Staffan Var En Stalledräng - Swedish Christmas Carol

[@faryafaraji]

Arrangement & vocals by Farya Faraji. This is a traditional Christmas carol from Sweden. Many different versions exist in different melodies, some of the more well known one being in the major scale and arranged for choirs. This one however is from a less well known version in the minor scale, and my arrangement owes a lot to Folk & Rackare's rendition. The instrumentation I used consists of a Scandinavian zither and a Swedish nyckelharpa, alongside sleigh bells. The combination of the zither and nyckelharpa gives this an older and more traditional touch, as much of Scandinavian folk used such instruments rather than more newly introduced ones like the acoustic guitar or accordion. The video was filmed in Sweden across Stockholm, Visby, and the Sápmi region of Sweden north of the Arctic Circle. Lyrics in Swedish: Staffan var en stalledräng, Håll dig väl, fålen min! Han vattna sina fålar fem. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Två de voro röda, Håll dig väl, fålen min! De tjänte väl sin föda. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. Och de voro vita, Håll dig väl, fålen min! De var varandra lika. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. Den femte han var apelgrå, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Den rider Staffan själv uppå! Allt för den ljusa stjärna. Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Innan tuppen galit har, Håll dig väl, fålen min! Han i stallet redan var. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Hastigt lägges sadeln på, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Innan solen månd uppgå. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Skinnpäls och mössa, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Hundar och bössa. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Framme han till skogen var, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Innan någon vaknat har. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Orrar och tjädrar, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Hundarna vädrar. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Dagen den lider, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Fålen hemskrider. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Lutfisken luktar, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Bränvinet fuktar. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Kära far i huset, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Ge oss ut i kruset. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Får vi inget brännvin i våra krus, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Slår vi era fönster ut. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Kära mor vid lullan, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Låt oss smaka bullan. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Kuse och kake, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Låt oss få smaka. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Låt oss mera dricka få, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Innan harpan börjar gå. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. Drängarne hoppa, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Piporna stoppa. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Nu rider Staffan å gåle, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Han kommer ej igen förr'n ett åre. Allt för den ljusa stjärna. - Uppå Julen, broder Knut, Håll dig väl, fålen min! - Som på visan gör han slut. Hjelp Gud och Sancte Staffan! - Ingen dager synes än, synes än! Men stjärnorna de blänka på himmelen. English translation: Stephen was a stableboy, - Steady now, steed of mine! - He watered his horses five. - All for the shining star.- No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. Two were red, They earned their keep well. And they were white, They were eachother alike. The fifth he was dapple-grey, That one Stephen is riding upon himself! No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. Before the rooster has crowed, He already was in the stable. Quickly the saddle is put on, Before the sun is risen. Leather coat and cap, Dogs and rifle. No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. He reached the forest, Before anyone has awaken. Black and wood grouses, The dogs are sniffing. The day is reaching its end, The steed proceeds home. No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. The stockfish is smelling, The brandy is moisturing. Dear father in the house, Give us in the tankard. If we don't get any brandy in our tankards, We will bang your windows out. No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. Dear mother by the cradle, Let us taste the bun. Bread and cake, Let us have a taste. Let us get some more to drink, Before the harp starts sounding. No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky. The farm-workers jump The fifes stop. Now Stephen is riding thence, He will not return until after a year Upon Christmas, brother Knut, Like the song he ends with. Help God and Saint Stephen. - No dawn is yet seen, yet seen! But the stars they sparkle in the sky.

[@madstoft6220]

Nice song, I think you really nailed the pronunciation with this one and Rolandskvavdet, at least i could understand you as a danish person. Btw are you going to complete the scandinavian saga with a Danish one, now that you have done a swedish and a norwegian? There is alot of options like for eksample: Ramund, den unge, Hr Oluf han ride, Dronning Dagmar ligger i Ribe syg, Højt fra træets grønne top.

[@Spoontamer4]

Does this guy just speak every language or is he just naturally the most talented person ever? This pronounciation is amazing.

[@toubi4316]

He’s both. I honestly see him the way he sees Peter Pringle. Watch his Mesopotamian music video for more info.

