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.
Enemy Within
Frida Hyvönen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a body of work is just as
strong as its weakest point
The enemy within says
a body of work is just as
strong as its weakest point
My fear for you
carries till I’m face to face
with a new ally
The zebra says she never
takes off her coat
She’s afraid to lose her stripes
The zebra says she never
takes off her coat
She’s affraid to lose her stripes
Give us what we deserve
As feared from creatures
haunt us until we’re face to face
with a new ally
(You must be kind to yourself)
I don’t know how to do that
(No one’s gonna do that for you)
But I’m not asking them to
(Be kind and fight at the same time)
One too many things to keep track of
Nose above the surface and
Swim swim
Swim swim
Stone on the bottom of the ocean
says I know this is not a cul-de-sac
Stone on the bottom of the ocean
says I know this is not a cul-de-sac
Stone on the bottom of the ocean
says I know this is not a cul-de-sac
I know where all the blind allies lead
And it’s a place you need to fill with love
Shine your light on me, as I chase through the night
Shine your light on me, as I chase through the night
Follow me till I’m face to face with a new ally
Follow me till I’m face to face with a new ally
The lyrics of Frida Hyvönen's "Enemy Within" describes a voice inside someone's head that constantly reminds them that everything they do is only as strong as their weakest point. This inner voice, the enemy within, is a prevalent theme throughout the song. The singer begs for what they deserve, and yet they are afraid of confronting their fear - fear for what they may lose, their core identity, their perceived strengths.
The metaphor of the zebra who never takes off her coat, out of fear of losing her stripes, further emphasizes the theme of fear of change and losing one's identity. The singer pleads for kindness but concedes that fighting towards something without being kind makes for "one too many things to keep track of". The Stone on the bottom of the ocean, a metaphor for someone who has hit rock bottom, confirms that although his current situation may seem like a dead end, he knows that he must not give into the temptation of cul-de-sacs or false solutions. Instead, he must fill his life with love and hope, and follow his inner light until he meets an ally in his journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
The enemy within says
a body of work is just as
strong as its weakest point
The critical voice within tells me that the quality of my work is dependent on its weakest part and that I must be vigilant about improving every aspect of what I do.
Give me what I deserve
My fear for you
carries till I’m face to face
with a new ally
I want to receive fair treatment and recognition for my work but my anxiety about being judged by others often prevents me from seeking out new connections and support.
The zebra says she never
takes off her coat
She’s afraid to lose her stripes
Just like the zebra that fears losing its distinctive marks, I am afraid of losing the unique traits that define me and make me who I am.
Give us what we deserve
As feared from creatures
haunt us until we’re face to face
with a new ally
We all want to be treated fairly and respected by others, and the fear of being harmed by those who do not share our values drives us to seek out new allies and support networks.
(You must be kind to yourself)
I don’t know how to do that
(No one’s gonna do that for you)
But I’m not asking them to
(Be kind and fight at the same time)
One too many things to keep track of
Nose above the surface and
Swim swim
Swim swim
Being kind to myself is a challenge that requires a lot of effort and attention, and sometimes I feel like I am trying to juggle too many things at once. Nevertheless, I must continue to prioritize my own well-being and keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles arise.
Stone on the bottom of the ocean
says I know this is not a cul-de-sac
Even though it may seem like I am stuck in one place or unable to move forward, I know that there is always a way out and a path to follow.
I know where all the blind allies lead
And it’s a place you need to fill with love
I am aware of the dead-ends and false paths that can lead me to despair or isolation, but I know that the solution is to cultivate a sense of kindness and compassion in my heart and share it with others.
Shine your light on me, as I chase through the night
Follow me till I’m face to face with a new ally
As I seek out new connections and opportunities, I hope that others will offer me guidance and support along the way, helping me to navigate the darkness and find the people who can help me achieve my goals.
Contributed by Noah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matthew Stull
such such a great great song.........shrooming above Tucson AZ 2010 epic moment alone with this gem