A sign language interpreter from Sweden who performed the country’s Eurovision Song contest entries on TV has become a viral sensation.
Tommy Krångh rehearsed the songs for five weeks before the performance and told the Guardian:
“I am always all in. I want to give the whole experience of the music. I have to give my whole body. When I get on the stage the music is pumping and I lose myself. I don’t know what’s happening. I am totally lost in the moment – but somehow I still know what exactly I am doing.”
Watch him in action below:
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Cathy
March 18, 2015
This interpreter is absolutely brilliant, even though I didnt understand a word!!! He was so funny too!!! If only British interpreters were like him!!!! He is a marvellous sensation, am not surprised it went viral!!! Ya can easily watch him again n again………….!
Smash
March 18, 2015
He’s absolutely brilliant and really passionate. I think he’s better than the entries!
Emma - hörselresan
March 18, 2015
“The flavour of a lingering kiss. The feeling of static in the air. We were there once. I need you now, meet me in Old Town tonight. I’m waiting in Old Town and I need you. Hail a taxi, hijack a train, run as fast as you can”
That’s basically it. A very mediocre song in my opinion but an amazing interpretation. I understand some of it but really, who needs yo understand it to enjoy it?
Ira Rothenberg
March 18, 2015
it concerns that interpreters get all the attention and that he was stealing the performer’s thunder. A good interpreter should direct the interviewer(s) to talk with the deaf people. The deaf people should be allowed to express what it is needed in addition to music interpretation
Emma - hörselresan
March 19, 2015
It wasn’t meant as an interpretation but rather a performance and the artists intrepretation of the songs. Not a verbatim translation. The only actual interpretation was the spoken parts of the show. Two of the sign language performers are deaf and yes I agree with you that it would be good if they all got a say in the media. One of the other performers have been interviewed on Swedish radio via an interpreter but the fact remains that the reason the whole thing went viral is because of CODA Tommy Krångh’s amazing performance.
lolarusa
March 22, 2015
This was a live feed with sign language interpretation broadcast on a separate channel just for deaf viewers. So he didn’t exactly “upstage” the performers, although I suppose some deaf viewers might have wanted the interpretation to be more subdued.
lolarusa
March 22, 2015
He also interpreted a song that was sung in English. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaDob2RQldM
Sharon
March 19, 2015
On Sky news says he is not interpreter? Took him five weeks to practice????
Emma - hörselresan
March 20, 2015
Sharon, Tommy is a CODA who works as an interpreter in everyday life. What he, and the other performers, did at the Swedish Eurovision trial out wasn’t interpretation of the lyrics per se, rather it was a poetic interpretation of the meaning of the song. The five weeks Sky News would’ve mentioned is the time they spent rehearsing their performances. Not five weeks to learn sign language.