State of Happiness - soundtrack help pls

[j3ffers]

I’m just one catchup show left on the excellent State of Happiness (Lykkeland), as shown on BBC4/iPlayer, set in the 70s in Norway as part of the early oil boom.

What I’m really struggling with is finding any reference online or on music platforms for how to get the track listing/playlist. I do know there was a Roger Whittaker track, but don’t want to resort to Shazamming the whole show whilst watching it again.

They won an award in Cannes back in 2018 when still making the show.

Can anyone help??

[ninja-lewis]

Some of the songs are noted on the BBC episode pages like https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000j44s

IPlayer subtitles also include lyrics, if not the name of the songs when they start playing.

[j3ffers]

Thanks for that - got a couple more now

[Mr Pointy]

There's a Spotify playlist, but I don't know how complete it is:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TFK6NgAv9anCGXi...

I guess Lykkeland is one of those untranslateable words like Hygge?

[j3ffers]

Not being a spotify user - that was one I hadn't got to. Thanks for that.

[Mighty Flex]

Mr Pointy said:

There's a Spotify playlist, but I don't know how complete it is:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TFK6NgAv9anCGXi...

I guess Lykkeland is one of those untranslateable words like Hygge?

Literally "Lucky (or Fortunate) Land (Country)". Those crazy compound words. My Norwegian knowledge is largely limited to the relative similarity to Swedish (easier to hear spoken then read, provided a clear accent and not too quick). I'm not sure if it existed as a common word before, but I think sums up the subject, especially in the period better than "State of Happiness".

It was a good series, though a little slow at times. The soundtrack, on the whole, was strong, and they got a good period feel (not that I was there).

[Mr Pointy]

Mighty Flex said:

Mr Pointy said:

There's a Spotify playlist, but I don't know how complete it is:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6TFK6NgAv9anCGXi...

I guess Lykkeland is one of those untranslateable words like Hygge?

Literally "Lucky (or Fortunate) Land (Country)". Those crazy compound words. My Norwegian knowledge is largely limited to the relative similarity to Swedish (easier to hear spoken then read, provided a clear accent and not too quick). I'm not sure if it existed as a common word before, but I think sums up the subject, especially in the period better than "State of Happiness".

It was a good series, though a little slow at times. The soundtrack, on the whole, was strong, and they got a good period feel (not that I was there).

Yes it was a very good series. Given it took them 10 years to develop it though I think we might have a bit of a wait for Series 2!

The only othe easily found reference is the title of an album by Povl Dissing released in 1992:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEhFX1Y9qAc

As you say, maybe not a common word though.

[Mighty Flex]

Mr Pointy said:

Yes it was a very good series. Given it took them 10 years to develop it though I think we might have a bit of a wait for Series 2!

The only othe easily found reference is the title of an album by Povl Dissing released in 1992:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEhFX1Y9qAc

As you say, maybe not a common word though.

Was going to say that lykke is used to mean Happiness, (like the English title). In Swedish, "lycklig", is primarily used as "happy" but still has the secondary meanings of good fortune etc so I guess that gives it the context. I'm sure a native Norwegian can correct what I have wrong here . Generally, subtitles sometimes use the right word in a straight translation, but changes the meaning in the specific context. Which can be amusing if you are following both!

Having been to rural Norway and met all sorts of oil industry people, I though it was all pretty credible. It's exotic enough now in 2020 when someone from Oklahoma visits Cornwall in cowboy boots, I can only imagine it was like the show depicts in the late 60s in Norway!

Hopefully they keep up the standard for the next series.

Edited by Mighty Flex on Friday 5th June 13:57