Ole Paus debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1970 and as an author the following year, after he was discovered by
Alf Cranner and
Alf Prøysen, respectively. He was one of the central figures of the so-called
visebølgen i Norge, i.e. troubadours in the tradition of
Evert Taube,
Cornelis Vreeswijk and others. His works are marked by critical and socially conscious songwriting. His works often commented on political and societal issues. As a young adult, Ole Paus initially had a clear affiliation with the political right, but eventually adopted a more independent stance in the cultural landscape of the 1970s. Paus was often perceived as a "bourgeois anarchist" who challenged authority and societal norms from the unique position of being both insider and outsider in Norway's "establishment". Jon-Roar Bjørkvold described him as "the bourgeoisie's scolder and tireless enfant terrible." Bjarne Markussen referred to Ole Paus as "the last bohemian," noting that he shared with
Jens Bjørneboe a mix of radicalism and conservatism, speaking against state power and defending vulnerable and marginalized individuals. During the 1970s and 1980s, Paus was known for his biting social commentary, especially in his ironic and sometimes libellous "musical newspapers" in the form of
broadside ballads in a series of albums titled "The Paus Post". His social and political commentary aimed at both left and right in the political spectrum and Paus was described as a man whose satirical lyrics managed to enrage both communists and Christian conservatives. His later works become known for a softer and more lyrical style, and include songs such as "
Innerst i sjelen" and "
Engler i sneen". He has often collaborated with
Ketil Bjørnstad, notably on the "modern
suite"
Leve Patagonia; he has later collaborated with
Kirkelig Kulturverksted on several projects, and with his son, the classical composer
Marcus Paus, notably on the children's opera
The Witches,
Requiem and several later works. One of his songs, "
Mitt lille land", gained wide popularity after the
2011 Norway attacks and was described as "the new national anthem". He has been described as the Norwegian counterpart of
Bob Dylan and as the "voice of the nation." Paus was discovered by artists
Alf Cranner and
Alf Prøysen, and was mentored by
André Bjerke,
Jens Bjørneboe and
Henny Moan. Paus is noted for his consistent use of Norwegian and has been eager for other Norwegian musicians to switch from English to Norwegian. Hans-Olav Thyvold stated that Paus "became, par excellence, the best Norwegian lyricist" and the leading figure in the Norwegian ballad revival. Thyvold also said that Paus, like
Wergeland, was "a Norwegian artist held back by being Norwegian, and had he, a man of such talent, been born into the French or English language tradition, Ole Paus would have been a global name on par with
Leonard Cohen,
Nick Cave, and
Bob Dylan." Thyvold further remarked that Paus' significance for Norwegian-language music cannot be overstated and that he created the space in which "the four great" rock bands—
DumDum Boys,
Jokke & Valentinerne,
deLillos, and
Raga Rockers—operated: "Ole Paus challenges you to do it in your own language, but at the same time, he sets the bar very, very high." Thyvold stated that Paus' abilities as a lyricist have, to some extent, overshadowed the fact that he is also a great melodist, and that his songs have a universal appeal beyond their Norwegian context. ==Books==