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{{short description|2009 song by Alexander Rybak}}









! scope="col"| Chart (2009–2020)! scope="col"| Peakposition! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)RYAN, 241, | 67{{single chart|Austria|10|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Belgium (Flanders)|1|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Belgium (Wallonia)|4|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|CIS|1|artist=Aleksandr Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true|songid=18399|access-date=13 October 2020}}! scope="row"| Czech Republic (IFPI)Czech IFPI Singles Chart| 95{{single chart|Denmark|1|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| European Hot 100 SinglesSearch result, Alexander Rybak, billboard.com| 3{{single chart|Finland|1|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| French Digital Singles ChartFrench Download Single Top 50 - 23 May 2009 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025212716weblink |date=25 October 2012 }}| 29{{single chart|Germany|4|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|songid=557605|access-date=3 March 2020|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| Greece (IFPI)IFPI Greek Singles Chart| 3{{single chart|Hungarytop10|14|year=2016|week=8|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| Iceland (RÚV)WEB,weblink RÚV - Vinsældalisti Rásar 2, RÚV, 30 May 2009, | 1{{single chart|Ireland2|2|artist=Alexander Rybak|access-date=17 January 2020|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Dutch100|2|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Dutch40|14|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit)WEB,weblink Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Jun 18, 2009, TopHit, 29 April 2024, | 1{{single chart|Scotland|77|date=20200522|access-date=22 May 2020|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Spain|35|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| Slovakia (IFPI)Slovakian IFPI Singles Chart| 34{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}{{single chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| Turkey (Turkish Singles Chart)WEB,weblink Number One Top 20, 28 May 2009, Digital Singles Charts - Turkey,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130601004736weblink">weblink 1 June 2013, dead, | 24{{single chart|UK|10|artist=Alexander Rybak|song=Fairytale|date=2009-05-30|rowheader=true}}

