There was a party at the Greenlandic House in Aalborg on Thursday. It was celebrated that it had been ten years since the house moved to its current address on Vesterbro in the middle of the city.
The birthday was celebrated with a coffee mic, mask dance, open stage and mini concerts with Ivaana Olsen and the Danish singer-songwriter Mikael K, who presented his new song Frit Grønland with lyrics by the author Knud Romer.
The song was written just after the turn of the year, when the American pressure on Greenland was at its height.
- Even though I am not exactly young, I was simply ready to go to war. It made me so angry that Donald Trump kept demanding Greenland, Knud Romer tells Sermitsiaq.
- I come from an old military family – and Trump’s ramblings repulsed me greatly, so when Mikael approached me, I joined in.
Sing-along song
Free Greenland was created during the Christmas holidays.
- I talked to Knud – and we agreed to make a support song for Greenland – something like Re-Sepp-Ten or Give a Hand to Africa, which everyone can sing along to. Greenland deserves it, explains Mikael K.
- Knud wrote the lyrics, and I made a melody. And then we went into the studio and recorded Free Greenland, which is now available on YouTube, Spotify – and wherever else people get music.
- That’s why I said yes right away when Det Grønlandske Hus in Aalborg asked if I would play at Thursday’s anniversary event.
Nice reception
- It wasn't entirely without nerves, because it was also the first time I presented the song to a Greenlandic audience, so it was big. Fortunately the song was well received, says Mikael K.
Mikael K's performance at the anniversary party was not entirely coincidental. Previously – until 10 years ago - Det Grønlandske Hus was located on Umanakvej in the so-called Grønlandskvarteret on the outskirts of Aalborg – and it was in that area that Mikael K's musical career began in the local youth club.
- I am from the Grønlandskvarteret, while Mette Frederiksen is just from Gug (a suburb of Aalborg, ed.), Mikael K emphasizes not without pride.
When Frit Grønland was to be recorded in February, Mikael K gathered a long line of singers and musicians – and in addition to Mikael K and Knud Romer, Mikael K's orchestra Klondyke, Allan Olsen, Marie Frank, Kenneth Thordal, Carl Knast, The Elitist, Wash Your Dirty Money With MyArt and Stationspumaerne from Langå are participating.
