My knowledge of Norwegian is getting better. I was actually able to translate ‘Ambisiøs’ into ‘Ambitious’ without the help of Mr Google, for a change.
Having been held back for a few years by a medical condition that caused her to exit temporarily from the business you can’t blame Maylen Rusti for having that ambition and it certainly burned brightly in her album ‘Drømmeland’ (yep, ‘Dreamland’) which was released in May and by which I concluded “Maylen Rusti has reestablished her marker as a leading light in the Norwegian intelligent indie-pop scene.”
It hasn’t taken her long to come back with fresh work again either (the work ethic in Norway is matchless) and Maylen has taken the trouble to explain her thinking behind the new song –
“Ambitious describes a person who sets high goals and works hard to achieve them. Ambitious can also be used for goals, a project or similar, or a career goal. Previously, ambition meant resentment, a sense of honour or social vanity. This meaning is no longer common. Honest ambition means excessive and ridiculous resentment, desire to achieve titles or rise above their status.”
Multiple interpretations; one song. Unfortunately I can’t say more because my Norwegian isn’t that good yet!
What I will say is that it is another banger from the poppier end of her ability scale; a non-stop from start to finish gas, Certified Dinger, Slapperoni and cheese, bing bong in the whipperino, bumper, Bloondy Bob, Legit Jam, girthful, turbo beezer, toner (a musical boner), Absolute Tune of a thing.
There’s so much going on I don’t know where to start. And the production is brilliant. It starts with a 1960s Eurovision-like mono section that I reckon represents her pre-ambition days spent out of action (or is that reading too much into it?) after which it cascades into a maelstrom of catchy melodies interspersed with vocal and instrumental sounds off that might be coming out of an electronic workshop.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this one tops the charts in Norway. An English version wouldn’t do too badly over here, either. (Hint).
I always look forward to new songs by Maylen Rusti. She never fails to deliver. Speaking of 1960s Eurovision, to paraphrase France Gall – Maylen, elle l’a.
Find her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rusti.maylen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maylenrusti/
