Born on October 27th 1991 in Kvinnherad, Norway, he won the second season of Norske Talenter at the young age of 16, and much was made of how his emo fashion sense (e.g. coloured hair, facial piercings, black clothing) contrasted sharply with his fairly conventional musical style. Upon signing a major-label recording contract with Sony BMG in the aftermath of this first-place finish on Norske Talenter, Bratland made his commercial debut in 2008 with "Lost", a song written by Dutch pop singer Anouk. A number one smash hit on the Norwegian charts, "Lost" was followed by another chart-topping hit, "Still Water".
In the wake of these smash hits, Bratland released his full-length album debut, "True Colors", an English-language effort laden with well-known cover songs, among them Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box", Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", Joni Mitchell's "River" and Queen's "Love of My Life". "True Colors" charted in the Norwegian albums Top Five for seven weeks and peaked at number two.
After 5 years of self-imposed break from the singing career, Bratland was back in 2014 with two singles, "In My Head" and "Silent Sister". Sporting a new and tougher image, he's going to participate in Melodi Grand Prix, the Norwegian final for the Eurovision Song Contest, in March 2015. He's going to perform with the song "Thunderstruck", which he wrote with Swedish songwriters, Linnea and Joy Deb.
Heart-Shaped Box
Erlend Bratland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been locked inside your Heart Shaped box, for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
Hey!
Wait!
I've got a new complaint
hey!
wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice.
Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Cut myself on Angel Hair and baby's breath
Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black
Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back
Hey!
Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
hey!
Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice.(x2)
She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for weeks
In Erlend Bratland's interpretation of Heart-Shaped Box, the lyrics suggest that the singer is entranced and controlled by their lover. The line, "She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak," compares the singer's vulnerability to that of a fish in a tank being watched by their owner. The phrase "heart-shaped box" refers to the lover's control over the singer, whom they have locked away in their heart. The singer feels trapped and unable to escape their lover's influence.
The second verse introduces the idea that the singer wishes they could somehow take away their lover's pain and suffering, even to the point of wishing they could "eat" their lover's cancer. The chorus, with its repetition of "Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint," may suggest that the singer is starting to become frustrated with being indebted to their lover's "priceless advice." The final verse contains several references to sexual and religious themes, including "meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet," "angel hair," and "broken hymen." These allusions may suggest a sense of guilt or shame felt by the singer, or a sense of being trapped by societal or cultural expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak
She gazes at me intensely like a Pisces zodiac sign when I'm vulnerable and powerless.
I've been locked inside your Heart Shaped box, for weeks
I have been trapped in your emotionally manipulative and controlling love for several weeks.
I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap
I have been lured and stuck in your irresistible trap of emotional manipulation and deceit.
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
I wish I could cure your emotional sickness and pain when you become engulfed in misery.
Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey wait! I have a new problem that I need help with, and I am always thankful for your valuable guidance.
Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Carnivorous orchids that consume insects show no mercy or forgiveness to anyone.
Cut myself on Angel Hair and baby's breath
I have caused self-harm by cutting myself with a piece of Angel Hair and baby's breath.
Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black
I am left shattered and broken due to the sexual violation of someone who is considered royalty or superior.
Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back
Please let go of your controlling, maternal ties so that I can regain my independence and self-worth.
Your advice.
I value and appreciate your wise counsel.
She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for weeks
She scrutinizes me intensely like a Pisces zodiac sign when I'm powerless and trapped in her manipulative love for several weeks.
Writer(s): Kurt Donald Cobain
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.