Her first record, Until Death Comes, was recorded at Stockholm's Atlantis Studios and co-produced with Jari Haapalainen of The Bear Quartet. The record was released in the EU in 2005 on The Concretes record label Licking Fingers, in the United States in 2006 on Secretly Canadian and in Australia in 2007 on Chapter Music. Hyvönen received the 2005 Stockholmspriset ("The Stockholm Prize") by the Swedish publication Nöjesguiden for her debut album.[1] Her first single, "I Drive My Friend", climbed the hit-list in Sweden for a few weeks.
Frida has been touring Scandinavia, Europe and the US with her piano since 2004. She also played in Shanghai. In the spring of 2006 she toured the United Kingdom with José González, and in the summer of 2006, she toured the US with fellow Swedish artist Jens Lekman. In the fall of 2005 Frida wrote music for dance performance PUDEL, by choreographer Dorte Olesen. She also performed the music live on stage. The music was recorded in 2006 and released in January 2007.
In the fall of 2007 Frida recorded a cover of the R.E.M. song "Everybody Hurts", released in digital form by Stereogum She also covered the song "Sista dan tillsammans" together with Mattias Alkberg on "Dubbel Trubbel", a tribute to Olle Adolphson.
Hyvönen's next album, "Silence is Wild", was released October 29, 2008 in Scandinavia and November 4, 2008 in North America and Australia.
She is also working on a collaboration with photographer Elin Berge, in a project that will be out in 2009.
Discography
Albums
2005 Until Death Comes
First studio album
Released: April 6, 2005
Label: Licking Fingers
Format: CD, LP, Digital download
2007 Frida Hyvönen Gives You:
Music from the Dance Performance PUDEL
Second studio album
Released: January 24, 2007
Label: Licking Fingers
Format: CD, LP, Digital download
2008 Silence Is Wild
Third studio album
Released: October 29, 2008
Label: Licking Fingers
Format: CD, LP, Digital download
2005: "I Drive My Friend" (single)
2008: "Traveling Companion" (single) (Marit Bergman featuring Frida Hyvönen)
References
Hopper, Jessica. "Frida Hyvonen unafraid of mixing music, feminism". Chicago Tribune March 9, 2007. Accessed August 12, 2007.
Loebenstein, Ghita. "Until Death Comes - Music - CD Reviews". The Age (Melbourne, Australia) March 30, 2007. Accessed August 12, 2007.
Reed, James. "An introduction to Nordic tracks – MFA to present a triple bill of Scandinavian rockers". Boston Globe February 25, 2007. Accessed August 12, 2007.
Djuna!
Frida Hyvönen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll kiss my boys goodbye
Their embroidered handkerchiefs waving me off
Someday when I'm not broke
I'll kiss my boys goodbye
Their embroidered handkerchiefs waving me off
they make me regress and forget my aim
Need to get them out of my way
Can you support me in this?
I remember second time I saw them
still long before they were mine
They were deep in eachothers' eyes
Stepping in they didn't seem to see me
as I tried to leave they looked my way
ans whispered "stay"
I have stayed a hundred times
I've been soaking up their velvet crimes
They've made me come
They've had me shine
and lately they've made me sigh
Last night when I was out I bought myself a drink
Opened the memories and violence poured out
Last night when I was out I bought myself a drink
Opened the memories and violence poured out
Djuna, things aren't right
I didn't make it through the night
I got into a fight and was hit by a man
Listened to the songs you didn't send
I loved the order you would have put them in
Djuna, tell me it's a piece of cake
a piece of art and a hell to raise
Some day when I'm not broke
I'll buy you a diamond ring
And we'll celebrate our love
until death comes
The song "Djuna!" by Frida Hyvönen speaks of a complicated relationship the singer had with two men. The song starts with the lyrics "Someday when I'm not broke, I'll kiss my boys goodbye, their embroidered handkerchiefs waving me off" depicting a certain level of affection the singer has towards these men. However, it is later revealed that the boys aren't okay, as they make her regress and forget her aim. She wants to get them out of her way and is asking for Djuna's support to help her. Djuna could possibly be a close friend or confidant that the singer trusts.
The singer's memories with the boys are profound, the lyrics "I've been soaking up their velvet crimes, they've made me come, they've had me shine, and lately they've made me sigh" suggests a complex and tumultuous relationship. The song talks about the singer's transformation, how she was hit by a man in a fight and how opening up her memories and violence poured out. The song concludes with the singer committing that someday when she is not broke, she will buy Djuna a diamond ring and they will celebrate their love until death comes.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday when I'm not broke
In the future, when I have enough money
I'll kiss my boys goodbye
I will say goodbye to the people (or things) that have been holding me back
Their embroidered handkerchiefs waving me off
Symbolic of their farewell and acceptance of my leaving
Djuna the boys aren't ok
Addressing Djuna, I admit that the boys are a problem in my life
they make me regress and forget my aim
They cause me to revert back to old ways and lose sight of my goals
Need to get them out of my way
I must remove them from my life to make progress
Can you support me in this?
Asking Djuna for help and encouragement to take necessary action
I remember second time I saw them
Recalling the moment I first met the boys
still long before they were mine
Before I became attached to them
They were deep in eachothers' eyes
The boys were lost in their own world and did not notice me
Stepping in they didn't seem to see me
When I approached them, they were still oblivious to my presence
as I tried to leave they looked my way
Just as I was about to leave, they finally noticed me
and whispered "stay"
Urged me to remain with them
I have stayed a hundred times
I have given into their allure repeatedly
I've been soaking up their velvet crimes
I have indulged in their transgressions against societal norms, even the subtle ones
They've made me come
They have beckoned me to join them
They've had me shine
They have enabled me to be my best self
and lately they've made me sigh
Recently, they have caused me to feel a sense of disappointment or sadness
Last night when I was out I bought myself a drink
I treated myself to a beverage
Opened the memories and violence poured out
Unexpectedly, I was overwhelmed with a flood of memories and violent feelings
Djuna, things aren't right
Addressing Djuna, I acknowledge that something is wrong
I didn't make it through the night
I failed to endure the psychological pain that had resurfaced
I got into a fight and was hit by a man
I got into a physical altercation and was injured
Listened to the songs you didn't send
I listened to music that I expected Djuna to send but did not receive
I loved the order you would have put them in
I appreciate Djuna's taste in music and how she would have organized the playlist
Djuna, tell me it's a piece of cake
Asking for reassurance that a difficult task is actually easy to accomplish
a piece of art and a hell to raise
Describing the task as both beautiful and challenging
Some day when I'm not broke
Once I have enough money
I'll buy you a diamond ring
I will purchase an expensive gift for Djuna
And we'll celebrate our love
We will commemorate our friendship
until death comes
As long as we are alive
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.