But here in Norway HBO was the only streaming platform that had the show at the time. That’s probably why he/she thought it was HBO’s show.
Great reaction, Ken! I'm Norwegian, and I can assure that the vikings were no joke, just like you said. I dare you to laugh at a viking joke. What do you call a vegetarian Viking? A Norvegan. Have a great weekend! Somber greetings from Norway ☠
Great reaction👍 Einar and Aurora are from about the same place in Norway. Einar is from Osterøy right outside of Bergen but has lived a long time in Bergen, and Aurora from Drange about 40 minutes from Bergen, but she lives in Bergen. This is a song composed by Einar Selvik (vocalist), he writes viking inspired music. This song amongst others are in the popular series “Vikings”. In one scene you can see Einar singing “Helvegen” while the Vikings sails away in their ships😊 Helvegen (the path/road to Hel) In Norse mythology, Hel is an underground realm of the dead where it was believed that most people ended up when they died. In Norse cosmology, north is the direction towards cold and death. It is therefore understandable that Hel is cold and intractable, and that the road there leads "north and down". Hel is also the name of the ruler of the underworld. She is motherly and terrifying, and her skin is part blue-black like that of a corpse and part human-colored. She is very greedy and does not easily give up the dead who end up with her. Could you please react to some more Aurora 🙏🤗 “All is soft inside” live at KEXP Iceland 2018 It’s important that it’s KEXP Iceland👍😍 “Exhale Inhale” live at Vevo😍
I got to see Wardruna live last fall, and they’re just absolutely incredible performers. And this is their indoor stage setup - the lighting and shadow work makes it so much more immersive.
I've seen this many times, and I always appreciate the simple, but effective use of lights and shadows. It fits absolutely perfect for this style of music.
Aurora is so wonderful with this material, it stretches her phrasing out and sounds so much fuller. Her personal idiosyncratic style is lovely but here she has channelled the spirit of the song. Her duets are terrific and it would be great for her to get into ensembles, maybe even appear with Ayreon or Epica or something else out of her wheelhouse. Imagine Aurora featured with Jinjer or The Hu.
She has said that she would love to collab with the French heavy metal group Gojira. If she could do that, I'm sure she could handle Ayreon and Epica. 😉 Ayreon especially would be a very cool project for her. I wonder if she's even on Arjen's radar.
The moment Aurora starts to sing, my breath hitches in my throat. Every time. I've listened to this hundreds of times, always happens. So do the goosebumps when Einar starts...
I love how this epic song is preformed the old Bergenhus Fortress at the begining of Bergen harbour. The building itself is King Haakon's Hall and is over 760 years old.
This song has the fantastic effect of walking into the unknown while being unconcerned. Even when laying down or sitting still you feel like you’re moving
Wow, such a great start to the weekend for us in the States! I very much appreciate the humorous way you interpret and react on some of your videos but it seems you sensed immediately the gravity of this song and the serious nature of it's subject matter. Thanks for the respect you gave this amazing performance and performers. Other commenters, much more knowledgeable of the band, will expand on the subject and meaning of the masterpiece we just witnessed so I'll comment on 🧚Aurora's 🧚 performance. One comment about the lead singer - as you mentioned, he's GOT to be good to have 🧚 Aurora 🧚 backing him up 🤯. I love the intensity they all perform with; you can see 🧚🧚Aurora 🧚 falling further and further into a trance-like state as the performance progresses. Eyes closed, she's swaying to the beat, raising her arms, pleading for understanding, and gripping the microphone in a near "death grip", and always, ALWAYS, nailing her performance! 🧚 Aurora 🧚 is THE most genuine performer of our time, and she shows us her more serious side today.
Maybe the aspects of the drumming are faintly reminiscent but powwow singers have their own songs that are not traditionally sung to a dying person. The person or historically a warrior who is preparing to die sings his own song. Also it depends on where the tribe is located in either the North where singers sing in a very high pitch compared with Southern singers. The beat the powwow drummers play during songs is much faster as well
Ues, it is outside at Bergennhus festning, Bergen Norway, 22 August 2018. It's all in Norwegian, except for the last spoken stanxasa from Hávamál (The poen og the Hig[est] One, ie Oðinn, Odin) which is in Old Norse. Jackson Crawford has recently published a modern English translation (see his UA-cam Channel for examples of his reading of it.)
There is a version of this done at the base of an ocean cliff. Really haunting. This one that you are watching is the better audio version though. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Norway I would laugh 🤣🤣
I really enjoy this type music, it is so moving. Have you ever reacted to Sigur Ros? They are an Icelandic “post rock”band, their “Odin’s Raven Magic” is excellent.
