Magne Furuholmen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Magne Furuholmen
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Furuholmen performing in 2018
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| Also known as | Mags, Magne F |
| Born | 1 November 1962 Oslo, Norway |
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Magne Furuholmen (born 1 November 1962) is a famous Norwegian musician and visual artist. People also know him as Mags. He is the keyboard player for the popular synth-pop band A-ha. Magne helped write many of their biggest hits. These include "Take On Me", "Stay on These Roads", and "Foot of the Mountain".
A-ha has sold over 50 million albums around the world! Magne was even honored by King Harald of Norway. He received the Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav award. This was for his amazing work in Norwegian music and his success worldwide.
Besides music, Furuholmen is also a talented visual artist. He has shown his art in many countries, like Norway and the UK. His artwork is in museums and collections globally. In 2016, he created a huge ceramic sculpture park called "Imprints" in Norway. It's the biggest one in Scandinavia! In 2017, he received an honorary doctor degree from the University of Agder for his artistic achievements.
Contents
Magne's Music Journey
Starting with Bridges
Before A-ha, Magne Furuholmen played keyboards and sang in a band called Bridges. He formed it with Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Erik Hagelien, Øystein Jevanord, and Viggo Bondi. In 1980, Bridges released their only album, Fakkeltog. The songs on this album were in English. Later, A-ha's singer, Morten Harket, asked them to play a Bridges song called "The Vacant" (renamed "Sox of the Fox"). They performed it during their 2017 MTV Unplugged show.
Life in A-ha
Magne has been the keyboardist for A-ha since the band started in 1982. He also plays guitar. When he was just 15, he created the famous synth-riff for "Take On Me". In 2014, Magne shared that Morten Harket insisted they use this riff. Morten even said he would leave the band if they didn't! "Take On Me" became their biggest hit. It was one of the most streamed songs from the 20th century in 2018. Parts of its synth-riff were even used in the 2012 hit song "Feel This Moment".
Magne has performed live with Chris Martin from Coldplay. Chris Martin even called Magne "the best keyboard player in the world"!
Magne Furuholmen co-wrote many classic A-ha songs with Paul Waaktaar-Savoy. These include "Stay on These Roads", "Manhattan Skyline", and "Foot of the Mountain". He also wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on albums like Lifelines and Analogue. Magne sings lead vocals on some A-ha songs, like "The Summers of Our Youth".
In 2012, all three members of A-ha – Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar Savoy – received a special honor. They were made Knights of the 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. This award is given for great service to their country and to people worldwide. The ceremony happened on November 6, 2012.
Solo Music and Other Projects
When A-ha took a break in 1994, Magne started other music projects. He formed Timbersound with Kjetil Bjerkestrand. Their music was used in movies like Ti Kniver I Hjertet (1994).
Magne released his first solo album, "Past Perfect Future Tense", in 2004. Musicians from Coldplay and Travis helped him on this album. In 2008, he released his second solo album, "A Dot of Black in the Blue of Your Bliss". One song from it, "The Longest Night", later became the A-ha song "Foot of the Mountain".
In 2005, Magne played on a song called "Indian Ocean" by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam). This song was about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. The money from the song helped orphans affected by the tsunami.
In 2012, Magne was a mentor on the TV show The Voice – Norges beste stemme in Norway. The winner, Martin Halla, had his first album produced by Magne. Magne also writes and produces music for other artists. In 2014, he composed songs for the Norwegian film "Beatles".
In 2019, Magne released a new solo song, "This is now America". He said it was a protest song against the Trump administration. This song was part of his 2019 album, White Xmas Lies. Magne described the album as a "dark, melancholic Christmas record." He wanted it to be different from typical happy Christmas songs.
In June 2020, Magne released a cover of the song "Troubled Times" by Fountains of Wayne. He also made a video for it using clips sent in by his fans.
Apparatjik Band
In 2008, Magne started a band called Apparatjik. He worked with Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman and Mew singer Jonas Bjerre. They created the theme song for the BBC Two TV series, Amazon.
In 2010, Apparatjik released their first album, We Are Here. The band is known for performing inside a large cube. They have performed at art galleries and museums in Berlin, London, and Copenhagen. Apparatjik sees themselves as an "artist collective" that mixes art with popular culture.
Magne's Visual Art
Magne Furuholmen is also a well-known visual artist. His art is shown in collections and museums in Norway and worldwide. He works with different materials like glass, paint, and woodcut.
One of his biggest art projects was in 2016. He created a large ceramic sculpture park called "Imprints" in Oslo, Norway. It used 50 tons of clay! His art has been displayed at The Henie Onstad Kunstsenter in Oslo and The London Art Fair. In 2001, he designed an official Norwegian postage stamp. In 2005, he decorated 11 floors of the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Adventure of the Seas with his glass artworks.
Art Exhibitions
Magne has had many solo art exhibitions over the years. Some of his main shows include:
- 1989 Maleri
- 1995 Kutt / Cuts
- 2003 Foci
- 2004 Payne's Gray
- 2007 Monologues
- 2009 Camera
- 2011 Echo
- 2013 Norwegian Wood
- 2015 Peeling a Glass Onion
- 2019 IGNIS
Art for Public Spaces
Magne has also created art for public places:
- 2007 Climax at The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, Norway
- 2009 Climax Sculpture for Hydro, Norway
- 2012 Bouquet Wall Painting, Asker, Norway
- 2016 Imprints, Fornebu, Oslo, Norway: a large sculpture park
Magne's Personal Life
Magne Furuholmen was born in Oslo, Norway. His father, Kåre Furuholmen, was a jazz trumpeter. Sadly, his father died in a plane crash in 1969 when Magne was only six years old. Magne grew up in Manglerud, Oslo, with his A-ha bandmate and friend Paul Waaktaar-Savoy.
Magne married his high school sweetheart, Heidi Rydjord, on August 8, 1992. They have two sons: Thomas Vincent (born 1990) and Filip Clements (born 1993). Magne has shared that he had heart surgery in 2012. He said it gave him a "whole new life."
Magne's Discography
Here are some of the albums Magne Furuholmen has been a part of:
- 1980 Fakkeltog (Bridges)
- 1985 Hunting High and Low (A-ha)
- 1986 Scoundrel Days (A-ha)
- 1988 Stay on These Roads (A-ha)
- 1990 East of the Sun, West of the Moon (A-ha)
- 1993 Memorial Beach (A-ha)
- 2000 Minor Earth Major Sky (A-ha)
- 2002 Lifelines (A-ha)
- 2004 Past Perfect Future Tense (Magne F)
- 2005 Analogue (A-ha)
- 2008 A Dot of Black in the Blue of Your Bliss (Magne F)
- 2009 Foot of the Mountain (A-ha)
- 2010 We Are Here (Apparatjik)
- 2015 Cast in Steel (A-ha)
- 2019 White Xmas Lies (Magne F)
See also
In Spanish: Magne Furuholmen para niños
