By mid 1978 he became a member of Vikingarna, earlier he sang in the band Pelles Orkester.
Since the early 2000s, Christer Sjögren lives in Hammarö, outside Karlstad, Sweden.
The first album by Vikingarna with Christer Sjögren as singer is "Kramgoa låtar 7", released in 1979.
He competed in Melodifestivalen 2008, the Swedish preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Taking one of the two top spots in the first semi-final, his song "I Love Europe" was qualified for the final in the Globe Arena on March 15, 2008. He finished in 9th place.
Life On Mars
Christer Sjögren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling, "No!"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she′s lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man!
Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He′s in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It′s on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
′Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
′Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man!
Look at those cavemen go
It′s the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
Uh... uh-uh...
Is there life on Mars?...
The lyrics of Christer Sjögren's Life On Mars describe a feeling of detachment from reality, as the singer watches a film that she finds mundane but is still transfixed by. The girl with the mousy hair faces opposition from her parents but still decides to seek out the clearest view in the cinema. The reference to sailors fighting in the dance hall and cavemen going wild is a metaphor for society being out of control and absurd. The singer questions the existence of life on Mars, wondering if there might be escape from the depressing reality all around them.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a god-awful small affair
The situation is insignificant and unworthy of attention.
To the girl with the mousy hair
The girl in question is plain and unremarkable.
But her mummy is yelling, "No!"
Her mother is against her lifestyle choices.
And her daddy has told her to go
Her father does not want her to stay.
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Her companion is missing and nowhere to be found.
Now she walks through her sunken dream
She walks through her depressed and disillusioned life.
To the seat with the clearest view
She seeks the best seat to observe things from.
And she's hooked to the silver screen
She is addicted to watching movies or TV.
But the film is a saddening bore
The movie is depressing, uninteresting and dull.
For she's lived it ten times or more
The movie tells a familiar story she's heard many times.
She could spit in the eyes of fools
She considers herself superior to those who fall for it.
As they ask her to focus on
As people advise her to pay attention to something specific.
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
A visual description of people enduring hardship.
Oh man!
Expresses amazement or shock upon witnessing something.
Look at those cavemen go
People are acting primitive or barbaric.
It's the freakiest show
The situation is strange, bizarre and unsettling.
Take a look at the Lawman
A person in authority is being highlighted.
Beating up the wrong guy
The person in power is abusing it to hurt those who are not really a threat.
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
Expresses incredulity regarding the Lawman's sense of justice.
He's in the best selling show
The Lawman is a media sensation.
Is there life on Mars?
Asks a philosophical question about the meaning of existence beyond Earth.
It's on America's tortured brow
Something is causing America great suffering or anxiety.
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
The symbol of American childhood has become something vulgar.
Now the workers have struck for fame
Workers are demanding media attention from strikes.
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
John Lennon's public image is being commercialized again.
See the mice in their million hordes
The common people are numerous and insignificant.
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Locations both near and far are included in the comparison.
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
A patriotic expression is inappropriate in the current context.
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
Expresses the impossibility of something happening.
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
The writer is repeating a similar story over and over.
It's about to be writ again
The author is about to write another story similar to the last one.
As I ask you to focus on
The writer is giving the audience directions on how to read or watch something.
Uh... uh-uh...
A dissonance or interjection.
Is there life on Mars?
Repeats the earlier reference to the philosophical question about the meaning of existence beyond Earth.
Writer(s): David Bowie
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.