Secret Garden, the musical duo from Norway that won Eurovision 1995 with one of the contest’s most unique entries, is releasing a new album – “Songs In The Circle Of Time”. What touching stories lie behind these songs? Listen and find out.
Secret Garden, the Norwegian-Irish duo that captivated audiences with their Eurovision 1995 victory, is back with a new album titled “Songs In The Circle Of Time.” This release marks nearly 30 years since their historic win with the hauntingly beautiful “Nocturne,” a song that holds the record for the fewest lyrics in a Eurovision-winning entry. The song’s ethereal quality and innovative approach challenged conventional notions of what a Eurovision song could be.
The New Album: A Personal Journey
The new album features 13 tracks, with only two containing lyrics. The rest are purely instrumental, staying true to Secret Garden’s signature style. Two standout tracks have been released ahead of the full album:
- Renaissance: A poignant piece composed by Rolf Løvland following the loss of his sister. He shares, “I had just finished this composition and decided to play it for the first time at her funeral, which was held in a Renaissance church. The location and the classical influence of the piece led to its name – ‘Renaissance’ – rebirth.”
- Fionnuala’s Violin: Named after the group’s Irish violinist, Fionnuala Sherry, this track holds a special significance. Løvland explains, “In 2018, Fionnuala was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our timeline came to an abrupt halt. After a year of treatments, I wrote this piece for her, hoping it would inspire her to return to playing the violin. I remember the first time she played this piece; it was an incredibly moving moment.”
The Duo Behind the Music
Secret Garden, the unique ensemble that won Eurovision in 1995, consists of Norwegian pianist and composer Rolf Løvland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry. Their journey began at Eurovision 1994 in Dublin, where Rolf was a songwriter for the Norwegian entry and Fionnuala played in the orchestra. This chance meeting led to their collaboration on “Nocturne,” which won Eurovision the following year, marking Norway’s second victory in the contest.
A Controversial Victory That Changed Eurovision
Their win with “Nocturne” sparked debate due to its predominantly instrumental nature. With only 24 words, it challenged the traditional song format of Eurovision. Despite concerns, particularly from Sweden (who placed third that year), the European Broadcasting Union upheld Secret Garden’s victory. This opened doors for more experimental entries in subsequent years, including Finland’s 1998 entry with just seven repeated words.
Post-Eurovision Success
Over the years, the band has released no less than 11 albums, some of which reached the top spot on various music charts, with numerous plays of their songs and famous singers covering them, such as Barbra Streisand. Among their songs that became popular worldwide is “You Raise Me Up,” which has been performed in various versions by many singers, including Eurovision winners from Ireland – Johnny Logan (1980 and 1987) and the original singer of the song, Brian Kennedy, who represented Ireland in Eurovision 2006.
Now, even after about 30 years since the band was formed and won Eurovision, its members continue to create moving music, proving that sometimes a complete story can be told through instruments alone, without the need for words. Their repertoire includes a whole collection of albums and various enchanting compositions with diverse themes.
Eurovision 2025: This will be Norway’s 63rd participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Norway joined the competition in 1960 and has won it three times. Norway’s most recent victory was in 2009 with the song “Fairytale,” performed by Alexander Rybak.