Thank you! This is music you feel more than you hear. ;) Einar Selvig (Vocalist), imo, is one of the best musicians/historian on Norse folk music, and older musical history. And as you probably have been told in comments, he had a small role in Vikings, and him and Wardruna wrote some of the music for the series.
I LOVE this version of Wardruna's Helvegen Live with Aurora. It is a dirge about dying, death and crossing over to the after life on the path of Hel. Not Hell, but to the Old Norse Hel. Great analysis!
The Live Video is filmed in the WUPPERTAL TOWN HALL over here in Germany,a fewKilometers away from my Hometown Düsseldorf.It was a MINDBLOWING Concert for sure !
Yea both singers sounds very good together in harmonic and the song make good work to bring us to the Viking times (as a feeling) :). Her voice is angelic and ethereal and mix well with Wardruna singer and together they sounds amazing here. Also beautiful start of the song from Aurora. Almost whole song is about this beautiful harmonies. Ps. I also like the lyrics, very fitting to these times.
Interesting review Ken. The main guy is Einar Selvic. Once a heavy metal drummer somehow the calling of the ancients drew him in. By exploring the musical possibilities of surviving ancient Viking instruments from those early days he set himself a mission of recreating possible ceremonial and work songs of Norway’s Viking past. Yes he’s written everything! Very little has survived or been passed on from that period. In a way he’s trying to “channel” the past. You must remember that when the Vikings eventually became Christian they were as savage to the Pagan Vikings as the early Pagan Vikings were to the Christians. Hence old songs were not passed on. So now Einar has now come to the rescue. I think he also came from Bergen which is where AURORA started.
Hi, I would reckomend you to watch Wardruna with the lead singer Einar Selvik. Im going to finally see them this summer outdoors🤘 And I would like to give you another tip on a piece Einar did with a polish Orchestra. It is called Viking suite with Trevor Morris and Einar Selvik. It is absolutely amazing feel.
Helvegen was written by Wardruna, so it's not a traditional. However, it draws from germanic folklore in the style of a funeral ceremony. Einar Selvik is the lead singer of Wardruna. I believe Norway is not that large a country that two singers like Einar and Aurora can not know each other. It has the population of Minnesota.
The lead singer is Einar Selvik. He is the lead singer of the group Wardruna. They have their own website that would probably answer a lot, if not all, your questions.
Hi Ken! Long time and subscriber from Finland, lots of love! Thanks for reacting to one of my favourite songs. :) Would you consider reacting to an Australian metal band called Thornhill, especially their songs Nurture and Red Summer have a deep personal connection for me, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)
I'm very glad you were able to understand the significance of the last 2 verses they are not about pitch melody or anything else other than the words themselves, they are stanzas 76 and 77 from havamal they are not necessarily part of the song itself so much as they are a quote to close the song. Sort of like the way John Lennon's Beautiful boy ends with "good night Sean see you in the morning" after the initial fade out
Thanks for the nice reaction! Wonderful chanting, there is another version with Aurora of this song in an outdoor rock setting and choir, only I don´t know if there exists a decent recording other than the phone one on YT. Thanks to Aurora I learned about groups with Nordic Music like Warduna, Heilung or Faun, and I am still exploring their music. Experiencing those pagan sounds really expands and enrichens your own musical taste.
The path to Hel Versionen : #1#2#3 Who shall sing me, Into deathsleep sling me, When I on the path to Hel go, And this track I tread Is cold, so cold, so cold. I sought the songs, I sent the songs. Then the deepest well Gave me tears so harsh From the Slain-father's1 pledge. I know everything, Odin, To whom you gave your eye. Who shall sing me, Into deathsleep sling me, Whence I on the path to Hel go, And this track I tread Is cold, so cold, so cold. Early or in the day's end, The raven still knows if I fall. Once you stand at the gate to Hel And when you have to tear free, I shall follow you Over Gjallarbrú2 with my song. You will be free from the bonds that bind you, You are free from the bonds that bound you! "Cattle die, Friends die, So, too, must you die. Though one thing Never dies; The fair fame one has earned. Cattle die, Friends die, So, too, must you die. I know one, That never dies; Judgement of a dead man's life."3 1. "Father of the slain" 2. Gjallarbrú (literally "Gjöll Bridge") is a bridge spanning the river Gjöll ("Resounding") in the underworld, which must be crossed in order to reach Hel. 3. Verses from Hávamál, 76-77.
Thank you for your open and emotional reaction to this. Same reaction I have, every time I watch this video, oh lots of chills and tears also. So powerful and spiritual! Please react to more of Einar Selvik and Wardruna! Would love you to react to Raido and Grá official music videos
this song woke up some cint of primair feeling I forgot I had" men those drums' their way they preforme on stage wauw! it made me cry instantly! Super weird but after that I got a feeling of release... like all the daily stress moments with all type emotions' I ever felt, came out while listen to this masterpiece" It made me think and realise that we humans are not alowe ourself to realese emotions while they their' A wrong time and place idea ".... so we do what we have learned the best.. we suck it up! 'and go back to work or whatever, and let that emotion 1000 followed slowly eating peaces of our soul, un aware it even was their' that most be the a good ingrediënt for a mental breakdown! or worse!.
