Dag Spantell
Encyclopedia
Dag Spantell is a Norwegian
singer who was at his most popular in the 1970s.
At the age of twelve he was inspired by The Shadows
to start his own instrumental band called Beatboys, where he played rhythm guitar
. A huge fan of The Beatles
he later joined the band Misfits in 1964, where he was a member until co-founding the band Happie in 1967. Writing many of his own songs he was clearly inspired by The Beatles, vocal harmonies and the psychedelia of the time. At 18 he had his first TV appearance with Happie and their song Flowergirl.
Spantell looked set on retiring from music life, and educated himself as a cook
in 1969. However he would continue as a musician, mainly as the lead singer of the dance band Kjell Karlsens Orkester. In 1973 he was given the song Kjendis-party, a Norwegian translation of the Ricky Nelson
-hit Garden Party. The song became widely popular and reached #4 on Norsktoppen
(an official chart for music in Norwegian). In 1975 his song En helt alminnelig sang om sommer reached the #1 spot.
Through the 1970s Spantell recorded numerous singles and two albums as a solo artist, but most notably he appeared on several albums together with other artists. From 1975 to 1978 he became a part of the enormously popular På Treff-gang, a group of four singers (the others being Inger Lise Rypdal
, Stein Ingebrigtsen
and Gro Anita Schønn) who put out several albums with covers of international hit songs, often translated to Norwegian (during this period the four released nine albums). He toured extensively through the decade, often as part of På Treff, and participated four times in the Norwegian finals for the Eurovision Song Contest
. For a period he was also lead singer in another dance band, Torry Enghs.
In 1978 he had a gig in the small fishing community of Båtsfjord
in Northern Norway when a fight broke out. Spantell stepped in to separate the fighters and was dealt a serious blow to the throat that crushed his larynx
. His singing career seemed over, but he forced himself to participate on the song Sol with the band Strikk, which became a huge radio hit in the summer of 1980.
Spantell then left the music industry and opened up a convenience store
. In 1989 he made a brief stint singing in a band performing at the Royal Palace in Oslo, for the 18th birthday of Princess Märtha Louise
. He then became the manager for two popular restaurants in Tønsberg
and Risør
, co-owned by three other artists. From 1996 to 2002 he was cruise manager for the ferry between Bergen, Norway and Newcastle
, England
before returning to the music business.
In 2004 the up and coming rappers Jaa9 and OnklP contacted him about doing a new version of his 1973-hit Kjendis-party. The song became the national breakthrough for the young rappers and one of the most played songs of 2004. Spantell himself made several concert appearances with the boys and its success laid the foundation for a comeback on the Norwegian music scene.
In 2005 he released his first solo album since the 1970s, Det beste fra Dag Spantell, a greatest hits collection including 22 of his songs from 1968 to 1970. Spantell was back performing, and as he himself put it in a 2004-interview: "Now I want to end my life singing."
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
singer who was at his most popular in the 1970s.
At the age of twelve he was inspired by The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
to start his own instrumental band called Beatboys, where he played rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
. A huge fan of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
he later joined the band Misfits in 1964, where he was a member until co-founding the band Happie in 1967. Writing many of his own songs he was clearly inspired by The Beatles, vocal harmonies and the psychedelia of the time. At 18 he had his first TV appearance with Happie and their song Flowergirl.
Spantell looked set on retiring from music life, and educated himself as a cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
in 1969. However he would continue as a musician, mainly as the lead singer of the dance band Kjell Karlsens Orkester. In 1973 he was given the song Kjendis-party, a Norwegian translation of the Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
-hit Garden Party. The song became widely popular and reached #4 on Norsktoppen
Norsktoppen
Norsktoppen is a musical hit list at NRK Radio, with songs with Norwegian artists. Until 1986, the songs had to be in the Norwegian language. Norsktoppen has aired since 1973. Norsktoppen airs once a week. On Thursday 21 February 2008, it became known to the show host, that Norsktoppen would be...
(an official chart for music in Norwegian). In 1975 his song En helt alminnelig sang om sommer reached the #1 spot.
Through the 1970s Spantell recorded numerous singles and two albums as a solo artist, but most notably he appeared on several albums together with other artists. From 1975 to 1978 he became a part of the enormously popular På Treff-gang, a group of four singers (the others being Inger Lise Rypdal
Inger Lise Rypdal
Inger Lise Rypdal is a Norwegian singer and actress in many different genres: pop, rock, theater, film, and musical.-History:Inger Lise Rypdal has been an artist since 1968...
, Stein Ingebrigtsen
Stein Ingebrigtsen
Stein Ingebrigtsen is a Norwegian singer. He was enormously popular in Norway in the 1970s, nicknamed "Mr. Norsktoppen" for his countless hits topping Norsktoppen, an official chart for music in Norwegian....
and Gro Anita Schønn) who put out several albums with covers of international hit songs, often translated to Norwegian (during this period the four released nine albums). He toured extensively through the decade, often as part of På Treff, and participated four times in the Norwegian finals for the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. For a period he was also lead singer in another dance band, Torry Enghs.
In 1978 he had a gig in the small fishing community of Båtsfjord
Båtsfjord
Båtsfjord is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Båtsfjord.Vardø herred was separated from the town of Vardø in 1868 to be a municipality of its own. In 1957, the municipality was renamed Båtsfjord...
in Northern Norway when a fight broke out. Spantell stepped in to separate the fighters and was dealt a serious blow to the throat that crushed his larynx
Larynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
. His singing career seemed over, but he forced himself to participate on the song Sol with the band Strikk, which became a huge radio hit in the summer of 1980.
Spantell then left the music industry and opened up a convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
. In 1989 he made a brief stint singing in a band performing at the Royal Palace in Oslo, for the 18th birthday of Princess Märtha Louise
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
. He then became the manager for two popular restaurants in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
and Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
, co-owned by three other artists. From 1996 to 2002 he was cruise manager for the ferry between Bergen, Norway and Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before returning to the music business.
In 2004 the up and coming rappers Jaa9 and OnklP contacted him about doing a new version of his 1973-hit Kjendis-party. The song became the national breakthrough for the young rappers and one of the most played songs of 2004. Spantell himself made several concert appearances with the boys and its success laid the foundation for a comeback on the Norwegian music scene.
In 2005 he released his first solo album since the 1970s, Det beste fra Dag Spantell, a greatest hits collection including 22 of his songs from 1968 to 1970. Spantell was back performing, and as he himself put it in a 2004-interview: "Now I want to end my life singing."
Solo Albums
- Nye spor (1975)
- I dag - i går (1976)
- Det beste fra Dag Spantell (2005)