Nils Bech
{{Short description|Norwegian singer}}
Nils Bech (born 8 April 1981 in Hønefoss) is a Norwegian singer, signed to James Murphy's DFA Records.{{Cite web|url=https://dfarecords.bandcamp.com/|title=Artists {{!}} DFA Records|website=dfarecords.bandcamp.com|access-date=2018-08-29}} Bech became famous for performing a classic Christmas anthem O Holy Night{{Cite news|url=https://i-d.co/article/nordic-prince-nils-bech-queer-musical-genius/|title=nordic prince: nils bech is the queer musical genius you might not know yet|date=2017-08-21|work=I-d|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-uk}} for the Norwegian TV series Skam. His version of O Holy Night received more than 1 million of streams on Spotify{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/nils-bech-album-echo-tour-dates-oya-festival-skam-shame-tv-show-a7558536.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/nils-bech-album-echo-tour-dates-oya-festival-skam-shame-tv-show-a7558536.html |archive-date=2022-06-21 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Nils Bech talks Norwegian TV drama Skam, Bjork, and writing about love (a lot)|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-GB}} on the day it was published, placing him in the top of the global charts.
Early life
Bech was raised in a small Norwegian village outside Oslo and began performing at a very young age when he was singing at the Salvation Army for his grandmother and her friends.{{Cite web|url=http://performa-arts.org/magazine/entry/nils-bech-i-started-performing-alone-at-the-salvation-army-for-my-grandma-a|title=Performa · Nils Bech|website=performa-arts.org|language=en|access-date=2018-08-29}} At age 10, he began singing classical music and continued to do so until early 20s thinking he might do a career as an Opera singer{{Cite news|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/33618/1/nils-bech-glimpse-of-hope-video|title=Meet romantic, vulnerable Norwegian singer Nils Bech|last=Dazed|date=2016-11-07|work=Dazed|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en}} but later moved to electropop.
Career
In 2017 Bech presented a show telling the story of his life,{{Cite news|url=https://i-d.co/article/nils-bech-interview/|title=nils bech makes electronic music that is both beautiful and painful|date=2018-03-13|work=I-d|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-au}} it was shown in Norway Opera and Ballet.{{Cite web|url=https://operaen.no/en/performances/archive/2017/nils-bech-konsert-i-operaen/#sectionIntro|title=Nils Bech med konsert i Operaen \ Den Norske Opera & Ballett|website=Operaen.no|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-29}} He has also appeared in several theater plays{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationaltheatret.no/Nils+Bech.b7C_wJDU18.ips#selection-735.0-764.0|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141212185201/http://www.nationaltheatret.no/Nils+Bech.b7C_wJDU18.ips#selection-735.0-764.0|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-12-12|title=Nils Bech - nationaltheatret.no|date=2014-12-12|work=archive.is|access-date=2018-08-29}} including Oslo's National Theater's version of Shakespeare's Richard III where he played a singing Lord Richmond.{{Cite news|url=https://musicnorway.no/2016/10/14/nils-bechs-returns-lp-echo/|title=Nils Bech's returns with LP 'Echo' - Music Norway EN|date=2016-10-14|work=Music Norway EN|access-date=2018-08-29|language=en-US}} A scene between Lady Anne and Richard was recorded for Bech's music video "Please stay".{{Citation|last=DFA Records|title=Nils Bech "Please Stay" (Official Video) - DFA RECORDS|date=2016-10-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6e_SrBqRgQ|access-date=2018-08-29}}
He is a frequent guest at events hosted by Norwegian royal family. On 7 April 2017 Bech, together with Norwegian ballet dancer Silas Henriksen, performed "A Sudden Sickness" at the celebration of 80th birthday of Queen Sonja,{{Cite web|url=https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc0b93ca|title=Dronning Sonja 80 år}} and on 29 August 2018, again with Silas Henriksen, he was seen in the Oslo Cathedral at the ceremony of the 50th anniversary of King and Queen of Norway wedding{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/rorte-kongefamilien-med-sang-1.14186073|title=Rørte kongefamilien med sang|last=NRK|work=NRK|access-date=2018-08-29|language=nb-NO}} performing his song "Thank You". The song tells a story of his grandmother meeting his boyfriend, Bech told on Instagram.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BnDm8BkhtTn/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BnDm8BkhtTn |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=Nils Bech on Instagram: "Mommo❣️ On the occasion of the celebration of the Royal gold wedding today in the Oslo Cathedral, I will be performing my song "Thank You"…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2018-08-29}}{{cbignore}}
In the past, Nils Bech has performed in the New Museum in New York and at the Venice Biennale{{Cite web|url=http://msurs.net/index.php/en/izlozbe-6/la-biennale/biennale2017-3/664-paviljon-bosne-i-hercegovine-na-57-medunarodnoj-izlozbi-umjetnosti-la-biennale-di-venezia-13-maj-26-novembar-2017-godine-3|title=Pavilion of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia__May 13 – November 26, 2017|last=Mićević|first=Nemanja|website=msurs.net|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-08-29}}
Personal life
Discography
= Albums =
- 2010: Look Back
- 2012: Look Inside
- 2014: One Year
- 2016: Echo{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/no/artist/nils-bech/333648561?l=nb|title=Nils Bech on Apple Music|website=Apple Music|access-date=2018-08-29}}
- 2020: Foolish Heart
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nilsbech.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bech, Nils}}
Category:20th-century Norwegian male singers
Category:Norwegian LGBTQ singers