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
White Rabbit
Emilíana Torrini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice when she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits
Tell him a hookah-smokin' caterpillar
Has given you the call
And call Alice when she was just small
When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you have just have some kind of mushroom
And your mind is movin' low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the red queen's off with her head
Remember
What the doormouse said
Feed your head
Feed your head
The lyrics of Emiliana Torrini's song White Rabbit delve into the mind and experiences of a person who has taken drugs, most probably LSD. The opening lines, "One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small, and the ones that mother gives you don't do anything at all" can be interpreted as the effects of different types of drugs. The pills that the mother gives the person have no effect, as they might be some regular pills that the mother has given to cure an illness. The reference to Alice, and asking her when she is ten feet tall, could be related to Alice in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a book by Lewis Carroll. Alice in the book both grows and shrinks in size, similar to the effects of hallucinogenic drugs.
The next set of lyrics, "And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall, tell him a hookah-smokin' caterpillar has given you the call, and call Alice when she was just small," further suggests the person’s state of mind being under the influence of the drugs. The mention of a hookah-smoking caterpillar references another character from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, who is famous for the line "Who are you?" asked by the caterpillar to Alice. The caterpillar, in the song, seems to have lured the person into taking the drug. The last line, "Call Alice when she was just small," along with the other reference to Alice, suggests that the person is seeking a way out from his drug-induced experiences.
The final set of lyrics, "When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead, and the white knight is talking backward and the red queen's off with her head. Remember what the doormouse said, feed your head, feed your head," illustrates the distorted state of mind experienced by the person under the influence of the drug. The reference to "logic and proportion" refers to the structure of the normal world being lost. The talking of the white knight in reverse highlights the distortion of language, and the reference to the red queen with her head off is a symbol of the insanity associated with drug use. The doormouse’s line, "feed your head," encourages freedom of thought and the potential that drugs can open up the doors and insights to something profound.
Line by Line Meaning
One pill makes you larger
Taking one pill can make you feel more powerful and significant.
And one pill makes you small
Taking another pill can make you feel insignificant, meek, or powerless.
And the ones that mother gives you
The medication that you take at home, which your mother has given you, doesn't have any significant impact on your mood or state of mind.
Don't do anything at all
These pills do not have any major effect on your wellbeing.
Go ask Alice when she's ten feet tall
Consult someone who is wiser or more experienced, such as Alice, who is a known figure, when you feel overwhelmed or uncertain.
And if you go chasing rabbits
If you try to pursue little things or pay attention to every trivial sensation, action or idea, then you may get distracted from the bigger picture of things.
And you know you're going to fall
Likely, this will lead to a sudden change and misfortune.
Tell him a hookah-smokin' caterpillar
In those instances, try explaining your actions to someone (symbolized here by the hookah-smokin' caterpillar) with a more laid-back or experienced attitude.
Has given you the call
You're following the whims of the moment and not putting too much thought into your actions.
And call Alice when she was just small
You only contact Alice when you need help; after all, she has a wealth of experience to fall back on.
When the men on the chessboard
Refers metaphorically to the people in positions of authority who make rules and dictate your actions.
Get up and tell you where to go
Directly instructing your steps and what choices you must make.
And you have just have some kind of mushroom
You've taken a hallucinogenic substance that alters the way you view reality.
And your mind is movin' low
Your perception starts to distort, and it becomes difficult to keep track of ideas, thoughts, or actions.
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
As in previous lines, seek guidance from wiser people who have experience dealing with such situations.
When logic and proportion
This refers to rational and systematic ways of thinking and living.
Have fallen sloppy dead
When logic and reason can no longer explain or understand something, and as such they have become irrelevant.
And the white knight is talking backwards
The people who once symbolized prudence and decency are now making little sense and are irrational.
And the red queen's off with her head
The once stable institutions and governing authorities are in disarray and can not be trusted.
Remember
It is important to keep in mind the advice that was given before.
What the doormouse said
What you were told before by people with greater experience and wisdom.
Feed your head
Keep your mind active and nourished by seeking enlightening and transformative experiences, through books, conversations, education, etc.
Feed your head
This line is repeated, emphasizing the importance of keeping your mind active and healthy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Grace Wing Slick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind