Back in August, I wrote about Grey & Purple Songbook’s song “This is My Crescendo”, and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to keep following the project. So I’m excited to share their new single, “Fateful Ski Trip”. This time, the story reaches back into Norway’s history.
The song tells of a dangerous journey during the Norwegian civil war in 1205-1206. Two Birkebeiner skiers carried a two year old boy, the son of King Håkon Sverresson, across the mountains in a fierce snowstorm to protect him from the rival Baglers. That child later became King Håkon IV, whose reign helped bring the long conflict to an end. It’s quite a piece of history to build a song around and the story gives the music a real meaning.
I loved the mix of modern sounds and traditional Scandinavian instruments. There’s a Norwegian character to the arrangement, making the track seem like more than a song about something that happened centuries ago. The male and female vocals work well together, with strong performances that stay with me. I also enjoyed the lyrics and melodies, both help carry the story without making it hard to follow.
The sound design and production are another reason I enjoyed this. Everything has been put together with so much care, but the song still has great energy. I really like the direction Grey & Purple Songbook are taking, and I’d be happy to hear more from them. This one has already earned a place on my daily playlist.