[@Hwyadylaw]

It's common for classically trained or academic singers to study phonology well

[@dr.buckaroobanzai6114]

It's actually shockingly easy to not understand a word you're saying, but get pronunciation correct. I'm already half okay at predicting the pronunciation of words in Mongolian and I only started yesterday, and I'm almost perfect with Spanish words (well, Mexican Spanish) (Castilian is still fucking me up). And I know maybe 30 words in Spanish, and 2 in Mongolian because of a band I like.

[@tymmiara5967]

His ability to pick up the phonetics of any language is impressive. However, the task is significantly easier when you are singing. The music hides some of the ponemic qualities of vowels. It's a well known example that British English and American English are very different, but when sung, it's hard to distinguish them. On a more specific level, Yorkshire accent is very distinct, but it will be difficult to definitively hear it when the person sings. I practice, all Farya needs to do is make sure he pronounces the consonants correctly, and that is most of his job done. The vowels are distorted by the music anyway

[@iamasalad9080]

​@@tymmiara5967As a Swede, his vowels sound off to me even factoring in that it's music. But the consonants are perfect, he even got the sj-sound right.

[@bengthildebrand3133]

Fin tolkning av denna klassiska julsång. Great rendition of this classical christmas carol. Ditt svenska uttal är väldigt bra. Your Swedish pronounciation is pretty good

[@jonathanakesson3507]

You've no idea how surreal this is to me as a Swede.

[@mikaelaolsen8835]

This will be part of my Christmas tradition from now on.

[@eks46]

Didn't understand a word, loved every moment. Bravo!

[@zvidanyatvetski8081]

Ten seconds in and Im blown away by your perfect pronunciation, even got the Å and Ö almost flawless!! Musically amazing as well, your work never disappoints!

[@zvidanyatvetski8081]

No joke, I've met people who lived here for years that didn't pronounce as well as you do here!

[@yllejord]

He just pronounced "stjärna" like it's nothing. Blown away, indeed.

[@ImperiumGallery]

He’s the only immigrant needed in Sweden 🇸🇪

[@yllejord]

@@ImperiumGallery he was just visiting but, really now? you're choosing to be a complete idiot on a channel made by an immigrant and dedicated to celebrating all cultures?

[@kaistinakemperdahl9667]

I think disappointing is the thing Farya is incapable of. Can’t have all the talents after all…

[@MrOceMcCool]

I would literally sell my soul to you if you would just put this on Spotify. Put this on Spotify and my life is yours!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@widgren87]

Hope you had a good time here in Sweden and thank you for one of the best performances of this childhood classic. Best of luck and health to you.

[@faryafaraji]

Absolutely! It was my introduction to Scandinavia and now I know I'll be returning many times

[@widgren87]

@@faryafaraji hope you enjoy those too ;-)

[@WalterHWhite-wz4ix]

As a Swedish person who grew up speaking the swedish language and hearing this song every Christmas for 17 years now… I gotta say that your Swedish in this video is excellent, good work!

[@pringlesnotman7016]

Merry Christmas to all beings in this world.❤❤❤

[@lejaune4550]

Joyeux Noël ! ❤

[@kingarthur-l3c]

Merry Christmas to you too❤

[@nikitsir11]

I think more than being a gifted musician, your main talent is that of a story-teller: you manage to capture the quintessence of each place in time, be it Sweden, Greece or Ancient Rome - the music, your accent, your voice, the visuals, it seems to me that all these are simply part of the story you want to tell.

[@hickspaced2963]

Wow, just wow, we never sing this longer version of the song these days. This is absolutely beautiful. Tack för en underbar tolkning min vän.

[@Brunavargen]

As a swede who heard this song sung just a few days ago I am genuinly impressed! Well done 😃

[@lejonetfrantornedalen3535]

I remember singing this in school in Sweden so seeing you play it makes me very happy

[@dinoveganosaurus326]

Hahaha, as somebody born in Sweden with iranian parents (specifically mazandarani like yourself), this was an amazing cross over I did not expect. This was amazing!

[@PopularesVox]

You can just picture them all gathered around the fire of a great hall in Medieval times and singing this ballad.

