5 on the dice

“A fantastic experience to get to open here,” said Kurt Nilsen after the opening show of his Norway tour in Ibsenhuset on Tuesday evening. Both Elin Gaustad and the audience agreed on this.

X-factor-favourite from Molde was the warm up act with 4 slow songs. Then it was the turn of the World Idol. Nilsen charmed from the first tone – even though it was in a quieter way. This tour is not a party and rock ‘n’ roll, but country, blues and folk.

5 on the dice

Kurt Nilsen

by Bjørn Tore Brøske

published 06.10.2007

The two songs which have been released as a taster give fans a lot to look forward to with Kurt Nilsen’s forthcoming album. While ”Push Push” did well as a relatively light and easy summer hit, the radio single ”Silence” is more thoughtful and (minor key) mollstemt – but just as favourably catchy. The echo effect of the guitar rift, both in the opening and during the song brings the song together, and gives a little feeling of “Glorious”, Andreas Johnsons hit from 1999. Although it is still easy to compare the Idol winner with others, he is getting closer to finding his own style. “Silence” takes its roots from the traditional guitar pop, and the small, but elegant twists in the arrangement and the chord use give the listener a pleasant surprise. Kurt has a good ear for hooks and pleasing ways on the ears, and the commercial part has given the song immediate notice in the P4 list. And he still has that voice, which, just gets better and better.

BJØRN TORE BRØSKE

The previous Idol winner did not disappoint the many thousand who had gathered, and showed that as a solo artist he still appeals to the majority of age groups.

It was a bit like Rosenborg winning 1-0 at home without really having to be impressive. It really got quite cold when the sun went down between the two biggest idol stars performing at the concert on Wednesday evening. It helped a lot when Kurt Nilsen came jogging out on to the pitch. No one can say that Kurt is an especially athletic guy, but he got the audience on his team even before he got to the stage.

And it certainly didn’t get any cooler when he opened with “All You Have to Offer”, a little before half past ten.