Jan Werner Danielsen

Jan Werner Danielsen, known professionally as Jan Werner, (10 April 1976 – 28 September 2006) was a Norwegian pop singer, also known for his interpretations of musical, classical, and rock standards. He was famous for his powerful voice which stretched over four and a half octaves. His breakthrough came after winning two important talent contests, most notably on national television in the show Talentiaden (NRK) in 1994. The same year, he represented Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest, with Elisabeth Andreasson.

He was one of the most popular and highest-selling recording artists in Norway at his death at the age of 30.

Childhood star Jan Werner Danielsen was born in Nord-Odal Municipality in Norway in 1976. He was particularly known for his interpretations of popular musical hits and his voice, which stretched nearly five octaves. He started very early to sing songs by Barbra Streisand and he wanted to sing like her. Danielsen won his first talent show in 1988, at the age of twelve; the prize was a record deal and he released the single "Jeg Ser En Dag" (I See The Day). Then he had already been singing for two-thirds of his lifetime, as his first public appearance in a musical setting was at the age of four. He became widely noticed when he was appearing and singing in the popular youth program called Midt I Smørøyet on Norwegian Television NRK with "Somewhere" and between 1988 and 1993 he sang regularly with the Hamar Symphony Orchestra. In 1992 Jan Werner got his second record deal, and was also included in plans for the cultural events around the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway in February 1994. The news caused an outpouring of grief in the Norwegian entertainment industry. His family denied rumors about his death being the result of a suicide. At the time he had recently finished a new album, Stronger, which, in accordance with the wishes of his family, was released as planned. It went on to become a huge success, selling 63,000 copies in its opening week alone, reaching number one in the Norwegian chart "VG-lista".

At his funeral the church was packed with colleagues and celebrities, the highlight being his former duet partner Elisabeth Andreassen performing "You Raise Me Up" together with a recording of Danielsen's voice, accompanied by the song's composer Rolf Løvland on piano. The mourners responded with a standing ovation. He was buried in Sand Church in Nord-Odal. The family wanted to have the memory ceremony in Oslo because Sand church is not large enough to accommodate all who wanted to show the deceased artist one last honor.

The result of the autopsy was finally ready in early January 2007. It appears that Danielsen's death was caused by heart failure, most likely as a result of an inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs, combined with physical fatigue after a period with too much work.

Releases after his death In November 2006, the controversial biography of Jan Werner Danielsen – "Just Werner" penned by his father, Thor-Egil Danielsen was released. Christmas 2007, his family released, in cooperation with Salvation Army, the Christmas album Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg with previously unreleased live-recordings from various concerts and TV appearances.

On 22 November 2010, the double-album One More Time – The Very Best Of, with several new and unknown recording came out. These recordings were found by Jan Werner's family after his death and released in cooperation with Universal Music. This album was received very well among both critics and audiences.

Discography

Albums All by Myself (1995) Inner Secrets (1997) Music of the Night (1998) Bettan & Jan Werners jul (1999) Over the Rainbow and Other Musical Highlights (2000 with Bettan) Singer Of Songs (2003) Stronger (2006) Eg veit i himmelrik ei borg – Salvation Army Christmas Album 2007 (2007) One More Time – The Very Best Of (2010)

Singles "Jeg ser en dag/My Prayer" – Debut-radiosingle (1989) "Duett" – Duet with Elisabeth Andreassen (1994) "Time Will Let You Know" (1995) "Carry Me/All by Myself" (1995) "Step Out" (1997) "Halde deg inntil meg" – Duet with Malin Holberg (1997) "Come Back to Me" (1997) "Inner Secrets" (1997) "Find Your Way" (1997) "Friend" – Duet med Karin Krog (1997) "One Night in Bangkok" (1998) "Bonne chance à France" – Official European Fotbalcup-single med Synnøve Svabø (1998) "Anthem" – Radio Version (1998) "Here for You" (1998) "One More Time" (2000) "Half a World Away" with Secret Garden (2005) "Always There" originally by Secret Garden and Russell Watson (2005)

Other Singing the song "He Lives in You" ("Han Bor I Oss") in the Norwegian version of The Lion King 2 movie (1998) Singing the official "Brannmann Sam" song ("Fireman Sam") for his nephew Filip's birthday (2004) Singing "Mary Did You Know?" on the Gospel-album with the Norwegian gospel-choir Mosaic (2005)

Television (selection) Midt i smørøyet (TV) – NRK (1988) (Guest Appearance) Rett hjem (TV) – NRK (1994) (Guest Appearance) Talentiaden 1994 (TV) – NRK (1994) Melodi Grand Prix 1994 (TV) (with Elisabeth Andreassen) – NRK (1994) Vindu mot Lillehammer (TV) – NRK (1994) (Guest Appearance) NyttårsRondo (TV) – NRK (1994) (Guest Appearance) Du skal høre mye (TV) – NRK (199?) (Guest Appearance) Pick-up (TV) – NRK (1997) (Guest Appearance) XLTV (TV) – NRK (1997?) (Guest Appearance) Åpen post (TV) – NRK (1999) (Guest Appearance) Beat for beat (TV) (with Benedicte Adrian) – NRK (2000?) (Guest Appearance) Mine damer og herrer (TV) (with Elisabeth Andreassen) – TV2 (2000?) (Guest Appearance) Melodi Grand Prix 2000 (TV) – NRK (2000) Først og sist (TV) – NRK (2000) (Guest Appearance) Retro (TV) – (with Grethe Svendsen) NRK (2000?) (Guest Appearance) Numme og Gunstrøm – før og nå (TV) – TV2 (2001) (Guest Appearance) Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2003 (TV) – NRK (2003) Frelsesarmeens julekonsert 2003 (TV) – NRK (2003) Fra Halvsju til Reser – Stjernefabrikken 25 år (TV) – NRK (2004) (Guest Appearance) Senkveld med Thomas og Harald (TV) – TV2 (2005?) (Guest Appearance) Med rett til å synge (TV) – NRK (2006) Tommy and Jan Werner – The Show – DVD (2006)