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
Sound of Silence
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
The lyrics of Emilíana Torrini's song "Sound of Silence" speak of the growing isolation and detachment of individuals in society. The singer expresses the need for conversation and connection, but finds themselves unable to find anyone willing to truly listen. The first stanza describes a disturbing vision that the singer had while sleeping, where they see the seed of silence being planted within their mind. This silence persists even when they awake, as the singer is unable to find genuine communication.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness, my old friend
Greeting to my familiar, melancholic thoughts and emotions
I've come to talk with you again
I'm seeking solace in my sorrows and want to revisit my old self
Because a vision softly creeping
An idea or realization slowly came to me
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
It planted something deep within me while I was unaware
And the vision that was planted in my brain
The thought that grew within me
Still remains
It is still present and unresolved
Within the sound of silence.
Amidst the quiet and stillness, it persists
In restless dreams I walked alone
My thoughts haunt me even in my sleep
Narrow streets of cobblestone
My path is difficult and full of obstacles
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
Beneath the flickering light of hope
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
I tried to shield myself from the harsh reality
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
When a sudden realization hit me
That split the night
It shattered my peaceful state of mind
And touched the sound of silence.
It made a mark on the emptiness that surrounds me
And in the naked light I saw
In the harsh truth, I found clarity
Ten thousand people, maybe more
A multitude of people and their ways of life
People talking without speaking
People communicating, but without substance or authenticity
People hearing without listening
People only hearing and not understanding or empathizing
People writing songs that voices never share
People creating things that will never be truly expressed or understood
And no one dare
No one has the courage
Disturb the sound of silence
To break the illusion of peace and comfort
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
I pity those who cannot discern
Silence like a cancer grows
That keeping quiet can lead to harm and negativity
Hear my words that I might teach you
Listen to my message so that I can enlighten you
Take my arms that I might reach you.
Allow me to help you
But my words like silent raindrops fell
My message was ignored and unheard
And echoed
It resounded
In the wells of silence
In the emptiness where it was meant to be heard
And the people bowed and prayed
People relied on their faith
To the neon god they made
To the false idol and facade that they chose to worship
And the sign flashed out its warning
The neon sign was a symbol of impending danger
In the words that it was forming
The message was clear and meaningful
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
The warning was a message of wisdom
are written on the subway walls
True insight can be found in unlikely places
And tenement halls."
In the common and everyday things of life
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
The truest message may only be heard in silence
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike TwY
Hello, darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a streetlamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools," said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence."
#🌈One Love From Universe 11:11🕉️
Ethan BAUER mon fils tu me manques enormement, maman ( Laos )
The Sound Of Silence
Lyrics
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
Fools, said I, you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence
Written by Paul Simon • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group
U MR
The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walk alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.
"Fools" said I, You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said,
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
Bill
Some of the greatest lyrics ever written. Love her voice. Brought tears to my eyes compared with all the BS going on in today's world.
YodaWhat
Compare lyrics with Jackson Browne's Pretender
Edvaldo Valsique
Essa italianinha canta muito. Voz doce. Na minha opinião é a melhor versão desse clássico da música mundial!!! ♥♥♥
Francisco Jimenez Marcos
Una voz que te llega al alma, preciosa, linda, unica, no me canso de oirla y sentir como se llena mi alma de esperanza y buenos sentimientos, gracias por esta cancion tan maravillosa Emiliana Torrini.
Dave
Like an Angel that wants to be heard! WOW, 60 years old and I have goose bumps all over. Moving to say the least.
Luzimar Antônio De Souza
Amo essa música com Emiliana Torrini, linda voz👏👏👏❤
klistarf
Always loved the original. And then loved what Disturbed did with it. And now, hearing this, Emiliana continues to nurture my love for what is an ingenious piece of music, with lyrics to match. Love, love, love... \m/ (:o)
Contenido Random
¡Por Dios! Su voz es celestial.
Mi admiración.
baby Fernandes
Não sei porque mas está música ficou ótima nesta voz, já ouvi várias vezes...
Stefan Hearst
Love this Simon and Garfunkel classic song SOUNDS OF SILENCE by Emiliana Torrini Davíðsdóttir, better known as Emilíana Torrini. She is an Icelandic singer and songwriter from Kópavogur, Iceland. There is something vocally beautiful with Emiliana's clear English singing with that beautiful Icelandic accent. She gives a new and wonderful vocal flavour to this well-known song.