[@Kalvi-cz6pw]

- Happy Christmas! - Frohe Weihnachten! - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun! - Gzuar Krishlindjet! - Mboni Chrismen! - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi! - Merry Christmas! - Boas Festas! - Bon Nadal! - Feliz Navidad! - Shnorhavor Sourp Dzunount! - Bon Pasco, Bon Anja! - De Christmas akhtar de bakhtawar au newai kal de mubarak sha! - Shuvo Baro Din! - Mboni Chrismen! - Winshuyu sa Svyatkami! - Zalig Kerstfeest! - Joyeux Noel! - Vessela Koleda! - Sretam Bozic, Hristos se rodi! - Feliz Natal! - Selamat Hari Natal! - krist Yesu Ko Shuva Janma Utsav Ko Upalaxhma Hardik Shuva! - Streken Bozhik! - Nadolig Llawen! - Boldog Krcsonyt! - Frohliche Weihnachten! - Gldelig Jul, Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit! - Eftihismena Christougenna! - Gilotsavt Krist'es Shobas! - Mo'adim Lesimkha! - Shub Christu Jayanti! - Idah Saidan Wasanah Jadidah! - Nollaig Shona dhuit! - Christmas Mobarrak! - Laimigu Jauno gadu! - Priecigus ziemassvetkus! - Laimingu Kaledu! - Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit! - Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! - Hauskaa Joulua! - Vesele Vanoce! - Merii Kurisumasu! Извините, если кого-то забыл) Всех с Рождеством Христовым, друзья!

[@seamusogdonn-gaidhligarain2745]

Nedeleg laouenn !

[@yllejord]

OMG OMG OMG your swedish accent is as lovely as your greek one HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WHAT MAGIC IS THIS

[@svensvensson1085]

Nämen!! Guu vad härligt! Ditt uttal är fantastisk!! Tack så mycke❤❤❤

[@Kalvi-cz6pw]

Спасибо огромное за песню! Рождественский, зимний дух чувствуется сильнее чем в других подобных песнях и чем в других исполнениях этой песни. Волшебно! P.s: видеоряд подобран идеально!

[@chadoftime8607]

Wonderful version of Staffan var en Stalledräng. Your swedish pronounciations are impressive, since most people struggle with it for their entire life, including my own father. Hope you had a good time in Stockholm and merry Christmas!

[@GegoXaren]

As my father once said: don't worry about it too much, Scania has been part of Sweden for 300 years, and still can't speak Swedish.

[@jujmajuj13]

Just had a dissociative episode and this is making me feel alot better

[@Stonesorrow]

As someone who has sung this song hundreds of times, I've never seen this version with the extended lyrics. Very impressed with your pronunciation and arrangement. Well done!

[@ChrIoJn]

Vackert!

[@raiseyourworld5324]

Have not a clue on the words but zi love it! 🙂💖

[@jasminv8653]

A forever favourite of mine since childhood (sang this in a school in finland as well), you made a gorgeous version. The more minor key staffansvisor are the best! Do you think you might put your carols on spotify at some point?

[@sucloxsucloxsson]

Absolutely beautiful, as a swede you’ve done my country a great honor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@Murawood]

Been waiting for a swedsh song for so long, you've done us proud with this one. Much love

[@henrikgustafsson6385]

One of the best, if not THE best version of "Staffan" I have ever heard. Love the old tune. Sound medieval.

[@Erikaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

2:10 Hey! That's the Gates of Lappland (Lapporten) outside of Kiruna. The whole area around Kiruna is so beautiful

[@АндрійПідкоритов-ц9ы]

Всіх з Наступаючими Різдвом та Новим Роком!

[@АндрійПідкоритов-ц9ы]

Арігато гозаїмашіта за вподобайку!

[@digitaljanus]

We don't just get these wonderful musical travelogues from you, but these gorgeous visual ones as well. Thanks for the early Christmas gift Farya!

[@TheOnlyToblin]

Geuzis christ! Do you speak Swedish? That pronounciation is uncanny for someone not native. I mean, sure, there's some accent in there, but you hit all the really difficult vowel sounds, which is something the vast majority of speakers will get wrong even years after living here. Damn, dude! And then the arrangement on top of that being just gloriously alien to me, being so conditioned with the traditional version sung at every school. This was a trip. And a good one at that.

[@elizarkozik4715]

Your swedish is very good! nice jobb! Dude, Jättebra jobbat! Du är jättecool!

[@Seljuk_Dynasty]

FINALLY NEW CHRISTMAS SONG!

[@thePyiott]

Perfect performance and beautifuly shot!

