Madcon is a Norwegian musical duo formed in 1992 by Yosef Wolde-Mariam and Tshawe Baqwa. They have released eight albums as of 2018, and became known for their 2007 cover of the 1967 song "Beggin'" by The Four Seasons. They took their name from the phrase "Mad Conspiracy".[1]
In 1994, Baqwa moved to South Africa with his parents when he was 14 years old, in the wake of the country's first democratic general election, eventually going back to Norway for a musical career.
In 2007, Baqwa took part and won the third season of the Norwegian dance contest Skal vi danse? (lit. "Shall we dance?"), broadcast on "TV 2" Norwegian TV channel: although the judges ultimately favored finalist Mona Grudt, Baqwa won by public vote. He also performed as a voice-over artist in the 2011 film Rio, playing the character Nico.
History
Madcon released their first single, "God Forgive Me", in 2000 for Virgin Records, but their first commercial breakthrough came with the hit single "Barcelona" in 2002, which they issued with long-time collaborators Paperboys on the "Bonnier Amigo" record label, a division of Cosmos Music Group, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2004, the duo released their first official album, It's All a Madcon, through AA-Recordings/Bonnier Amigo label, for which they won a Norwegian Grammy and several other awards.
In 2005, Madcon became a TV personality on the Nordic music channel "The Voice" while working on their music in the studio[citation needed]. The show "The Voice of Madcon", a behind-the-scenes look at the duo, was a great success for both Madcon and the network.
In the autumn of 2007, Baqwa was invited to take part in the popular TV talent show Skal vi danse?, the Norwegian version of Strictly Come Dancing, eventually winning that year's series, the third season of the TV program[citation needed]. Their second album, So Dark, The Con of Man, was released on December 3, 2007: in the United Kingdom, it reached number 137 on the album charts, and in Norway was certified gold in 3 hours and platinum in 3 days. The LP featured the soul singer Noora Noor and their friends "Paperboys" on two songs[citation needed].
In 2007, the duo released a cover version of the 1967 song "Beggin'" by The Four Seasons, earning the group several #1 chart positions in France, Portugal, Norway, and Russia and a global position of #2 on the European Billboard Hot 100 chart. This version of the song reached also gold sales in the United States. In addition, they achieved 9× platinum in Norway and were No. 1 on the official Norwegian sales charts for 12 weeks, making "Beggin'" one of the biggest hits of all time in Norway. This cover of the song was created by 3Elementz (now ELEMENT), who also produced the eponymous single of the album, "So Dark, The Con of Man".
Madcon led the World Music Awards on November 10, 2008, and won the World's Best Selling Norwegian Artist Award. After several negotiations, their label Bonnier Amigo signed a licensing agreement with Sony BMG for Central Europe, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, with Universal Republic in the U.S., with Warner Music in Spain, and with Just Music in South Africa. Madcon has also hosted the Norwegian version of Don't Forget the Lyrics!, Kan du Teksten?, on the Norwegian television channel "TV 2".
The duo's third album, Inconvenient Truth, was released all over Europe in early-to-mid 2009 and was also produced by "ELEMENT"; the group also saw other major releases, including in the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
Madcon performed their song "Glow" as the background of the "Eurovision 2010 Flashmob Dance", broadcast in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 interval act. The single became one of the biggest hits of all time in Norway, reaching more than 10× platinum status in Norway and the same certification in Germany; also this recording was produced by ELEMENT.[5] They reached platinum status also with their 2010 hit single "Freaky Like Me", featuring Ameerah and produced by Dutch musician DreamRoc'a, also known as Sha Arjang Shishegar or TJ Oosterhuis; "Freaky Like Me" is the group's third biggest international hit.
In 2011, the duo was awarded the International Band of the Year during the "ESKA Music Awards 2011" in Poland.[6]
In 2012, Madcon was referred to as "moccha men" during the ceremony of Spellemannsprisen, a Norwegian award for musicians; the comment was apparently made as an inoffensive joke, but was perceived as racist at some level. They wrote on "SoMe" the next day that the case had now been settled and closed.[7] In 2012, Wolde-Mariam was a mentor on the Norwegian version of The Voice, known as The Voice: Norges beste stemme, a TV program also broadcast on TV 2.
Films and television series featuring Madcon's cover of "Beggin'"
Madcon's cover of the song "Beggin'" was also used in the movies Step Up 3, Street Dance 3D, Just Go With It, and the theatrical trailer for Bad Teacher. It was sung by Philip Phillips on American Idol in 2012 and by Bill Downs and Max Milner in the battle rounds of The Voice UK series 1.[8][9]
In 2021, Madcon appeared on the Norwegian television seriesExit during the 6th episode of the first season, portraying a musical duo invited to play at an open-air party. They are heard performing, among other songs, their cover of "Beggin'".
Musical styles
Madcon at Eska Music Awards 2011
Madcon describes their musical style as a retro-urban mix with influences from soul, funk, and hip hop, with additional elements from African, Latin, and reggae music.[10]
Much has been learned about early music in Norway from physical artifacts found during archaeological digs. These include instruments such as the lur. Viking and medieval sagas also describe musical activity, as do the accounts of priests and pilgrims from all over Europe coming to visit St Olav's grave in Trondheim.
"Beggin'" is a song composed by Bob Gaudio and Peggy Farina and first released as a single by American band the Four Seasons in 1967. Initially charting at number 16 in the US Billboard Chart, the song became popular in the Northern soul scene in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. It has been covered multiple times, with versions by Norwegian hip-hop duo Madcon and Italian rock band Måneskin topping music charts in Europe and beyond. The Four Seasons' version was remixed in 2007 by French DJ Pilooski and re-released as a single, reaching number 32 in the UK Singles Chart, commercially outperforming the band's original release in the UK.
