The band was originally a duo, but before making their third album they added a drummer to the band. The band currently consists of 3 members:
Biggi Hilmars: Guitar, Vocals
Kjartan: Keyboards
Jón Geir: Drums
Those in the know will have first come across the band through their two critically acclaimed electronic based albums released in their homeland. The second of these (“Made for Market”) was considered by many local critics the best Icelandic album of 2003. Their one supporter outside Iceland was John Peel.
Keen to develop their sound the band bunkered down in their own studio and over time developed a more organic and song based direction moving away from the more electronic influences of their earlier material. The first examples of the band’s new direction were demo versions of two songs, “My Delusions” and “Don’t let me down” which saw the light of day early in 2005. These tracks were instantly picked up on by Radio 1’s; Zane Lowe who played “My delusions” on several occasions and invited the band to play live on his show from Austin, Texas, during this year’s SXSW music festival. AMPOP played alongside The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat, The Blood Arm and Queens of the Stone Age as the only unsigned band.
Other important DJs such as Huw Stephens and Vic Galloway at Radio 1, or Vic McGlynn at BBC 6 Music have also put the stamp of approval to the new songs and have championed the band in their radio shows.
After the successful appearance at SXSW the band went back to their studio to finish the album, stopping only to play in NY and the NXNE festival in Toronto. The first single off the new album, “My delusions”, gets a UK release via Relentless Records imprint Stimulus Records , who spotted the band live in Austin, on November the 28th.
The band has been invited to support KT Tunstall in Aberdeen on October the 4 th at a Radio 2 event, and will be playing London next to launch the single on November the 28 th at Islington Bar Academy.
Meanwhile, back in Iceland, the brand new album, “My delusions”, is now out via Dennis Records/Sena and is getting rave reviews and extensive radio play.
Studio albums
Sail to the moon (2006)
My Delusions (2005)
Made For Market (2002)
Nature Is Not A Virgin (2000)
Singles
Gets me Down (2006)
My Delusions / Youth (2005)
Made For Market (2002)
Cold Facts
Ampop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
no one has to leave the nation
Monopoly has taken over
no competition, the game is over
Come on immigrants, explore the island
Not to mention, don't spoil the silence
We hope you'll find some place to stay folks
Yeah we know it
but must not show it
Take a loan and I will sell you
the whore from Greenville, what can I tell you
You really need some education
if you're going to serve your great temptations
Stocks and shares are all my income
who cares whether I'm rich or poor now
Expectations, rapidly increasing
Perception, constantly falling
Who is creating this?
Later on and nothing happens
More pollution, more rich guilty men
The problem is to be solved
what am I now involved in?
Who is creating this?
Who is?
In the first verse of Ampop's song "Cold Facts", the lyrics deal with the economic and social issues that come with a monopoly. The line "no competition, the game is over" suggests that once a monopoly is established, there is no longer any incentive for the company to innovate or improve, leading to stagnation in the market. The song also touches on immigration, suggesting that immigrants are welcomed to explore the island, but only if they don't "spoil the silence". This line implies that immigrants are only valued if they don't disrupt the status quo.
The second verse delves further into the economic themes of the song, with the lyrics discussing the idea that one can buy anything, including people. The line "Take a loan and I will sell you the whore from Greenville" suggests that anything can be bought with enough money. The song also addresses the idea of temptation and the unrealistic expectations that come with it, with the line "if you're going to serve your great temptations". The chorus questions who is creating these problems, suggesting that there is a larger force at work than just individual actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Economical situation
Referring to the economic state of an area
no one has to leave the nation
Everyone can remain in the country due to the stability of the economy
Monopoly has taken over
A single entity dominates the market with no competition
no competition, the game is over
Due to no competition, there is nothing to win, as the winner has emerged
Come on immigrants, explore the island
Inviting immigrants to tour the area
Not to mention, don't spoil the silence
Telling the visitors to keep quiet so as to not disrupt the peace
We hope you'll find some place to stay folks
A hope for the visitors to find somewhere to stay
pick up garbage, word of mouth walks
The word circulates by tourist appreciation if they see the place is well kept
Yeah we know it
Acknowledgement of a negative situation
but must not show it
But must be resilient as a response
Take a loan and I will sell you
If you take a loan, I'll entice you to spend that money on something I have to sell
the whore from Greenville, what can I tell you
Referring to a product that probably has less value than it is being marketed for
You really need some education
Advice for those who are being lured into the schemes
if you're going to serve your great temptations
Ability to resist temptation being a crucial aspect of self-care
Stocks and shares are all my income
The singer's main source of income comes from owning stocks and shares
who cares whether I'm rich or poor now
Apathy towards societal norms and economic status
Expectations, rapidly increasing
Expectations around investment profits are going up quickly
Perception, constantly falling
Perception of reality is worsening
Who is creating this?
