In 1993, He started his musical career as the singer in Planet Waves, a group which released only one album, Brutal Awakenings before splitting up due to internal conflicts. He then turned to a solo career, releasing the debut solo album Cottonfish Tales. In 1999, he had an international hit with the single Glorious, which later featured on the album Liebling, which has been used in a number of advertisements including Volvo, Nutella and Vauxhall. Deadly Happy, his third solo album, was released in 2002, and Mr Johnson, Your Room Is On Fire was released in 2005. 2007 he gave out a greatest hits CD called The Collector.
Bio from the poet site written by Unbry, Mysty and Bending:
March 22nd, 1970 - Lund, Southern Sweden: a wonderful baby starts to let the world hear his phenomenal voice: his name is JON ERIK ANDREAS JOHNSON. His mummy is called Marie, his daddy Gigge; they're both jazz musicians. He also has an older brother called Olof who's now a lawyer. Since they were children, the Johnson brothers have travelled throughout the world with their parents, always in a tour: "I've grown up on the stage, surrounded by instruments, scores and dressing-rooms sometimes not decent. [...] I was the group's mascot and to joke or because I liked it, I always ended up with taking a microphone in my hands, often on daddy's knees..." Music becomes a natural yearning for Andreas: as a kid he used to fall asleep listening to his mother singing jazz songs instead of traditional lullabies, believe it or not! In his early teens he moves with his family in a Stockholm suburb: "There was not so much to do, I only had three choices: sport, drugs or music and I chose the last!". He starts joining small bands and making his first experiences; his first band Silver Arrow made its debut in an assembly-hall at school "It was my first gig ever, It ended up with that I and the two guitarists went up and played without drummer. The guitarists were so nervous that they played with their back against the public". But his parents disagree with him having seen many friends quitting their musical career pretty soon. "So you don't want me to be in the music world? I'll prove you wrong!"
Andreas releases his first album with Planet Waves, "Brutal Awakenings", published by EMI only in Scandinavia. The band seems to take inspiration from Bob Dylan, and also the title is the same of a Dylan's album (Andreas will later confess that they didn't actually know anything about that album!). Between 1993 and 1995 love brings him with the band to New York, where he finds his first personal inspirations for his songs; back in Stockholm the band splits up "We didn’t come to agree. It became a total conflict. Also physical confrontations, fights".
Under the American influence Andreas releases, again with EMI and only in Scandinavia, his first solo album, "Cottonfish Tales". And here problems begin, he fight with EMI because they don't give him enough freedom, he takes a period off in Berlin and in this magic city the new album "Liebling" starts to breathe in only 2-3 months.
The album is dedicated to Debbie Starlight, mysterious inspiring muse, dead before her time but somehow still present in his songs' sounds. Italy brings inspiration too: he spends a couple of weeks in Porto Ercole, Tuscany, and, inspired by green Tuscanian hills, he writes 8 songs, 3 included in the album (the last three). As a final gift he gets a new contract with another recording house, WEA. Tales say that when Andreas went to WEA he brought with him three sample songs in DAT format, but the player jammed right at the proof moment; he took a guitar and decided to make a live performance, with an acoustic version of "The Games We Play": the editor was immediately crazy about it and signed the contract the same day! The POET's talent strikes back!
After the album conclusion, comes the single choice: for about two weeks Andreas and his band try to choose a song to be released as a single, but everyone has his own favourite and the choice is not easy; in the end the album opening song is chosen: "Glorious". In Gothenburg, during the first months of 1999, in an old dismissed gas container, Karl-Johan Larsson directs the video of "Glorious"; in interviews Andreas always says that it was "quite frightful: I was 80 metres above the ground and we were even without permissions!". The song is published just before summer, but it doesn't reach immediate success: "This song is too distressing for summertime" the POET says. But during autumn it becomes the biggest success of the season: it reaches the third place in Italian singles chart and also the fourth place in the "difficult" English chart, which is a quite good result for a debut single! Andreas receives two nominees for the Swedish Grammy Awards, as best single and best video for 1999. Critics unanimously recognise that "Glorious" is "the most beautiful song of the last decade". Concerts in Germany, England, Spain and Sweden are always sold out.
..At the end of 1999 the new single, "The Games We Play", is published in Sweden, reaching 7th place in the chart. Unsatisfied with the video shot in Praga, Andreas decides to shoot a new version during the weekend 4-5 march 2000, with the same director of "Glorious", Karl-Johan Larsson, and again in Gothenburg waiting for the new single to be published in the rest of Europe on May 15..
..In Autumn 2000 “People” video was ready and directed by Karl-Johan Larsson too in Kiev/Ukraina. At our advise the best video of our POET..
..After a long European tour from 1999 till Autumn 2000 till the presentation of the best hip hop MTV Europe Award, a long working period gets him ready to conquer the world..
