Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Sofia is also for realAt the island song festival, maybe the finest appearance was that of Sofia Karlsson and her musicians. Their interpretations of songs by poet Dan Andersson and beloved songwriter Olle Adolphson made the audience' feelings swing between sorrow and happiness. The intimacy of a small stage and closeness between performers and listeners create great meetings.
Dan Andersson's songs are just almost too romantic and sentimental, and we cry to them everytime. In particular when they are sung and accompanied so beatifully. Maybe you think his songs are too much tied to memories from the remote forests in Sweden's early 1900's? No, they have a potential of moving people all over the world.
As just one example, here is the Spanish version of the beginning of "Tiggarn från Luossa", translated by Kiko del Paraguay (Pompeyo Lugo Méndez), who learned about Dan Andersson in Sweden and still works with his material after 17 years back in South America. Reality for poor forest people in Paraguay today is close to the stories in the poems.
"En los cerros de Luossa en una noche de sol, los humildes aldeanos oyen a un mendigo cantar, de mendigos, caminantes, ilusiones y de sueños, y de su melancolía toda la noche cantó."
Just by chance, I find that Kiko is actually playing at the Dan Andersson Festival in Ludvika in Dalarna, and receiving the Dan Andersson price, on this very Tuesday! I hope Sofia will be there! At least she will play there on Saturday...
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