Ånnevik grew up in Ridabu, near Hamar, and was involved in music and theatre during her formative years. In the spring of 2009 she produced a demo with her own songs, and sent it to Grappa Music. This resulted in her receiving the fourth “New Artist Prize” from Grappa Music, following in the footsteps of Siri Nilsen, Gjermund Larsen and Valkyrien Allstars. The jury gave the following ground for awarding the prize to Ånnevik. Ånnevik’s first record, Synlige hjerteslag, was formed together with producer Andreas Mjøs (Jaga Jazzist, Adjagas, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra). It was voted the best Norwegian-language album of the year by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s programme “Norsk på Norsk” on the radio station P1, and was featured on lists of the year’s best albums by the TV show “Lydverket” and the newspaper Vårt Land, among others. She presented a very successful concert at the By:Larm festival in 2011, and was the opening act for the artist Odd Nordstoga in several of Norway’s largest cities. Her singles “Strået” and “Snubletråd” were in heavy rotation on the P1 radio programme in 2011. Ånnevik was nominated for a Spellemannspris, the Norwegian Grammy, both as newcomer of the year and in the folk category. She was also the first winner of the “Lyspunkt” award, which was newly established by the Norwegian Lyricist Fund for a first album, and received the Vidar Sandbeck Cultural Award, “Regnbågåbrua”.
In 2012 she received glowing reviews for a joint concert tour throughout south-eastern Norway together with the group Narum, among others, called “Trassviser og Tordenskrell”, a sort of Norwegian dialect version of the Rolling Thunder Revue of the 1970s. Later that year she participated in a project based on the works of poet Hans Børli together with the band “In the Country”, the duet “Akurat hær, akurat nå” together with the artist Ravi, and the song “Revevise” on a tribute album to Thorbjørn Egner, Vi har den ære. She collaborated with Andreas Mjøs on the song “Magefølelsen” for the documentary Beretninger om begynnelser, which was aired on TV2 in the spring of 2012.
Frida Ånnevik’s second album, "Ville Ord", was released in September 2013.
http://fridaannevik.no/
Søtten år
Frida Ånnevik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
med kort rett klipp blant utslått hår,
og kjærlighetens rare spill
var kun for dem som hørte til.
Kanskje ble de rett fram snytt,
ung og gift og gammelt nytt,
jeg så langt fram og spilte sta,
men så var jeg bare søtten, da.
For der i speilet på kommoden
sto hu som ville knekke koden,
jeg fikk aldri lapp i smug,
eller, det var én, men det var jug.
Men like fullt, en Skybert-venn,
det er da noe, det vet den,
som aldri mer skal bli søtten år igjen.
(Og) ei som var av arvegods
med ord som kunne slå til blods:
for som man reder ligger man,
det er slike som skal ta seg fram.
Sjøl sitter a fint i det nå,
med en som hun kan leve på
og skjebne som kan spås i grut,
et liv som varer livet ut.
Send en tanke ut til dem som vant
de som ble, de som ble valgt.
De tapte i det lange løp,
som haren imot den som krøp.
Men bygdedyr på høylys dag
kan sprekke når du står ved lag,
om du overgår
den du var som søtten år.
Til de av oss med stille savn
etter en hvem som helst,
en som var sann,
sjelden ble vel mitt navn nevnt,
sist valgt og for alltid brent.
Det kjennes lenge sida nå,
sjøl dagdrømmer kan gå i stå,
og gjør vondt verre til godt ment
for de av oss som blomstra sent.
Vi lar oss rive med i høyt, høyt spill,
later som det later til,
holder vi oss sjøl for narr,
ser tydelig andres sår og arr.
Når jeg hvisker til min Skybert-venn
er jeg like unnselig som den,
aldri om jeg skal bli søtten år igjen.
Så var jeg bare søtten år,
med kort rett klipp blant utslått hår,
jeg så langt fram og spilte sta,
men så var jeg bare søtten, da.
The lyrics of Frida Ånnevik's song Søtten år are reflective and poignant, exploring the theme of youthful innocence and naivety, and how life can be unpredictable and sometimes unfair. The opening lines reminisce about being seventeen years old, with a short straight haircut and love being a mysterious and exclusive game for the chosen few. The singer hints at others being swindled by marriage and old news, but they were too stubborn to think that way. However, life is unpredictable, and there is nothing worse than losing one's innocence at a young age.
