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
Blood Red
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without a roof, blood red
Goes so fast, my lipstick runs down river
Instead I stay a while longer
So restricted
I know too much
I'm so affected
The winding hours
This long, this long
Ooooh, come a days in mountains
That you're wasting lazily around the abandon
Mind your head, you're so cut up
I see the sea is running free
You don't know that
You say this whole evening
I believed in this song
Oh this song is like a ??? coming
I want to be in your bed
Against your skin, where sun spills
You move like currents
In wild storms, down river
Ooooh, come a days in mountains
That you're wasting lazily around the abandon
Ooooo-oooooh
Mind your head, you're so cut up
I see the sea is running free
You don't know that
You say this whole evening
I believed in this song
Oh this song is like a ??? coming
Fire's burning in golden planes
You're the oil and the flames
I'm alive and night coarse stars align
And my mind roars
Ooooo-oooooooh
Ooooo-oooooooh
Ooooo-oooooooh
Ooooo-oooooooh
Ooooo-oooooooh
The lyrics to Emiliana Torrini's song Blood Red express a desire for something more thrilling and adventurous, represented by the image of cutting in red. The singer wants to break free from their restricted life and live without limits, but they are also aware of the consequences of their actions. They feel jaded and affected by the passage of time, which they associate with the people around them becoming strangers. The singer then mentions a specific moment of peace and relaxation in the mountains, but also acknowledges their own mental turmoil and feeling of being cut up.
The imagery of blood, the sea, and fire all add to the overall theme of intensity and passion that runs through the song. The singer wants to experience life to the fullest, whether it's through a reckless act like cutting in red or being intimate with another person. However, they acknowledge that life is fleeting and uncertain, and that they are often caught between wanting to live fully and feeling trapped by their circumstances.
Overall, the lyrics of Blood Red convey a sense of restlessness and longing for something more, balanced by a sense of caution and awareness of the consequences of one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to cut in red
I want to take risks, to do something bold and daring.
Without a roof, blood red
Without any limits, boundaries, or inhibitions; in a state of wild abandon.
Goes so fast, my lipstick runs down river
Things are moving too quickly, I can't keep up; I am losing control.
Instead I stay a while longer
Despite feeling overwhelmed, I choose to remain in this state for a little longer.
So restricted
Feeling confined, imprisoned, or limited in some way.
I know too much
Having knowledge, experience, or insight that others don't; feeling burdened by this knowledge.
I'm so affected
Being deeply moved, emotionally impacted, or disturbed by something.
The winding hours
The passing of time, which can be unpredictable and meandering.
Belong to strangers
Feeling disconnected from time, as if it is no longer a part of one's personal experience but something that is controlled by others.
This long, this long
Feeling like time is dragging on, that things are taking longer than they should.
Ooooh, come a days in mountains
There are days spent in isolation and contemplation, away from the distractions of society and civilization.
That you're wasting lazily around the abandon
These days are not necessarily productive or goal-oriented, but rather relaxed, carefree, and indulgent.
Mind your head, you're so cut up
Be careful, you are emotionally vulnerable and easily hurt.
I see the sea is running free
The ocean, which is often used as a metaphor for the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of life, is in a state of change and movement.
You don't know that
You are not aware of how everything around you is changing and moving forward.
You say this whole evening
You spend the whole evening speaking and communicating with others.
I believed in this song
This song has a deep personal meaning to me and carries a lot of emotional weight.
Oh this song is like a ??? coming
This song is like a powerful force or energy that transforms the world around me in some way.
I want to be in your bed
Desiring intimacy, connection and vulnerability with another person.
Against your skin, where sun spills
Feeling the warmth and comfort of being close to someone, experiencing the sensation of sunlight on our skin together.
You move like currents
The other person moves and connects with me in a natural and fluid way, like the flow of water in a river.
In wild storms, down river
Even in the midst of chaos and turbulence, there is a sense of direction and purpose, a sense that we are moving towards something greater.
Fire's burning in golden planes
There is a sense of excitement, passion, and energy that is present in the world around us.
You're the oil and the flames
The other person is the source of this excitement and passion, fueling my desire and inspiration.
I'm alive and night coarse stars align
In the midst of all this passion and energy, I feel truly alive, as if everything in my life is coming together and making sense.
And my mind roars
There is a sense of overwhelming emotion, a feeling that everything is happening at once, and that I am completely swept up in the moment.
Ooooo-oooooooh
A cry of emotion, expressing a sense of passion, longing, or excitement.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMILIANA TORRINI, SIMON JOHN BYRT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sim Barr Fidel
Emiliana is brilliant. She swirls between genres effortlessly ... and without pretence. Everything she does feels honest. A true artist.
kamonashis hira
She is absolutely divine. Such a sublime live performance.
Not Really A YouTuber
Such a beautiful song. So easy to get lost in this sound!
I don't think I've ever said this before, but she honestly has the voice of an angel.
Withoutnail
Things just don't get more beautiful than this. Incredible.
Kilian Suess
wow. amazing performance. Would love to see her perform in real life. Stunning voice and singing skills.
Dania Carolina VA
Me encantó, el disco Tookah , tiene una continuidad musical con Me and Armini, suenan muy parecido, se conservó la esencia, eso que han pasado 5 años entre uno y otro, Blood Red es como Birds, mágica, cósmica, escalofriante
Sus Shanti
I felt like the time stoped for a second there... Amaizing!
Diego Cambiaso
When the italian passion is mixed with the glacial sensibility and the deep feeling of love with our world
Amber Williams
I can't begin to explain how happy I am to see her still making music. I haven't seen anything from her in years.
Bonkers About Alice
Year after year I come back to this beautiful woman.