Alexander Rybak, Norway’s 2009 Eurovision winning artist has just released his second song in Russian, translated as I Love You As Before. The song is a very strong ballad with comes with a cute video featuring Alexander as a clown.

The music to Люблю тебя как раньше (I Love You As Before) is written by Alexander himself with the lyrics being a collaboration between him and Jaroslav Rakitin. It is a slow Russian ballad still featuring Alexander’s famous violin, but there are  no dancers prancing around in the background here, and certainly no laughs.

The video starts at a little girl’s birthday party, with lots of balloons and delicious treats, while cutting to Alexander sitting lamenting on a staircase with his violin. As the song meanders along, Alexander becomes the guest clown at the party, while interchanging images of his supposed squeeze, that he loves as before are spliced in. The song never changes pace as the video ends with the birthday girl getting tucked into bed with her adorable cuddly Labrador.

Enjoy the video below:

The translated lyrics of the song are:

Empty city and only memories
I remember all those gentle goodbyes
But apparently fate is to go through life alone,
And I love you, love you as before.
But apparently fate, is to go through life alone,
And I love you, love you as before.

And another year passes, and we are no longer together,
And a new love is in your heart
Cheating sinks into lies and deceit,
Because I love you, love you as before.

All the notes and poems when we were family,
Are unnecessary for you, now strangers.
We are not destined to be together in life,
And I love you, love you as before.
Under pouring rain I cry for our happiness,
Because I love you, love you as before.

Ridiculous words as the gap between us grows
We parted as friends, so why are we enemies?
Over the years, matured, become wiser and older,
But I love you, love you as before.
Over the years, I grew up, and what do you do next?
Because I love you, love you as before.