Greetings from Norway. Aurora is is incredrible talented, the language is old norwegian. The language the viking spoke, the language is very close to the language they have on Iceland.
@@guttormvartdal2452 You're right , i thought first it was in gammel norsk. But after checking out more i found out it was in nynorsk. But the last part is håvamål.
Wardruna along with Heilung are something else entirely. Wardruna and Einar have some really good stuff as they have many albums and Wardruna has worked in the Vikings series (I suggest to check out FMF 2015: International TV Series Gala: Vikings suite, Trevor Morris, Einar Selvik which is amazing)and the Assassins Creed Valhala OST. As for Heilung i would suggest In Madjan live and Anoana.
I really enjoy your reaction videos. If you want an Aurora treat, check out: warrior, live at HAIK. She had never met the musicians before, and she held an intimate live performance for 3 unknowingly fans. The love and message she deliveres in this performance, which she only had 30 minutes to prepare, is stunning! It shows her true self, and the gift these few fans experienced, must have been an experience of a life time. And vocally, of course, it is out of this world.
Hello from Australia. Please react to TOM BALL a 24 year old English teacher who was on BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT months ago and AMERICA's GOT TALENT a few weeks ago. He got the Gold buzzer for SOUND OF SILENCE on the American one.Tom then did the song CREEP followed by WHO WAnts TO LIVE FOREVER with a choir. He had over a million views.
YES! If this piece/performance doesn't hit you at the level of your DNA, well, I suspect you may be an improperly crafted golem... That said, the clearly indicated follow-up for more from Einar is his live Vikings Suite performance with Tina Guo, and full orchestra conducted by Trevor Morris, at Krakow Film Music Festival. Yep, that's the ticket for sure! Enjoy Cheers rl 🤘👹🤘
Great reaction Ken! Love that you take on suggestions beyond the mainstream. This was sung in old Norse, care to try out proto-Norse (or how they think it sounded around year 200) - the band Heilung's 'Anoana' is very nice and on my playlist - ua-cam.com/video/SVbc_Fwbt50/v-deo.html. Heilung = Healing. And I will also recommend another Aurora collaboration - with fellow from Bergen, Sondre Lerche in his 'Alone in the Night' - ua-cam.com/video/XSK1Bt9O0Pw/v-deo.html - a totally different vibe but oh so nice, you won't regret it.
I'm only starting to learn about Norse mithology but this concept is very clear in a videogame I played (forgive me if I'm blasphemous) Assassin Creed Valhalla which made me interested in this culture and did many things right apparently.
I subscribed ages ago but I'd love to see what you think of Type 0 Negative's "Nettie"! Somethind definitely different from Wardruna, but in my opinion equally giving the chills.
That last part is everyones favorite verse from Hávamál (the very, very, very long poem containing the rules for life from Odin), verses 76-77: 76. Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjalfr it sama, en orðstírr deyr aldregi, hveim er sér góðan getr. 77. Deyr fé, deyja frændr, deyr sjalfr it sama, ek veit einn, at aldrei deyr: dómr um dauðan hvern. And in english, if you don't read old norse as written on iceland in the 1200s:: (translated by Olive Bray) 76 Cattle die and kinsmen die, yourself too soon must die, but one thing never, I think, will die, - fair fame of one who has earned. 75 Cattle die and kinsmen die, yourself too soon must die, but one thing will never die, I think - the doom on each one dead.
I'm an American Mutt, but the majority of my lineage is Nordic. I've never really had much use for folk stuff - I do like some indie stuff, but I'm mostly a metal head + avid Aurora fan with no . This music, however, and that of Heilung makes my atheist heart sing the songs of Odin
I don't know who first said it but I'll quote them, "This song makes me homesick for a place I've never been."
It makes me want to grow up to be a Viking.... although I'm 51 already, so maybe in another life.
I here you Kyle, this is a primair feeling I think those drums' their way they prevormed, it made me cry instantly! Super weird but after that I got a feeling of release... like all the daily stress moments with the emotions' came out while listen to this masterpiece. It made me realise that we humans are not alowe to realese emotions while they their" Wrong time and place ".. so we do what we have learned the best, we suck it up 'and go back to work or whatever. Unhealty if I think abouth that.
I think the quote was, "Homesick for a place never visited and nostalgic for a life never lived."
Yeah you see that in the Heilung comments, too.
