Alexander Igorevich Rybak (born May 13, 1986) is a Belarusian Norwegian singer-songwriter, violinist, pianist and actor. Represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia.
Rybak won the contest with 387 points - the highest that any country in the history of Eurovision has achieved under the old voting system - with "Fairytale", a song he wrote himself.
Infancy
Rybak was born in Minsk, Belarus, which at the time was the Byelorussian SSR within the Soviet Union. When he was 4 years old, he and his family moved to Nesodden, Norway. Rybak grew up in the Orthodox religion. At the age of five, Rybak began playing the piano and violin. His parents are Natalya Valentinovna Rybak, a classical pianist, and Igor Alexandrovich Rybak, a well-known classical violinist who performs with Pinchas Zukerman.
He stated: "I've always liked creativity, and somehow this is my calling." Rybak bought a new apartment and now lives in Aker Bruges (Oslo, Norway). Rybak is fluent in Norwegian, Russian and English and sings songs in all three languages. Rybak also performed in Belarus with Elisabeth Andreassen in Swedish.
In 2010, several instances of uncontrolled anger led commentators to question whether Rybak had an anger control problem. During the ESC 2010 final in Behrum, Rybak was so pissed when the sound engineer didn't do what he wanted that he broke his arm, breaking his fingers. Also during trials on Swedish television in June 2010, he smashed his violin on the floor.
His appearance was then cancelled. According to his manager, Kjell Arild Tiltnes, Rybak has no problem with aggression. Tiltnes stated that "as long as he acts on objects and on himself normally, I see no reason why he needs help with anything to cope."
Rybak said, “I've never raised my voice before, but I'm human too and I have my temper tantrums. Yes, I'm not the perfect person on the cover, which many attribute to me. So it would be good to get rid of your frustrations so that I can continue. This is what I am, and what goes beyond is also my business.
His debut album Fairytales reached the top 1 in nine European countries, including a No. 2012 position in Norway and Russia. Rybak returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 and XNUMX, playing the violin during both interval performances.
He again represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal with the song "That's How You Write a Song".
Rybak: Eurovision
Rybak won the 54th Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, Russia with 387 points singing "Fairytale", a song inspired by Norwegian folk music.
The song was written by Rybak and was performed with the contemporary folklore dance company Frikar. The song received good reviews with a score of 6 out of 6 in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet and according to an ESCtoday poll he scored 71,3% making him the favorite to reach the final.
In 2009, in the Norwegian national standings, Rybak scored a clean sheet with the most points out of all nine constituencies, resulting in a good 747 televote and jury points, while runner-up, Ton Damli Abergé, got a total of 888 points. (out of a total population of less than 121 million)
The song then competed in the second semi-final and placed in the Eurovision final. Rybak later won the Eurovision final with a landslide victory, receiving votes from all the other participating countries. Rybak finished with 387 points, breaking the previous record of 292 points scored by Lordi in 2006 and scoring 169 points more than runner-up Iceland.
Alexander Rybak: Fairytales
"Fairytale" is a song written and produced by Belarusian-Norwegian violinist/singer Alexander Rybak. This is the first single from the singer's debut album "Fairytale". This song was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia.
"Fairytales" is a song about Rybak's ex-girlfriend Ingrid Berg Mehus, whom he met through the Barratt Due Music Institute in Oslo. Rybak told this story more than once in various interviews.
But later, at a press conference in May 2009, he revealed that the inspiration for the song was Huldra, a beautiful female creature from Scandinavian folklore who lures young people to her and then can curse them forever. The Russian version of the song is also called "Fairytale".
The song was selected at the Norwegian festival Melodi Grand Prix 2009 on 21 February, winning the biggest competition in history, where 18 other Eurovision songs competed. In the second semi-final on May 14, 2009, she reached the final. The final took place on May 16 and the song won with 387 points - which meant a new ESC record. This was Norway's third Eurovision victory.
The dancers for the Eurovision performance were Sigbjørn Rua, Torkjell Lunde Borsheim and Hallgrim Hansegard from the Norwegian dance company Frikar. Their style was folk dancing. Vocalists Jorunn Hauge and Karianne Kjærnes wore long pink dresses designed by Norwegian designer Leila Hafzi.
Alexander Rybak: Oah
"Oah" is a song by Norwegian singer-songwriter Alexander Rybak. This is the first single from his second album No Boundaries. It was released on June 8, 2010.
Rybak also recorded and released a Russian version of this song called "Arrow of Cupid".
Alexander Rybak: Songs
- 5 to 7 years
- Blunt Fjell
- fairytale
- funny little world
- I came to love you
- I Don't Believe in Miracles / Superheroes
- I'll Show You (Alexander Rybak and Paula Seling song)
- into a fantasy
- Kotik
- Leave Me Alone
- Oh
- Resan till dig
- Roll with the Wind
- That's How You Write a Song
- What I Long For
Alexander Rybak: Awards
- Winner of the Sparre Olsen Competition for Young Classical Musicians in 2000 and 2001.
- Winner of the Anders Jahres Culture-Award 2004
- Winner of the television talent competition "Kjempesjansen" 2006.
- Winner of the Hedda Award for Norwegian Theater Newcomer of the Year, 2007, for the title role in Fiddler on the Roof, Oslo: Nai Theatre.
- Winner of the "Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix" 2009, with the highest score of all time.
- Winner of Eurovision 2009, with the highest score of all time.
- Winner of the Australian Radio Listener's Award for European Musicians, 2009
- Winner of the Marcel Bezencon Press Award at Eurovision 2009.
- Winner of the Russian Grammy Award for Rookie of the Year 2010.
- Norwegian Grammy Award Winner: Spellemann of the Year 2010.
- Laureate of the international award "Russian Name" in Moscow 2011.
- Winner of the contest "Compatriots of the Year" Belarus 2013.
