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YES! You shuld totally check it out. That song Aldo had such a strong message! Love it! Link here: youtube.be/MVyOPU8klMY FYI, the Woman Helene is portraying is being violently abused by her husband.
Some background. This is from a musical by Benny and Björn from Abba, adapted from a beloved Swedish novel about the hardships of a Swedish family who come to the US in the 19th century. Helen, the singer is a very renowned singer in Sweden since she was a teen, and has emerged as one of Benny and Björn's favorite interpreters of their music.
This hits SO much harder when you know the story of the Swedish settlers, their struggles and life, and the point in that life where she sings this song.
I saw Helena sing it live when I saw Kristina från Duvemåla. As an atheist I still cry a tear every time I hear this. I can understand her frustration after a life with so much pain and suffering her faith has carried her through it, so her doubt is understandably terrifying and Helen captures that so well and so beautifully. My favourite musical experience was seeing Les Mis' in London shortly after it opened, but seeing Kristina is a close second.
@@joacimkandersson1670 I am sure they will put it on again in the near future. I saw Chess in London with the original cast and that was actually better in a reworked version I saw years later at Cirkus in Stockholm. It's fun seeing the original, but later versions can be very good.
I am jealous as well, I was a decade too late/young to be able to see this. As an atheist myself, too, I really understand how you tear up. I do it every time I decide to listen/look at her performances. You kind of have to be mentally ready.
I am also an atheist, but this resonates with me with my parents. Why weren't you there for me growing up? I'd thought you'd help me but you just put me down. And it makes me cry every time.
Her voice is simply magical. She puts so much emotion into each performance, and songs like this one and “Gabriella’s sång” are some of the best examples of her talent.
Björn Ulvaeus, who wrote the lyrics, is an atheist. Incredible how he could write such powerful lyrics. Combined with Helens wonderful voice it gives me goosebumps
Not to dismiss his IIIINcredible lyrics, but write what you know and this song is as much about not belonging, or even finding purpose.. however he found it, this is one of my favourite lyrics of all time.. it's sooo accurate!
Björn Ulvaeus doesn´t like God, but God doesn´t give a shit, he loves Björn Ulvaeus and uses him as a channel. God is a great guy and above all the greatest of humorists! / I believe / 😆
This song is from the same musical as "Guldet blev till sand" that you reacted to with Peter Jöback (but this perfomance is not from the musical itself)
One woman's anger and despair conjuring a higher power into being. Heh, I'm a non-believer and _I_ feel that she deserves the aid and comfort of the divine.
Guldet blev till sand by Peter Jöback from the minnesota set is a goated banger aswell. Helens facial expressions makes this S-tier. This is one of the best songs ever written, she just keeps going into despair and the finish is so strong its unreal.
This song means so much to me. My dad and I both liked this musical. When he died I really struggled. I wrote new words to part of this song as a tribute to him, but also to tell him how much he means to me and that I was heartbroken without him
Another, less known, song from that musical is "Hemma" (Home), also by Helen Sjölholm. In it she sings of the realization that she will never see her homeland again. It's quite the tearjerker as well. Less despair, and more longing, still very sad, and hauntingly beautiful.
@@attesmatte in the book where they leave sweden you get to hear a lot of Kristinas inner monologues. It struck a cord with me when she realized she would never meet her parents again and took a mental snapshot of them when they waved goodbye. Shortly after I read the books I heard this song - just heartbreaking when she sings about her parents.
We also had Zarah Leander and Birgit Nilsson... And before the time of recording Christina Nilsson and Jenny Lindh, of course. But this is like the best vocal performance ever I think. Any cathegory.
One of my biggest regrets was not watching this musical live when it premiered so many years ago.. They only played it for 2 seasons I think. It was a MASSIVE success and got rave reviews. And was the start of an amazing career for Helen Sjöholm.
This is Kristina, main character in the musical Kristina from Duvemåla. She didn’t want to leave her home for the land over the seas ( USA ) but eventually ( poor crops, a child who died after secretly overeating porridge and lots of other misfortunes). The musical is based on the books Utvandrarna (the Emigrants) Invandrarna (the Immigrants) Nybyggarna ( the Settlers) and Sista brevet till Sverige (the Last Letter to Sweden) by Vilhelm Moberg. They are telling a part of our history when about a fifth left Sweden for a better life in America as it was called around 1860-1910 when the poor crops wasted the life of so many.
She over ate oat flour that swelled in her stomach and killed her, not porridge. In porridge the oat has already swollen . The danger is to eat the flour.
