🇳🇴 Foreigner's First Time Hearing "Nordahl Grieg - Til Ungdommen" (med tekst) | Nordic REACTION

[@NordicReactions]

*Request a video here:* buymeacoffee.com/teacherpaul

[@okklidokkli]

I am not sure you catched the essence or the meaning of this Paul, at least you did not comment on it. No, it is not a war song. It is an ANTI war song with a timeless humanistic peace message.

[@PrincessStine1987]

This song got played alot after the attacks in Oslo and Utøya on july 22, 2011.

[@madsimusnuo]

The poem starts with a call to war, but then turns the war effort into a peace effort to save the earth and humanity. So it is actually about peace and properity, rather than war and destruction, but uses them as contrasts.

[@andrdiasz]

The song has a message that speaks to both the heart and the mind. It expresses hope that youth can be a force for change, a reminder that the fight against oppression and injustice is important, and a warning against letting fear and hatred rule actions.

[@knuto8826]

Fair to mention is that Nordal Grieg was shut down and was killed during a bombing raid over Berlin in 1943. A great poet and also a famous resistence fighter.

[@Hantzeth]

I particularly love that line "Edelt er mennesket, jorden er rik! Finnes her nød og sult, skyldes det svik." (Noble is man, the earth is rich! If distress and hunger is found here it is due to betrayal.) Nordahl Grieg was a humanist, and to put it lightly "a leftie".

[@Hantzeth]

This song also resurfaced in the wake of the terrorist attack 22nd of July 2011.

[@TomKirkemo-l5c]

"Til ungdommen" is one of the greatest songs I know. I'm 53 years old. We sung it somtimes. But it wasn't really part of anything regulary.

[@ellenstergaardgravesen1011]

It's very well known in Denmark and the melody is by the danish composer Otto Mortensen. I've known and loved it since I was a child. I've seen you reacting to Kim Larsen - he made a version of this song too. We might sing the national anthem from time to time in school - but it's not often and most Danes get a bit confused when we have to sing the whole song and not just the first verse which we sing at national sports events.

[@GlobeHere]

We don't do nationalist stuff at school. However we often sang this song when I went to school. I am from Denmark, and tgis song seems to strike a cord with all Scandinavians.

[@heidifarstadkvalheim4952]

@@GlobeHere how interesting? Didn’t know that this song was song in danish schools. ❤️

[@jeschinstad]

In Norway we have an atheist alternative to religion, called Human-Ethicism. They serve many of the same purposes as a church, performing weddings, naming rituals (like a baptism), funerals and also the ritual of the coming of age, which in Christianity is the confirmation of the baptism. In Human-Ethics confirmation, we study morality, ethics and construction of peace and this song is very important in that. I absolutely love this metaphor that a man who uses his swordarm to carry his baby won't easily draw his sword. Ever since The March of the Roses, I can't hear this song without tearing up.

[@Henrik46]

@jeschinstad It's just Secular Humanism with a different name. They claim to have ethics, but can't ground it in anything concrete. If it's OK for an animal to force itself on another, why should it be wrong for humans? Humans are just animals, right? Also, atheists abd agnostics believe that every human is the end of a billions of years line of unguided evolution. How can you trust that the ability to think logically was prioritised in this process. You have no way of knowing it did.

[@jeschinstad]

@@Henrik46 This sounds like an American who has never been to a Christian country like Norway. I don't think that you could even imagine living in a Christian country where Jesus lays the foundation of all laws and where we atheists live like Jesus would because he was right and not out of fear of his fathers punishment. No, Humans are not just animals. That contradicts Socrates, Jesus and modern science, all of which are rejected by American Christianity, that worships Mammon instead of God.

[@lhpl]

