The band's origin dates back to the summer of 1989 when Zak Tell and Jocke Skog met while working together at the Rosenlund Hospital somewhere in the vicinity of Stockholm. In 1990 they were joined by the Norwegian guitarists Bård Torstensen and Erlend Ottem who were also working at the same hospital. Soon the four realized their similar interests in music. Bård and Erlend previously played in a band called Theo in their hometown Arendal back in Norway. Their free time was invested in exploring the musical world, composing and writing songs while evolving into a band.
Their original demo comprising three tracks (Waste of Time, Nigger and Profit Preacher) quickly secured them local radio airplay and consequently brought them to the attention of the MVG label. "Nigger" is an anti-racism statement that caused quite a stir and was a massive success; it was also released as a single. By the beginning of the 1990s, Clawfinger self-released their debut Deaf Dumb Blind. This sold in over 600,000 copies worldwide and was critically acclaimed in Swedish press. With the addition of André Skaug and drummer Morten Skaug, Clawfinger went on tour and played at countless European festivals including major support slots with Anthrax and Alice in Chains.
The band received many awards, including two home Grammies at the Swedish Grammy Awards in 1994 for best hard rock band and best music video. After touring, they went straight back in the studio to record their second album, Use Your Brain. After the release of this album they went on yet another touring campaign, most notably participating at Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival in Brazil and Chile, rocking alongside American metal counterparts like Megadeth, Faith No More, and Alice Cooper. Back in Europe they continued their touring campaign by participating at festivals and countless gigs.
Their self-titled album Clawfinger was released in 1997. The first song on the album is Two Sides, which expanded the band's reach by using female choir vocals and a Middle Eastern sound. The rest of the album continues with the band's typical aggressive voice and socio-political lyrics.
A Whole Lot of Nothing was the fourth album released on 23 July 2001. The music showcases the same aggressive guitars, with more distortion effects and sounds, adding a whole new level of diversification. As for the synthesizers, on this particular album they're more present than on any other of Clawfinger's works.
Zeros & Heroes was released in 2003 and it caused controversy in America because the song Step Aside did not sit well with most American audiences due to the fact it slams George W. Bush and the post 9/11 (and not only) military politics of the US. It offers yet another style change for the ears of the listener. The electronic sound and synthesizers from A Whole Lot of Nothing are gone and replaced by a more complex and melodic guitar riffing.
Hate Yourself With Style was released in 2005. The album continued the path entered on Zeros & Heroes and is characterized by hardrock style melodic speedy guitar riffs. The keyboards which particularly characterized A Whole Lot of Nothing have completely disappeared.
Life Will Kill You was released in 2007. It has spawned three singles: Prisoners, The Price We Pay, and Little Baby.
The band officially disbanded in 23 August 2013.
Current members:
Zak Tell — vocals
Jocke Skog — keyboards
Bard Torstensen — guitar
Henka Johansson — drums
Andre Skaug — bass
Biggest 'n' The Best
Clawfinger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm here to give you all a heavy heavenly dose.
I think you better listen 'cause I know who you are,
And I think that you should treat me like a superstar,
Because I'm more than just a human I'm the gift to all of you,
And I'm here to make sure that my message gets through.
I wonder if you're really all as dumb as you look,
Or are you smart enough to learn the rules in my book.
Puts me in the position of a god or a king,
'Cause I'm blessed with the gift of the magic touch,
And I wouldn't say that I'm asking for too much.
All you have to do is get down on your knees and pray,
And I promise you the remedy is on its way,
But you can never be like me so don't waste your time,
Because I reign supreme and my position is divine.
What's wrong with being self-possessed?
Nobody satisfied with being second best.
I've got the gift and I know that I'm blessed,
And I've got to get it off my chest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm not afraid of competition cause I know that I'm best,
And you haven't got a chance to even pass my little test.
Even if you wanted to you couldn't pay the price.
There ain't no room for losers in my perfect paradise,
'Cause life is always based upon the weight of your success,
So I'll make sure that I get the most and nothing less,
If I love myself then everyone will love me too,
And there's nothing you can do for me that I can't do.
What's wrong with being self-possessed?
Nobody satisfied with being second best.
I've got the gift and I know that I'm blessed,
And I've got to get it off my chest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
So welcome to my kingdom and enjoy your little stay,
Even if you can't afford it I'll still make you pay.
So you better come and get it and enjoy it while you can,
Don't tell me that you're dumb enough to think I give a damn.
I couldn't care less about what you achieve,
And there's only one thing that you have to believe:
The only thing important that you have to understand,
Is that no matter what you say it's still a god I really am.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest.
I'm the biggest,
The best,
Better than the rest,
Better than the rest....