So Einar, the lead singer, has explained before that in the days before Christianity spread, their people had songs for everything...songs for planting and harvesting, songs for birth and death...that when you were on your deathbed, people would gather around and sing you to the other side. Those songs are long forgotten...so they are making new songs. This is kind of a new song to sing you across to the other side. So, sowing new seeds from old ideas. The a capella bit that closes it out is from the Hávamál.
Indigenous American cultures have this too. A lot of it was stolen from them as well and there is a movement to bring back their songs as well. I’m a Christian but dang, Christians kind of ruined a lot of rich cultures worldwide.
Full-blood Tohono O'odham (southern Arizona) here: When my grandmother passed away a few years back, there were native songs sung during the wake; and after the mass (melding of Catholicism and Native beliefs), the drumming and singing accompanied her spirit home. I still get teary-eyed and chills thinking about it. It's the drums, the heart beat.
@@dvvelasco134the heartbeat of the people. Aho
@ap9970 Yes, i always wonder how the songs of the old germanic tribes must have sounded. Probably a bit similar to the nordic, but i can just imagine. Sadly the language and songs got forgotten because they havent written down anything. Most of it was given from generation to generation with speach, until the romans and christianity came. Today the scientist can only guess how the language would have looked like. Sometimes i wish to just have a time machine to experience the life of my ancestors. -> though, i dont even really know from wich parts of the world my ancestors came from. Well, only guess some parts.
@@chelseap9970 christianity is poison.
Religion is to do what you are told regardless of what is right, so for instance homosexuality is a sin and homosexual men can not be priests.
Morality is to do what is right regardless of what you are told, like ignoring a person's sexual preference because it's none of your fucking business.
modern eligions is the root of all evil. - Heathen and proud.
This song is basically a death song. It touches on the ancient ritual of singing the dying into the afterlife, as to lessen their anxiety about death and making the passing easier. I imagine having your loved ones singing to you as a last act of love is really beautiful.
Here are the lyrics roughly translated. (Ps, Hel isn't hell, but rather a cold and neutral realm reserved for common folk who didn't die in battle).
I sought the songs
I sent the songs
when the deepest well
offered drops so mighty
of Valfather’s pledge
I know it all, Odin
where you hid your eye
Who will sing me
in the death-sleep sling me
when I walk the road to Hel
and the tracks I tread
are cold, so cold
Early or in fading day
still the raven knows if I fall
When you stand by the gate of Hel
and when you must tear loose
follow you I shall
across the bridge of Gjöll with my song
You become free from the bonds that bind you
You are free from the bonds that bound you
And the last part In acapella “Håvamål”
Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
Though one thing
Never dies;
The fair fame one has earned.
Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
I know one,
That never dies;
Judgement of a dead man's life."
The last spoken part from Hávamál is in Icelandic (or old Norse, depending who you ask😊): Deyr fé, deyja frændur, deyr sjálfur ið sama. En orðstír deyr aldregi hveim er sér góðan getur.
Thanks for the lyrics
It's not about singing during their death, but about singing about them after they die. That was the old way to be remembered for eternity by others. And in Norse mythology it was important ta have a good reputation so that you would be remembered this way. If you behaved badly there was also songs about you, but no one wanted to be remembered that way (these songs are called nid-viser or ridiculing songs).
In this song it is stated very well. After the heart beats of the dying person stops (beautifully illustrated by the drummer), Einar quotes Håvamål verse 76 & 77.
❤
Einar Selvik and his band Wardruna are unbelievable. I’ve been a fan from the beginning. Such artists. Keeping true to the root of human music from our ancestors
Einar Selvik, who is the lead singer, and founder of Wardruna, used to be the drummer of the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth. So he has had a long career in music, and I am very intrigued by his current project with Wardruna. He is definitely tapping into something primordial in our collective psyche with his music.
The lead singer Einar Selvig and his band Wardruna composed and performed a lot of songs and music for the epic series "Vikings" from HBO. Superb reaction Ken !
Vikings was a History channel original tv series actually!
@@lordkhalFacts. But here in Norway HBO was the only streaming platform that had the show at the time. That’s probably why he/she thought it was HBO’s show.
Great reaction, Ken! I'm Norwegian, and I can assure that the vikings were no joke, just like you said. I dare you to laugh at a viking joke. What do you call a vegetarian Viking? A Norvegan.
Have a great weekend! Somber greetings from Norway ☠
Nice one! Norvegan! 😄
I considered this song one of the songs that i like to be played in my funeral. Tremendous song.
This and Pink Floyd - Time (original), High Hopes (Pompeii) or Comfortably Numb (PULSE).
More Aurora please!!!
