The story of kitgotme meeting Ylvis
1. Meeting Vegard
I was in Bodø for the consert 01.08.14. I had contacted the festival leadership a couple of days ahead with a request to meet Ylvis. I had gotten a positive respons that they would try and make it happen. They were waiting for the response from Ylvis and would then contact me.
Early in the afternoon me and my husband was walking around in the city trying to find the consert arena. We heard some music and followed the sound. We found “Solparken”, (the Sun park) where it would take place. It was early in the soundcheck for the band. Vegard hadn`t even arrived yet! I noticed Bjarte and Bård on stage talking. As we stood there the crew started to close the arena, but the people who had arrived were not asked to leave.
After a couple of minutes I noticed Vegard arrive, he was heading for the stage, but stopped to talk to a guy. Bård shouted out to him: “Vegard, come over here now”. As Vegard walked toward me and the stage I approached him and said: “Hi Vegard! I`m Hege.” He shook my hand as I asked if I could take a photo of me and him. He smiled and said “as long as it doesn`t take too long time”. I responded: ” Of course, you`re in a hurry, we`ll make it quick!” Vegard put his arms around me and pulled me in. I laughed because I didn`t expect that. My husband took two photos and I thanked Vegard happily. Vegard then rushed to the stage and climed on to it.
I discovered Hanna/Imnotababypenguin (19) from Bodø with her friend Caroline. She didn`t recognize me at first from a distanse, but when I pointed to my head she understood and came over to me. We watched parts of the sound check together. They seemed to have fun on stage. I`ll put out something from the soundcheck in a while.
2. Meeting Bård and Vegard
I suddenly realized that this was my chance to talk to Ylvis. However all my Ylvis stuff and my gift to them was back at the hotell. I sent my husband to get the gift and to load my phone (so I could be in contact with the festival leadership). When my husband got back there was a 20 min break in the sound check. I was freezing and couldn`t wait any longer if I wanted to talk to them. Pål pushed me mentally to approach the crew to ask to meet Ylvis. Luckily the crew didn`t mind asking. We were backstage outside the artist tent waiting excited.
Suddenly both brothers appeared and walked smiling towards me. I knew they had a short break and I wanted to be quick about my agenda. Bård was in the front and I shook his hand, told my name and said, looking over at Vegard, that I allready had the priveledge of meeting Vegard a little while ago. Vegard took my hand, smiled and said “hi once again”. I asked if it was Ok that my husband filmed the happening. My husband confirmed that he was just tagging along to take pictures. Bård smiled and said “Yes, yes, it is totally Ok, the husband films and takes pictures”.
I had planned to tell them that I had followed them for a long time and that I find them so talented and that I wanted to thank them for making my life brighter. I wanted to ask about Ylvis 4 and ask about the “ikmy” in the fall. However I just went straight to: “I got a gift for you guys. I`m sami and we have a tradition to give away stuff that we have used and want others to enjoy.” Both moved closer to me, said “cool” and looked down to my hands which held the sami leather purse with two gifts inside. I struggled to get it out of the little bag and then held the sami “sølje” (brouch) shaped as a sun. I had planned to say that it represented the sun and just like the sun they brighten up my life. However all that came out of my mouth was: “This is a sun. It can be used by everyone, men, women, but mostly children, if you have any”. Idk why I said the last part, I clearly know about all their children… Vegard smiled like he wanted to laugh but hid it in a secret way when I said it. Then I fetched out the copper necklace and told; ” This is a necklace with a pendant shaped like the female God named Jouksakka, who protects children”. Bård said: “Then you have come to the right camp,” as he examined the necklace. Bård and Vegard tried to say the Gods name several times. Bård asked if I had gotten it from someone in my family and I told that the sun was a gift from my aunt which I had used for many years. Vegard said smiling; “Oh, you have used your aunt?” I giggled, broke down and said “yes, I have used my aunt a lot”. Here I wish I`d said something smart or funny, but nope.
Then I told that the necklace was from my grand mother. Vegard now had the sun in his hands and Bård looked at the necklace. Then I talked about the sami leather purse, which can be used for coffee grounds or money or whatever they want to. I took their gifts and put it into the bag and handed it over to Vegard.
