After she won the Under 18s category of the UK talent contest Open Mic UK at the age of 12, Bogaerde was soon offered a publishing contract by Good Soldier Songs Ltd, run by Christian Tattersfield, chairman of Warner Music UK. In 2011, at the age of 14, she released a haunting cover version of the Bon Iver "Skinny Love", which reached #17 on the UK Singles Chart. The track was later featured in an episode of The Vampire Diaries.
Her self-titled debut album, "Birdy", was released on 4th November, 2011 and featured "Skinny Love" , "1901" and "People Help The People", other notable tracks from the album include James Taylor's" Fire and Rain" and “Terrible Love” The album reached #1 in Australia, Belgium and The Netherlands, it also peaked at #13 in the UK.
In 2011, "Skinny Love" sold 259,000 copies in the UK becoming the third biggest selling rock single of that year. As of August 2016, the song had sold almost 800,000 copies in the UK.
In 2012, Birdy released an 8 track EP " Live in London “ which featured several tracks from her debut album plus a version of the Ed Sheeran song "The A Team “and "Just a Game from “The Hunger Games”
In July 2013 Birdy announced via YouTube, that her 2nd album would be released later in the year. She also previewed two new songs "Wings "and "No Angel" which would both be featured on her second studio album "Fire Within"
Her second studio album, "Fire Within" was released 23rd September, 2013. It featured 11 original songs, either written or co written by Birdy including Strange Birds, co-written with Sia.
The first single from the album was “Wings” released as a digital download then officially released in the UK on 8th September 2013. The song reached #8 on the UK charts, becoming Birdy’s first UK top 10. It was also featured in an episode of The Vampire Diaries. Subsequent singles were “No Angel”, Light Me Up” and “Words as Weapons”
In 2014, Birdy submitted three songs to the soundtrack of the film “The Fault In Our Stars” which stars “Shailene Woodley” and “Ansel Elgort”. “Not About Angels” was the second released single from the soundtrack album. Other Birdy contributions were “ Tee Shirt" and “ Best Shot"
On 25th March 2016, Birdy's third album "Beautiful Lies" was released, it featured the singles, "Keeping Your Head Up" ,"Wild Horses" and "Words" Once again her songwriting abilities were evident as she wrote or co wrote all of the 14 tracks.
Also in 2016 she was featured on the "Sigma" single " Find Me which was only a minor success in the UK.
Her song Ghost In The Wind" also appeared on the soundtrack of the film The Edge Of Seventeen
After an extensive tour of USA and Asia, she took a break from music, only to return with a new single called “ Open Your Heart" in 2020. The song was featured on the 4 track EP called “Piano Sketches”
Birdy’s fourth studio album “Young Heart” was then released on 30th April 2021, the first single “ Surrender” was issued earlier in 2021, a day after she had announced that her new album was coming. Birdy described the album as a heartbreak album heavily inspired by Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”
2023 saw the release of Birdy's fifth studio album “Portraits” It was released on 18th August 2023. “Raincatchers” was issued as the first single, which had been released earlier in 2023. Subsequent singles from the album have since followed, “Heartbreaker”, “Your Arms” and “Paradise Calling”
Birdy's music is described as folk, pop, indie folk. She cites her early music influences as Classical Music and Pop music that her parents would play. along with her own influences, which are so evident in her music(Bon Iver, George Michael and Keane)
Album Discography:
Birdy (2011)
Fire Within (2013)
Beautiful Lies (2016)
Young Heart (2021)
Portraits (2023)
Sites: Discogs, Wikipedia and YouTube.
Just A Game
Birdy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know this place
Don't recognize anybody
Just the same old empty face
See these people they lie
And I don't know who to believe anymore
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
Is it just a game?
I don't know
Pleading eyes that break my heart
So homesick I can't feel
But I know I must play my part
And tears I must conceal
There comes you to keep me safe from harm
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
To keep you safe from my bow
Take my hand and my heart races
Flames illuminate our faces
And we're on fire
Blow a kiss to the crowd
They're our only hope now
And now I know my place
And now I know my place
We're all just pieces in their games
The lyrics in Birdy's song "Just a Game" explore themes of uncertainty, fear, and vulnerability. The singer is lost and alone in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by people they don't know and who may not have their best interests at heart. The repeated refrain of "Is it just a game?" suggests that the singer feels like they are being toyed with or manipulated in some way, unsure of what is real and what is not.
