16th of February 2016
I guess there is no song from Aurora that wakes more ambivalent emotions than this one. After the release of the "Once Aurora" documentary in 2018 (15.4), there is an understanding in the community that Aurora hate this song. In an interview regarding this, she said:
"There are small details that maybe only I see, sounds I do not like and a text that has a message that I am not so attached to anymore. It just does not feel relevant now... I don't play it anymore " (15.1)
Earlier, shortly after its release, the tone was a little different:
"This song is a rather strange one. It's an important contrast to all the other songs on my album - it's actually a bit happy! I wrote it with some of my band members during 2013 once. It was just for fun, we didn't even know if anything good would come out it!" (15.2)
In a message on Instagram earlier this year (deleted now, sadly) she wrote that "I don't hate this song. It's the only really happy song I have written. And it's lovely to dance to." - a statement close to what she said back in 2016:
"... makes me dance; the music makes my body feel free to move..." (15.3)
My guess is, writing this song with Odd Martin and Magnus was a fun thing to do. Besides, she did need a sing that could fit as a radio hit. Later she probably found it to be too commercial for her taste, not quite fitting how she perceived herself.
It was written in 2013, but the earliest performance live I have going vwas on By:Larm in February 2014 - two whole years before its release. It's been with her on many great stages, not the least - the famous Jimmy Fallon show in the states.
Some great performances
Sources
15.1 - About Conquerer December 2018
https://www.bt.no/kultur/i/a2M89M/det-er-rart-aa-vaere-stjerne
15.2 - Songfacts about Conqueror
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/aurora/conqueror
15.3 - Interview with Vice.com
https://www.vice.com/da/article/6adx48/aurora-wants-you-to-cry
15.4a - VG - About Once aurora
https://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/i/1k4g9Q/aurora-aksnes-truet-manageren-med-aa-slutte-med-musikk
15-4b - Twitter response to "Once Aurora" review
https://twitter.com/AURORAmusic/status/1071465025318121472