" Unforgivable Sinner " is a song written and performed by Norwegian singer-songwriter Lene Marlin , released as her debut single on 12 October 1998 from her first album, Playing My Game (1999). The song reached number one in Norway and number two in Italy, commencing a successful period of hits for Marlin in both countries. In Norway, it was certified platinum and was the first song by a debut act to enter the VG-lista chart at number one. [ 1 ] The song also reached the top 10 in Sweden and the top 20 in the United Kingdom. Three different music videos were made for the song. Critical reception Birmingham Evening Mail called the song a "mature" debut, describing it as the "sort of mid-tempo, intense material somebody like Natalie Imbruglia would release." [ 2 ] Håkon Moslet from Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet said in his review of Playing My Game , that "Unforgivable Sinner" is a "clear highlight" of the album. He added that "with its slightly dark and disconcerting atmosphere and a refrain you never seem to get bored with, it is one of a kind." [ 3 ] Geir Rakvaag from Dagsavisen noted that the song, with " Sitting Down Here " and " Where I'm Headed " are the "most earcatching" songs of the album. [ 4 ] Terje Carlsen from Fredrikstad Blad called it "immaculate". [ 5 ] Pia M. Isaksen from Moss Dagblad was less enthustiastic, noting it as "traditional folk ", adding that the melody is "nice". [ 6 ] New Straits Times called it an "outstanding" tune "set to a pop- hiphop beat with a strong arrangement powered by acoustic guitars". [ 7 ] Kjell Nordeng from Nordlands Framtid noted the song with "Sitting Down Here" as "cream of the crop" of the album. [ 8 ] Rune Slyngstad from Nordlandsposten gave it 4 out of 6, noting it as a "fresh, nice and sauntering pop-song". [ 9 ] Lasse Jangås from Nordlys described it as "wonderful". [ 10 ] Pop Rescue wrote, "This one definitely fits in with the likes of [Natalie] Imbruglia’s hit Torn . It has plenty of acoustic strumming, but also plenty of ‘go’ in it too. It's up-beat, catchy, and deserved to be a bigger hit than it was." [ 11 ] Linda Nilsen from Tromsø gave the song 6 out of 6, noting that it is "simply something of the best I have ever heard from a Norwegian artist." [ 12 ] The first video for "Unforgivable Sinner" was filmed in Norway on 10 July 1998. [ 13 ] It features Marlin performing with her guitar at a subway station in Oslo . She also performs while walking in a dark tunnel. Some small scenes in between show her dressed like an angel. Clips from the movie Schpaa are shown through the video. At the end, Marlin as an angel sits atop of a high building looking out over the city. The second and international version of the video was directed by Stephen Scott and shot at a train station in Toronto , Canada. It has a blue tone and shows Marlin performing inside the station building. A story of a man that is haunted by memories from his childhood is being told in the video. Now grown-up, he keeps seeing the face of a young girl he once knew as a kid. Something happened to her, and he feels guilty. He "sees" her among the crowd of passing people at the station, but then she is gone. In the end the man and Marlin, standing next to each other, are watching the board with train timetables. Then the words "Take Hold Now -- The Future Will Not Remember -- The Past Does Not Forget" suddenly appear on the board. The third version was directed by Jamie Morgan and features a darkhaired Marlin performing in New York City. In some scenes, she performs in a car that is driving through the city. Other scenes show her at a camping site, where a group of young people are staying, by a caravan. Occasionally a girl wearing wings appears at different sites in the city. The day turns into night and then again to day. The video ends with Marlin strumming on her guitar in the driving car. Year-end charts ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Release history ↑ Williams, Paul, ed. (27 March 1999). "International". Music Week . p. 6. ↑ "Pick of the Week". Birmingham Evening Mail . 3 August 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020. ↑ "CD: Lene Marlin" . Dagbladet . 20 March 1999 . Retrieved 17 March 2020 . ↑ Rakvaag, Geir (20 March 1999). "Pent og pyntelig fra Lene Marlin" . Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). No. 78. p. 15 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ Carlsen, Terje (23 March 1999). "Ikke helt ferdig" . Fredrikstad Blad (in Norwegian). No. 81. p. 42 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ Isaksen, Pia M. (29 March 1999). "Fint, men kjedelig" . Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). No. 87. p. 13 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ "IT'S ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS - Compilation" . New Straits Times . 7 March 1999 . Retrieved 15 March 2020 . ↑ Nordeng, Kjell (23 March 1999). "Fin debut" . Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). No. 69. p. 60 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ Slyngstad, Rune (18 August 1998). "SINGELNYHETER" . Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). No. 188. p. 40 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ Jangås, Lasse (13 October 1998). "Så fin, Lene Marlin" . Nordlys (in Norwegian). No. 239. p. 19 . Retrieved 30 March 2020 . ↑ "REVIEW: "PLAYING MY GAME" BY LENE MARLIN (CD, 1999)" . Pop Rescue. 5 June 1995 . Retrieved 31 March 2020 . ↑ Nilsen, Linda (10 October 1998). "Strålende, Lene Marlin" . Tromsø (in Norwegian). No. 236. p. 31 . Retrieved 30 March 2020 . 1 2 Matland, Helge (15 August 2000). "Popdronninga jubilerer: Den uforglemmelige karrieren" [ The Pop Queen Celebrates:The Unforgettable Career ] . Trosmø (in Norwegian) . Retrieved 4 June 2026 . 1 2 3 " Lene Marlin – Unforgivable Sinner ". VG-lista . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ Unforgivable Sinner (European CD single liner notes). Virgin Records . 1998. 7243 8 95710 2 8, DINSDE180. ↑ Unforgivable Sinner (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Virgin Records. 1999. VJCP-12121. ↑ Unforgivable Sinner (UK CD1 liner notes). Virgin Records. 2000. DINSD202, 7243 8 96979 0 2. ↑ Unforgivable Sinner (UK CD2 liner notes). Virgin Records. 2000. DINSDX 202, 7243 8 96980 0 8. ↑ " Lene Marlin – Unforgivable Sinner ". ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 30. 24 July 1999. p. 8 . Retrieved 7 May 2018 . ↑ " Lene Marlin – Unforgivable Sinner " (in French). Le classement de singles . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ " Offizielle Deutsche Charts " (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ "Unforgivable Sinner" (in Italian). FIMI . Retrieved 18 January 2026 . ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 29. 17 July 1999. p. 11 . Retrieved 28 November 2019 . ↑ " Lene Marlin – Unforgivable Sinner ". Top 40 Singles . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ " Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 16/9/2000 – Top 100 ". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ " Lene Marlin – Unforgivable Sinner ". Singles Top 100 . Retrieved 6 March 2018. ↑ " Official Singles Chart on 16/9/2000 – Top 100 ". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 6 March 2018. 1 2 "Border Breakers Top 100 1999" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 13 . Retrieved 21 January 2026 – via World Radio History. ↑ Racca, Guido. "1999". musica e dischi Top 100 Year-End 1960 - 2018 (in Italian). pp. 108– 110. ISBN 9781980329121 .

↑ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100 . Archived from the original on 22 January 2005. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 4 August 2021 . ↑ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden . 21 April 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17 . Retrieved 15 September 2019 . ↑ "天使のように... | レネ・マーリン" [ Like an Angel... | Lene Marlin ] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 1 September 2023 . ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting September 4, 2000: Singles" (PDF) . Music Week . 2 September 2000. p. 29 . Retrieved 4 August 2021 . Playing My Game Lost in a Moment Twist the Truth " Unforgivable Sinner " " Sitting Down Here " " Where I'm Headed " " You Weren't There " MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group 1998 debut singles Lene Marlin songs Number-one singles in Norway Virgin Records singles Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Articles with hAudio microformats CS1 Norwegian-language sources (no) Single chart usages for Australia Single chart usages for France Single chart usages for Germany CS1 Italian-language sources (it) Single chart usages for New Zealand Single chart usages for Norway Single chart making named ref Single chart usages for Scotland Single chart usages for Sweden Single chart usages for UK CS1 Romanian-language sources (ro) CS1 Swedish-language sources (sv) Certification Table Entry usages for Norway Pages using certification Table Entry without sales Certification Table Entry usages for Sweden Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments footnote CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)