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
The Dirty Dozen
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And shake yo shimmy like I'm shakin' mine
You shake yo shimmy and you shake it fast
If you can't shake the shimmy, shake it yes yes yes
And you'sa dirty mistreatin' robber and a-cheatin'
Strip you in a desert and you pop aint yo cousin
And you mama do the lordylord
You're to go with pop and runnin' round the field
Slippin' and a-slidin' like an automobile
I hollared at poppa and told him to wait
He slipped away from me just like a cadillac snake
'Cause he's a rotten mistreater, robber and a cheater
Slip you with a dozen, yo pop aint yo cousin'
And you mama do the lordylord!
Now I liked yo uncle, liked yo brother too
I did like yo papa but yo papa wouldn't do
I met yo' daddy on the carn the other day
You know about that 'cause he was funny that way
'Cause he's a funny mistreater, robber and a cheater
Strip you in a dozen, yo pop is yo cousin
Yo mama do the lordylord!
Now God made'em an elephant, he made him stout
Wasn't satisfied until he made him a snout
Made him a snout just as long as a rail
Wasn't satisfied until he made him a tail
Made him a tail just to find the flies
Wasn't satisfied until he made him some eyes
Made him some eyes just to look on the grass
He wasn't satisfied until he made his yes-yes
Made his yes-yes-yes, did he get fixed
He wasn't satisfied until he made him sick
He made him sick, oh lord, he made him well
You know about that 'cause the elephant cried out
He's a funny mistreater, robber and a cheater
Strip you in a dozen, yo pop is yo cousin
Yo maaaaaama do the loooooordylooooord!
Wooooo!
The Dirty Dozen by Emilíana Torrini is a song that illustrates a certain level of sexual permissiveness and freedom. The lyrics are a mixture of suggestive yet humorous lines with an underlying sense of irony towards male promiscuity. The first part of the song consists of the singer instructing men to dance by shaking their bodies until they can shake them no more. She praises those who can keep up and suggests that if they can't, they should still try.
The second part of the lyrics is about a night of sexual experimentation with various members of the same family. The singer reveals that she likes the uncle and brother of her partner, but not his dad. Like a carnival barker, she tells the story of meeting the father at the carnival, and they have sex, but he is oddly funny. The most bizarre part of the song comes in the final verse, where the singer tells a story about God creating the Elephant. The verses depict God not being satisfied with the Elephant's features, even after various modifications like a snout, tail, and eyes. The song ends with the Elephant crying out, which is most likely a satirical comment on the absurdity of sexual promiscuity.
Line by Line Meaning
I want all you manfolk to fall in line
I want all the men to follow my lead
And shake yo shimmy like I'm shakin' mine
Dance like I am dancing
You shake yo shimmy and you shake it fast
Dance quickly and energetically
If you can't shake the shimmy, shake it yes yes yes
If you can't dance well, dance enthusiastically anyway
And you'sa dirty mistreatin' robber and a-cheatin'
You are a dishonest and cruel person
Strip you in a desert and you pop aint yo cousin
You will be punished severely and your father is not related to you
And you mama do the lordylord
And your mother is a religious person
You're to go with pop and runnin' round the field
You are supposed to go with your father and run in the field
Slippin' and a-slidin' like an automobile
Running quickly and smoothly like a car
I hollared at poppa and told him to wait
I shouted at my father and asked him to stop
He slipped away from me just like a cadillac snake
He escaped quickly and gracefully like a snake
'Cause he's a rotten mistreater, robber and a cheater
Because he is a cruel, dishonest person
Slip you with a dozen, yo pop aint yo cousin'
Punish you severely and your father is not your relative
And you mama do the lordylord!
And your mother is religious
Now I liked yo uncle, liked yo brother too
I liked your uncle and your brother
I did like yo papa but yo papa wouldn't do
I liked your father but he was not suitable for me
I met yo' daddy on the carn the other day
I met your father at the carnival recently
You know about that 'cause he was funny that way
You are aware of his strange behavior
'Cause he's a funny mistreater, robber and a cheater
Because he is a peculiar, dishonest person
Strip you in a dozen, yo pop is yo cousin
Punish you severely and your father is also your relative
Yo mama do the lordylord!
And your mother is religious
Now God made'em an elephant, he made him stout
God made the elephant strong
Wasn't satisfied until he made him a snout
God wanted to add a trunk to the elephant
Made him a snout just as long as a rail
The trunk was very long
Wasn't satisfied until he made him a tail
God decided to add a tail to the elephant
Made him a tail just to find the flies
The tail was used to swat away flies
Wasn't satisfied until he made him some eyes
God wanted to give the elephant eyes
Made him some eyes just to look on the grass
The eyes were for the elephant to see the grass
He wasn't satisfied until he made his yes-yes
God wanted the elephant to say 'yes'
Made his yes-yes-yes, did he get fixed
The elephant kept saying 'yes' until it was fixed
He wasn't satisfied until he made him sick
God wanted to put the elephant through an illness
He made him sick, oh lord, he made him well
God made the elephant ill, but then healed it
You know about that 'cause the elephant cried out
You may have heard the elephant screaming in pain
'Cause he's a funny mistreater, robber and a cheater
Because he is a peculiar, dishonest person
Strip you in a dozen, yo pop is yo cousin
Punish you severely and your father is also your relative
Yo maaaaaama do the loooooordylooooord!
And your mother is religious
Wooooo!
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Contributed by Elliot S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marthe Geluk
I love this song
Paul Manton
Awsome
princeollie82
You better SANG!!!