Subwoolfer
{{Short description|British-Norwegian pop music trio}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Subwoolfer
| image = Subwoolfer in Madrid Japan Weekend 2022 - 12.jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = Subwoolfer in 2022
| origin = Norway
| years_active = 2021–present
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|electropop|EDM{{cite web |last1=Grace |first1=Emily |title=Norway: Who Are Subwoolfer? |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/03/02/%f0%9f%87%b3%f0%9f%87%b4-norway-who-are-subwoolfer/ |website=Eurovoix |access-date=3 March 2022 |date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302160807/https://eurovoix.com/2022/03/02/%F0%9F%87%B3%F0%9F%87%B4-norway-who-are-subwoolfer/ |url-status=live}}}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.subwoolfer.no}}
| current_members = {{ubl|Ben Adams (Keith)|Gaute Ormåsen (Jim)}}Carl-Henrik Wahl
| past_members =
| label = Universal Music
}}
Subwoolfer is a British-Norwegian pop trio formed in 2021. Two of the members perform as wolves in black suits with white shirts with distinctive yellow stylized wolf-head masks and yellow gloves and ties and go by the pseudonyms Keith and Jim. The third member, DJ Astronaut joins them on stage in a golden astronaut suit. The wolves' identities were publicly revealed on 4 February 2023 as Ben Adams and Gaute Ormåsen, during the final of {{lang|no|Melodi Grand Prix 2023}}. After winning {{lang|no|Melodi Grand Prix 2022}}, they represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with their debut song "Give That Wolf a Banana". The name of the group is a portmanteau of the words subwoofer and wolf.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=William Lee |title=Grandma tastes the best: Do Subwoolfer's "Give That Wolf a Banana" lyrics encourage Covid vaccination? |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/01/13/give-that-wolf-a-banana-lyrics-subwoolfer/268415/ |website=Wiwibloggs |date=13 January 2022 |access-date=6 March 2022 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219213544/https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/01/13/give-that-wolf-a-banana-lyrics-subwoolfer/268415/ |url-status=live}}
History
File:Eurovision 2022 - Semi-final 1 - Norway - Subwoolfer (01).jpg
On 10 January 2022, the Norwegian public broadcaster, NRK, revealed that Subwoolfer would compete in {{lang|no|Melodi Grand Prix 2022}}, the Norwegian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.{{cite web |last1=Hyttebakk |first1=Jon Marius |title=Disse skal være med i Melodi Grand Prix 2022 |trans-title=These will participate in the Melodi Grand Prix 2022|url=https://www.nrk.no/mgp/xl/disse-skal-vaere-med-i-melodi-grand-prix-2022-1.15799875 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO |date=10 January 2022 |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208193923/https://www.nrk.no/mgp/xl/disse-skal-vaere-med-i-melodi-grand-prix-2022-1.15799875 |url-status=live}} Having been selected as an automatically qualified finalist, they were scheduled to showcase their entry "Give That Wolf a Banana" in the third heat of the competition on 29 January.{{cite web |last1=Strand |first1=Marit Sofie |title=Subwoolfer rammet av korona |trans-title=Subwoolfer hit by corona |url=https://www.nrk.no/mgp/subwoolfer-rammet-av-korona-1.15826522 |website=NRK |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nb-NO |date=25 January 2022 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214213251/https://www.nrk.no/mgp/subwoolfer-rammet-av-korona-1.15826522 |url-status=live}} However, their performance was postponed to the fourth heat, due to a positive COVID-19 test. They performed "Give That Wolf a Banana" again in the final on 19 February, and went on to win the competition with 368,106 votes from the public.{{Cite web |date=19 February 2022 |title=Give That Wolf a Banana! Subwoolfer wins MGP 2022 in Norway |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/subwoolfer-wins-mgp-2022-in-norway-to-eurovision-with-give-that-wolf-a-banana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301054135/https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/subwoolfer-wins-mgp-2022-in-norway-to-eurovision-with-give-that-wolf-a-banana |archive-date=1 March 2022 |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}} With their victory, they were selected to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, which was held in Turin, Italy.{{cite web |last1=Khorami |first1=Aida |title=Subwoolfer er Norges bidrag til Eurovision |trans-title=Subwoolfer is Norway's contribution to Eurovision|url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/subwoolfer-er-norges-bidrag-til-eurovision-1.15861925 |website=NRK |access-date=2 March 2022 |language=nb-NO |date=19 February 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301100320/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/subwoolfer-er-norges-bidrag-til-eurovision-1.15861925 |url-status=live}}
On 11 February 2022, Subwoolfer released a Valentine's Day version of "Give That Wolf a Banana", titled "Give That Wolf a Romantic Banana".{{cite web |last1=Bird |first1=Lisa |title=Subwoolfer release 'Give That Wolf A Romantic Banana' |url=https://escxtra.com/2022/02/11/subwoolfer-release-give-that-wolf-a-romantic-banana/ |website=ESCXTRA.com |access-date=12 March 2022 |date=11 February 2022 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219101938/https://escxtra.com/2022/02/11/subwoolfer-release-give-that-wolf-a-romantic-banana/ |url-status=live}} As of 17 June 2022, "Give That Wolf a Banana" has been streamed more than 20.4 million times on Spotify,{{cite web |title=Subwoolfer 'Give That Wolf A Banana' |website=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/50Cf2eYv8zT3v2HAkwhIiL |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123092207/https://open.spotify.com/track/50Cf2eYv8zT3v2HAkwhIiL |url-status=live }} with its Valentine edition having been streamed over 918 thousand times.{{cite web |title=Subwoolfer 'Give That Wolf Romantic A Banana' |website=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/3xib7l9x60AL03tMkLHhwK |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517195119/https://open.spotify.com/track/3xib7l9x60AL03tMkLHhwK |url-status=live }}
As Keith and Jim dress in yellow wolf-like masks during performances, the duo's real identities remained undisclosed throughout 2022. Their desired anonymity led to some speculation on social media regarding their identities. At the time, Keith and Jim's speculated identities included the Ylvis brothers, Gaute Ormåsen, Ben Adams and Erik & Kriss.{{Cite web|first=Renske ten|last=Veen|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/01/10/norway-are-ylvis-behind-subwoolfers-melodi-grand-prix-2022-entry/268386/|title=Norway: Are Ylvis behind Subwoolfer's Melodi Grand Prix 2022 entry?|date=10 January 2022|access-date=10 January 2022|website=Wiwibloggs|language=en|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219194942/https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/01/10/norway-are-ylvis-behind-subwoolfers-melodi-grand-prix-2022-entry/268386/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/02/21/are-ben-adams-and-gaute-ormasen-the-men-behind-subwoolfer/270159/|title=Subwoolfer sleuths: Are Ben Adams and Gaute Ormåsen the men behind the masks?|first=Padraig|last=Muldoon|date=21 February 2022|language=en|website=Wiwibloggs|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221195031/https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/02/21/are-ben-adams-and-gaute-ormasen-the-men-behind-subwoolfer/270159/|url-status=live}} A fictional origin story about the duo states that they are the "most successful band in our galaxy," and began their career "4.5 billion years ago on the Moon."