[@latifakudsi1376]

Each time a new story with you! ❤ Merry Christmas to all.🎄

[@that1swede164]

Perfekt

[@christinebordes9991]

I looked at your page every day in the hope of finding Christmas carols because the ones you performed last year were fabulous. This one is worthy successor.

[@iberius9937]

I honestly love this and Folk Och Rackare's versions better than everything else I've heard, as beautiful as it may be. Theirs' as well as your version have a tighter melody and are more upbeat.

[@julbombning4204]

Very cool and incredible pronunciation! If you come back during midsummer you can make covers of the following classics: Små grodorna Helan går

[@skolgar43]

Encore une autre Masterclass de Farya, merci pour ça 🙏

[@linuslundquist3501]

I hope you enjoyed your time here! That was some impressive swedish; I'm consistently blown away by how many languages you seem to know. Also cool that you based your arrangement on Folk & Rackare's version, since their guitarist is a relative of mine :P

[@nicolelengauer7422]

Great to see that you also make scandinavian folk songs! Love it! ❤

[@Erikaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

As a Swede, wow, your pronounciation is fantastic!

[@bonnarlunda]

Very nice indeed. One of my favourite yule songs. And, as others have stated, the pronunciation is really good.

[@SimplyArt-Inspire]

Incredible , thank you again and again , all the passion that you put in every video and song , greetings from Romania

[@samuelmargueret9626]

Incroyable ce que tu fait !! Continue comme ça !! C'est juste magnifique ....

[@Járnúlfur-Bronsörn5096]

Mycket bra och vackert gjort.❤❤❤ God Jul och Gott nytt År till Alla.❤❤❤

[@oanaomg7298]

Randon Romanian atheist of Christian-Orthodox upbringing listening to Swedish carol performed by handsome Iranian-French-Canadian man of unknown religios affiliation. 🌍🌎🌏

[@petrsevcak9186]

Happy holidays to all gods and humans...A Farija top!!!

[@gnothiseauton8859]

Wow!!!😲 What a beautiful surprise, I'm really impressed!🤩 Since childhood this has been one of my favourite Christmas carols and I just love your version of it, the instruments, the scenery, your pronunciation..., what a masterpiece❣🌟 Thank you Farya!🙏🏻 Merry Christmas and God Jul (Swedish) everybody❣🕯

[@thomasgeddes4817]

More food for the soul, whatever the language. Peace on earth, goodwill to all humankind, whatever the language or belief.

[@marton_dobo]

God jul och gott nytt år!

[@MadWitchJay]

Dam was a while since I've heard this one. A bit unexpected, you made it sound nice. Something from Lucia, I were like starboy (Stjärngosse) once. Don't remember it very well, and not sure how well I sang it at the time. Probably fine maybe?

[@iberius9937]

Automatic like. BEAUTIFUL song, BEAUTIFUL arrangement in the Faraji style!!!

[@SakeBlossom]

You are fabulous as always! Thank you 😊 ❤

[@samuelberteferreira]

Arg! I would like to be there feeling the cold of Sweden.

[@Apogee012]

gives me nostalgia from the quebecois christmas carol huron carol, the martin one

[@Dragoon4345]

This is Gold

[@darzhanacf8983]

@faryafargi please make a Napoleon symphony

[@gokhandalda7349]

Sizi tanıdığıma çok mutluyum, yaptığınız hiçbir lezzetin eksik kalmadığı bir ziyafet sofrası.

[@yami_1164]

nice

[@qiaonasen3559]

Me from Sweden seeing my favorite KZbinr upload. Reads the title.... Had to read it twice. WTF

[@lucimicle5657]

Some songs need some time to grow on me and some I vibe with imediately. This is the later type.

[@CloudianEris]

Instantly hooked

[@3kcozadurnylol]

And next maybe Polish carol Bóg się rodzi? It'd be absolutely marvelous to hear your version! :D It's rythm based on Polish traditional dance Polonez. And it had a premiere in my home city :)

[@grib_Luny]

Теперь я знаю, что буду слушать в Новый год, спасибо❤

[@aramkaizer7903]

My guy knows every language on earth, that's crazy

[@ChrIoJn]

Im swedish and I can say your accent is actually like old swedish, How many times did you practice?

[@kingarthur-l3c]

Thanks for the Christmas song ❤

[@Леойцук]

Magnificent!

