Innerst i sjelen (album)

Innerst i sjelen, in the United Kingdom: Deep Within My Soul, is a 1994 album by Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø. It is named for the song "Innerst i sjelen", written by Ole Paus Lars Børke & Örjan Englund. Kyrkjebø's cover version of the song gained wide popularity in the 1990s.
After a tour in Scandinavia countries, Kyrkjebø wanted to gather songs that could comfort and give hope, songs that told the story of longing, strong beliefs and hope, trust and love through countries and generations. As a special treat, the Olympic Hymn and Olympic Theme song from Lilehammer Olympic Winter Games in 1994 is included. The latter was in duet with Plácido Domingo.
The song Fire In Your Heart was recorded in a canteen. Because of the tight schedules of both Plácido Domingo and Kyrkjebø, they had only a few hours to record this English version of the Olympics anthem before the opening ceremony. When they recorded the song in the canteen, coffee cups and food could still be seen on the tables!
James Horner, the composer of the music in the movie Titanic, knew Kyrkjebø from this album and he particularly liked how she sang Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg. Horner had tried 25 or 30 singers and, in the end, he chose Kyrkjebø to sing the wordless tune.

Critical reception

American magazine Billboard wrote, "Innerst i sjelen is an impeccably rendered modern collection/adaption of Nordic folk tunes that ranks with the absolute best of Enya for transporting, otherworldly ethnic atmosphere. Superb arrangements and ultra-crisp production frame 14 deeply moving tour de force vocals that could melt hardened steel as easily as they pierce the heart. The untutored will be captivated by the beauty of the Norwegian tongue, and tracks like "Våkn opp, min sjel", "Alma Redemtoris", and "Se ilden lyse" are credible contenders for significant chart success in the States, particularly in top 40, AC, and adult alternative/new age formats. But come what may, this is easily one of the finest albums—and hottest finds—of 1994."

Track listing

Scandinavia version

01. Innerst i sjelen

02. Våkn opp, min sjel

03. Se ilden lyse

04. Eg veit i himmerik ei borg

05. Alma Redemtoris

06. Som fagre blomen

07. Stevtone

08. I skovens dybe stille ro

09. Stolt Margjit

10. Tíðin rennur

11. Bred dina vida vingar

12. Fire In Your Heart
Olympic bonus tracks

01. Prosesjon

02. Hymne Olympique

UK version

01. Deep Within My Soul

02. Awaken My Soul

03. Fire In Your Heart

04. Castle In The Sky

05. Mother Of Our Saviour

06. Flower Of Beauty

07. Folk Song

08. In The Quiet Of The Forest

09. Proud Margijt

10. Time Flows

11. Spread Your Wide Wings

12. Fire In Your Heart

13. Castle In The Sky

Innerst i sjelen (album)

Critical reception

Track listing

Scandinavia version

UK version

Japan version