He was my babysitter when i was 1-3 yers old. I liked him in Eurovision and my mom asked if i didn't remember him. Several years later i was in a concert with him and my girlfriend wanted his autograph. He turned to me and said "you want one to" and i said do you not remember me? You babysat for me ages ago. And he said instantly "Are you Kickis boy" and my GF just stood there with an open mouth. That was fun =D
This was Sweden doing it again - setting the tone for a whole decade of eurovision. Hosting the first ever modern eurovision - large arena set up, open stage with screens - they decide to send THIS gem to represent them. A stage show, ethnic pop/rock, FIRE, smoke, everything that would define eurovision a few years after this. It's a shame it isn't listed among winners.
I agree that Sweden did indeed hold the first modern Eurovision, but I do feel that the foundations for this were really set by the BBC when they hosted in 1998 in Birmingham.
I feel like people are forgetting, or simply unaware, that Roger himself is Sami, so it makes a lot of sense that he would do this together with representatives of various indigenous peoples, his own included. He's not being a fake indian, he's being a real Sami.
This! The replies, though! I adore (not) when NON Indigenous people have no clue but still gatekeep us, ie Native Peoples of any Tribe in any part of the world. 'Just Sami ancestors but not Sami' ...oh dear, how do i start... Basics: When you say ONLY 'with a ancestors but not really Native', you are literally denying us not just our identity but the many rights taken from us by ongoing colonialism and discrimination, like Sami People are still discriminated in all Sapmi aka a lot of so called Scandinavia. So Blood quantums crap and all that is a colonial tactic to erase Indigenous Cultures, Peoples and rights to our territories etc... ... Also Ancestors for most of us Indigenous Peoples are a massive thing you clearly cannot grasp @andreasLarsson ok. You can educate yourselves from here...
I still get goose bumps all over watching this 20 years later. Europe didn’t get it then, but a few years later every nation tried to weav its culture into every song.
Should have been translated to "never will I run away when spirits are calling my name", or something, in Swedish he is singing: Never will I fail my land when the winds are calling my name. It is so much more meaningful in Swedish, this is just about getting power for whatever reason, in Swedish it is about saving his home.
I remember watching this back in 2000. Only heard the song once and here I am 15 years later searching for it on youtube. The guy obviously done something right...
KaiPon Visp Don't you remember Germany 2000? Wadde Hadde Dudde Da with Stefan Raab. And My Star (Latvia 2000) also very known!! That was a great year. Cheers!
Sedam Lopez Lopez Nope, though I do believe I Was too young that year to watch much of Eurovision at all. I was like between 5-7 years of age at that point I believe. I'm also Swedish.
Spotted on an comment on another video regarding this song, I am just passing it along: The man dancing in the background is a native American named Ken Roulette "The song extols the traditions of indigenous peoples and their efforts to protect their territories and cultures. For his solo appearance in 2000, Pontare wore a Sami costume associated with the indigenous population of Lapland in northern Sweden (and also the northern regions of Norway, Finland, and Russia). On his performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, Pontare was accompanied by an Indian dancer, a Thule Eskimo and a Norwegian Sami."
If you've played Shadowrun or know of it's universe, you could playfully make a connection of this song and the Native Americans taking back much of their land when Magic returned to the world.
Sweden hosted that year. They couldn't really lose anything so they risked it. They didn't do the same in 2013 and 2016 sadly tho. I like WEIRD Sweden, not always-the-same Sweden.
Why is it risky to send music that represents a part of the countries music culture? The Balkan countries do it constantly with much success. Sweden came in 7th place in 2000 ...a very good result. The entry in 2016 wasen't what I would have chosen to represent but he did very well.
TheRealTricky It's easy enough to find here on RU-vid. Just write in 'Roger Pontare När Vindarna Viskar Mitt Namn' (feel free to use that and copy-paste if you can't do the ä) and you should find a few videos with the original Swedish song.
KaiPon Visp Thanks a lot, mate. As I said I don't speak Swedish except for a few keywords (Like: "Vad heter du? Jag heter Jeroen!") , still I must say the sounds of the Swedish language do indeed to make the song sound a bit better than the English language does. Strange how much a change of language can do :)
TheRealTricky No problem, dude. :) For me, the biggest thing that makes the song so good is the fact that his accent is more prominent in the Swedish version. THen again, that might just be my bias, as both Roger Pontare and I are from the nothern part of the country and hearing his accent makes me a bit homesick.