The second verse shifts to focus on the singer's reflection in the mirror and the mystery of deciphering life's secrets. The singer seems to be looking for clues and struggling to find them, only receiving a counterfeit sign, which ultimately leads to a friend and a confidant in their dog, Skybert. The third verse delves into the idea that some people are born lucky, while others are born with hardships, including bullying and social exclusion. Fortunately, some resolve to move on and create a happy and fulfilling life for themselves, while others get stuck in their past and never move on.
Overall, the song's theme is about the innocence, hope, and naivety that people have when they are young and how life can take unexpected twists and turns. The lyrics are reflective and nostalgic, making the listener feel the emotions and sentiments of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Så var jeg bare søtten år,
At that time, I was only 17 years old,
med kort rett klipp blant utslått hår,
I had a short, straight haircut among my unkempt hair,
og kjærlighetens rare spill
The peculiar game of love
var kun for dem som hørte til.
Was meant only for those who were in the know.
Kanskje ble de rett fram snytt,
Perhaps some were straightforwardly deceived
ung og gift og gammelt nytt,
Young and married, old stuff,
jeg så langt fram og spilte sta,
I was headstrong, planning ahead,
men så var jeg bare søtten, da.
But then again, I was only 17 at the time.
For der i speilet på kommoden
Because in that mirror on the dresser
sto hu som ville knekke koden,
There was a woman looking to crack the code,
jeg fikk aldri lapp i smug,
I never received any secret love notes,
eller, det var én, men det var jug.
Well, there was one, but it was a lie.
Men like fullt, en Skybert-venn,
Nonetheless, a confidant of my trust,
det er da noe, det vet den,
That’s still something, as it would attest,
som aldri mer skal bli søtten år igjen.
One who would never be 17 again.
(Og) ei som var av arvegods
(And) there was one with inherited traits,
med ord som kunne slå til blods:
With words that could truly hurt:
for som man reder ligger man,
What goes around comes back to one,
det er slike som skal ta seg fram.
Those are the ones who will make it through.
Sjøl sitter a fint i det nå,
She is doing well on her own these days,
med en som hun kan leve på.
With someone who she can rely on.
og skjebne som kan spås i grut,
And a future that can be foretold,
et liv som varer livet ut.
A life that would last forever.
Send en tanke ut til dem som vant
Send a thought to those who have won
de som ble, de som ble valgt.
Those who made it, who were elected.
De tapte i det lange løp,
Those who lost in the long run,
som haren imot den som krøp.
Like the hare compared to the one who crawls.
Men bygdedyr på høylys dag
But local gossipers by broad daylight
kan sprekke når du står ved lag,
Can be exposed when you’re on the same side,
om du overgår
If you surpass
den du var som søtten år.
The person you were when you turned 17.
Til de av oss med stille savn
To those of us with silent longing
etter en hvem som helst,
For anybody,
en som var sann,
One who was true,
sjelden ble vel mitt navn nevnt,
My name was rarely mentioned,
sist valgt og for alltid brent.
Last chosen and forever burnt out.
Det kjennes lenge sida nå,
It feels like a long time ago now,
sjøl dagdrømmer kan gå i stå,
Even daydreams can come to a halt,
og gjør vondt verre til godt ment
And do more harm than good with their noble intent
for de av oss som blomstra sent.
For those of us who bloomed later on in life.
Vi lar oss rive med i høyt, høyt spill,
We let ourselves get caught up in high-stakes games,
later som det later til,
Pretending like all is well,
holder vi oss sjøl for narr,
We’re the ones fooling ourselves,
ser tydelig andres sår og arr.
Seeing other people's wounds and scars clearly.
Når jeg hvisker til min Skybert-venn
When I whisper to my trusted confidant,
er jeg like unnselig som den,
I am just as insignificant as it is,
aldri om jeg skal bli søtten år igjen.
I will never be 17 again.
Så var jeg bare søtten år,
At that time, I was only 17 years old,
med kort rett klipp blant utslått hår,
I had a short, straight haircut among my unkempt hair,
jeg så langt fram og spilte sta,
I was headstrong, planning ahead,
men så var jeg bare søtten, da.
But then again, I was only 17 at the time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Janis Ian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind