Scandinavia

Scandinavia/ˌskændᵻˈneɪviə/ is a historical and cultural-linguistic region in Northern Europe characterized by a common ethno-cultural North Germanic heritage and mutually intelligible North Germanic languages.

In English, Scandinavia usually refers the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, while Finland and Iceland are sometimes included. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula, whereas modern Denmark consists of Jutland and the Danish islands.

The term Scandinavia is usually used as a cultural term, but in English usage, it is occasionally confused with the geographical term Scandinavian Peninsula, which took its name from the cultural-linguistic concept. The name Scandinavia originally referred vaguely to the formerly Danish, now Swedish, region Scania. The terms Scandinavia and Scandinavian entered usage in the late 18th century as terms for the three Scandinavian countries, their Germanic majority peoples and associated language and culture, being introduced by the early linguistic and cultural Scandinavist movement. In foreign usage, the term Scandinavia is sometimes incorrectly taken to also include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Finland, on account of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries and the Scandinavian peoples and languages. However, this broader group of countries is officially and commonly known as the Nordic countries.

Scandinavia (album)

Scandinavia is the eighth studio album by Danish soft rock band Michael Learns to Rock. It was released on June 11, 2012. The album is the first to be solely produced by guitarist Mikkel Lentz, who previously produced most of the band's previous album, Eternity (2008).

The track "Any Way You Want It" featured on music charts in Indonesia, India and in their native Denmark. The album has received mostly positive reviews from critics with Musicperk giving 8 ratings out of 10. Timeoutmumbai, a popular Indian site, said: "MLTR's new album is like your old school friend". The album fared well in India and in other South Asian countries.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Jascha Richter; except "Shanghaid in Tokyo" music by Mikkel Lentz, and lyrics by Lentz and Marcus Winther-John. 

Charts

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External links

Scandinavia (composition)

"Scandinavia" is an instrumental composition by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the closing track on his 1982 album Beautiful Vision.

The track was the first instrumental Morrison released and would be followed by many others throughout his 1980s career. It has been performed in concert only a few times. Morrison played the composition on 3 April 1982 at the Grugahalle in Essen, Germany and was broadcast on Rockpalast in Germany and the BBC in the UK.

It was recorded at the first recording session for the Beautiful Vision album and was the only track from this session that would be used on the album. The musicians featured differed from the other tracks on the finished album and had appeared with Morrison at the Great American Music Hall in March 1981. Morrison played piano on this instrumental.

The composition was nominated in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category for the 25th Annual Grammy Awards.

It was used throughout the 1993 BBC documentary 40 Minutes.

Vacation

A vacation or holiday is a leave of absence from a regular occupation, or a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family.

A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break.

The concept of taking a vacation is a recent invention, and has developed through the last two centuries. Historically, the idea of travel for recreation was a luxury that only wealthy people could afford (see Grand Tour). In the Puritan culture of early America, taking a break from work for reasons other than weekly observance of the Sabbath was frowned upon. However, the modern concept of vacation was led by a later religious movement encouraging spiritual retreat and recreation. The notion of breaking from work periodically took root among the middle and working class.

Etymology

In the United Kingdom, vacation once specifically referred to the long summer break taken by the law courts and then later the term was applied to universities. The custom was introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where it facilitated the grape harvest. In the past, many upper-class families moved to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual home vacant.

Vacation (The Go-Go's album)

Vacation is the second studio album by the American rock band The Go-Go's, released in 1982 on the I.R.S. Records label. The album reached No. 8 in the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified gold. The title track was a U.S. summer smash, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard pop singles chart. The Go-Go's were riding high at the time of the album's first release, their future to all outward appearances looking bright. Future problems were beginning to take shape, as the members' drug use and internal fighting began to escalate.

Besides the title track, two more singles were pulled from the album at the time: "Get Up and Go" and "This Old Feeling", which were minor hits in the United States. A fourth song featured on the album, the cover version of the 1960s hit "Cool Jerk", appeared as a single in 1991 to promote the band's first compilation album, Greatest. The single "Vacation" was also issued as what was perhaps the first cassette single ever.

The song "Speeding," which is not on the album, is a Caffey/Wiedling composition that was used as B-side of the single for "Get Up and Go," and is also part of the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack.

Vacation (Alphabeat song)

"Vacation" is a song by Danish pop band Alphabeat, released on 12 March 2012 as the lead single from their third studio album, Express Non-Stop (2012). The song was originally intended to be released in the United States on the same date, but due to "faults in the system", it was ultimately released on 26 March 2012. The song peaked at number fifteen on the Danish Singles Chart. Alphabeat performed "Vacation" live on the season five finale of the Danish version of X Factor on 23 March 2012.

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References