Her father is Italian and her mother Icelandic. Emilíana grew up in Kópavogur where, at the age of 7, she joined a choir as a soprano. She continued with the choir until she went to opera school at the age of 15. Later she worked as waitress at her father's restaurant. In 1994, Emilíana became well-known at the age of 17 after winning the song competition for junior college students (Icelandic: Söngkeppni framhaldsskólanna), singing "I Will Survive".
Prior to her appearance on the worldwide stage, she released 3 other albums in Iceland: Spoon in 1994, Crouçie D'où Là in 1995, and Merman in 1996. Emilíana also worked with trip-hop group Gus Gus on their debut Polydistortion (1997) on two songs: Is Jesus Your Pal? and Why?.
Later Torrini continues to collaborate with other artists, notably composing Kylie Minogue's international #1 track Slow with Dan Carey in 2003, and providing the voice for Gollum's Song, the closing theme for the film "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Also in 2002, she sang vocals on Paul Oakenfold's song Hold Your Hand taken from his Bunkka album.
In 2003 she collaborated with Thievery Corporation on two songs Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes and Until the Morning from The Richest Man in Babylon (2005), and Slovo's debut album, Nommo.
Emilíana Torrini released her international debut album, Love In The Time Of Science in November 1999. This trip-hop album was produced by Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears. Four singles were issued: Dead Things, Baby Blue, To Be Free, and Unemployed in Summertime.
Working with Dan Carey, her second major album release released in 2005, Fisherman's Woman, signified a departure from her earlier electronic roots to an acoustic-folk sound; applying the ethereal beauty of her voice in a much more intimate setting, reminiscent of the work of Nick Drake and fellow Icelanders múm. The singles Lifesaver, Sunnyroad, and Heartstopper supported the album.
Her third album, Me and Armini was released on 8 September 2008, to generally good reviews. The album was promoted by three singles: Me and Armini, Big Jumps, and Jungle Drum. The single Jungle Drum became Emilíana's most successful song, reaching #1 in Iceland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, #5 on Finland, and #11 in Switzerland.
Her fourth international studio album, Tookah was released in 2013.
http://www.emilianatorrini.com/
Torrini has lately worked with Canada's Kid Koala, providing vocals on the ambient album Music To Draw To: Satellite, released in January 2017.
The album is described as "...his first non sample-based album, with all the instruments and effects being manipulated by him and him alone) and lyricist (a collaboration with Icelandic vocalist Emilíana Torrini, who somehow makes this sometimes stark, often celestial-sounding record even more chilling with her captivating performances on tracks like "Collapser" and "Adrift") — is able to transport listeners to the depths of space, or wherever their imagination wills them, with ease."
http://exclaim.ca/music/article/kid_koala-music_to_draw_to_satellite
Blame It On The Sun
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I go on?
It seems dear love has gone away.
Where is my spirit?
I'm nowhere near it!
Oh yes, my love...has gone astray.
But I'll blame it on the sun,
I blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the time,
That never was enough,
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.
Who poured the love out?
What made this bitter doubt?
Is peace not here, for me to see?
Wish I could tell you, what I am feelin'.
But words won't come, for me to speak.
Wow! But I'll blame it on the sun, that didn't fill the sky.
I'll blame it on the birds, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the day, that ended once too soon.
I'll blame it on the nights, that could not be.
I'll blame it on the sun, the sun that didn't shine.
I'll blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the time, that never was enough.
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.
The lyrics of Emilíana Torrini's song Blame It On The Sun expresses the struggles of a confused individual who is trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. The song starts with the individual questioning the whereabouts of their love and expressing their difficulty moving on without them. They feel disconnected from themselves and are unable to understand why they are feeling this way. The individual is unable to express their emotions and wishes they could articulate them better.
The chorus follows with the individual placing blame on everything around them such as the sun not shining, the wind blowing too hard, the time not being enough, and the tide not cooperating. However, the singer understands deep down that they are the ones to blame, as their heart tells them so. The song's core essence lies in the internal conflict of the individual battling with their feelings of loss and the need to take responsibility for their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Where has my love gone?
I am searching for my lost love and don't know where to find them.
How can I go on?
I am struggling to move forward without my love.
It seems dear love has gone away.
My love has left and I am feeling lost and alone.
Where is my spirit?
I feel disconnected from myself and my life force.
I'm nowhere near it!
I cannot figure out how to reconnect with my spirit and feel alive again.
Oh yes, my love...has gone astray.
My love has gone off course and I don't know how to bring it back.
But I'll blame it on the sun,The sun that didn't shine,I blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I am scapegoating external factors like the sun, wind, and trees for my problems and not taking responsibility for my own actions.
I'll blame it on the time,That never was enough,I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
I am blaming the passing of time and external forces like the tide and sea for my lack of progress and inability to move forward.
But my heart blames it... on me.
Ultimately, I know that I am responsible for my own heartache and need to take ownership of my role in my own misery.
Who poured the love out?,What made this bitter doubt?,Is peace not here, for me to see?
I am questioning what went wrong in my relationship and if I will ever find inner peace again.
Wish I could tell you, what I am feelin'.But words won't come, for me to speak.
I am struggling to articulate my emotions and express myself to others.
Wow! But I'll blame it on the sun, that didn't fill the sky.I'll blame it on the birds, and the trees.I'll blame it on the day, that ended once too soon.I'll blame it on the nights, that could not be.
I continue to blame external forces for my problems, including the sun, birds, trees, day, and night, rather than taking responsibility for my own situation.
But my heart blames it... on me.
Despite my attempts to shift the blame onto others, I know deep down that I am responsible for my own happiness and need to take action to change my life.
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Arantxa Urrutia
I just listened to the original by Stevie Wonder during a podcast, and my mind took me back to, I guess 1997, when heard it for the first time, in this version by Emiliana Torrini. A was sweet moment indeed.
Samantha aguilar
Where has my love gone?
How can I go on?
It seems dear love has gone away.
Where is my spirit?
I'm nowhere near it!
Oh yes, my love... has gone astray.
But I'll blame it on the sun,
The sun that didn't shine,
I blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the time,
That never was enough,
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.
Who poured the love out?
What made this bitter doubt?
Is peace not here, for me to see?
Wish I could tell you, what I am feelin'.
But words won't come, for me to speak.
Wow! But I'll blame it on the sun, that didn't fill the sky.
I'll blame it on the birds, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the day, that ended once too soon.
I'll blame it on the nights, that could not be.
I'll blame it on the sun, the sun that didn't shine.
I'll blame it on the wind, and the trees.
I'll blame it on the time, that never was enough.
I'll blame it on the tide, and the sea.
But my heart blames it... on me.
Kris Bland
Not a bad cover.
Bob Basic
Not Torrini
Neotoribaru
Ari Nykänen this is from her first album only released in island Merman