I have listened to this song soooo many times and i love it but watching this video and Helens powerful facial expressions while she sings it gives me constant chills through the whole song EVERY SINGLE TIME! also..check the face of the lady behind her on the right, she's really feeling it 😁
Check out this song with Helen in english together with the Swedish Radio Orchestra. She is even more intense in that performance. You saw Bjorn and Benny in the audience in the beginning, from ABBA. They wrote the musical "Kristina from Duvemala". Many beautiful songs there...
When i was 13 i was in an school internship during the summer in the Theatre in Malmö that played this. I saw the rehersals with Helen and Peter Jöback as the only person in the audience, front row, every day for a weak, then went at lunch with the cast. It was amazing :)
We love Helen Sjöholm here in Sweden🇸🇪. She is absolutely amazing, a voice like an angel.🫶🏼🪽 This as you know by now is from a big show, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulveus from Swedish “ABBA”, doing. They were the head behind “Chess♟️” too. Thanks for your reacting. Hugs From 🇸🇪🫶🏼
Hi! Some background info: this is from a musical made by ABBA Björn and Benny - Helen plays a woman who immigrated from Sweden to America during 1900th century. In the musical she looses her child cus the child eats something poisonous. She gets an existential crises, can god exist if he took her child? The song is a masterpiece and Helen is truly amazing!
I still remember the feeling when I saw this musical, I guess it is around 25 years ago. This song and Peters Jöbacks song " Guldet blev till sand" was the best. I went to se it once more. The only thing it destroyed every musical for me after that, because I will never experience that feeling again. I still remember walking home grom it and I was in heaven.
Wales Present. So glad to see someone react to Helen Sjöholm. The hole musical is quite an experience and yes it makes grown men cry. Especially with a little info on what is being sung. "Hemma"(home) is another great song.
Gives me chills everytime i hear this song even if i am a non-believer and i usually dont like songs about the christian mythology. But this song is great, so powerful and beautiful.
One of my greatest regrets is not going to see this musical, it will never be the same with another cast… of it’s ever performed again. Like seeing Chess without Tommy Körberg, another swedish singer you should react to!
It is based on Villhelm Moberg's books Utvandrarna,Invandrarna and Sista brevet hem till Sverige .It is books that truly is in the Swedish soul.It was a third of Swedes who emigrated to USA from 1850-1900
this song is from Kristina lost her child, comming to a new country (Minnesota, USA) Dont understand the language and realy dont wanna learn cause she dident wanna move from the beginning. I dont know if you can get the books but the writer was Villhelm Moberg.
This song is from a Swedish musical called Kristina from Duvemåla. Duvemåla is a city in Sweden. The musical is about a couple named Karl Oskar and Kristina who emigrate to America. Helen Sjöholm plays Kristina in this musical
If you want to hear a new version of this song. Listen to ”Newkid - du måste finnas”, there is a video on youtube when he sings the song directly to Helen.
This is written by Björn and Benny from ABBA. Susan Boyle has done a version in English (the lyrics Susan wrote herself) It's from a musical written in the 80s, "Kristina from Duvemåla" about Swedish immigrants in US. Susan Boyle often sing songs written by Björn and Benny. She did a duett with Elaine Paige that was from "Chess", another of Björn and Benny's musicals.
I always get tears in my eyes hearing this song! In the musical She has just been told she will not survive having more children and she also lost a child! So in this song She has serious doubts if there is a God!
Hi,I'm a Swede and i have to say she is killing it on this one. She also make it in English but this one is better if you can bare with the language. She is a great singer but her songs normaly dont apeal to me but this is to good to resist.
You know if you just read the lyrics, I'd think the writer was in an abusive relationship and needed therapy. 😅 I'm obviously amazed by her singing and proud as 🇸🇪. It makes me tear up everytime. It's just a thought that hit me as I've never watched it with lyrics before and acctully read it.
1/3 of the entire Swedish population emigrated to the US during the 19th century. Every Swede today has ancestors who went in search of gold and fruitful soil. Many never made it. This song is about fictional Kristina who's prayers hasn't been heard or granted and the thought of God not answering her prayers even tho she lives her life devoted to him makes her questioning her faith, to the extend that she doubt if he exist or not. I think Helena did a outstanding job with both her tone and facial expressions to portray a women in despair. And she sings like a goddess. Best female voice in a musical in my book.
Thats a strong reaction, glad that you enjoy Helena. I recomend ”Anthem” from the musical chess also written by Björn/Benny from ABBA. The Singer Tommy is as good as Helena 😊 m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-R7QJe1oxpps.html
Hi I just found you and love these types of videos! 😍 I myself am from Sweden and would like to recommend you listening to an other powerful and strong performer (group) called Sabaton. I recommend you listening to the song “en livstid i krig” in swedish. Sabaton is a group that base all or most of their songs on historical events and war around Europe 🤗 I think you can find this song with lyrics or in English as well
