Alexander Rybak's Biography

Who is Alexander Rybak?

Alexander Rybak is a musician, singer and composer who became an international star overnight when Norway was voted winner of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.

Rybak wrote and performed the winning song Fairytale.

It received a record 387 points, far ahead of runner-up Iceland (218 points).

He sings and plays the violin in Fairytale, a song that was inspired by Norwegian folk music.

Born in Minsk, Belarus on 13 May, 1986, Rybak has lived in Norway since the age of 4. A classically-trained musician, he has played the violin and piano since the age of 5. His parents are both musicians; his mother a pianist, his father a violinist.

A well-known artist in Norway, Alexander Rybak has been a semi-finalist in the Norwegian version of Pop Idol.

In 2006, he won the Norwegian talent show Kjempesjansen with his own song Foolin'.

In 2007, he played the role of the fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof at Oslo's Nye Theatre.

He was cast in the Norwegian film Yohan-Child Wanderer.

He is variously described as elf-like, baby-faced, grinning and bushy-browed.

Rybak's first album 'Fairytales' was scheduled to be released on the back of the Eurovision winner, which is one of the tracks. His musical inspiration comes from Sting, Andrea Boccelli, and Michael Jackson.

In his spare time, Rybak plays video games, particularly Mario Galaxy and Twilight Princess for Nintendo, and GTA 4 for X-box.

In 2018, Rybak was once again selected to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest.

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