Sampda Sharma, better known by her stage name Samsaya, is a Norwegian singer and actress of Indian descent.
Element was an Icelandic/Norwegian record production and songwriting team, consisting of Hitesh Ceon and Kim Ofstad. The team was disbanded in January 2016. On their website Hitesh is described as being the main producer and composer of the team, while Kim is the drummer, and described as the more social/networking part of the team.
"Glow" is an English language song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon. It is the first single released from their fourth album Contraband. The song is produced by production team Element, and written by Element and Madcon. Madcon performed the song during the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 interval in Oslo, Norway.
"Freaky Like Me" is a song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon, released on 20 September 2010 as the second single from their fourth album Contraband. The song features vocals from Belgian-Tunisian singer Ameerah, and was written by Ameerah, TJ Oosterhuis, Arjang "DreamRoc'a" Shishegar, Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam and produced by Norwegian producer DreamRoc'a, also known as Sha, and TJ Oosterhuis. It reached number one in Norway, making it their third number one in the country and their third biggest international hit.
"Liar" is an English-language song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon, from their third studio album, An InCONvenient Truth. The song was written by Kim Ofstad, Jonny Sjo, Hitesh Ceon, Yosef Woldemariam and Tshawe Shoore Baqwa and was released in 2008 in Norway, and on 20 February 2009 in the UK. The song reached number 2 in Norway and number 65 in Germany.
An InCONvenient Truth is the third album by the Norwegian urban music duo Madcon. It was released in December 2008. It peaked at number 8 on the Norwegian Albums Chart.
Contraband is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian urban music duo Madcon. It was released on 17 November 2010. It peaked at number two on the Norwegian Albums Chart, becoming the group's highest-charting album. The album was preceded by the Element-produced lead single, "Glow" which became a top 20-hit in nine countries.
"Outrun the Sun" is an English language song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon featuring vocals from Maad*Moiselle. It is the third single released from their fourth album Contraband. The song was written by Jonas Jeberg, Terence Abney, Tshawe Baqwa, Yosef Wolde-Mariam, Marcella Brailsford, Kasper Larsen, Ole Brodersen. It was released on 19 November 2010. The video was directed by Mauri Chifflet and produced by sv:lillasyster produktion
"Helluva Nite" is an English-language song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon featuring vocals from Maad*Moiselle. Even though Ludacris is featured on the album, Madcon decided not to put him in the single. It is the fourth single released from their fourth album Contraband. The song was written by Jonas Jeberg, Christopher Bridges, Marcus John Bryant, Nakisha Smith, Tshawe Baqwa and Yosef Wolde-Mariam. It was released on the 26 September 2011. In Germany Itchy from Culcha Candela is featured for the single release.
Plumbo is a Norwegian rock and folk rock band from Sande, Vestfold, Norway. The three-piece band consists of Lars Erik Blokkhus, Tommy Elstad (bass) and Hasse Rønningen (drums), with assistance from supporting musician Glenn Hauger on accordion and flute. Their repertoire includes Norwegian songs with a traditional twist, rock music elements and international appeal.
"Møkkamann" is a major hit by the Norwegian rock / folk band Plumbo from their third studio album Råkk'n Råll Harry that was released in 2010. In 2011, it became their biggest single the 2011 hit "Møkkamann" from the album that reached No. 1 in the Norwegian Singles Chart. The band received a trophy based on votes from the general public.
Don't Forget the Lyrics! is an international music game show. The original American show aired on Fox from July 11, 2007, to June 19, 2009, and after a year off the air, a third overall season, and first as a syndicated show, began on June 15, 2010, in daytime syndication and in primetime on VH1 and in primetime on MyNetworkTV on October 5, 2010. On March 24, 2011, the show was canceled. A new primetime version, hosted by Niecy Nash, debuted on FOX on May 23, 2022. The show has spun off to numerous countries outside America using different top prize or game format.
The Voice – Norges beste stemme is a Norwegian reality singing competition and local version of The Voice first broadcast as The Voice of Holland. It started on 27 January 2012 and the final aired on 25 May 2012 on TV2.
Alexandra Irena Acevedo Joner, professionally known as Alexandra Joner, is a Norwegian singer and dancer. She is the daughter of Norwegian musician and composer Sverre Indris Joner and a Cuban mother Barbara Joner. She additionally is the niece of actor Johannes Joner and cousin of actors Knut Joner and Kristoffer Joner.
"Kjører på" is a 2012 single by Norwegian band Madcon featuring Swedish rapper and reggae artist Timbuktu. It is taken from the Madcon album Contakt that was released on 21 June 2012 to coincide with the release of the album.
"One Life" is a song by the Norwegian urban duo Madcon featuring guest vocals by American recording artist Kelly Rowland. It was written by band members Yosef Wolde-Mariam and Tshawe Baqwa along with Rowland, Katerina Bramley, and TJ Oosterhuis, with production helmed by the latter. The second single to be lifted from Madcon's upcoming second studio album Icon (2013), it was released on May 13, 2013, throughout Europe.
Odd Einar Nordheim is a Norwegian musician and singer. He won the music talent competition Stjerner i sikte in 1996. He has released two albums under the name "OdD", Mind Your Head in 2001 and Not All Birds Fly with Ease in 2005. He was nominated for best pop solo performer under Spellemannprisen 2001.
Hans Petter Aaserud is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, mostly known as guitarist in the band Trang Fødsel, founded in 1992. He has collaborated with a long list of artists, including several contributions to the Norwegian version of Eurovision Song Contest, Melodi Grand Prix. In 2018 he participated on Season 7 of Hver gang vi møtes.
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