Great reaction👍
Einar and Aurora are from about the same place in Norway. Einar is from Osterøy right outside of Bergen but has lived a long time in Bergen, and Aurora from Drange about 40 minutes from Bergen, but she lives in Bergen.
This is a song composed by Einar Selvik (vocalist), he writes viking inspired music.
This song amongst others are in the popular series “Vikings”. In one scene you can see Einar singing “Helvegen” while the Vikings sails away in their ships😊
Helvegen (the path/road to Hel)
In Norse mythology, Hel is an underground realm of the dead where it was believed that most people ended up when they died. In Norse cosmology, north is the direction towards cold and death. It is therefore understandable that Hel is cold and intractable, and that the road there leads "north and down".
Hel is also the name of the ruler of the underworld. She is motherly and terrifying, and her skin is part blue-black like that of a corpse and part human-colored. She is very greedy and does not easily give up the dead who end up with her.
Could you please react to some more Aurora 🙏🤗
“All is soft inside” live at KEXP Iceland 2018
It’s important that it’s KEXP Iceland👍😍
“Exhale Inhale” live at Vevo😍
I got to see Wardruna live last fall, and they’re just absolutely incredible performers. And this is their indoor stage setup - the lighting and shadow work makes it so much more immersive.
I've seen this many times, and I always appreciate the simple, but effective use of lights and shadows. It fits absolutely perfect for this style of music.
I also saw them in November, it was so moving to be there listening to the band live
The background looked like the Norwegian military snow camouflage nets used on tents and vehicles😂😂
Aurora is so wonderful with this material, it stretches her phrasing out and sounds so much fuller. Her personal idiosyncratic style is lovely but here she has channelled the spirit of the song.
Her duets are terrific and it would be great for her to get into ensembles, maybe even appear with Ayreon or Epica or something else out of her wheelhouse.
Imagine Aurora featured with Jinjer or The Hu.
🤯 ANY of those pairings would be mind-blowing!!
Actually I can't, lol, but I bet if she pulled it off, it would be great!
Edit: Just remembered the The Hu and Lzzy Hale, so, ya.
She has said that she would love to collab with the French heavy metal group Gojira. If she could do that, I'm sure she could handle Ayreon and Epica. 😉
Ayreon especially would be a very cool project for her. I wonder if she's even on Arjen's radar.
The moment Aurora starts to sing, my breath hitches in my throat. Every time. I've listened to this hundreds of times, always happens. So do the goosebumps when Einar starts...
I love how this epic song is preformed the old Bergenhus Fortress at the begining of Bergen harbour. The building itself is King Haakon's Hall and is over 760 years old.
This song has the fantastic effect of walking into the unknown while being unconcerned. Even when laying down or sitting still you feel like you’re moving
Wow, such a great start to the weekend for us in the States! I very much appreciate the humorous way you interpret and react on some of your videos but it seems you sensed immediately the gravity of this song and the serious nature of it's subject matter. Thanks for the respect you gave this amazing performance and performers. Other commenters, much more knowledgeable of the band, will expand on the subject and meaning of the masterpiece we just witnessed so I'll comment on 🧚Aurora's 🧚 performance. One comment about the lead singer - as you mentioned, he's GOT to be good to have 🧚 Aurora 🧚 backing him up 🤯. I love the intensity they all perform with; you can see 🧚🧚Aurora 🧚 falling further and further into a trance-like state as the performance progresses. Eyes closed, she's swaying to the beat, raising her arms, pleading for understanding, and gripping the microphone in a near "death grip", and always, ALWAYS, nailing her performance! 🧚 Aurora 🧚 is THE most genuine performer of our time, and she shows us her more serious side today.
This song makes me yearn to return to a place I have never been, in a time long past.
All of Wardruna’s songs you can quite literally FEEL. Everyone deserves to hear their music. The song Kvitravn (white raven) and Odal are beautiful.
Wardruna is like an American Indian Powwow meets heavy metal vocals. I've had the privilege of seeing them live twice, so far.
Makes me think of Games of Thrones. The Lands Beyond the Wall/
Maybe the aspects of the drumming are faintly reminiscent but powwow singers have their own songs that are not traditionally sung to a dying person. The person or historically a warrior who is preparing to die sings his own song. Also it depends on where the tribe is located in either the North where singers sing in a very high pitch compared with Southern singers. The beat the powwow drummers play during songs is much faster as well
There's real power in music like this.
His name is Einar Selvig check out ''Viking suite'' with Trevor Morris international gala tv series....crazy cello ...amazing!!!
Ues, it is outside at Bergennhus festning, Bergen Norway, 22 August 2018.
It's all in Norwegian, except for the last spoken stanxasa from Hávamál (The poen og the Hig[est] One, ie Oðinn, Odin) which is in Old Norse.
