You Raise Me Up

About You Raise Me Up

"You Raise Me Up" (originally titled "Söknuður (Into the Light)") is an Icelandic song originally sung by Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson know as 'Villi Vill' in 1977. In 2002 Secret Garden released the song under the title 'You Raise Me Up'. This was an almost identical version of the 1977 song to which Secret Garden claimed to be original composed by Secret Garden's Rolf Løvland, with lyrics by Brendan Graham. Icelandic Composer Jóhann Helgason filed a lawsuit claiming that the song is a copy. An English version of Söknuður has been released to underline the similarity between the two songs. After the song was performed early in 2002 by the Secret Garden and their invited lead singer, Brian Kennedy, the song only became a minor UK hit. The song has been recorded by more than a hundred other artists under the name 'You Raise Me Up' including Josh Groban, who popularized the song in 2003; his rendition became a hit in the United States. The Irish band Westlife then popularized the song in the UK and the rest of the world two years later. On 29 November. more »