In early 2014, Arif signed a career management deal with Nora Collective. While working on his long-play debut, Arif released one of the biggest urban hits of the summer of 2014; “Lowkey” and in January 2015, he released the radio-friendly “Kanke Gi Opp” (feat. Magnus Eliassen), the first single from the April 2015 album “HighEnd / Asfalt” - raising the expectations for his album debut even further.
Background:
In the wake of the critically acclaimed EP, along with the national hit “Gal”, Arif was named Untouched Artist of The Year - a prestigeful aknowledgement for new, independent artists, presented by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). After his performance at Norwegian music festival by:Larm, Arif was hailed as a rising star by VG, P3, Dagbladet and Aftenposten - some of Norway’s largest media outlets. This paved the way for a career step in the right direction when major label EMI/Warner Music Group signed Arif in early 2013. He released his well recieved sophomore-EP “Aldri & Alltid” in the fall of 2013, which had a more dark and serious theme than his debut release.
Arif’s music and impressively energetic live performances, combined with his charismatic appearance, has helped earn Arif gigs at the biggest festivals, his own t-shirt collection together with the Varner Group, as well as several radio and TV performances, including a guest role in TV show “Helt Perfekt” with comedian Thomas Giertsen.
Vekk Meg Opp
Arif Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bare kalde mennesker, kan'ke kjenne fingre
Hver dag blir mer slitsom, hver dag vil jeg gi opp
Penger blir til problemer, damer blir til problemer
Ex'en lager scener, Blanca dra meg ned igjen
I en kjeller jeg får ikke besøkende og det spiller i et rom full av røkelse
Vekk meg opp x4
Som en regnbue som brant, enhjørning som falt
Det paradiset du snakker om er et eventyr for barn
Alle vil ha no, få av oss som har baller
De som har det, får det først
Resten av oss dør av tørst
Hellig vann, hellig vann, skyene gråter ut hellig vann
Dråpene fikk han til å se Gud så han følte seg som en hellig mann
Vi hadde på oss Helly Hansen, helt opp i hell med asken
Knivran eller politimann, se opp til Satan eller Zlatan
Vekk meg opp x4
Jeg tror jeg går i søvne x4
Flaske Jack D, gikk rett opp til huet
Fant en pose piller, tok en blå og en gul en
Låser meg inni et kott for en uke
Gikk på en smell som å krasje i en murvegg
Ser tilbake på fucka fortid, lever på lånt tid
Faen at det var sånn det skulle bli
Hadde drømmer om en mill, om å få det til
Bare komme inn, vekk meg opp er du snill
The lyrics to Arif's song "Vekk Meg Opp" describe the singer's feelings of numbness and cold in his city, which is filled with cold and distant people. The singer feels overwhelmed by the everyday struggles, from money to relationships, to the point where he wants to give up. He is also held back by his past, with his ex causing drama and Blanca, a person or thing, pulling him down again. The singer finds himself stuck in a basement with no visitors, surrounded by smoke.
The chorus, "Vekk Meg Opp", translates to "Wake Me Up" and is a cry for help, as the singer feels like he is sleepwalking through life. He views the promises of paradise and success as fantasies, cynically referencing unicorns and the need for bravery to achieve any kind of success. The singer sees those who have what they want as lucky or privileged, while those who don't, like himself, are left feeling thirsty and unfulfilled.
The final verse references drug use as a coping mechanism for the singer, with Jack Daniels and pills being mentioned. He isolates himself for a week, and when he looks back on his life, he feels that it has been wasted, and he is living on borrowed time. He states his feelings of wanting to achieve his dreams of reaching a million, perhaps indicating wealth or success, and to be "woken up" from the painful mundanity of his present situation.
Overall, these lyrics paint a picture of a person grappling with depression, isolation, and a lack of purpose, using substances to cope and feeling like there is no way out. The song calls for help and suggests a longing for a different, more rewarding life.
Line by Line Meaning
Nummen i hele trynet, alt for kaldt i byen min
I feel numb all over my face, the city is too cold for me
Bare kalde mennesker, kan'ke kjenne fingre
The people here are so cold that I cannot even feel my fingers
Hver dag blir mer slitsom, hver dag vil jeg gi opp
Every day gets more tiring and every day I feel like giving up
Penger blir til problemer, damer blir til problemer
Money brings problems and women bring problems too
Ex'en lager scener, Blanca dra meg ned igjen
My ex creates drama and Blanca pulls me down again
I en kjeller jeg får ikke besøkende og det spiller i et rom full av røkelse
I am in a basement with no visitors and the room smells of incense
Vekk meg opp x4
Wake me up (repeated 4 times)
Jeg tror jeg går i søvne x4
I think I am sleepwalking (repeated 4 times)
Som en regnbue som brant, enhjørning som falt
Like a rainbow on fire, a unicorn that fell
Det paradiset du snakker om er et eventyr for barn
The paradise you talk about is a fairy tale for children
Alle vil ha no, få av oss som har baller
Everyone wants something, but only a few of us have the courage
De som har det, får det først
Those who have it, get it first
Resten av oss dør av tørst
The rest of us die of thirst (figuratively)
Hellig vann, hellig vann, skyene gråter ut hellig vann
Holy water, holy water, the clouds cry out holy water
Dråpene fikk han til å se Gud så han følte seg som en hellig mann
The drops made him see God, so he felt like a holy man
Vi hadde på oss Helly Hansen, helt opp i hell med asken
We were wearing Helly Hansen clothes, deeper in hell with the ashes
Knivran eller politimann, se opp til Satan eller Zlatan
Robber or policeman, look up to Satan or Zlatan (a reference to the famous footballer)
Flaske Jack D, gikk rett opp til huet
Bottle of Jack D, went straight to my head
Fant en pose piller, tok en blå og en gul en
Found a bag of pills, took a blue one and a yellow one
Låser meg inni et kott for en uke
Locking myself in a closet for a week
Gikk på en smell som å krasje i en murvegg
I made a mistake like crashing into a brick wall
Ser tilbake på fucka fortid, lever på lånt tid
Looking back on a messed up past, living on borrowed time
Faen at det var sånn det skulle bli
Damn, that's how it had to be
Hadde drømmer om en mill, om å få det til
Had dreams of a million, of making it happen
Bare komme inn, vekk meg opp er du snill
Just let me in, please wake me up
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brage Hallgrimsen
For et ordspill, for en video, for ei låt. Respekt.
espen andersen
Arif kaller en krakk en krakk! dette er det beste som har skjedd norsk hiphop på VELDIG lenge
MayMadness
REST IN PEACE Phil'T rich, og velkommen til Arif
Phyranion
Sykt kul video!
KONG HALVOR
DAMN så kult!
Geir
ny favoritt sang, harre arif du e gud.
Zaddy Vegeta
Phil T. Rich e "færdiih"! Dette e Arif. Big ups from Stavanger. Do yah thang bruh!
YLTV
Klunken er helt CP på videoer. $$$ R.I.P Phil T. Rich. Lenge leve Arif.
Sebastian Bigom Helén
GG Phil'T Rick. Du var det eneste håpet norsk rap hadde, now its gone ....
Rashid M Jama
Woooohooow! My homie has come very far!!!