The band is fronted by singer/composer Gustav Ejstes, who writes all music and plays the majority of instruments on the band's records. Despite this, Dungen plays live as a four-piece. Gustav, who in his teens started his songwriting with hip hop, is backed live by Swedish progressive rock veteran Reine Fiske (Landberk, Morte Macabre, Paatos, The Guild) on guitar, bassist Mattias Gustavsson (Life On Earth!), and drummer Fredrik Björling (The Guild)-- all of whom have played parts on Dungen's studio albums.
Following two vinyl album releases on Swedish record label Subliminal Sounds, Dungen briefly signed to Dolores Recordings (a subset of Virgin Records) in 2002, on which they released the CD Stadsvandringar and three singles, including one for Djungelboken 2 (the Swedish version of The Jungle Book 2). Gustav soon returned to his friend's independent record label Subliminal Sounds, stating that a major label did not feel right because Dungen is not a pop act.
Although Dungen's songs are sung entirely in Swedish, 2004's Ta Det Lugnt received great acclaim within indie rock circles and established the band's international reputation. This resulted in the band headlining two US tours and landing distribution deals in the US and UK. Dungen also performed their song "Panda" on the popular NBC television talk show Late Night With Conan O'Brien. In 2006, Dungen played at the famous Bonnaroo music festival and has also toured with Wolfmother and the Tucker B's around Australia.
Dungen released their third studio album, Tio Bitar on April 25, 2007 but did not tour in support of it.
The group's next long-player, entitled 4 was released on the 30th of september 2008.
In 2010 Dungen released their fifth studio album, Skit i allt.
Familj
Dungen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inget har hänt sen vi bodde hemma
Kom lyssna på en färdig avbild av dig som ung, yngre än nånsin fast förebilderna skriker
Säg att du förstår, å så många år
Dagen börjar bra, om det finns nåt kvar
Kom hem och känn dom gamla rollerna kväva dig
Mycket har hänt fast det ändrar ingenting
Och minns du hur en arg rebell finn nog och vände hemåt igen fast förväntningarna kväver
Säg att du förstår, å så många år
Om jag hade råd, [...]
Du är min familj! Om det räcker till...
[...]
Nu känns att vi har tid, för varann
Dagen börjar bra, om det finns nåt kvar
Du är min familj! Om det räcker till...
The lyrics of Dungen's song Familj seem to express a sense of disillusionment with family dynamics and a kind of bittersweet nostalgia for the past. The first verse invites the listener to come home and feel how everything changes slowly, despite nothing seemingly changing since the singer lived at home. The second verse speaks of an avbild (a Swedish word meaning "exact copy" or "duplicate") of the listener as a younger, more idealistic version of themselves, but surrounded by screaming models. The lyrics suggest a sense of disappointment or frustration with the world around them, but with an underlying sense of hope that things can still change.
The chorus of the song continues with a sense of longing and a feeling of inadequacy: "Säg att du förstår" (Say that you understand) and "Du är min familj! Om det räcker till..." (You are my family! If it's enough...). The verse about the rebel coming home despite the stifling expectations of society adds to this sense of disillusionment, but the final verse expresses a glimmer of hope that there is now time for each other.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be exploring the complexities of familial relationships and how they can both nurture and stifle individual growth. The theme of finding oneself within the confines of societal norms and family expectations is prevalent throughout the song, and its hopeful yet hesitant conclusion suggests that there may still be room for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Kom hem och känn hur allt förändras sakta
Come home and feel how everything changes slowly
Inget har hänt sen vi bodde hemma
Nothing has happened since we lived at home
Kom lyssna på en färdig avbild av dig som ung, yngre än nånsin fast förebilderna skriker
Come listen to a finished picture of you as young, younger than ever even though the role models scream
Säg att du förstår, å så många år
Say that you understand, after so many years
Dagen börjar bra, om det finns nåt kvar
The day starts well, if there is anything left
Du är min familj! Om det räcker till...
You are my family! If it's enough...
Kom hem och känn dom gamla rollerna kväva dig
Come home and feel the old roles suffocate you
Mycket har hänt fast det ändrar ingenting
A lot has happened but it doesn't change anything
Och minns du hur en arg rebell finn nog och vände hemåt igen fast förväntningarna kväver
And do you remember how an angry rebel finally turned back home even though the expectations suffocate?
Om jag hade råd, [...]
If I could afford it, [...]
Nu känns att vi har tid, för varann
Now it feels like we have time, for each other
Writer(s): Gustav Ejstes
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevlar Shanahan
Amazing music, so lost on most people.
Peter Sun
about home and feel how everything changes slowly
Nothing has happened since we lived at home
Come listen to a finished image of you as a young person, younger than ever, even though the role models are screaming
Say you understand, oh so many years
The day starts well, if there is anything left
You are my family! If that's enough ...
Come home and feel the old roles suffocate you
A lot has happened but it does not change anything
And do you remember how an angry rebel felt enough and returned home even though expectations were stifling
Say you understand, oh so many years
If I could afford it, [...]
You are my family! If that's enough ...
Now it feels like we have time, for each other
The day starts well, if there is anything left
You are my family! If that's enough ...
Marko Maunula
Kanske det bästa bit från min favorit svensk band.