Madcon: Difference between revisions

Yosef Wolde-Mariam (born 4th August 4, 1978) is an Ethiopian-Norwegian TV presenter and rapper. His parents originated fromin [[Ethiopia]] and [[Eritrea]].

Wolde-Mariam grew up in [[Grefsen|Grefsen,]] Norway, and moved with his mother between [[Røyken]], [[Grønland, Oslo|Grønland]], [[Grünerløkka]], and [[Bekkelaget]]. In 2012, he was a mentor on the Norwegian version of ''[[The Voice (TV series)|The Voice,]]'' known as ''[[The Voice – Norges beste stemme|The Voice: Norges beste stemme]]'', broadcast on the Norwegian television station [[TV 2 (Norway)|TV 2]] 2. <ref>[http://www.kjendis.no/2012/03/15/kjendis/god_torsdag/madcon/the_voice/tv_og_medier/20692729/ Kjendis.no Yosef takker kona Ammina] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202062553/http://www.kjendis.no/2012/03/15/kjendis/god_torsdag/madcon/the_voice/tv_og_medier/20692729/ |date=2015-12-02 }} {{in lang|no}}</ref><ref name="aftenpostenaftenposten2">[http://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/musikk/--Na-handler-det-om-oss-6315883.html ''Aftenposten'': Nå handler det om oss!] {{in lang|no}}</ref>

Tshawe Baqwa (born 6th January 6, 1980, in [[Saarbrücken]], [[Germany]]) is a South African-German-Norwegian rapper and TV presenter. '''<ref name="aftenposten3">[http://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/musikk/--Na-handler-det-om-oss-6315883.html ''Aftenposten'': Nå handler det om oss!] {{in lang|no}}</ref>'''

Baqwa moved to [[South Africa]] with his parents when he was 14 years old, in the wake of the [[1994 South African general election|country's first democratic general election]], eventually returning to Norway for a musical career.

Baqwa took part and won the third season of the Norwegian dance competition ''[[Skal vi danse?]]'' (lit. "Shall we dance?"). Although the judges ultimately favored finalist [[Mona Grudt]], Baqwa won by public vote. He also performed as a voice-over artist in the film ''[[Rio (2011 film)|Rio]]'', playing the character of Nico.

Madcon released their first single, "God Forgive Me," in 2000 (Virgin Records), but their first commercial breakthrough came with the hit single "Barcelona" in 2002 with long-time collaborators Paperboys (on the Bonnier Amigo record label). In 2004, Madcon released their first official album, ''It's All a Madcon'' (AA-Recordings/Bonnier Amigo), for which they won a Norwegian Grammy and several other awards. In 2005, Madcon werewas a TV personalitiespersonality on the Nordic music channel The Voice, while working on their music in the studio.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} The show "The Voice of Madcon"," a behind-the-scenes oflook at the duo, was a great success for both Madcon and the network.

In the autumn of 2007, Baqwa was invited to take part in the popular reality television program ''[[Skal vi danse?]]'', the Norwegian version of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing|Strictly Come Dancing,]]'' eventually winning that year's series.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

Their second album, ''So Dark, The Con Ofof Man'', was released on 3 December 3, 2007. In the United Kingdom, the album reached number 137 on the album charts. In Norway, the album was certified gold in 3 hours and platinum in 3 days. The album featured the soul singer [[Noora Noor]] and [[Paperboys (group)|Paperboys]] on two of the songs.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

In 2008, Madcon released a cover version of athe 1967 [[The Four Seasons (band)|The Four Seasons]] song "[[BegginBegin']],", earning the group several #1 chart positions in France, Portugal, Norway, and Russia, and a global position #of #2 on the European [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart. In addition, they achieved 9 x9x platinum in Norway, and were No. 1 on the official Norwegian sales charts for 12 weeks, making "BegginBegin" one of the biggest hits of all time in Norway. Madcon's cover of "BegginBegin" was created by 3Elementz (now [[Element (production team)|ELEMENT]]), who also produced the other singles “So Dark, The Con Ofof Man", and all tracks of the ''Inconvenient Truth'' album. They led the World Music Awards on 10 November 10, 2008, and won the World's Best Selling Norwegian Artist Award. "BegginBegin'" reached Goldgold sales in the United States.

Their third album, ''Inconvenient Truth,'' was released all over Europe in early to mid-2009, and the group saw other major releases, including in the US, Japan, and Australia.

Madcon performed their song "[[Glow (Madcon song)|Glow]]", as the background of the "Eurovision 2010 Flashmob danceDance" that was broadcast in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2010]] interval act. The song became another one of the biggest hits of all time in Norway, reaching more than 10 times platinum status in Norway and platinum in Germany. The song was produced by Element.<ref>{{cite web |title=ELEMENT |url=http://www.elementmusicworld.com|title=ELEMENT |access-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, during the gala awards ESKA Music Awards 2011 in [[Poland]], Madcon was awarded the International Band of the Year. <ref>{{cite web |urldate=http://www.ema.eska.pl/May 29, 2011 |title=Alexis Jordan received the first prize |dateurl=May 29, 2011http://www.ema.eska.pl/ |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref>

Madcon reached platinum status with the hit single "[[Freaky Like Me|Freaky Like]]" Me," featuring [[Ameerah (singer)|Ameerah]] and produced by the Norwegian hit producer DreamRoc'a, also known as Sha Arjang Shishegar and TJ Oosterhuis. "Freaky Like Me' is the group's third biggest international hit.

In 2012, the duo was referred to as "moccha men" during the awards ceremony of [[Spellemannsprisen]]; the comment was apparently made as an inoffensive [[joke]], but was perceived as racism at some level;. Madcon wrote on [[SoMe]] the next day that the case had now been settled and closed. <ref>https://www.nettavisen.no/livsstil/spellemann-skandalene-overraskende-klining-rasismeanklager-og-nakensjokk/s/5-95-457377. [[Nettavisen]].no</ref>

In 2021, Madcon appeared on the Norwegian [[television series]] ''[[Exit (Norwegian TV series)|Exit]]'' during the 6th episode of the first season, portraying a musical duo invited to play inat an open-air party. They are heard performing, among other songs, their cover of "[[Beggin']]."

Madcon describes their musical style as a retro-urban mix with influences from [[funk]], [[Soul music|soul]], and [[hip hop]], with additional elements from [[reggae]], [[Latin music (genre)|Latin]], and [[African music|African]] musical influences. <ref>[http://www.myspace.com/madcon "Madcon Official Myspace page"] Retrieved on 31 October 2010</ref>