[@BungSpoot]

THANK YOU FARYA !!!!!!!

[@mundodosgamesbrytb]

Olá farya amei a musica legends of sparta sou Brasileiro e amo seu trabalho continue por favor!! Queria uma egipcia agora estilo essa grega linda que você fez!❤ Abraços BR❤

[@Kai-ts4gt]

i love this type of your videos ☺

[@fuferito]

Only Farya, who hails from the original land of the _Maju,_ would make a personal visit to land of the folk who acquired the name "maju" on sheer renoun alone.

[@hestudude1856]

I LOVE UR WORK❤❤❤❤

[@Etienne_1]

Ta prononciation 👌🏻

[@lacrimis_solis]

its TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME

[@Kitsoss]

I'm greek btw. That was good.

[@miracafsinlastamonte8052]

İncredible!

[@NDeGeorge1]

How does he keep doing it?

[@TheAnonym252]

Same question , he can sing anything and looks and sounds TOP

[@rudman97]

He is universal folk singer. Can sing almost all (if not all) folk songs of the world.

[@lyktemannen1888]

Now that you have sung in both Swedish and Norwegian, it is time for you to sing in Danish. >:)

[@bdasf2214]

Man, être capable de faire passer la Suède pour autre chose qu'une gang de cocus uqamien, t'es véritablement le plus grand barde lavalois

[@h0rn3d_h1st0r1an]

Homeless Quebecois guy suspiciously staring for five minutes.mp4

[@Silikone]

Norwegian and now Swedish... but can you defeat the final boss that is Danish?

[@faryafaraji]

Easy, I'll just sing with a potato in my mouth

[@Mumrik93]

​@@faryafaraji *[Reputation with Sweden Increased]*

[@Turachkh]

​@@faryafarajiExcuse me, but your ignorance about us Danes is concerning. If you plan to cover our music, throwing a potato into your mouth whilst singing and calling it a day won't cut it. First of all we don't put the potato in the mouth, but place it carefully in the epiglottis. Since the epiglottis is small, it is recommended, that one starts out with a tiny potato and moves onto bigger ones later on in life. What is more, the potato is to have a good shape, so that it fits well into the epiglottis, lest it won't sit stably, which can cause problems later on. Then one is to stimulate and feed the potato carefully, so that it doesn't produce a plant, but only roots. Some of the roots will enter the flesh and live off ones life energy, but the potato will usually not be too greedy, as long as one cultivates a good relationship with the potato. Other roots go into the tongue and guide it, which is, what allows us to pronounce the soft d. What is more, if any step is done wrong, there is a chance, that the potato will poison one, since it is a night-shade. But I reckon, that it is not necessary for you to go through all the steps to sing in Danish, since singing requires less experience than actually speaking a language. You would probably be fine with just using a small well shaped potato and putting it in your epiglottis without going through the other steps.

[@pawlischek]

Sverige! Norr! Kraft!

[@tomillo4104]

Spotify, pleaaseeee

[@АндрійПідкоритов-ц9ы]

Нехай прибуде з вами Годжьо Сатору.

[@mrgametr808]

güzel

[@jusuferg9945]

Is he Swedish? He must be swedish! No way that a non swede kan pronounce the words this väl! Kan någon snälla svara?!!

[@xilefm-4517]

He's an Iranian Guy from Quebec. I think he speaks English, French, and some variety of Persian fluently.

[@a.v.j5664]

Cool song, but as a proud finn i am obliged to say that it's a disgrace how you made a swedish(🤮) song before a finnish one

[@Makaneek5060]

Petition for Säkkijärven Polkka.

[@a.v.j5664]

@@Makaneek5060 tbh i'm more so wishing for him to make a song in the kalevala meter, but Säkkijärven polkka is good aswell

[@Makaneek5060]

@@a.v.j5664 Kuulin aanen would also sound great.

[@a.v.j5664]

@@Makaneek5060 yeah

[@jasminv8653]

Staffansvisa actually has several traditional renditions collected from Finland. Just because it's another local language doesn't mean it isn't a local shared tradition :) Staffansvisa on monille suomalaisillekin tuttu ja tärkeä joululaulu.

[@TheLordArion]

@jonnajinton Om du inte har hört denna än så lyssna ❤ det hade varit episkt om du gjorde din variant av den med.