Malte Ebert surprises and moves in Skråen, Aalborg

Malte Ebert – the Danish artist formerly known as Gulddreng (Golden Boy) – is still fully loaded with surprises. Saturday evening, he performed in Skråen in Aalborg, Denmark.

A concert with him (and his magnificently well-playing band of four musicians and a choir of three) is not “just” a concert is a fireworks of … well, surprises. An ongoing string of pearls of still rather new songs from the album “Alle veje fører hjem” (“All roads lead to home”), one very new song and some of his greatest hits from recent years, all presented with a little extra all the way: New solos, higher energy, tougher beats, more power, neatly choreographed dance moves… And suddenly, quite a lot of space for vulnerability.

First and foremost, Malte Ebert is a showman, always well aware of the power of his lyrics and in his never-disappointing melodies.

He seems to know exactly how his songs “work” – and why. Never a dull moment. Harmonies all the way.

His career is probably the most unusual in Denmark so far: For the first couple of years he was hiding behind a deeply ironic fictional character called Gulddreng (Golden Boy) with quite a lot a songs about being very famous and very rich (and very envious of some colleagues) – and actually, Malte Ebert ended up being famous and probably also rich disguised as Golden Boy.

This next song is new. You have never heard it before. If you like it and applaud, we will record and release it. If you don’t – we will erase it, and you will never hear it again. Deal?

His lyrics was very quirky with a lot of jokes and puns and with an even bigger load of self-irony.

After a couple of years, Malte Ebert got rid of Gulddreng; his ability to create memorable songs is still intact – nowadays, his lyrics are not quirky, but more direct, a lot less ambiguous, some would say more honest. Buy is still strong. And with a lot of direct and clearly heartfelt messages about longing and trying to put yourself together and not being caught up by hatred and bitterness, even when being let down by others.

More of his songs are about mending and finding each other, remembering to live, because “life doesn’t feel long enough”, and when it comes to love: “Please tell me if you want something else”.

The musical style is very strong, sing-along-pop and heavy funk/disco, interrupted by these moments of sudden vulnerability.

Some of his musical role models and sources of inspiration are very obvious. One of his songs simply can’t stop quoting a very well-known riff from “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” by Prince.

And as a refreshing gimmick, the audience is at one point asked to participate in “stop dance”, where you dance while the music is playing, and “freeze” in the middle of a movement, the second the music stops. A loving excuse for playing bits and snippets of “Let’s Dance”, “You Should Be Dancing”, “Macarena”, among others. Plus a mixture of some of them once again.

No other artist would probably choose a song about taking care of a dear and very sick, nearly dying friend as the first of four encores – but Malte Ebert does that with the overwhelming touching “Luk dine øjne” (“Cloose Your Eyes”).

Deeply touching – still – is Malte Ebert’s very personal tribute to the former Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, who resigned two years ago. He has been “crazy about her”, since he was seven years old, and you don’t doubt it, when you hear the deeply felt and just a little bit awkward song.

And personal really is the keyword for the way Malte Ebert is performing. His concert or show is very personal, very upfront, a musical closeup of his feelings right here and right now. And the opposite of “just another day at the office”.

His current tour is his first “straight” one after two shows with a more theatrical touch, and he, his band and his songs really have the power to keep up the rhythm and the relevance all the way through 100 minutes of great entertainment.

Once a golden boy, always a golden boy.

Malte Ebert on Royal Stage in Skråen in Nordkraft in Aalborg on Saturday, the 7th of March.