Vegard then said that they used to teach people sami for some years ago. I looked at him and responded happily; “yeah, at Ofag, you meen?” “yes, that`s right”, he said and looked into my eyes. I didn`t dare to look at him anymore, I suddenly became very shy. Bård then said; “Like; Mun Lean..” and I said: “Mun lean Hege (I`m Hege), Mun lean Bård” and then pointed at him. Then I forgot every sami word I have ever known, `cause he was so eager to speak sami to me. Bård said: ” We remember Bourre beaivi!” (which actually means “The Sun rises” in the meaning of “Good day”) and Vegard looked straight at me, then he asked Bård: “Isn`t it ipmelahtti?” (which translates to “God gives” in the meaning of “May God give you a nice day too”.) I suddenly didn`t remember what anything meant anymore. Vegard then said; “Dongeri boof” which I didn`t understand at all (Jeans?). Bård said: “Gii don lea?” (which translates to “Who are you?) I became so ashamed of my failing understanding that I didn`t dare to ask if he could repeat it. I just laughed ashamed. Vegard continued happily with his sami knowledge, counting one, two, tree in sami. I just blurted out; “I have to tell you something horrible, my kids are learning sami, but I don`t speak it since I`m of the generation that didn`t get to learn it in school.” Vegard responded: “But that`s actually a positive thing then, it moves in the right direction!” He looked at the gift he was holding, said engaged; ” But this is insane!” Bård played with the necklace and said “You, a thousand thanks, it`s… ” It seemed as if he was going to say his goodbuyes.
Then I remembered I wanted to say something more. “I just want to say something more! Because of you I have met a lot of fans all over the world. Among others from the the US. Maybe you remember Maureen and Maureen from Pennsylvania? You were at at booksigning thingy in New York and they made you sign something… for me?” Vegard looked a little surprised and confused, trying to remember. Bård came with a small exclamation: “For you? What`s your name again?” As I said “Hege” he said it simultanously! “Hege! I actually remember this for fucks sake, it was in New York or was it LA? Was that YOU?” he exclamated! I almost shouted back at him, in his dialect: “Yes, it was me!” We laughed together. I looked over at Vegard and said to jog his memory: “I taught Maureen how to ask in Norwegian if you Vegard like older women!” He smiled and looked interested but still surprised. I wasn`t sure if he remembered, he said “ahhh!” and smiled. Pål interrupted and said that we had that book with us today. Vegard said: “Oh, you have?” I then asked; “Yeah about that, I am wondering if you might sign the Norwegian version of the book for me?” Bård responded; “Well of course!” and he grabbed the book. Vegard joked; “I dont`t know about that”. Bård dedicated the book to me and my two children, since I told that they also liked them because of the Fox-song. He wrote: “To Hege, Lina and Silje. Here you have a book - it`s about a Fox. Enjoy it!” Then he signed it and Vegard did too.
Vegard then asked if we would go to the consert later. I said that we were really looking forward to it. I told that I had postponed my chemo treatment for this consert. Bård jumped up, put his hand at his head and said; “No, you mustn`t put this responsebility on us!” I just laughed and answered: “Oh yeah, I have postponed it for five days!” I wish now that I had said: You gotta put the right amount of pressure on it! However my mind did not work at all, so I said nothing of that sort… I told that this was the only vacation for me this year, Pål and the kids went to Italy without me. Pål repeated that it is the only vacation for me. Vegard responded with a disbelieving voice; “Nooo! Uffameg! (bergan dialect) But maybe it`s a littlebit nice to be alone? At least in the beginning?” I answered: “Well, you can consentrate on yourself, but I don`t want to think too much, so then I tend to do a lot, like going to conserts etcetera. And then I wanted to attend this consert as well!” Bård said: “We take that as a compliment!” I then told: “We were at the spectrum consert as well”. Vegard expressed: “Were you? But that is maybe done in the wrong order!?” I laughed and said: “Well, I`m a little curious of how you have made the downscaling.” Pål told them that he was really impressed with that consert. Vegard responded: “You were? That`s great.”
Bård then asked if I am getting better, (du e på oppadgående?) which I confirmed. He wished us a nice consert experience. I said jokingly: “That is totally up to you and Vegard”. He also said that they would give the gifts to their children.
I closed by asking if we could take pictures together. They said “sure” and I joked: “You two are such creative guys, are you up to a creative photoshoot?” Then we took the pictures with me squeezed in between the two nice brothers. I leaned my head on Vegards cheek! And held my hands at their tiny waists. While they embraced me…And I was “full happy”.
