A Sweeping Curve of Sound

Swedish “ethnopop” band Nordman has been generating controversy in its homeland due to plans to stage a faux-witch burning at Melodifestivalen, the local Eurovision contest.

“A plan by a Swedish band to symbolically burn a witch on stage in the country’s Eurovision heats has led to outrage from feminists … In the act, a woman will play a witch being forced onto a fire and burned alive. Local battered women’s shelters are not impressed. “This is an insult to women,” said Elisabeth Åström, chairman of Kvinnojouren in Blekinge, a local organization running women’s shelters. Åström’s counterpart in the northern Swedish town of Kiruna has previously also slammed Nordman’s plans.”

The irony being that the song is meant as a criticism of the ignorance and fear that triggered “the burning times”.

“Their song, ‘I lågornas sken’ (’In the Firelight’), was written by Lina Eriksson, who was inspired by a Swedish television series about witch-hunts in 17th century Sweden … It was an interesting thing that happened - that it was able to happen. It was caused by fear and there still exist fears that make us do stupid things. I think that this is worth thinking about,”

It remains to be seen if Nordman will be able to go forward with the performance come March 1st. To hear some music from Nordman check out their MySpace page and videos on YouTube.