But amidst the chaos and confusion, there is one person who offers comfort and protection. This person is a source of strength for the singer, providing a sense of safety in a world that is otherwise unpredictable and unreliable. The lines "There comes you to keep me safe from harm / There comes you to take me in your arms" convey a sense of gratitude and relief at having someone to lean on.
The final verse of the song introduces a new element, with the singer describing a scene of performance and spectacle. The lines "Take my hand and my heart races / The flames illuminate our faces / And we're on fire" suggest that they are part of a show or game that is taking place in front of a crowd. The singer seems resigned to their role in this game, acknowledging that "We're all just pieces in their games." The final lines of the song ("Blow a kiss to the crowd / They're our only hope now") suggest that the outcome of this game is uncertain, and that the singer and their protector are relying on the audience to determine their fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know where I am
I am lost and have no idea of my current location
I don't know this place
This place is totally unfamiliar to me
Don't recognize anybody
I don't know anyone in this place
Just the same old empty face
Everyone looks alike and expressionless
See these people they lie
People here are deceptive
And I don't know who to believe anymore
I can't trust anyone here
But there comes you to keep me safe from harm
You come to protect me from danger
There comes you to take me in your arms
You come to embrace me and offer comfort
Is it just a game? I don't know
I'm unsure if what is happening is real or just a game
Is it just a game? I don't know
I'm still questioning if this is a game or not
Pleading eyes that break my heart, so hopes that I can feel
Eyes filled with pain and desperation make me empathize
But I know I must play my part, and tears I must conceal
I realize that I have a role to play and must hide my emotions
Take my hand and my heart races
My heart beats faster when you hold my hand
The flames illuminate our faces
The fire reveals our faces and brings us together
And we're on fire
We feel alive and passionate
Blow a kiss to the crowd
We show appreciation to the audience
They're our only hope now
We rely on the audience to support us
And I know my place
I understand my role and position
And now I know my place
I have come to a realization about my role and position
We're all just pieces in their games
We are pawns or instruments in someone else's game or plan
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JASMINE LUCILLA ELISABETH VAN DEN BOGAERDE, JASMINE LUCILLA ELISABETH VAN D BOGAERDE, JASMINE VAN DEN BOGAERDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Itsallabunch ofhooie
"Just A Game"
I don't know where I am
I don't know this place
Don't recognize anybody
Just the same old empty face
See these people they lie
And I don't know who to believe anymore
But there comes you to keep me safe from harm
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
Is it just a game?
I don't know
Pleading eyes that break my heart
So homesick I can't feel
But I know I must play my part
And tears I must conceal
There comes you to keep me safe from harm
There comes you to take me in your arms
Is it just a game?
I don't know
To keep you safe from my bow
Take my hand and my heart races
Flames illuminate our faces
And we're on fire
Blow a kiss to the crowd
They're our only hope now
And now I know my place
And now I know my place
We're all just pieces in their games
Cindy Ng
When everyone else in school is obsessed with pop singers, I am completely obsessed with Birdy. She is so vital in this era of meaningless pop songs, the beauty of music, and a precious gem. I've finally found her. Supporting Birdy forever!
Rory Stewart
I am almost happy so few people know about her. She's so amazing, i want her music all to myself.
Julia Hoppe
I was too ❤️
Ethereal Iris
Yeah so edgy
Delilah Dumptruck
R/notliketheothergirls
August Koningen
Is not my favourite one but she is amazing
gibosaurs
It makes me so sad that she's so underrated. She deserves much more recognition. I think I'm the only one in my school that knows who birdy is.
olivya oreoBD
I will love this song forever, it goes perfectly with Katniss and Peeta
Esther LeClaire
"Blow a kiss to the crowd, they're our only hope now"
"The flames illuminate our faces"
"We're all just pieces in their games"
SO TRUE!
olivya oreoBD
Love it!!