factoids
name	Fairytale| cover = Alexander fairytale.jpg| alt =| type = single| artist = Alexander Rybak Fairytales (Alexander Rybak album)>Fairytales| length Fairytales (Alexander Rybak album)>Fairytales| released = 12 January 2009| recorded = 2008| studio =| venue =| genre = 3:03| label = EMI| writer = Alexander Rybak| producer = Kim Bergseth| prev_title =| prev_year =| next_title = Funny Little World| next_year = 2009 }} factoids "Fairytale"| year = 2009| country = Norway| artist = Alexander Rybak| as =| with =| language = English| composer = Alexander Rybak| lyricist = Alexander Rybak| place = 1st| points = 387| place_semi = 1st| points_semi = 201| prev = Hold On Be Strong| prev_link = Hold On Be Strong| next = My Heart Is Yours| next_link = My Heart Is Yours}}{{External music video|header=Official performance video|{{YouTube|WXwgZL4zx9o|"Fairytale" (Final)}}}}}}"Fairytale" is a song composed, written, and recorded by Belarusian-Norwegian singer-songwriter Alexander Rybak. It {{esccnty|Norway|t=represented Norway}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, winning the contest. It is the first single from Rybak's debut album Fairytales released on 29 May 2009 just after the contest. Background Conception "Fairytale" was composed and written by Alexander Rybak. In February 2009, Norwegian media reported that the song is about Rybak's ex-girlfriend Ingrid Berg Mehus whom he got to know through the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo.WEB,weblink MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos, 2009-05-20, 2009-05-23,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090523162213weblink">weblink dead, Her er hun! (Norwegian), Romerikes Blad, February 24, 2009Dette er Alexanders eventyrdame (Norwegian), VG, February 24, 2009 Rybak has since confirmed this. At a press conference in May 2009 he revealed that the song's inspiration came from the Hulder, a beautiful female creature from Scandinavian folklore, who lures young men to her, and then may curse them for all time.Avslørte hvem «Fairytale» egentlig handler om (Norwegian), TV2 Norway, 28 May 2009 The Russian-language version of the song is entitled "Skazka" (). National selection Between 24 January and 21 February 2009, "Fairytale" performed by Rybak competed in the {{esccnty|Norway|y=2009|t=47th edition}} of the Melodi Grand Prix, the national final organised by Norsk Rikskringkasting (NRK) to select its song and performer for the {{escyr|2009||54th edition}} of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song won the competition in the biggest landslide of the contest's history,NEWS,weblink NRK: - Vi har ikke sett maken, Henrikson, Arve, 21 February 2009, Aftenposten, no, 15 May 2016, becoming the {{esccnty|Norway|t=Norwegian entrant}} –and Rybak the performer– for Eurovision.WEB,weblink Norway: Alexander Rybak to Eurovision, 21 February 2009, ESCToday, 15 May 2016, WEB,weblink Norway: Alexander Rybak wins Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix!, Fisher, Luke, 21 February 2009, Oikotimes, 21 February 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090224150600weblink">weblink 24 February 2009, "Fairytale" won with a combined televote and jury score of 747,888, in the biggest victory of the Melodi Grand Prix's history. The song received over 600,000 votes more than the runner-up, which made it the clearest win in the history of the competition. Music video The first official music video for the song, which was used to present the song before the Eurovision final, was Rybak's performance at the Melodi Grand Prix. The most recent video was of Rybak playing the violin and singing with his backing dancers behind him, where the background occasionally changes from white to black. Eurovision On 14 May 2009, the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in the Olimpiysky Arena in Moscow hosted by Channel One (C1R) and broadcast live throughout the continent. Rybak performed "Fairytale" sixth on the evening, following {{esccnty|Poland|y=2009}}'s "I Don't Wanna Leave" by Lidia Kopania and preceding {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2009}}'s "Firefly" by Christina Metaxa.EPISODE, Eurovision Song Contest 2009 - second semi-final, Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Song Contest, Channel One Russia, C1R / EBU, 14 May 2009, After the grand final it was revealed that it had received in its semi-final 201 points, placing first in a field of nineteen and qualifying for the final.WEB,weblink Official Eurovision Song Contest 2009 second semi-final scoreboard, Eurovision Song Contest, On 16 May 2009, the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held. Rybak performed again "Fairytale" twentieth on the evening, following {{esccnty|Albania|y=2009}}'s "Carry Me in Your Dreams" by Kejsi Tola and preceding {{esccnty|Ukraine|y=2009}}'s "Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl)" by Svetlana Loboda.EPISODE, Eurovision Song Contest 2009 - grand final, Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovision Song Contest, Channel One Russia, C1R / EBU, 16 May 2009, The backing dancers for the Eurovision performances, Sigbjørn Rua, Torkjell Lunde Børsheim and Hallgrim HansegÃ¥rd, were from the Norwegian dance company Frikar,Frikar til Moskva! {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315050457weblink |date=March 15, 2009 }} (Norwegian), Folkemusikk.no, 22 February 2009 performing the folk dance halling. The backing singers, Jorunn HaugeTil MGP-finale for 4. gang {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724174842weblink |date=2011-07-24 }} (Norwegian), Agderposten, 22 February 2009 and Karianne Kjærnes,- Det gikk som forventet {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522001719weblink |date=2009-05-22 }} (Norwegian), Moss Avis, 22 February 2009 wore long pink dresses designed by Norwegian designer Leila Hafzi.Alle vil ha Hafzis kjoler (Norwegian), Adresseavisen, 15 May 2009(File:Alexander Rybak at the Eurovision press conference.jpg|thumb|upright|Rybak at the press conference after winning.)"Fairytale" won with the highest recorded score until then in Eurovision, with 387 points –out of a maximum possible of 492–, surpassing "Hard Rock Hallelujah" {{escyr|2006}} record of 292 by Lordi. It held this record until {{escyr|2016}} when "1944" by Jamala for {{esccnty|Ukraine|y=2016}}, the first self-written winner after Rybak, won with a record 534 points –but because of the new scoring system with separate sets of televotes and jury votes, the results are not comparable with each other–. Its average score of 9.4 points from every voting nation was the highest since the wide use of televoting began in 1998. "Fairytale" received sixteen scores of 12 points, also a new record, surpassing the previous record of ten held by "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves in {{escyr|1997}} and "My Number One" by Helena Paparizou in {{escyr|2005}}; this record was surpassed in {{escyr|2012}}, by "Euphoria" by Loreen, who received eighteen. This was Norway's third Eurovision win. Aftermath The song was the first single from Rybak's debut album Fairytales released on 29 May 2009 just after the contest.A video of Rybak's performance of the song at the Eurovision Song Contest final was chosen by YouTube as one of its 31 most memorable videos of 2009.Fairytale reprise one of YouTube's most memorable of 2009, The official website of the Eurovision Song Contest, December 24, 2009 Commercial performance The song also debuted on the Norwegian Singles Chart on the week of 11 February 2009 at number 3,WEB,weblink Topp 20 Single uke 7, 2009, Staff, 13 February 2009, VG-lista, no, 12 April 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120328120300weblink">weblink 28 March 2012, dead, before rising to number one on the following week, the week of the Melodi Grand Prix final.WEB,weblink Topp 20 Single uke 8, 2009, Staff, 20 February 2009, VG-lista, no, 12 April 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120328120316weblink">weblink 28 March 2012, dead, This was the first time that the Melodi Grand Prix winner reached number 1 before winning the contest. The song remained at number 1 for 8 consecutive weeks.WEB,weblink Staff, Alexander Rybak: Fairytale, VG-lista, no, 12 April 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120328120333weblink">weblink 28 March 2012, dead, The song has since entered the Swedish Sverigetopplistan, debuting at number 47, before rising to number 7 in its third week, the week of Eurovision - eventually reaching the top spot. After the song gaining the Top Spot on Eurovision, it entered the Top Ten of many Charts across Europe, and also the No. 1 position in many countries.WEB,weblink ALEXANDER RYBAK  — FAIRYTALE, swedishcharts.com, 26 April 2009, The song debuted on the UK charts at #10 on Downloads Alone and then dropped to #38 the next week, it also reached Number 3 on the Download Chart. "Fairytale" is the ninth non-UK Eurovision entry to reach the top ten in the UK charts since the contest began in 1956, most recently Johnny Logan reached #2 representing {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1987}} in 1987.Archive of Eurovision Song Contest Winners and British entries from 1956 to the present day, everyHit.com It was certified Gold in Finland and Norway. The single went multi-platinum in different formats in Russia. It first went platinum as realtone full track and sold 100,000 copies.WEB,weblink Домен припаркован в Timeweb, Then it was certified 2× platinum as ring-back tone with another 400,000 copies sold.WEB,weblink Домен припаркован в Timeweb, Combined sales of the song are 500,000 copies without online downloads.{{col-begin}}{{col-2}} Weekly charts{| class"wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style"text-align:center"

