Stefán Karl in over 50 different roles 4.7.2009 (Article)

The journalist and spokesperson Eydís Elfa went to Stefán Karl and concluded that he was a “veeery good man”.

The two Stefán Karl Stefánsson and Gísli Rúnar Jónsson made a new family CD the album called a fun name “Í túrett og moll”. In The disc is a song that is equally well-liked by young and old as they can listen to it both enchanted with the rhythm and laugh at the lyrics. Stefán Karl plays an unprecedented role

and sings about the various dynti and duttlunga (a lot of whims). 

On the occasion of the release the young journalist, Eydís Elfa, went to meet Stefán Karl and talked to him about the new album.

Stefán Karl tells Eydís Elfa that he has always been going to be a prankster but just a surprise ended as an actor.

She sat up in the car with questions, recorder and CD. Sets the CD to the device
in the car, asking for certain songs. Some want to listen more than another. She practices again and again to read up questions with the music of the album in the car. She can’t stop smiling. Supposed to be a little bit nervous but nothing too much. She’s on her way to meet a person she has watched on TV since she remembers. The man is called Stefán Karl Stefánsson, but she knows him as Robbie Rotten. She is a 9-year-old journalist for “The Children’s magazine” and is called Eydís Elfa Örnólfsdóttir. They settle on a bench outside the garden and Eydís Elfa asks Stefán Karl both in the new album and childhood.

“Children are fun because they know what they want”

Why did you decide to make a CD for children?

“Because I have four children myself and I have had to listen extensively a lot of CDs with them and I felt missing a CD a dad and mom and grandfather and grandma could listen too. I listened to music when I was little they’re called Halli and Laddi and Ómar Ragnarsson and Bessi Bjarnason I listened to. ”

Most guys know you as Robbie Rotten and now you are releasing this album. Has do you do anything else for children?

“Yes, actually, but Robbie Rotten is still the biggest thing I have done for children. But then I have an organization called Regnbogabörn and them For kids who have been bullied or are bullying others. I do everything I can to make it possible for children because I think children are the most important in the world. I am maybe a little child myself. ”

Or do you like more fun? children or adults?

“I like fun fun children because they are so determined and know completely
what they want. For example, they know they want more sausage and coke than fish. Children are so honest, but adults sometimes tell them long for something that they do not really want. ”

“One should not be ashamed of how you are”

What is this tourettes, ADD, ADHD and OCD that you sing and why are you singing about that?

“These are all syndromes that I have. I for example with tourettes and blink
with eyes and motion head to and with all kind of ticks. I also have attention deficit and that sometimes out when I’m talking to people and I do not know what people are to saying I pretend I know what to say. Many people have this and the reason because I decided to sing about this is to me It’s so boring if people do not dare talk about it how it goes One does not have to be ashamed of how you are You are doing something wrong and being diagnosed with this syndrome is not wrong. One can completely let his dreams come true though You have this syndrome. I’m also dyslexic and when I was in the National Theater, I could never read and had to leave someone another read the play for me. But I learned My text always first and it was definitely because I had to practice more and have more for the things than everyone else around me. ”

Which song is your favorite in the album?

“My favorite song will always be “Digga Digga Dú” and that’s why it’s the first one. Me and Gísli Rúnar did it together, he did all the lyrics on the disk. We decided to have it the number one because he also has tourettes and OCD. Then I also feel it is not everyone in a hurry fun. It’s about the crisis. I felt that someone would sing something funny about the crisis. suitable for children also a very fun song and the development theory. There is no song that I feel boring. I can listen to myself again and again. I feel so amusing. I could not live without me. ”

Mismatched equals Despite the considerable size difference of journalist and correspondent they treat each other as equals.

Who else is singing with you on the album?

“These are Ragnhildur Veigarsdóttir, Viktor Veigarsson, Bríet Ólína Kristinsdóttir, Elín Þóra Ágústsdóttir and I and Steinunn Ólína Thorsteinsdóttir my wife but we also played with the children. These were the only ones close by us in america who could speak Icelandic. And, of course, my little Júlía little two years old
who plays a key chain at one time than Steini my little one is just one year and he was only one too small to be included. That was a great family gathering.”

Is not terribly hard to sing so fast and with no breathing breaks like you did in “Slúðurberi”?

"Yes, it was very difficult. I just got half a hour already we were done it. ”

What did you like the most do when you were a child?

“I found it fun to go down to the dock and watch the jellyfish. I rode after each one day at school down to the wheel of the bike composed of many old people wheels. For example, I always took the saddle off My mom’s bike and put on my wheel before but I went to ride a bike. I got to help with the small boats to land and chat with the sailors. I was always called Stebbi jetty because I was always there like rat, dirty before the head. I played a lot and found it at all enjoyable. ”

Afraid of the dark

Were you afraid of something when you were child?

Yes, I was very afraid of ghosts. I was overwhelmingly scared of the dark I decided to work on it. I lived at the cemetery in Hafnarfjörður and went there sometimes In the evening, into the garden, took rocks and threw them and ran out of the yard. Then I found everyone in the cemetery was following me and I was really terrified. I was really scared of darkness. So, I was really too afraid of the bullies in the neighborhood who were teasing me but then I founded Rainbow Children and are not afraid of them anymore. “

What was your favorite toy?
"I had too much toys but The Legos were definitely my favorite. I had a full box of lego blocks and Mom and dad bought me Legos when I was only one year. ”

What is your favorite memory from when you were a child?
“I remember when I would visit my cousins in Seyðisfjörður. it was something that I always looked forward to do every summer. But my favorite memory period was sure when I was there with dad up in Hvalfjörður. My dad caught the whale. My memories from the truck with my dad up to Hvalfjörður and back home there are quite priceless. I always wanted to become a fisherman but just ended up as an actor. ”

Mom and dad are always the best

Who was your favorite actor and singer when you were little?

“My favorite actors were two. It was Laddi as the Muppet in sesame street called Kermit. Favorite singer of mines was Paul Young - I was even with just as high as him. So I have always found Elton John and Billy Joel absolutely amazing. ”

What was your model when you were a boy?
“Mom and dad, no question. I wanted become like them. I looked up to
both of them. There was no one as famous that I looked up to. When I was little there was nothing on television on Thursdays and in July and no
computers so that one was not connected to the outside world as well as guys do today. But me Dad and Mom felt absolutely awesome, growing up
they are the best. " 

After the interview, Eydís Elfa sat back up in the car. When she is walking on the way she says: "at first I had a lot of butterflies in my stomach but then when I started talking to him gradually together. ” We drive the long way home to Eydis and after a few minutes of silence says Eydís with great insight: “He is a veeery good man. ”