Uh yeah, I guess since I don't speak enough Swedish to have a conversation, I don't hear that. But I guess when I sometimes hear the same accent Dutch as I have I get the same feeling :)
Not only an iconic eurovision participant, but also the father of a renowned music producer (Vincent Pontare) and father-in-law of Agnes Carlsson (best known for the hit Release Me)
It's much better in Swedish, the English version was translated to fit the music and some of the meaning got lost/changed. Here it is translated directly Swedish to English: I was trapped in the darkness, I saw no light although everything around me was on fire In the light of the flames was my hope and belief That swirled away and disappeared So give me my strength Give me power to defend my country Give me a way to go I can see the axe in the warrior's hand Do you want me to turn around and fight for who I am Never will I betray my homeland when the winds are whispering my name The rain that fell was hiding my grief And satiated my burning thirst I fled to the mountains when the dawn arrived But suddenly I heard a voice The winds are whispering I hear them calling my name I have a way to go I see the axe in the warrior's hand Do you want me to turn around and fight for who I am Never will I betray my homeland when the winds are whispering my name
Epic intro 🔥 one of the best from us Swedish people! But many from Sweden laugh at this song back then, but I have always loved Roger Pontare and this one is a masterpiece! 👊🙌🇸🇪
@@bjornnylander8754 då har du inte hängt med, han blev ju sjukt mycket kritiserad att låten var ett skämt och att han skulle skämma ut Sverige på Eurovision. Sen fanns det många som älskade den, och jag är en av dom som älskade den och gör än idag! Men jag skulle nog säga att 40-50% skrattade åt honom här i Sverige.
Haha 2000 is the earliest eurovision I can remember, it was great! Well I was like one year old back then but mom used to record the whole show on VHS so I aaaalways watched this year when being a kid. I remember that my dad liked this a lot and tbh this is kinda amazing :D best of sweden! oh god so much nostalgic memories
One of our best swedish artist ever ... Roger Pontare ... I wish he would be singing more great songs like this one ... who touch heart and spirit ... Thanks ... ♥~NorthStar~♫♥
I am caught in a trap, there is no turning back, I'm finally facin' the fear The sky is on fire, and up with the flames, my hope and my dreams disappear So bring me the power, I'll be the king of the land and the seas Show me the way to go, let me fight with my body and soul Let me be the native son with freedom in my heart Life will never be the same when spirits are calling my name My name... Let me out of the darkness, the shadow of pain, and I'm keepin' my promise to you My people, my spirit, the home of my heart - you're with me wherever I go So bring me the power, I'll be the king of the land and the seas I've got a way to go, let me fight with my body and soul Let me be the native son with freedom in my heart Life will never be the same when spirits are calling my name My name... So bring me the power, I'll be the king of the land and the seas I've got a way to go, let me fight with my body and soul Let me be the native son with freedom in my home Life will never be the same when spirits are calling my name Spirits are calling my name
We won the last ever Eurovision of the 90s, got to host the very first Eurovision of 2000 and we also won when Eurovision turned 60 years which is another big year with the song Heroes. If that is not amazing I don't know what is. Proud to be Swedish!
This could easily stand today and even win! It’s awesome! I wonder how I didn’t know about it for so long. I hope it was in Top 5 at least.. it is 20 years ahead of its time.
Ja, det kan man ju verkligen säga... Men inte om majoriteten som har varit med i den tävlingen, ens på nationell nivå... Mello känns väldigt mycket fejk för mig..
Absolutely AWESOME!! And please you all, The English version is equally as good as the Swedish, Roger Pontare did a great job with both of them! And about the clothing, people get to dress up as they want, stop complaining about things being fake! As I see it, there's a mix of Sami/Inuit/Indian style clothing between everybody on stage, And Roger himself has been dressing like that for ages, so give me a break about him just being a fake indian! Chill out and enjoy the song for god's sake! :-)
besides Roger has Sami blood (therefore his traditional clothing) and the song was meant to be dedicated to all the indigenous people of the north, not only Sami but Inuit and Siberian and so on and so forth.
Please do not use the word indian, it’s very derogatory for natives. Furthermore, to be Sámi is not about blood or DNA, it’s about identity, language and history.
The sheer power of this song is unrivalled. Many Swedish songs for Eurovision have been, but that's just my opinion. I know many share it, but people like other things. But back in the day... most countries had truly unique and powerful songs. Now almost everything sounds almost or EXACTLY the same. Autotuned crap and faked voice. There's no power, no quality, no OOMPF, no ÖUEF! I hope the insanity of the world ends, and the EU songcontest becomes truly good again. No political messaging or pandering, just truly good music. No damned gender or racial guilt tripping. Just REALLY FREAKING GOOD MUSIC!!!
I always love people complaining about autotune in Eurovision as if that would even be allowed lmao. It's fine to not enjoy modern pop music, but if people could do that while still respecting the talent that most Eurovision contestants possess that'd be nice. But of course, everything today is political according to people like you, so you'll never be happy.
The indian with the feathers IS a real indian from Canada, he belogns originally to the cree-indians and he is in the summer-time stationary in HIGH CHAPARAL a bit outside Varnamo in Smaland in Southern Sweden. the reason why i know this is that have asked him in person.
Fun fact for the hockey people: The original Swedish version of this song was heard in the Amalie Arena when Victor Hedman was lifting the Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay last year. It was played before he handed over the Cup to David Savard.
@JoeRingo118 För att Hearts on Fire kom 2002, 2000 så var Hammerfall nobodies som endast väldigt inbitna metaljunkies hade hört. Det sista de hade behövt är att få melodifestivalstämpel på sig(om de ens hade fått kommit i närheten). Bara de senaste 5-6 åren så har attityden mot melodifestivalen bland sveriges artister ändrat sig så enormt.
