Sebastian (singer)


Knud Grabow Christensen, better known by his stage name Sebastian, is a Danish singer, guitarist and songwriter.
Sebastian started playing guitar in 1966, and started writing songs in 1967. Since having worked in the folk rock genre in the 1970s, he became one of the most prominent pop rock musicians in Denmark and has scored numerous films and plays. His releases have reached combined sales of over 2.5 million copies since 1971. His singing voice began weakening in the end of the 1980s, because of bad health. He is still active, and has made several popular albums. So far, his career has spanned more than five decades.

Career

Sebastian began his career in the end of the 1960s, where he traveled about with a bus for amateur competitions, arranged by a businessman for small concerts in Denmark. Some others from the bus wanted to record a single, and Sebastian participated with this group called Night and Day. Although the single was never recorded. Inspired by the Scottish singer and songwriter Donovan, Sebastian recorded a couple of English-language singles released in 1970, as well as the album The Goddess released in 1971. The album had limited success with sales of around 10,000 copies, so Sebastian began to write songs in Danish about 1971. His first Danish song was Lossepladsen bløder, which was released as a maxi single that year.
Sebastian's major commercial breakthrough in the music industry came when his first Danish-language LP Den store flugt was released on 17 October 1972, which was praised as a "Donovan-like Dylan" among other things in the reviews back then. Den store flugt was right below the 32,000 sold copies of Denmark's best-selling album that year, namely Olsen by the Olsen Brothers. Den store flugt has had extensive sales that are problematic to certify, but estimated to be 100,000 to 170,000 copies by music critic and journalist Torben Bille, in cooperation with Sebastian. Sebastian contacted Ina Løndahl around 1973, after having listened to her perform in a Danish rendition of the musical Godspell. EMI financed the record Menneske min ven by Ina, which was released on 14 September 1973. Sebastian collaborated as a songwriter, and had the melody for the title song in advance, which was left over from an earlier musical project. Sebastian's next album Over havet under himlen was released in November 1973, quickly reached first place on Ekstra Bladet's record chart and has reached sales of around 50,000 copies. Blød lykke released in October 1974, and Gøgleren, Anton og de andre released in October 1975, respectively have estimated sales of 60,000 and 40,000 copies. The subsequent album Måske ku' vi from the film of the same name is estimated as 80,000 copies sold. Sebastian established himself as one of the most significant songwriters in Danish rock, with roots in his folk rock-inspired music.
Although, Sebastian's musical style was gradually expanded since the end of the 1970s, with refined use of a synthesizer among other things. Sebastian's lyrics were sometimes political in keeping with the spirit of the times, but with an eye to poetic artistry. In 1979, he recorded his own music to texts of Bertolt Brecht on the album Tiderne skifter, which was released in March 1979, got positive reviews and has sold approximately 100,000 copies. He recorded music to texts of Bertolt Brecht again in 1988 with the play named The Good Person of Szechwan. During the 1970s and '80s, he had big hits, for example "Når lyset bryder frem", "Hvis du tror du er noget", "Du er ikke alene" from the film of the same name, and especially "Romeo" from the album Stjerne til støv, which was released in 1981. Stjerne til støv has estimated sales of 130,000 to 170,000 copies. The next album 80'ernes boheme from 1983 continued the success, with 100,000 to 150,000 copies sold. In 1987, he recorded the song "Vårvise" with Sissel Kyrkjebø. Sissel is also on his album named Et eventyr, which was released on 30 August 1989.
In 2015, Sebastian said "Around 1986-1987, I start to lose my voice, and it disappears completely at some point. It was a mixture of damp basement, too many smokes and an unhealthy lifestyle". Since that time in the 1980s, he has written multiple Danish musicals and songs for other singers, with great success.
In 2013, Jan Christian Mollestad produced a documentary film about Sebastian named Du er ikke alene – filmen om Sebastian. In 2015, he participated in Toppen af Poppen, and his popularity increased afterwards, especially with the younger audience.

Awards

Sebastian received "Gramex-prisen" in 1979, "DJBFA's hæderspris" in 1982, "Wilhelm Hansen Fondens Hæderspris" in 1996, and is granted subsidies from the Danish Arts Foundation.
His album with songs for Astrid Lindgren's Ronia, the Robber's Daughter received a Danish grammy award in 1992, for best Danish children's release of the year. In 2004, Sebastian received "IFPIs Ærespris" at the Danish Music Awards. In 2006, his album Stjerne til støv entered the Danish Culture Canon. He received "Pionerprisen" at Årets Steppeulv in 2008. In 2012, his album Øjeblikkets mester received the prize for Danish vox pop release of the year at the Danish Music Awards.
In 2019, he received "Polka Verner Legat", which was founded by Søs Egelind and Kirsten Lehfeldt in 2002, and is granted annually at Smukfest to a distinct Danish cultural person. With the prize, 190,000 Danish kroner were granted.