Jackson Crawford has recently published a modern English translation (see his UA-cam Channel for examples of his reading of it.)
"nor way i would laugh at it..!" thanks for a good giggle Sir!
best regards, greenie
Yes !! this was the song where I came to know about Aurora 😍
Another Live Version with EIVOR as Guest Singer : Wardruna with Eivør - Helvegen (Live) : ua-cam.com/video/Kj2phqYb7Ec/v-deo.html
There is a version of this done at the base of an ocean cliff. Really haunting. This one that you are watching is the better audio version though. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Norway I would laugh 🤣🤣
ua-cam.com/video/cg0TQyjdHJ0/v-deo.html
That other version is really cool to see, even if the audio quality is not as good.
Wardruna makes great music.
Have a look at the official videos of:
Raido
Lyfjaberg
Kvitraven
Etc.
2 of my singers. Wish they had more together
Ooh, you've such a fun rabbit hole to check out with wardruna. I'm jealous of anyone who gets to hear them for the first time. 😊 Love your reviews ❤
Oh, wow - so incredible wonderful❣
So good
I really enjoy this type music, it is so moving. Have you ever reacted to Sigur Ros? They are an Icelandic “post rock”band, their “Odin’s Raven Magic” is excellent.
Thank you so much for checking this out. Love it.
Wonderful chant calling on the gods another great reaction Ken
Thank you!
This is music you feel more than you hear. ;)
Einar Selvig (Vocalist), imo, is one of the best musicians/historian on Norse folk music, and older musical history.
And as you probably have been told in comments, he had a small role in Vikings, and him and Wardruna wrote some of the music for the series.
Another great reaction from you (as always).
Einar also did the music for Vikings as well as AC Valhalla
I LOVE this version of Wardruna's Helvegen Live with Aurora. It is a dirge about dying, death and crossing over to the after life on the path of Hel. Not Hell, but to the Old Norse Hel. Great analysis!
This concert is one of the best I've ever been to.
The last bit is one of the most well known verses from the poetic edda. When I was a kid in Sweden we were taught to recite that verse.
Let's also remember that vikings were the first Europeans to set foot in what is now Canada.
The Live Video is filmed in the WUPPERTAL TOWN HALL over here in Germany,a fewKilometers away from my Hometown Düsseldorf.It was a MINDBLOWING Concert for sure !
No, this is from Bergenhus Festning in Bergen, Norway.
Yea both singers sounds very good together in harmonic and the song make good work to bring us to the Viking times (as a feeling) :). Her voice is angelic and ethereal and mix well with Wardruna singer and together they sounds amazing here. Also beautiful start of the song from Aurora. Almost whole song is about this beautiful harmonies.
Ps. I also like the lyrics, very fitting to these times.
Lots to explore with the that one. Aurora is always great, love Wardruna .
If you are interested in more of Einar, this is a great performance.. ua-cam.com/video/aqhhlmz6gik/v-deo.html
Interesting review Ken. The main guy is Einar Selvic. Once a heavy metal drummer somehow the calling of the ancients drew him in. By exploring the musical possibilities of surviving ancient Viking instruments from those early days he set himself a mission of recreating possible ceremonial and work songs of Norway’s Viking past. Yes he’s written everything! Very little has survived or been passed on from that period. In a way he’s trying to “channel” the past. You must remember that when the Vikings eventually became Christian they were as savage to the Pagan Vikings as the early Pagan Vikings were to the Christians. Hence old songs were not passed on. So now Einar has now come to the rescue. I think he also came from Bergen which is where AURORA started.
I’m in love with this reaction. PLEASE react to Heilung “Anoana” and “Norupo”.
Lindy-Fay Hella, Aurora and Einar = LOVE!
Hi, I would reckomend you to watch Wardruna with the lead singer Einar Selvik. Im going to finally see them this summer outdoors🤘 And I would like to give you another tip on a piece Einar did with a polish Orchestra. It is called Viking suite with Trevor Morris and Einar Selvik. It is absolutely amazing feel.
I forgot to mention the amazing cello player Tina Guo wich is legendary. She is also amazing.And ive ben to Krakow and I wish id go back some day❤️
Einar and Aurora work so seamlessly together in this performance. It never gets old.
Helvegen was written by Wardruna, so it's not a traditional. However, it draws from germanic folklore in the style of a funeral ceremony.
Einar Selvik is the lead singer of Wardruna. I believe Norway is not that large a country that two singers like Einar and Aurora can not know each other. It has the population of Minnesota.
Monika, Minnesota was actually populated by Scandinavians, mainly by Norwegians and Swedes. :)
the bit at the end - Cattle die - Kinsmen die - is from the Havamal and is supposedly Odin's words
Another OUTDOOR Live Version with Aurora : Wardruna, Aurora and Oslo Fagottkor: "HELVEGEN" : ua-cam.com/video/cg0TQyjdHJ0/v-deo.html
I wore a Aurora shirt when I saw Wardruna last year. Humble brag 😂
But honestly, Wardruna (as well as Aurora) live is simply mesmerizing.