The lyrics of Clawfinger's song "Biggest 'n' The Best" are a self-aggrandizing proclamation of the singer's superiority over everyone else. He declares himself to be almost perfect and presents himself as a divine being who brings knowledge and a remedy. He asks his audience to listen and treat him like a superstar, and he wonders if they are dumb enough not to learn the rules from his book. He sees himself as a gift to everyone and says that his position is divine. He also claims that life is based on the weight of success and that he will not settle for anything less than the best.
The singer's self-obsessed attitude and arrogance come through in the lyrics. He thinks highly of himself and wants everyone to acknowledge his greatness. He believes that success is everything and sees himself as the ultimate winner. The song can be interpreted as a satire on the obsession with material success and fame in contemporary society. The singer's exaggerated claims are meant to be taken ironically.
Despite being released in 1993, "Biggest 'n' The Best" remains a popular song to this day due to its catchy chorus and its relatable message about the drive for success. It has been used in many movies and TV shows, and remains a staple of Clawfinger's live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody is perfect but I'm pretty fucking close,
I may not be perfect, but I am close to it.
And I'm here to give you all a heavy heavenly dose.
I'm here to impart my wisdom and greatness to all of you.
I think you better listen 'cause I know who you are,
I know who you are, so you should pay attention to what I have to say.
And I think that you should treat me like a superstar,
I deserve to be treated like a superstar for my greatness.
Because I'm more than just a human I'm the gift to all of you,
I am not just a human, but a gift to all of you.
And I'm here to make sure that my message gets through.
I am here to ensure that my message is received and understood.
I wonder if you're really all as dumb as you look,
I question if you're all really as foolish as you appear to be.
Or are you smart enough to learn the rules in my book.
But hopefully, you are intelligent enough to follow my teachings.
I hope you understand that the knowledge I bring,
I bring knowledge that is valuable and should be understood.
Puts me in the position of a god or a king,
My knowledge and greatness elevate me to a godly or kingly position.
'Cause I'm blessed with the gift of the magic touch,
I possess a magical touch or talent that sets me apart.
And I wouldn't say that I'm asking for too much.
I don't think I'm asking for too much because of my greatness.
All you have to do is get down on your knees and pray,
If you show me the respect I deserve, I promise to help you.
And I promise you the remedy is on its way,
I guarantee that my remedy or solution will benefit you.
But you can never be like me so don't waste your time,
You can never be as great as me, so don't bother trying.
Because I reign supreme and my position is divine.
My greatness is supreme and divinely appointed.
What's wrong with being self-possessed?
What's wrong with being confident in oneself?
Nobody satisfied with being second best.
No one wants to settle for second-best.
I've got the gift and I know that I'm blessed,
I possess a talent or gift that sets me apart.
And I've got to get it off my chest.
I need to express this greatness to others.
So welcome to my kingdom and enjoy your little stay,
Welcome to my realm where you can bask in my greatness.
Even if you can't afford it I'll still make you pay.
You will pay for the privilege of experiencing my greatness.
So you better come and get it and enjoy it while you can,
Take advantage of the opportunity to experience my greatness.
Don't tell me that you're dumb enough to think I give a damn.
I don't care if you think I care, you should still respect me.
I couldn't care less about what you achieve,
I don't care about your achievements because they pale in comparison to mine.
And there's only one thing that you have to believe:
You only need to believe one thing: my greatness.
The only thing important that you have to understand,
The most significant thing to understand is my greatness.
Is that no matter what you say it's still a god I really am.
Regardless of what you think or say, I am still a god of sorts.
I'm the biggest,
I am the best or the greatest.
The best,
I am the best or the greatest.
Better than the rest,
I surpass everyone else in greatness.
Better than the rest.
I surpass everyone else in greatness.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARD SVERRE TORSTENSEN, ERLEND OTTEM, JOCKE SKOG, ZAK NIKOLAS TELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tapakbkmz
Underrated band
@Esbleibtkalt
Better than Rage against the machine imo.
@alexpol2476
Группа 90-х молодцы
@daddyc1379
RESPECT FROM ROMANIA !!!
@user-nj4no9py6p
Группа моей молодости 🌋
@alexsowpel770
Не то слово. А я и сейчас люблю их
@stanislavstoimenov1729
"Nobody's perfect but I'm pretty damn close..." 😝
@papillionwrestlingclubvide2756
Ahahaha, all the Dads coming in at the end is a nice touch. I really like this band!
@dxnproductscom
All concerts I slammed at Sziget Festival were cool, one of the greatest bands, keep it up guys!
@KUBAGRANCANARIA
The best Clawfinger video for me, absolutly bizzar, great