- Music
- 21 Nov 11
The Brendan Graham-penned hit continues to dominate charts worldwide...
It's been covered over 500 times, provided huge hits for Westlife and Josh Groban and has emerged as the biggest-selling sheet music song in recent years, and now, 'You Raise Me Up' has topped the charts in a very unique fashion.
Currently sitting pretty atop the Swedish album charts as a key track on the Larz-Kristerz album Från Älvdalen Till Nashville, 'You Raise Me Up' was translated into Elfdalian, a traditional Swedish dialect (though one under academic dispute). The song first found fame through Norwegian composer Rolf Løvland, with lyrics provided by Tipperary-born Brendan Graham, one of Ireland's most acclaimed songwriters whose CV includes two victories at the Eurovision Song Contest.
"Ten years later, the story goes on – and on," Graham told Hot Press "In fact I just came across a reggae version!"
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'You Raise Me Up' has also been included in numerous live performances, including by Helene Fischer, whose arena tour of Germany sold over a million tickets in 2011, and David Garrett – who does an instrumental version (see below). n addition it has been used in a new commercial for Twinings Tea, in Japan. Where will it surface next?