According to one of the band members, one day Lise arrived and asked to join the then instrumental band. At first they were very unsure, but it soon turned out that her vocals matched their sound perfectly.
The band's name is derived from the neighborhood where their rehearsal room was located.
They released their debut album Jeans for Onassis i 2000 containing the big hit "Propaganda", and received international attention after they toured as supporting act for A-ha in 2000. They have won a number of Norwegian awards with their music.
In 2003 the band released their second album Tonight, Captain?, which saw declining sales and no big hit singles to match the success of their debut. The third album Jumping on Cars was released in 2005, featuring the hit "Miss You Like A Crazy".
In 2015 the band made a comeback with the single Rookie Mistakes and a number of live shows across Norway.
The Asphalt Beach
Briskeby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I declare war on behalf of Judy Garland
Hey let's focus on family values
And daddy's new boyfriend
He's into bonding
He's into bondage
I don't believe we can believe anymore
So I chase the wind down the avenue
To the asphalt beach, it looks so pretty
Need a cup of coffee at the rendezvous
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
Profound medication
A drug of choice for every generation
I've stopped pretending, it works better with lies
But who needs control, who needs a riot
I don't believe we can believe anymore
So I chase the wind down the avenue
To the asphalt beach, it looks so pretty
Need a cup of coffee at the rendezvous
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
Make your confession in a telephone-booth
Call 1-800-GOD for shame and pity
Make an appearance with the satellite youth
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
Beauty is dead and I feel so pretty
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
There is no life outside the city
The lyrics to Briskeby’s “The Asphalt Beach” reflect the disillusionment and dissent of the youth culture in modern society. With lines like “I declare war on behalf of Judy Garland” and “Beauty is dead and I feel so pretty,” the song speaks to the rejection of traditional values and the search for purpose and meaning in an ever-changing world.
The opening lines, “It’s me versus America / I declare war on behalf of Judy Garland,” express the feeling of being at odds with the dominant culture and its assumptions about what is important in life. The reference to Judy Garland is significant, as she represents both the ideal of Hollywood glamour and the pain and tragedy that often accompany it.
The line “He’s into bonding / He’s into bondage” suggests the conflating of intimacy and power dynamics in relationships, which can lead to confusion and disillusionment. The song also speaks to the role of technology in modern life, with lines like “Make an appearance with the satellite youth.”
Overall, “The Asphalt Beach” is a powerful expression of the struggles and contradictions of contemporary existence, and the search for meaning and connection in a world that often feels lost.
Line by Line Meaning
It's me versus America
I am in opposition to American culture and society
I declare war on behalf of Judy Garland
I am fighting for acceptance and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, of which Judy Garland is a symbol
Hey let's focus on family values
Let's prioritize traditionally accepted values of family structures and roles
And daddy's new boyfriend
Referring to relationships outside of traditional heterosexual norms
He's into bonding
He is interested in forming close, emotional connections
He's into bondage
He is interested in BDSM, which can also reference power dynamics and non-traditional roles in sexual relationships
I don't believe we can believe anymore
I have lost faith in traditional beliefs and systems
So I chase the wind down the avenue
I am searching for something undefined and constantly changing
To the asphalt beach, it looks so pretty
Referring to the beauty and glamour of an urban lifestyle
Need a cup of coffee at the rendezvous
Looking for human connection or stimulation
There is no life outside the city
Cities are the only places where one can truly experience life
Profound medication
Searching for something to help numb or cope with the realities of life
A drug of choice for every generation
There will always be a substance, behavior, or activity that people turn to for comfort or escape
I've stopped pretending, it works better with lies
Acknowledging the power of dishonesty and hiding one's true self
But who needs control, who needs a riot
Questioning the need for structure and order, and instead advocating for chaos and rebellion
Make your confession in a telephone-booth
A reference to the lack of privacy in modern society
Call 1-800-GOD for shame and pity
Satirical commentary on the commercialization of religion and the idea of needing forgiveness from a higher power
Make an appearance with the satellite youth
Finding a sense of community and belonging with younger generations who also feel like outsiders
Beauty is dead and I feel so pretty
The idea that the traditional notion of beauty is no longer relevant or desirable, and that individuality and non-conformity is more valuable
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BARD HELGELAND, BJORN BERGENE, CLAUS LARSEN, LISE KARLSNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@duncan5mcleod
Edit : 2020, toujours aussi génial ce morceaux !
Sublime titre, tout comme le reste de l'album, incompréhensible que ce groupe ai disparu au bout d'a peine 3 albums, les deux suivant étant tout aussi sympa !
Découvert par hasard en cherchant un album de Propaganda ( le groupe ) c'est sur le titre d'une des chansons de Bryskeby que je tombe, Asphalt beach ayant scellez mon amour pour ce groupe, comme quoi, il y a de bon hasard !
@kennywilliams6477
"Jeans for Onassis" will always be one of my favourite albums of all time. Can't believe it's 15 years old already. I miss their single "Greatest Refrain" and nowhere to find it. But this track slightly heals :)
@ZOMBIEMACHINE
i love this song!!!
@duncan5mcleod
Un si beau morceau perdu sur youtube, quel dommage, qui écoute encore ce groupe en 2024 ?
Apparemment que moi, bouhou !!
@donthompson9862
Man what a great Band.just fabulous.Cannot belive its been 18 plus years since ive seen this great band who opened for aha.
@danielschlachta
Pleasant memories! How people found out about this beats me though ...