The singer asks who is behind what's happening
Later on and nothing happens
The future looks bleak and uneventful
More pollution, more rich guilty men
Pollution is increasing, as are the number of wealthy people who contribute to it
The problem is to be solved
There is a problem that needs to be addressed
what am I now involved in?
Asking what role the singer has in this problem
Who is creating this?
The artist repeats the earlier question to emphasize its importance
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nicolas Dennis
Hi....
We here in Southern Africa....
Zimbabwe
South Africa .
We grew up with this brilliant poet....
He still comes to South Africa and does concerts.....:)
He and many many other international Artists were banned from distributing their brilliance.....
After apartate .....we went wild :)
Good times
Ian Kevin G A A
Sugar Man
Sixto Rodríguez
Sugar man, won't you hurry
Cause I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin won't you bring back
All those colors to my dreams
Silver magic ships you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane
Sugar man met a false friend
On a lonely dusty road
Lost my heart when i found it
It had turned to dead black coal
Silver magic ships you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane
Sugar man you're the answer
That makes my questions disappear
Sugar man cause I'm weary
Of those double games l hear
Sugar man
Sugar man, won't you hurry
Cause I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin won't you bring back
All those colors to my dreams
Silver magic ships you…
Deon Grunewald
A pity so few have discovered the genius of this legend!!
H AH
How true your statement is.he was ignored in the US,but became legendary in S.AFRICA.the mystery of his whereabouts only upped the profile of his appeal.the album COLD FACT'S,it's sale went thru the Roof. sugar man earned acclame also at Sundance film Festival.thank for giving us your info so we can comment to your note.
Filippo
This guy knew his pathway before anyone. Many talk about the lyrics of Jimmy Morrison, which are very justified. Then comes along Mr Rodrigues...leave any shackles at the door before entering...
Nicolas Dennis
Hi....
We here in Southern Africa....
Zimbabwe
South Africa .
We grew up with this brilliant poet....
He still comes to South Africa and does concerts.....:)
He and many many other international Artists were banned from distributing their brilliance.....
After apartate .....we went wild :)
Good times
thinkerly1
I have joined the legions of fans who love the poetry, music, and spirit of this man.
Ian Kevin G A A
Sugar Man
Sixto Rodríguez
Sugar man, won't you hurry
Cause I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin won't you bring back
All those colors to my dreams
Silver magic ships you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane
Sugar man met a false friend
On a lonely dusty road
Lost my heart when i found it
It had turned to dead black coal
Silver magic ships you carry
Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane
Sugar man you're the answer
That makes my questions disappear
Sugar man cause I'm weary
Of those double games l hear
Sugar man
Sugar man, won't you hurry
Cause I'm tired of these scenes
For a blue coin won't you bring back
All those colors to my dreams
Silver magic ships you…
Tyler Baselice
I’m still shocked that this good of a album barley sold in America
Kenneth Warburton
Very very popular in South Africa.
Zetetick
Should be at least as well known as Nick Drake from the same era! Genuinely shocking cultural oversight!
Colin Van Rensburg
This tape - cassette carried us through Owamboland in 77.