On 10 May 2022, NRK filmed DJ Astronaut taking off his helmet, with his identity speculated to be Tix, the Norwegian entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.{{Cite web |last=Kvien |first=Elise |date=2022-05-10 |title=Her blir Tix avslørt som DJ Astronaut |trans-title=Here, Tix is revealed as a DJ Astronaut |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/her-blir-tix-avslort-som-dj-astronaut-1.15962155 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=NRK |language=no |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510181304/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/her-blir-tix-avslort-som-dj-astronaut-1.15962155 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Losen |first=Johannes Fjeld, Sofie |date=2022-05-10 |title=NRK: Tix er DJ Subwoolfer |trans-title=NRK: Tix is Subwoolfer DJ |url=https://www.seher.no/kjendis/nrk-tix-er-dj-subwoolfer/76065836 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Se og Hør |language=no}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=🇳🇴 Norway: TIX Revealed as DJ Astronaut For Subwoolfer's Eurovision Performance |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/05/10/norway-tix-subwoolfer-eurovision/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510184344/https://eurovoix.com/2022/05/10/norway-tix-subwoolfer-eurovision/ |url-status=live }} This was later denied by the Norwegian head of delegation, Stig Karlsen, and Tix himself. Tix was later revealed to be the Norwegian jury spokesperson for the Eurovision 2022 final.{{Cite web |last=Khorami |first=Aida |date=2022-05-13 |title=TIX er ikke astronauten: – Det var et stunt |trans-title=TIX is not the astronaut - It was a stunt |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/tix-er-ikke-astronauten_-_-det-var-et-stunt-1.15966384 |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=NRK |language=no |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513131537/https://www.nrk.no/kultur/tix-er-ikke-astronauten_-_-det-var-et-stunt-1.15966384 |url-status=live }}
On 23 May 2022, Subwoolfer announced that "new music [would be] out soon" in a music video on YouTube for their parody of "Grace Kelly" by Mika, titled "Space Kelly" {{cite AV media|title=Subwoolfer - Space Kelly|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl4On_Vw3gE|language=en|access-date=2022-05-24|date=2022-05-23|via=YouTube|publisher=Subwoolfer|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524164914/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl4On_Vw3gE|url-status=live}} which had gained over 1 million views as of 17 June 2022. On 1 July 2022, Subwoolfer released "Melocoton (The Donka Donk Song)", their first song since the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite web |title=Melocoton (The Donka Donk Song ) |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7eYzzr5h4LfeiZlrkBNTRi |website=Spotify |publisher=Subwoolfer |access-date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630222723/https://open.spotify.com/album/7eYzzr5h4LfeiZlrkBNTRi |url-status=live }} It was accompanied by a music video.{{cite AV media |title=Subwoolfer - Melocoton (The Donka Donk Song ) [Official Music Video] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_PdO_oD6cM |via=YouTube |publisher=Subwoolfer |access-date=1 July 2022 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701063207/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_PdO_oD6cM |url-status=live }}
On 21 October 2022, Subwoolfer released a new single, "Howling", which features guest vocals from Luna Ferrari, the "sister" of Keith and Jim. The music video for Howling was released on 21 October 2022. In December 2022, Subwoolfer made a short guest appearance on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year after a question on their Eurovision entry was featured in the music round.
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 270
| image1 = Ben Adams 2010.jpg
| alt1 = Ben Adams in 2010
| image2 = Gaute Ormåsen 2013 (cropped).jpg
| alt2 = Gaute Ormåsen in 2013
| footer = Ben Adams and Gaute Ormåsen
}}
On 4 February 2023, Subwoolfer appeared in the final of {{lang|no|Melodi Grand Prix 2023}}, where they took their masks off, and it was confirmed that Keith and Jim were Adams and Ormåsen respectively.{{Cite web |last=Aubrey |first=Elizabeth |date=2023-02-04 |title=The true identity of Norway's 2022 Eurovision entry Subwoolfer has been revealed |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-true-identity-of-norways-2022-eurovision-entry-subwoolfer-has-been-revealed-3392202 |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205100234/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-true-identity-of-norways-2022-eurovision-entry-subwoolfer-has-been-revealed-3392202 |url-status=live }} After Eurovision the mantle of DJ Astronaut was given to Carl-Henrik Wahl, who was the wolves's "translator" in Eurovision, providing improvised answers to questions in interviews as the wolves could not speak. He also performs as the DJ at Subkids's shows.
On 3 March 2023, the documentary "Worst Kept Secret: The Subwoolfer Documentary" {{cite AV media|title=Worst Kept Secret: The Subwoolfer Documentary|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak-YQncMMp4|language=en|access-date=2022-05-24|date=2023-03-22|via=YouTube|publisher=Subwoolfer|archive-date=22 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322200852/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak-YQncMMp4|url-status=live}} was released. In the documentary was revealed that DJ Astronaut was played by Ormåsen himself on stage while a stand-in danced in the front row as Jim, excluding the idea of an actual third musician or singer in the group.
Discography
= Singles =
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| title = Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years = 2022
| before = Tix
with "Fallen Angel"
| after = Alessandra
with "Queen of Kings"
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Melodi Grand Prix}}
{{Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2022}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Norwegian pop music groups
Category:Melodi Grand Prix winners
Category:Norwegian musical duos
Category:Universal Music Group artists
Category:Musical groups established in 2021
Category:British male musical duos