Five Hours in a 23-Year-old's Life

"Oh. I have had such a wonderful train ride! Sunrise over Lake Mjøsa, storm in the mountains... and then we hit a moose. We had to wait for a farmer who had been called to come and shoot it."

The large, sensitive eyes get a momentary sad expression. Miss Kyrkjebø has a few hectic hours ahead of her in Trondheim. We would like to take a couple hours of her time, and hint that later we can get a bite to eat... after the train ride, stress, and pressure.

"No problem with me. I had a delicious lunch on the trip. Oh, it's so good to travel by train... but, yes we must eat later, of course."

We get in the car and drive off with the songbird, who (wise from experience?) prefers the back seat.

"I have sung there!"

The girl in the back seat points excitedly to the Free Masons lodge.

"And there! Isn't that Our Lady's Church?"

The first stop is the Trondheim Torg Mall. We keep to the background while Sissel smiles, signs autographs and tries to look as natural as possible. Many people, women and children first, while the men watch with interest from the back rows. The tour goes on to Obs! Supermarket, which has set up a Sissel-podium in the middle of the store. Families with well-filled carts come gliding forward, see Sissel, look down in their shopping carts, look at Sissel again and amble away.

"They looked at me like I was a can of peas!"

The visit to the supermarket is quickly concluded. Would a bite to eat be good now?

"Yes, now I'm beginning to be hungry. Do we have time before the flight?"

Jon from Stageway (record company) checks his watch. Yes, there is time! We suggest the Vertshus Tavern established 1739, our personal favorite.

"Is the rak fish strong?"

Genuine songbirds don't smell of fish, but we take the chance and order anyway.

"I have never tasted rak fish before!" she confides to us with a trusting smile which makes men's hearts stop beating. Then again, we think about it and feel the cold sweat trickling down.

Now our guest is babbling, peeking excitedly around and asks about the place's history. The fish comes and our fears seem to be ungrounded. She loves the food! Between mouthfuls, associations from childhood experiences are shared.

"I had to be bound to the chair when I was a little girl to make me watch children's TV. I think it is so awful! Mr. Nelson and Pernille... not to mention Pompel & Pilt.... Ole Edvard {Antonsen] is completely crazy about Pompel & Pilt, did you know that?"

We did not know that. We would rather know how 'the singing lady' sees herself as musical interpreter of other people's songs and lyrics.

"I love to sing. Currently I am in a searching phase. I am trying out many different musical directions. My voice has to find what it likes to sing best. Mmmm, rak fish is very good!"

Perhaps young Miss Kyrkjebø will write her own tunes as well?

"Oh yes, that would be great to do. I think that those who do are so creative... but, please, don't require everything of me. I am after all only 23."

Just like a woman, perhaps yes, but she giggles like a 14-year-old. She's very sweet sitting there with her 'new' red hair and short hair cut. For us on the outside, it seemed the long golden locks disappeared the same time Sedaka and soft pop came. Image, concept and market acceptance are words that are used a lot since music went to video.

"What did you call it? Image? What is that? I cut my hair without telling anyone, while people see it as an obvious strategy from the people around me. Of course, I know what image is, but it is important for me to be myself. It happens that I consult a hairstylist, but I am the one who decides. If I want short hair, short hair it is."

It's not Sissel Kyrkjebø's fault that she sold more than a million records before she turned 20. As a national romantic figure, maidenly and devout Christian she has sung herself deep in the Norwegian spirit. A personified summary of the Ten Commandments. The shine in the eyes is still bright, but the idealist picture of the Bergen version of the Virgin Mary is shattered. How does a 23-year-old feel about having her private life discussed in the tabloids? The smiling eyes are no longer laughing. Sissel looks at us with a hurt expression. The elegant fingers with perfect, unpolished nails brush the chic, new hair away from her serious face .

"It is frightening, contemptible. It is as though no one has permission to do anything positive. I sing because I like to sing. Social reform and protest demonstrations can be done by others. Before I did not care about the articles, but now..."

The holder of Norway's record in record sales shrinks down in the tavern's old sofa. There and then we decide to set aside those questions. Instead we ask about the future.

"Now folk music is what preoccupies me. I want to do my own twist and so I don't listen to much on that front. Folk music is everywhere, not just in Telemark [county in Norway]."

Jon looks at his watch. Outside rages the snowstorm and we recognize the scene. Sissel peeks in all the nooks and crannies on the way out; signs autographs to thunderstruck patrons who think they are hallucinating after too many beers. She thanks the waitress for the good food, smiles and gives compliments.

"Here, I will come back to visit!"

We place Miss Kyrkjebø in the back seat, and drive like the devil towards the airport. We play the CD of the Chieftains because of Sissel's interest in folk music.

"That is not folk music. It is music from the middle ages played on original instruments... probably Irish."

We reach the airplane, with a few minutes to spare, and wish her a good trip. Five hours in Trondheim went by so quickly. On the way home we try to sort out our impressions. To reach Sissel Kyrkjebø's unique position, you must have something more than a marvelous voice, and in Sissel's case it comes from inside. She has values that mean more to her than her star-status in her life. This gives her a harmonic and relaxed personality that makes it difficult not to fall for her. She often appears unpoised on TV and tells journalists that she... yes... eats homemade sandwiches on the Dovre express train. You don't become a diva from such things... if that should be a goal. Is the secret behind her success her down-to-earth, normal and typical Norwegian manner?