Wow. I love the song, always have. That was a beautiful performance of it, I will have to check out the original. It made me tear up completely. I don't remember when I heard this song first, but it definitely is a song that is frequently sung. We Danes, and I am certain this goes for the other Nordics as well, like to sing on various - and many - occasions. We have many popular song books, and I doubt there is a person in Denmark who doesn't know for example "De Små Synger" (The little ones sing), a song book with 134 children's songs, first published in 1948. My mother sang songs from it for me when I was a little boy, and I have sung them for my two children, from right after birth and until they were too old for bedtime stories and songs. Other common song books are Højskolesangbogen (Highschool song book, a part of the Danish "folk high school" movement started by our philosopher, poet, author, teacher and politician N.F.S. Grundtvig, intended to help young adults - originally people from the peasantry get betted educated), and Arbejdersangbogen (Workers' song book, a song published for unions and other parts of the workers' movement). From South Jutland, where I grew up, "den blå sangbog" (the blue song book), which was first published in 1867 played a big role in keeping Danish identity and language alive during the Prussian/German rule from 1864 to 1920. People would meet privately, dring coffee and eat lots of cake, and sing patriotic Danish songs and hymns. When I started in school in the mid-1970es each pupil was given this song book, and it was for keeps. I don't know if that was a special tradition just in my school, or if this is still the case. Similarly, during the occupation of Denmark in WW2, passive resistance against German occupation was shown by large groups of people gathering outdoors for "Alsang" (All-song?) events, singing together. Til Ungdommen is definitely a humanist song, but although it can be interpreted as pacifist, it is not necessarily so. I can only suggest reading about Nordahl Grieg as he was a very complex person. Most of all, the song is about believing in your power as a human being to fight for what is good and right. This is also why it is often used when young people finish school, for example in 9. grade or gymnasium (A-levels.) Written in 1936, it most obviously is also an anti-fascist song (although ironically perhaps, Grieg seems to have been somewhat naïvely drawn towards Stalinist communism - this was not uncommon at the time.) It definitely is a strong reminder that there are things worth risking your life for, and that even when surrounded by enemies, you never give up. I don't think it is a trait only found in the Nordic countries, but it definitely is a big part of our own "understanding" of the "nordic" spirit or mentality. There are other songs like this, some are more nationalist/patriotic than others, but I think the nationalist aspect is often toned down. One is _I alle de Riger og Lande_ by B.S. Ingeman (1837, music by Gebauer 1845) which is about Holger Danske (Ogier le Danois) a legendary Danish knight and paladin of Charlemagne, who according to the myth rests at Kronborg, a sleeping hero who will arise if Denmark is endangered. Another is _Altid Frejdig når du går_ (Always cheerful when you go/walk): this song from 1867 (by Christian Richardt), and just its last verse condenses some of the spirit also felt in _Til Ungdommen_ : "Kæmp for alt hvad du har kært / dø om så det gælder / da er livet ej så svært / døden ikke heller" (Fight for all that you hold dear / die if it has to be so / then life is not so hard / and neither is death.) This song is often sung at funerals. Denmark has two "national hymns", the national hymn _Der er et yndigt land_ and _Kong Christian_ - the first is mostly a loving tribute to the Danish landscape, with our glorious history and great people mentioned almost _en passant_ , and is the most used, while the second is used primarily when Danish royalty is present, and for military/official events. Of course Kong Christian is about a naval battle against Sweden in 1644, so it is _very_ nationalist, and quite graphic even. The American poet Longfellow has translated it to English as _King Christian stood by the lofty mast_ . I guess the situation is a bit similar in England, with _God Save the King_ and Blake's _Jerusalem_ both being used as (unofficial?) national anthems.

[@CATOGUSTAVSON]

It's a humanistic anti-war song to defend our inalianable rights and freedom when war was stirring in Europe.

[@madsimusnuo]

It is not not like the pledge of allegiance. Thats sh*t is wierd.

[@henningmogensen9144]

It is a song that went well with my parents (anti war movement). And with flower-power movement. And still we sing it from time to time. In Denmark that is. You felt the power of it?

[@larserikertzgaardringen7426]

This is a hard text to translate. And I do not think that this translation was goo. As people say: This is a powerful anti war song, and it always bring tears to my eyes. It all gets especially strong when you know that Nordal Grieg died aboard a bomb plane over Nazi germany in 1943.

[@SthiffGamerz]

My favorite version as well. It's more soothing.

[@Ofeliefw5]

Nordahl Grieg was born and raised in Bergen. He was a distant relative of the famous composer Edvard Grieg from Bergen. Nordahl Grieg had a strong fascination for Finnmark, and in 1939 he had a major Finnmark novel under planning. The realization of this was thwarted because in October of that year he was called up to serve as a neutrality guard in the Alta battalion, Northern Norway. He remained there until New Year 1940. When the war came, he had a strong desire to fight for his fatherland. He enlisted in April at Jørstadmoen and joined the squad that was guarding the gold reserves of Norges Bank when they were transported from the Norges Bank vault in Oslo via Lillehammer to Tromsø, and then to London. He was a celebrity of his time. He was often mentioned in the newspapers during his active career. In England, he fought against Nazi Germany with his pen. Gradually, Grieg developed a strong desire to take part in one of the bombing raids in 1943 on the German capital, despite the fact that the English squadron had suffered heavy losses. The bomber he was in was hit, caught fire and crashed. Nordahl Grieg died instantly. The poem To Youth was written in 1936 in Ny-Hellesund in Søgne on the southern tip of Norway. Politician Trond Hegna, Norwegian Communist Party, encouraged him to write a suitable poem. Later, in 1952, a Danish composer was given permission to set the poem to melody. Beyond that, the Danes had nothing to do with Nordahl Grieg and the poem. In 1940, he wrote the poem "17 May 1940". We had to learn that poem at school when I was young. Here, Nordahl Grieg reads his own poem "17. mai" It's a mighty poem. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX2tfH6loalnntU

[@exentr]

From The Gold Run from Oslo to London via Tromsø, in which Nordahl Grieg did particiate in, as a private kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGmxq4qno5Z9rZIsi=HfYhx6MR6eabJGPd

[@Daisysmum]

Yes we had to learn this in school ☺️so i got some memory lane now❤️

[@sveinlarsen4275]

No Paul, it is not the pledge of legions! It is an antiwar song! It has nothing to do with nationalism - quite the opposite.

[@tuttasb]

If anyone is interested in an english version, Rein Alexander got a beautiful version of it, "To The Youth": kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKbHlX6Lna1glbMsi=yDypLp9IgKZRS2ZN

[@lhpl]

Listening to it now, I think the translation leaves something to be desired... It isn't very faithful to the original content and meaning.