The lead singer is Einar Selvik. He is the lead singer of the group Wardruna. They have their own website that would probably answer a lot, if not all, your questions.
Hi Ken! Long time and subscriber from Finland, lots of love! Thanks for reacting to one of my favourite songs. :)
Would you consider reacting to an Australian metal band called Thornhill, especially their songs Nurture and Red Summer have a deep personal connection for me, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)
I'm very glad you were able to understand the significance of the last 2 verses they are not about pitch melody or anything else other than the words themselves, they are stanzas 76 and 77 from havamal they are not necessarily part of the song itself so much as they are a quote to close the song. Sort of like the way John Lennon's Beautiful boy ends with "good night Sean see you in the morning" after the initial fade out
Thanks for the nice reaction! Wonderful chanting, there is another version with Aurora of this song in an outdoor rock setting and choir, only I don´t know if there exists a decent recording other than the phone one on YT. Thanks to Aurora I learned about groups with Nordic Music like Warduna, Heilung or Faun, and I am still exploring their music. Experiencing those pagan sounds really expands and enrichens your own musical taste.
The path to Hel
Versionen : #1#2#3
Who shall sing me,
Into deathsleep sling me,
When I on the path to Hel go,
And this track I tread
Is cold, so cold, so cold.
I sought the songs,
I sent the songs.
Then the deepest well
Gave me tears so harsh
From the Slain-father's1 pledge.
I know everything, Odin,
To whom you gave your eye.
Who shall sing me,
Into deathsleep sling me,
Whence I on the path to Hel go,
And this track I tread
Is cold, so cold, so cold.
Early or in the day's end,
The raven still knows if I fall.
Once you stand at the gate to Hel
And when you have to tear free,
I shall follow you
Over Gjallarbrú2 with my song.
You will be free from the bonds that bind you,
You are free from the bonds that bound you!
"Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
Though one thing
Never dies;
The fair fame one has earned.
Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
I know one,
That never dies;
Judgement of a dead man's life."3
1.
"Father of the slain"
2.
Gjallarbrú (literally "Gjöll Bridge") is a bridge spanning the river Gjöll ("Resounding") in the underworld, which must be crossed in order to reach Hel.
3.
Verses from Hávamál, 76-77.
Kalandra did a cover of this which gave me so many chills it’s ridiculous. Highly recommend!!
Leprous reaction, please! Castaway Angels is awesome song!
Thank you for your open and emotional reaction to this. Same reaction I have, every time I watch this video, oh lots of chills and tears also. So powerful and spiritual!
Please react to more of Einar Selvik and Wardruna!
Would love you to react to Raido and Grá official music videos
"Wardurra" (commonly known as Wardruna) is worth listening to ;)
You are back reacting to Aurora! Fantastic. I am a sub but on my other channel, had to split due to so many subscriptions. Thanks!
Very tribal almost spiritual
Not almost...it is. Odin is named. Might not be your personal spiritual path, but it is the path of many.
EINAR together with FAUN (Germany) : FAUN - Odin (feat. Einar Selvik / WARDRUNA & Martin Seeberg) : ua-cam.com/video/ch-fed2_swY/v-deo.html
Some Background Information about Einar : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einar_Selvik
this song woke up some cint of primair feeling I forgot I had" men those drums' their way they preforme on stage wauw! it made me cry instantly! Super weird but after that I got a feeling of release... like all the daily stress moments with all type emotions' I ever felt, came out while listen to this masterpiece" It made me think and realise that we humans are not alowe ourself to realese emotions while they their' A wrong time and place idea ".... so we do what we have learned the best.. we suck it up! 'and go back to work or whatever, and let that emotion 1000 followed slowly eating peaces of our soul, un aware it even was their' that most be the a good ingrediënt for a mental breakdown! or worse!.
Greetings from Norway. Aurora is is incredrible talented, the language is old norwegian. The language the viking spoke, the language is very close to the language they have on Iceland.
Greeting from Norway. The song is in Nynorsk. The spoken part is HåvamålHavamal).
@@guttormvartdal2452 You're right , i thought first it was in gammel norsk. But after checking out more i found out it was in nynorsk. But the last part is håvamål.
Old Norwegian viking’ish dialect most of the song .
I’m from norway and catch almost every word. Not the last part tho.