Discography

Studio albums

  • The Goddess
  • Den store flugt
  • Over havet under himlen
  • Blød lykke
  • Gøgleren, Anton og de andre
  • Måske ku' vi
  • Ulvehøjen
  • Ikke alene Danmark
  • Tiderne skifter
  • Cirkus fantastica
  • Nattergalen
  • Stjerne til støv
  • 80'ernes boheme
  • Tusind og én nat
  • Skatteøen
  • På vulkaner
  • Det gode menneske fra Sezuan
  • Skatten på Sjørøverøya
  • Et eventyr
  • Piratpladen: Demoindspilninger '77-'87
  • Miraklernes tid
  • Ronja Røverdatter
  • Gøngehøvdingen
  • Cyrano
  • Aladdin
  • Hans Christian Andersen
  • Pippi
  • Den nye Cyrano
  • Klokkeren fra Notre Dame
  • Jernbyrd
  • Øjeblikkets mester
  • I Danmark er jeg født
  • Hodja fra pjort: Sangene
  • Sange til drømmescenariet
  • Hun nåede at klappe hunden
  • Tidløs erindring
  • Dengang det var før
  • ''Hjertedanser''

    Singles and EPs

  • Babe, I Can Carry Your Tombstone / I Won't Do It, Mama
  • Rocking Chair Observation / Give Me a Little Peace
  • Lossepladsen bløder
  • Når lyset bryder frem
  • Hvis du tror du er noget / Rose
  • Hey Ho
  • Vascomat-Liza
  • Flyv Lykkefugl
  • Mona, Månen er blå / Blød lykke
  • Farvel
  • Gøgleren
  • Måske ku' vi
  • I morgen kommer aldrig
  • Her er en sang / Ansigt til ansigt
  • Du er ikke alene
  • Den lille malkeko
  • Romeo
  • Topsy
  • 80'ernes boheme
  • Hodja fra Pjort
  • Afrika
  • ''Vårvise / Summertime''

    Live/compilation albums

  • Den store flugt / Over havet under himlen / Blød lykke
  • Når lyset bryder frem
  • Sebastian i Montmartre
  • Live
  • First Time Around
  • Her er en sang - og 20 andre
  • Flyv lykkefugl
  • Den danske sang: Opsamling '81-'85
  • 26 hits
  • Hjerternes sange, roser & torne: De 75 bedste sange fra 1970-92
  • Dejavu
  • Romeo-serenader
  • Sangskatten I
  • Sangskatten II
  • Sangskatten III
  • De største hits
  • Sange fra dengang
  • Så blidt til stede
  • De bedste sange
  • De allerbedste børnesange
  • De allerstørste sange
  • ''Live: Hele vejen''

    Collaboration

Notable collaboration with another singer arranged by release titles, release years and artists.
  • Lis Sørensen: Tiderne skifter by Sebastian; Cirkus Fantastica by Sebastian; Tilfældigt forbi by Lone Kellermann og Rockbandet; Live by Sebastian; Stjerne til støv by Sebastian; Anne Linnet Band by Anne Linnet Band; 80'ernes boheme by Sebastian; Topsy by Sebastian; Tusind og én nat by Sebastian; Øbberbøv sangen by Sebastian; Den danske sang by Sebastian; Afrika by Sebastian; Red Barnet by various artists; Skatteøen by Sebastian; På vulkaner by Sebastian; Hjerternes sang by Lis Sørensen; Et eventyr by Sebastian; Miraklernes tid by Sebastian; Pippi by Sebastian; Grænseløs Greatest by various artists; Con amor by Lis Sørensen
  • Sanne Salomonsen: Over havet under himlen by Sebastian; Menneske min ven by Ina; Sanne Salomonsen by Sanne Salomonsen; Blød lykke by Sebastian; Gøgleren, Anton og de andre by Sebastian; Ulvehøjen by Sebastian; Ikke alene Danmark by Sebastian; Anne Linnet Band by Anne Linnet Band; Pippi by Sebastian
  • Peter Thorup: Blød lykke by Sebastian; Musik blev mit liv by Eddie Skoller; Gøgleren, Anton og de andre by Sebastian; Christiania by various artists; Måske ku' vi by Sebastian; Pas Paa by Steffen Dam; Skatteøen by Sebastian
  • Ina Løndahl: Over havet under himlen by Sebastian; Menneske min ven by Ina; Fra en anden mands verden by Jan Toftlund
  • Sissel Kyrkjebø: På vulkaner by Sebastian; Soria Moria by Sissel Kyrkjebø; Et eventyr by Sebastian
  • Michael Falch: Afrika by Sebastian; Skatteøen by Sebastian; Det gode menneske fra Sezuan by Sebastian
  • Søs Fenger: Skatteøen by Sebastian; Miraklernes tid by Sebastian; Ronja Røverdatter by Sebastian
  • Anne Linnet: Tiderne skifter by Sebastian; Anne Linnet Band by Anne Linnet Band
  • Lars H.U.G: Skatteøen by Sebastian; Kopy by Lars H.U.G.
  • Marianne Mortensen: Det gode menneske fra Sezuan by Sebastian; Cyrano by Sebastian
  • Susanne Elmark: Pippi by Sebastian; Klinkevals by Sebastian
  • Flemming Bamse Jørgensen: Skatteøen by Sebastian; Pippi by Sebastian
  • Steffen Brandt: Skatteøen by Sebastian; Pippi by Sebastian
  • Lone Kellermann: Tilfældigt forbi by Lone Kellermann og Rockbandet
  • Rebecca Brüel: Pippi by Sebastian
  • Blå Øjne: Romeo & Julie by Blå Øjne
  • Majbritte Ulrikkeholm: Pippi by Sebastian
  • Michael Bundesen: Ronja Røverdatter by Sebastian
  • Eddie Skoller: Ronja Røverdatter by Sebastian