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Hallur Joensen 'Smile'

Húsin á nýggju fløguni 'Smile' hjá Halli Joensen. Hetta er onnur fløgan, hann gevur út. Hóast enskir, hava seks av sangunum føroyskan uppruna

Nú er hon her, nýggja fløgan hjá Halli Joensen ‘Smile’. Umframt at Edgar Struble skrivar liner notes innan í húsanum, havi eg eisini fingið heiðurin at skriva nøkur orð. Tey eru her:

This is the second album from Hallur Joensen. His first release Pickin’ Time in Nashville (2008), has so far been the fastest selling in Faroese history. Half a century has passed since Faroese pop music was recorded and published for the very first time, especially thanks to the group Tey av Kamarinum. Two years earlier the Faroese broadcasting station, Útvarp Føroya, was founded. Together with local dancing places around the islands they were pioneers and created the base for a new and varied market.

If anyone should decorate a Faroese musical package comprising half a century of music with a ribbon in a bow, Hallur Joensen is the right person. Not only is he the most popular singer on the radio, but he is also the most popular entertainer at dancing events around the country. Hallur Joensen has become the visible part of the musical current which has been flowing in circles in the North Atlantic, since long liners left his home town Klaksvík to go fishing as far away as to the shores of New Foundland. Though, their catch wasn´t only fish. They also brought loads of country albums back home. And the rest is history.

And now Hallur has rown back on to this prosperous North Atlantic fishing grounds, and the catch is 14 songs, brought to you with this album. Among country standards we find 6 new songs, written by Faroe islanders for this album. They are Jákup Zachariassen, Lena Anderssen, Niklas Johannesen, and Petur Háberg Jacobsen. The song Smile has been recorded in both Faroese and in English, with Hallur’s daughter joining in the chorus. In addition to the inevitable Hank Williams there is a Faroese translation of a renowned Charley Pride song.

The North Atlantic maelstrom causes new mutual connections. This time Faroese poets and composers joined the most gifted Nashville musicians on their own home ground, also resulting in two duets.

This album from Hallur Joensen opens a new international window of opportunity, in harmony with local history and comprehensive demand. I pray for gentle winds, pleasant sailing, good luck, and not just Window Shopping, as Hallur presents his second album on the international market.

Birgir Kruse
October, 2009

Hetta er onnur fløgan, Hallur Joensen gevur út. Fyrsta fløgan, sum kom í fjør, er hin skjótast seljandi í føroyskari søgu. Í ár er júst ein hálv øld runnin síðani popplátur komu á føroyskum, fyrst og fremst við Teimum av Kamarinum. Tvey ár undan kom Útvarpið, sum saman við dansistovum úti um landið skapti støðið undir einum nýggjum og fjøltáttaðum marknaði.

Skal nakar knýta eina sloyftu um henda føroyska tónleikapakka í hálva øld, er tað Hallur Joensen. Umframt at verða hin mest spældi í útvarpi, er hann millum mest umbidnu at spæla til dans. Samstundis er Hallur ítøkiligur partur av tí tónleikastreymi, sum hevur malið í klingur í Norðuratlantshavi síðani langfaramenn løgdu út úr heimbygdini Klaksvík og fóru til New Foundlands at fiska. Umframt fisk, høvdu teir countryplátur við sær heim. Og restin er søga.

Nú hevur Hallur róð aftur á henda ríka Norðuratlantiska banka og úrslitið er henda fløga við 14 sangum. Millum countrystandards finna vit seks nýggjar sangir, sum føroyingar hava skrivað til júst hesa fløgu. Teir eru Jákup Zachariassen, Lena Anderssen, Niklas Johannesen og Petur Háberg Jacobsen. Sangurin Smíl er spældur inn á føroyskum og enskum, har dóttir Hall syngur kór. Umframt hin sjálvsagda Hank Williams er aftur ein føroysk týðing hjá Martini Joensen av einum kendum Charley Pride sangi.

Norðuratlantiski meldurin elvur til nýggj sambond, ið ganga báðar vegir. Hesa ferð varð tað á heimavølli at føroyskir yrkjarar og tónasmiðir møttu fremstu Nashvillle tónleikarum, har eisini tvær duettir spurdust burturúr.

Sum framleiðsla opnar henda fløga hjá Halli Joensen ein nýggjan altjóða glugga, sum er í pakt við heimliga søgu og eftirspurning. Eg ynski blíðan byr, góða eydnu og ikki bara Window Shopping, nú Hallur sendir aðru fløguna á marknaðin.

Birgir Kruse

Oktober, 2009