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
Tookah
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where time is a waste of time
Find me a pleasant tomb and a wishing bone to be left alone with
I'll be waiting by the phone line
Tookah, you're mine
Said the girl you left her so divine
Wooaaah, woaaahh
Come down to the corner of my pain
It's been rigged, yeah anyway
I've been a lonesome babe more than I ever told
And breathe
Oh your mind is a pleasure tomb
Drifting along the gold gold golden
Latch your senses over mine
Tookah, you're mine
Said the girl you left her so divine
Tookah, you're mine
Wooaaah, woaaahh
And breathe, oh your mind is a pleasure tomb
Drifting along the gold gold golden
The lyrics of “Tookah” by Emilíana Torrini express a longing for escape, for an oasis in the midst of a vast desert. The song opens with the desire to be taken to a place where time is meaningless, where one can retreat to a peaceful tomb and be left alone with a wishing bone. The singer is waiting by the phone because she wants to be rescued from the tedium of everyday life, and she addresses the one who can provide that escape: “Tookah, you’re mine.”
As the song continues, the tone shifts to one of painful memories and grief. The singer invites Tookah to “the corner of my pain,” a place where she has been alone and suffering more than she has let on. But even in the midst of this sorrow, there is a sense of beauty and transcendence. Tookah’s mind is compared to a “pleasure tomb,” and the singer’s senses are latched onto his/hers. The end of the song repeats the refrain of “Tookah, you’re mine,” indicating that, despite the pain, this unifying force is the only thing that can provide some semblance of meaning in life.
Overall, “Tookah” can be seen as a meditation on the human desire for escape and transcendence, and the importance of finding someone or something that can provide that respite from the mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me down to corner of a million miles
Take me far away from everything, to a place beyond measure
Where time is a waste of time
Where time doesn't matter and is irrelevant
Find me a pleasant tomb and a wishing bone to be left alone with
Find me a comfortable place to be by myself with my own thoughts
I'll be waiting by the phone line
I'll be waiting for a connection, hoping for someone to reach out to me
Tookah, you're mine
The feeling of ownership towards a lover or an object that brings happiness
Said the girl you left her so divine
When someone leaves, it can make the one who is left behind feel special, as if they were too good for the person who left
Come down to the corner of my pain
Come and join me in my sadness, where I am vulnerable
It's been rigged, yeah anyway
The situation feels unfair and unbalanced
I've been a lonesome babe more than I ever told
I have been lonely more than I have expressed to others
And breathe
Take a moment to stop and relax
Oh your mind is a pleasure tomb
Your thoughts and imagination are a source of happiness and comfort
Drifting along the gold gold golden
Moving along gracefully and happily, as if everything is shining and perfect
Latch your senses over mine
Hold onto me, feel deeply connected to me
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alexandraledagreen8739
i really love this music video, im obsessed with creepy/sureal but not scary stuff, the way she nearly always keeps camera eye contact, the way her face and eyes go out of focus and her eyes catch the light when she retreats- its so cool.
well done!
@ynic0rn
Can never get enough, love her music so much especially helps when going thru depression, love To Be Free is fav 🎵🥰
@youngjyay
How the hell does she go from having 11 million views one day, and the next have only 170k views???? People are truly sleeping on great art SMH
@bestRedbird
different channels one is from the record label this is her own
@derrickstorm6976
Imagine comparing this to Jungle Drum, which is in a completely different league
@andre.1984
Already 8 years since this was released? God, time flies.
@mardox2000
pure relax ,love this sweet voice so energetic .
@jasonmartinez6439
The video fits so well with the concept for the song I heard you speak about in an interview. It's as if this ethereal copy of yourself is a personification of your "Tookah". Brilliant.
@NeverStoppedSinging
I freaking adore you, Emiliana!
@dragonloveof1
Love this song. Thank you Emiliana.