...15/12/01 he is ready to enter in all charts with the new single Shine. A little taste coming from the new album Deadly Happy, third work of the Swedish singer songwriter, that will be released in Europe between March and April...
.. No one will ever stop the POET)
People
Andreas Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some made to go where others won't pass
Some made to rule, the grand master mind
Some to lose for others to find
Now everybody is running for something
Now that the dream is gone, developed, disguised
Into a giant cable show... and you want more
Well you deserve more like immortality, extension
Guess I'm slipping out of the poetry class here
So many people, with so much to say
So many people, makin' news today
Some made to sing, now will you sing along
Some made like god, and they can't be wrong
Some made of gold, some made of stone
Some with the confidence to bring it all home
Now everybody's got to be on time... be on time...
Free, equal, successful, way ahead... for what
I don't know... but it sure feels great running...
I guess...
So many people, with so much to say
So many people, makin' news today
So let me be your lover, let me be your clown
Let me be your money, you can spend me all around
Let me love you down
Some grow big, some grow small
Some grow fast, some not at all
Some made to glow, some made to shine, some to burn just for a brief moment of time... like...
So many people, with so much to say
So many people, makin' news today
So let me be your lover, let me be your clown
Let me be your money, you can spend me all around
Just let me love you down
Andreas Johnson's "People" is a song about the diverse range of people in the world and the different paths they take in life. The opening lines of the song introduce us to the idea that some people are strong and unbreakable (made of steel), while others may be fragile and vulnerable (made of glass). The verses continue to describe the different types of people in the world - those who are leaders, those who are followers, those who are successful, and those who are not.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the sheer volume of people in the world today, all with their own opinions and beliefs. The song suggests that everyone is chasing something - whether it's success, fame, or something else entirely - and that the competition to achieve these goals can be overwhelming at times.
The song also touches on the idea that people are willing to do just about anything to achieve their dreams. The line "Dope, religion, sex and surgery" speaks to the extreme measures that some people may take to try and find fulfillment in their lives.
Overall, Johnson's "People" is a commentary on the complexities of the human experience - how we all have our own unique paths in life, but ultimately, we're all just trying to find our place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Some made of steel, some made of glass
Some people are tough and strong, while others are fragile and vulnerable.
Some made to go where others won't pass
Some people are meant to take risks and explore the unknown, while others prefer to play it safe.
Some made to rule, the grand master mind
Some people are natural leaders with great intelligence and strategic thinking skills.
Some to lose for others to find
Some people are willing to sacrifice their own success for the greater good of others.
Now everybody is running for something
Everyone is chasing their own dreams and goals, trying to find fulfillment and purpose in life.
Now that the dream is gone, developed, disguised
People's aspirations and desires have changed over time, becoming more superficial and materialistic.
Into a giant cable show... and you want more
Society has become obsessed with entertainment and consumerism, always looking for the next big thing to consume.
Well you deserve more like immortality, extension
People believe they are entitled to live forever and extend their youth through various means like technology and medicine.
Dope, religion, sex and surgery
These are some of the things people turn to in order to satisfy their desires and escape reality.
Guess I'm slipping out of the poetry class here
The songwriter feels like he's losing the poetic tone of the song and becoming more blunt and direct.
Some made to sing, now will you sing along
Some people are gifted with musical talent and have the ability to bring people together through song.
Some made like god, and they can't be wrong
Some people have an air of invincibility and infallibility, making them believe they are always right.
Some made of gold, some made of stone
Some people are wealthy and powerful, while others are humble and grounded.
Some with the confidence to bring it all home
Some people have the necessary self-assurance and expertise to succeed in anything they do.
Now everybody's got to be on time... be on time...
There is a societal pressure to be efficient and punctual, to not waste any time and always be productive.
Free, equal, successful, way ahead... for what
People strive for freedom, equality and success, but often lose sight of why they do so or what they actually want to achieve.
I don't know... but it sure feels great running... I guess...
The songwriter admits he doesn't know what he's chasing, but enjoys the thrill of the pursuit.
So many people, with so much to say
The world is full of diverse individuals, each with their own opinions and ideas.
Makin' news today
These people are often in the media spotlight, making headlines and shaping public opinion.
So let me be your lover, let me be your clown
The songwriter offers himself as a source of entertainment and comfort for the listener.
Let me be your money, you can spend me all around
The songwriter offers himself as a source of financial security and prosperity for the listener.
Let me love you down
The songwriter wants to provide the listener with a deep, meaningful connection.
Some grow big, some grow small
People come in all shapes and sizes, and their impact on the world can vary greatly.
Some grow fast, some not at all
People's rate of growth and success can differ greatly, depending on a variety of factors.
Some made to glow, some made to shine, some to burn just for a brief moment of time... like...
People's talents and capacities can vary greatly, some making a lasting impact while others only shine briefly before disappearing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREAS JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind