Paul Oscar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Oscar
Paul Oscar in London on 25 April 2008
Background information
Birth name	Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson
Also known as	Paul Oscar
Born	(1970-03-16) 16 March 1970 (age 55) Reykjavík, Iceland
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer songwriter disc jockey
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Paul Oscar Productions (P.O.P.)

Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson (born 16 March 1970), known as Páll Óskar or Paul Oscar, is an Icelandic pop singer, songwriter, and disc jockey. He grew up with music, singing in choirs and for ads. He also faced some challenges in school and at home.

Paul Oscar's music includes traditional Icelandic songs, ballads, love songs, disco, house, and techno. He released his first album, Stuð (Groove), in 1993. He also sang with Icelandic groups like Milljónamæringarnir (The Millionaires). His album of ballads, Palli, was the best-selling Icelandic album of 1995. Paul Oscar became known internationally when he performed "Minn hinsti dans" ("My Final Dance") for Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. His latest album is Silfursafnið (The Silver Collection), released in 2008. In Reykjavík, Paul Oscar often works as a disc jockey in clubs. He also appears on radio and TV shows.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Paul Oscar was born on 16 March 1970 in Reykjavík. He was the youngest of seven children. His father, Hjálmtýr E. Hjálmtýsson, was a bank clerk. His mother, Margrét Matthíasdóttir, was a writer. As a child, Paul Oscar showed talent in drawing, writing fairy tales, and singing. His mother often asked him to sing for her sewing club and at family parties.

He spent a lot of time singing in choirs and for commercials. He even recorded his first album when he was only seven years old. At 12, he got his first main role in a professional play. It was in the musical Rubber Tarzan, based on a popular Danish children's novel. After the musical finished, his voice changed, and he stopped singing for a few years.

Paul Oscar's family supported his music. However, he sometimes felt shy and different from his schoolmates. He rediscovered his singing voice at 18. He sang bass with the Hamrahlíð college choir for two years. In 1990, he won a talent contest for his college. Later that year, he played a main role in his college's play The Rocky Horror Show. Around the same time, he started performing in shows at a Reykjavík nightclub. After the club closed, he became a radio jockey on FM 90,9. He also appeared in a film called Svo á jörðu sem á himni (As in Heaven, 1992).

Music Career Highlights

Paul Oscar before appearing on stage at the Eurovision party at the Scala nightclub in London – photographed on 25 April 2008

In the summer of 1993, Paul Oscar went to New York City. There, he met other Icelanders, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Sigurjón Kjartansson. They helped him release his first album, Stuð (Groove). In October 1993, Paul Oscar began singing with a band called Milljónamæringarnir (The Millionaires). They released several albums, including Milljón á mann (A Million for Each, 1994).

In 1995, Paul Oscar started his solo career. He created his own music company, Paul Oscar Productions (P.O.P.). He released an album of ballads called Palli. He arranged, performed, and produced this album himself. It became the best-selling Icelandic album of 1995. His next album was Seif in 1996.

Paul Oscar represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. He sang "Minn hinsti dans" ("My Final Dance"), a song he helped write. Even though the song placed 20th, his performance was very memorable. It brought him international attention. In 1998, he appeared on a British TV show called Eurotrash, which was about the Eurovision Song Contest. He also presented a music show called Popp i Reykjavík (Pop in Reykjavík).

Paul Oscar worked with the group Casino on their album Stereo (1998). He then released three more albums. One was the English-language album Deep Inside (1999). He also made two albums with harpist Monika Abendroth: Ef ég sofna ekki (If I Won't Sleep Tonight, 2001) and Ljósin heima (The Lights at Home, 2003). His sister, Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir (Diddú), also sang on the latter album. His music style includes traditional Icelandic songs, ballads, love songs, disco, house, and techno.

Páll with Hjaltalín, Iceland Airwaves, 2009

Paul Oscar is a regular disc jockey in Reykjavík clubs. He also appears on radio and TV shows. He was a judge on Idol stjörnuleit (Idol Starsearch, 2005), Iceland's version of Pop Idol. He was also a judge on The X Factor (2006). In 2002, he played Dr. Love in the movie Gemsar (Made in Iceland). In 2018, he starred in a theater production of Rocky Horror Show that broke attendance records.

Paul Oscar is known for speaking openly about important topics. Matthías Matthíasson, Director of Samtökin '78, Iceland's group for rights, said Paul Oscar helps give a voice to important issues in Iceland. Paul Oscar also helped organize a Gay Pride Festival in Reykjavík in 2005.

Paul Oscar has said that Iceland might be too small for his work. But he loves his home country. He said, "I am an Icelander. I will always keep a home here. My roots are so valuable to me."

Family and Personal Life

Paul Oscar at Reykjavík Jazz Festival (2015)

Paul Oscar has shared that he is learning to love himself. He has had relationships that looked perfect from the outside, but were not always easy.

His father, Hjálmtýr E. Hjálmtýsson (1933–2002), appeared in Icelandic comedies. These included Með allt á hreinu (On Top, 1982) and Karlakórinn Hekla (The Men's Choir, 1992). Paul Oscar's older sister, Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir (Diddú), is an opera singer.

Selected Albums

• Stuð (Groove, 1993)
• Palli (1995)
• Seif (1996)
• Deep Inside (1999)
• Ef ég sofna ekki (If I Won't Sleep Tonight, 2001) (with harpist Monika Abendroth)
• Ljósin heima (The Lights at Home, 2003) (with Monika Abendroth and Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir (Diddú))
• Allt fyrir ástina (All in the Name of Love, 2007)
• Silfursafnið (The Silver Collection, 2008)
• Kristalsplatan (2017)

Selected Singles

• "Minn hinsti dans" (My Final Dance, 1997) (Iceland's Eurovision Song Contest 1997 entry)
• "Allt fyrir ástina" (All in the Name of Love, 2007)
• "International" (2007)
• "Betra Lif" (2007)
• "Er þetta ást?" (2008)
• "Þú komst við hjartað í mér" (2008)
• "Sama hvar þú ert" (2008)
• "Gordjöss á esperantó" (in Esperanto, 2010)
• "La Dolce Vita" (2011)
• "Ást sem endist" (2015)

See also

In Spanish: Paul Oscar para niños

• List of Icelandic writers