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
To Be Free
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A boy got angry
He broke into my heart
For a day and a night
I stayed beside him
Until I had no hope
So I came down the hill
But then I started to think
[Chorus]
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself
There's a bar by the dock
Where I found myself
Drinking with this man
He offered me a cigarette
And I accepted
'Cause it's been a very long time
As it burned 'till the end
I thought of the boy
No one could ever forget
[Chorus]
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself
The song "To Be Free" by Emiliana Torrini is a story of a girl who was hurt by a boy's anger and could not get over it. The song starts with the girl narrating about how the boy got angry and broke into her heart while she was in a house on a hill. She tried everything to keep the relationship going for a day and a night until she had no hope left. She then realized that she needed to leave the situation to pull herself together and came down the hill.
The chorus of the song revolves around how the girl longs to be free from the relationship that hurt her. She says that being free should not hurt her and that it is what she really needs. However, the girl is confused and cannot find happiness in being free even though it should make her feel better. She meets a man at a bar by the dock and accepts his cigarette, thinking about the boy who hurt her as it burned until the end.
The song is a reflection of how sometimes being free from a painful relationship is necessary, but it may not always bring happiness. The confusion and the emptiness that the girl feels come through in the lyrics, making the song relatable to anyone who has struggled to let go of someone who hurt them.
Line by Line Meaning
Once in a house on a hill
Referring to a particular event, there was a time when the singer was happy and content living in a home in an elevated area.
A boy got angry
However, a boy created a ruckus, disrupting the singer's peace and happiness.
He broke into my heart
This emotional turmoil caused the singer's heart to break.
For a day and a night
The situations that ensued continued for 24 hours.
I stayed beside him
Despite the ordeal, the artist stuck by the boy's side.
Until I had no hope
However, eventually the situation became unbearable, and the singer lost all hope.
So I came down the hill
In order to escape the unbearable situation, the singer left the home she was living in.
Of course I was hurt
The decision to leave was not easy, and the artist's heart was filled with pain.
But then I started to think
However, with time, the artist started to reflect on and analyze the situation.
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
She realized that she should not feel bad about being liberated from an unhappy situation.
It's what I really need
The singer understood that freedom was what she wanted and needed the most at that point.
To pull myself together
However, the newfound freedom came with its own set of challenges, and the artist has to put herself together again.
But if it's so good being free
Despite feeling grateful for having found freedom, the singer wonders why she still feels lost and confused.
Would you mind telling me
She asks someone, presumably the person who convinced her that being free was the best option.
Why I don't know what to do with myself
The singer expresses her confusion and inability to fully come to terms with her newfound freedom.
There's a bar by the dock
In an attempt to understand herself and find her way, the artist finds herself in a bar by the harbor.
Where I found myself
Referring to the earlier line, the artist takes control of her situation and finds herself in the bar.
Drinking with this man
While there, she meets a man and drinks with him.
He offered me a cigarette
The man offers her a cigarette and she agrees to take it.
'Cause it's been a very long time
She hadn't smoked in a long time and was willing to try it again.
As it burned 'till the end
As the cigarette burned, the artist thinks back to the boy and how he made her feel.
I thought of the boy
The boy has left a significant impact on her and she thinks of him despite her attempt to move on.
No one could ever forget
The boy was unforgettable and had made a lasting impact on her life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DAVE SEARS, IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lopezmt5
Once in a house on a hill
A boy got angry
He broke into my heart
For a day and a night
I stayed beside him
Until I had no hope
So I came down the hill
Of course I was hurt
But then I started to think
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
There's a bar by the dock
Where I found myself
Drinking with this man
He offered me a cigarette
And I accepted
Cause it's been a very long time
As it burned to the end
I thought of the boy
No one could ever forget
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
@AntMas
I remember finding this album and finding out that Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears worked with her on this album very closely and even provided backing vocals. I was instantly hooked. I could recognize that Roland Orzabal sound anywhere. PLUS emiliana's vocals are SOOOOOO good.
@kareemmohammed5270
music and her voice still sounds fresh and timeless and fragile as when I first brought this C.D back in 2001. this album was a masterpiece, the power and fragility in the music and her voice echo's till this day and always.
@vitekkral4971
More than 20 years old album and still soooo fantastic!
@trevorgoodchild4603
I love this so much, never heard this song until right now unless it was on the movie soundtrack, it's powerful, and I love the message "Pull myself together" and the feeling of wanting to do something to improve but at the same time feeling helpless to, just wonderful
@elleryblittlefield3985
I fell in love with this song in high school after a trip to Iceland. Glad its still as wonderful as it was before. Beautiful and haunting all at once.
@3hooks100
One of my favorite album discoveries from the late 90's. Classic times and memories.
@lopezmt5
Once in a house on a hill
A boy got angry
He broke into my heart
For a day and a night
I stayed beside him
Until I had no hope
So I came down the hill
Of course I was hurt
But then I started to think
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
There's a bar by the dock
Where I found myself
Drinking with this man
He offered me a cigarette
And I accepted
Cause it's been a very long time
As it burned to the end
I thought of the boy
No one could ever forget
It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
To pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself?
@LE_AZ
I love this song, so relaxing. 😍
@merylalvarez4545
Beautiful song wonderful voice. She is amazing.
@xaxo69
Amazing voice!!