The Norwegian Mood

When we are listening to a song, we automatically draw our attention to the singer, forgetting that he can be not the author of words to this song. It is natural, the singer has a very important task to transfer all necessary feelings and emotions, to pass these words through himself, through his heart. The success and destiny of songs depends on it. Very often the author of the words - the poet, remains in a shadow. Unfortunately, rather a small per cent of the people is interested in his name. Therefore I'd like to tell to you about one person from Norway, which - I assure you - is very talented and interesting. His name is Håvard Rem.
It is very hard to speak about a many-sided personality, because one can lose sight of something important. I hope I'll be able to do it rightly.
I have been reading his books during 7 years. I translated his poems and articles into Russian. I waited for his new books to be published, but I met him only last October in Oslo and took an interview. What can I say now? He is a wonderful person. Really…
It was in Oslo, in Majorstuen. Where was it exactly? I think it isn't so important... It was a very rainy evening in late October...

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Now he is a well-known author of a lot of books, theater of projects and music scenes, a translator into Norwegian from English and the composer of many songs, a journalist for Dagbladet and Aftenposten (famous Norwegian newspapers). He is the author of songs for the solo-albums "Wild Seed" and "Vogts Villa" of Morten Harket (vocal of A-ha). He also wrote the song "To let you win" for A-ha's album "Minor Earth/Major Sky". A palette is multy-colored. The amount of work is enormous. But, of course, his creation is more often associated in a contact with religion...

- I read a book "Poetenes Evangelium. Jesu liv i norske dikt." ("The Gospel of the Poet. Jesus's Life in a Norwegian poetry.") seven years ago. It is a very interesting anthology. Frankly speaking, I read the Bible only after this book. Do you plan to return to this theme?
- I'm always in this theme… As for "Poetenes Evangelium", it is the bridge between the Gospel and modern Norwegian poetry. If you like, it is a new look at religion.

So, he also wrote "Jødenes konge. Et Julespill." ("The Jewish king. A Christmas sketch."), "Himmelsk! Mat & mirakler." ("Heavens! Food & Miracle."), "Galgeland" ("Golgotha's Land"), "Mann! Bibelske mannsbilder." ("Man! Biblical image of man.") and some others. The book "Poetenes Evangelium" has other versions. One of them is a musical variant - CD "Poetenes Evangelium", singing Morten Harket.

- By the way, the larger part of the book “Mann! Bibelske mannsbilder” you can read in Russian...
- O, yes! Certainly!
(There are many quotes from the Bible used in the book: it`s sufficient to take a Russian copy of the Bible and put it by your side - and then you can read almost without having to translate.)

- Josef Brodsky wrote: "The Paradise and the Hell are limits of our life and our mind, because there is noting over these limits". Do you believe in life after death?
- Hmmm…. Maybe… I don't know for sure, although it is an important moment. The Bible says, the Hell is on the Earth. But the Gospel is only a book. And Jesus didn't write books. The God must be always in heart.
- What makes you choose certain topics and to leave others behind?
- On the one hand, I don't believe in materialism. On the other hand, the Church is metaphysic and I don't believe in it too. I am somewhere between them. I believe in good people…. As for the theme, I guess that music and text should contain information, communication.
- Can you describe yourself in several words?
- Ups…. It is hard. But I love life. I have a lot of energy and my heart is warm. I don't like authorities. Usually, I'm angry because of it… My ideal is Jesus.
- Who is a religious person? What is your idea about "being a religious person"?
- It is to have a warm heart. It is important… Once someone asked Leonard Cohen: "Which religion do you have?" Cohen confessed Judaism, Catholicism, Zen-Buddhism, etc. Then he said: "I don't know which religion I have, but I love Jesus"…
- What are your favourite things?
- There are five points: poetry, religion, music, football and, of course, women.
- A creative person always is alone in his life. It is a rule or not?
- O, no. When I'm working, I'm alone. But when I'm not busy, I find myself among people. I don't feel myself lonely.
- You wrote a book about football last year (2000). It is the biography of a famous Norwegian football-player Erik Mykland by name. Frankly speaking, it was a big surprise to me and more than that - the book became scandalous in Norway. Why did you take football as its topic after books on religion?
- Football was always my favourite thing among other things. I'd like to become a football profi. It was my boyish dream. But it wasn't my aim in life. It was only a dream… What boy does not have a dream? Personally, I didn't meet such… Yes, I follow this theme permanently and write for newspapers…
- Why are the problems of football interesting to you?
- Because it is also part of our society and life. The problems of football are the problems of society. Isn't that so? Besides, you know, Norway is a country of double standards.
(Really, this book is very interesting.)

- You published the book "Dvergmål" (by Old Norwegian - "The Echo") in 1999. There is Reinhardt Søbye's painting "The Dead Child" on the cover. Why have you chosen this painting for a book of sonnets?
(The book "Dvergmål" comprises 35 sonnets about a gnome and his love to a witch. The poems are full of melancholy or humour at times. The lyric is closely interwoven with the sarcasm and the tale - with reality. I think it is a beautiful book!)
- You know, a child lives in every adult's soul. We are growing up, but he still lives in our soul. He helps us to conceive this world, give way to emotions and feelings. When he doesn't, a person is dead. This child is dead too. Therefore his soul is dead. The world is black and white. And it is very dangerous… The Bible says: "If we don't become like children, we can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven".

- So, you have written many songs for Norwegian musicians, including Morten Harket and A-ha. As for A-ha, they have the song "To let you win" on your lyrics in their latest album "Minor Earth/Major Sky"…
- O, yes! But it is very easy: "I wasn't strong enough to let you win" is the text of Gospel.
- What type of music do you like?
- My favourite singers are Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Beck. I often listen to Jørn Simen Øverli's CD. He is a Norwegian singer, but he sings songs by Vysotskij in Norwegian… Besides, I like to listen to Morten Harket. He is a very talented person. When Morten is singing my songs, I think that I have achieved my aim as a poet. Because he knows how to bring the lyrics to audience without any part of it being lost...

Wow! It seems to me that I started my article with it. Maybe, there is harmony between a poet and a musician? Somehow I heard such a phrase about Håvard: "I think, you are a little of Demon". No, it is not right! He isn't just Demon, but he is Demon for work. It is so, really! He wrote more than 26 books and did a lot of projects. As for me, I like such comparison as "he is somewhere between the God and… Dylan".

- What songs are your favourites?
- Of course, "Lord", "Lay me down tonight" (in English) or "Vuggevise" (in Norwegian), "Los Angeles", "Soødag Morgen", "To let you win"…. But I don't often listen to A-ha's music. I think I do it seldom.
- Have you been to Russia? I have learnt that you visited in St.Peterburg.
- No, but I'd like to see this country one day. I'm really interested in Russia and, maybe, I'll go to Russia in the future...

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I can write much about this person, but I think it is enough for today. Oh, yeah, "Tell me what you see" now - I like to follow him opening the new doors of the world of literature, getting to know it step by step...

P.S. I must tell to you - every dream must realize. There is nothing unrealisable in this world! Therefore H.Rem was in Moscow the last November (2003) and one day he comes back to Russia...

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