Love this one so much 😍
You can check 'Helvegen' performed by Kalandra, also with female vocalist
Wardruna along with Heilung are something else entirely. Wardruna and Einar have some really good stuff as they have many albums and Wardruna has worked in the Vikings series (I suggest to check out FMF 2015: International TV Series Gala: Vikings suite, Trevor Morris, Einar Selvik which is amazing)and the Assassins Creed Valhala OST. As for Heilung i would suggest In Madjan live and Anoana.
if you want more of this kind a primal music I highly recommend heilung In Maidjan Live LIFA!
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣 OMG the joke at the end. You are hilarious.
I really enjoy your reaction videos. If you want an Aurora treat, check out: warrior, live at HAIK. She had never met the musicians before, and she held an intimate live performance for 3 unknowingly fans. The love and message she deliveres in this performance, which she only had 30 minutes to prepare, is stunning! It shows her true self, and the gift these few fans experienced, must have been an experience of a life time. And vocally, of course, it is out of this world.
❤❤❤❤❤
Hello from Australia. Please react to TOM BALL a 24 year old English teacher who was on BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT months ago and AMERICA's GOT TALENT a few weeks ago. He got the Gold buzzer for SOUND OF SILENCE on the American one.Tom then did the song CREEP followed by WHO WAnts TO LIVE FOREVER with a choir. He had over a million views.
I think you'll enjoy Vikings suite, Trevor Morris, Einar Selvik live.
Awesome as always.
Another great Aurora song to react to if you haven't already is Murder Song 54321 live at 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Please react to aurora's live performance of potion for love vevo! It's stunning!
Did you notice how much the last solo by the male singer, sounds like the last two dozen bars of Les Noces?
Can't belive you didn't react to FORESTELLA yet!
❤
I'd like to see your input on " Eve Goodman- Dacw 'Nghariad [Welsh folk song] "
This is my language🇧🇻 Norway
YES! If this piece/performance doesn't hit you at the level of your DNA, well, I suspect you may be an improperly crafted golem...
That said, the clearly indicated follow-up for more from Einar is his live Vikings Suite performance with Tina Guo, and full orchestra conducted by Trevor Morris, at Krakow Film Music Festival. Yep, that's the ticket for sure!
Enjoy
Cheers
rl
🤘👹🤘
All people with nordic blood Will react to this ..
It touch your soul..
Einar's basically a modern day Skald, and it shows in how he recites from Håvamål.
I Love how this song gave me "Lord of the Rings Vibes". I love it.
Great reaction Ken! Love that you take on suggestions beyond the mainstream.
This was sung in old Norse, care to try out proto-Norse (or how they think it sounded around year 200) - the band Heilung's 'Anoana' is very nice and on my playlist - ua-cam.com/video/SVbc_Fwbt50/v-deo.html. Heilung = Healing.
And I will also recommend another Aurora collaboration - with fellow from Bergen, Sondre Lerche in his 'Alone in the Night' - ua-cam.com/video/XSK1Bt9O0Pw/v-deo.html - a totally different vibe but oh so nice, you won't regret it.
Check out Kvitraven, Raido, Voluspa on Wardruna's UA-cam. Wardruna is our Nordic treasure ❤
"Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
Though one thing
Never dies;
The fair fame one has earned.
Cattle die,
Friends die,
So, too, must you die.
I know one,
That never dies;
Judgement of a dead man's life."
I'm only starting to learn about Norse mithology but this concept is very clear in a videogame I played (forgive me if I'm blasphemous) Assassin Creed Valhalla which made me interested in this culture and did many things right apparently.
You should check out Heilung Norupo
Going to have to grow your beard out now :)
I subscribed ages ago but I'd love to see what you think of Type 0 Negative's "Nettie"! Somethind definitely different from Wardruna, but in my opinion equally giving the chills.
😊👍
Eivør - Lívstræðrir feat. John Lunn (Live at Heaven in London 2022)
Its a Song about to Honor the Fallen on their Way to Hel...or Walhalla.
That last part is everyones favorite verse from Hávamál (the very, very, very long poem containing the rules for life from Odin), verses 76-77:
76.
Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
en orðstírr
deyr aldregi,
hveim er sér góðan getr.
77.
Deyr fé,
deyja frændr,
deyr sjalfr it sama,
ek veit einn,
at aldrei deyr:
dómr um dauðan hvern.
And in english, if you don't read old norse as written on iceland in the 1200s::
(translated by Olive Bray)
76
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
yourself too soon must die,
but one thing never, I think, will die, -
fair fame of one who has earned.
75
Cattle die and kinsmen die,
yourself too soon must die,
but one thing will never die, I think -
the doom on each one dead.
I'm an American Mutt, but the majority of my lineage is Nordic. I've never really had much use for folk stuff - I do like some indie stuff, but I'm mostly a metal head + avid Aurora fan with no . This music, however, and that of Heilung makes my atheist heart sing the songs of Odin