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Year-end charts{| class"wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style"text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2009)! scope="col"| Position! scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)WEB,weblink Jaaroverzichten 2009, Ultratop, 26 June 2020, | 48! scope="row"| CIS (TopHit)WEB,weblink CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2009), TopHit, 13 October 2020, | 57! scope="row"| Germany (Official German Charts)WEB,weblink Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts, de, GfK Entertainment, offiziellecharts.de, 26 June 2020, | 46! scope="row" | Russia Airplay (TopHit)WEB,weblink Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2009, TopHit, 29 April 2024, 27 April 2024,weblink live, | 114! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)WEB,weblink Årslista Singlar – År 2009, Sverigetopplistan, sv, 26 June 2020, | 1{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|title=Fairytale|artist=Alexander Rybak|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2009|relyear=2009|salesamount=6,887|refname=FinCert}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|title=Fairytale|artist=Alexander Rybak|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2023|relyear=2009|access-date=2 April 2023}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=Fairytale|artist=Alexander Rybak|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|refname=NorCert}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|title=Fairytale|artist=Alexander Rybak|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2009|certyear=2009|access-date=7 January 2023}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Fairytale|artist=Alexander Rybak|type=single|award=Silver|certyear=2023|relyear=2009|id=18624-6197-1|access-date=6 January 2023}}{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

Release history

{{Incomplete list|date=May 2009}}{|class="wikitable"! Region! Date! Format! Version| Norway| 12 January 2009| Digital download| OriginalFairytales: Alexander Rybak - Artist Home - EMI {{webarchive>url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523081233weblink EMI>emimusic.de| 15 May 2009| Digital download| Original| United Kingdom| 17 May 2009| Digital downloadEminem comeback crowns UK chart, BBC, 24 May 2009| Originallast=hitparade.churl=https://hitparade.ch/song/Franziska-Wiese-&-Alexander-Rybak/Fairytale-1696219|access-date=12 August 2018}}| 20 October 2017| CD-Maxi| Duet with Franziska Wiese

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Wikinews|Norway wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2009}}{{Wikinews|After Eurovision win, Norwegians show their patriotism on Constitution Day}}

• {{Discogs master|127689|Fairytale|type=single}}

|}}{{Alexander Rybak}}{{Eurovision Song Contest 2009}}{{Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest}}{{List of Eurovision Song Contest winners|songs}}{{authority control}}