They have around 30 band members and use an eclectic mix of instruments such as clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trumpets, banjos, accordions, kazoos, guitars, drums, and keyboards among others. While most band members provide backing vocals on releases and during live performances, Emanuel Lundgren is founder, principal songwriter and lead singer for the group.
In 2006 the band released an EP entitled Don't Give Up on Your Dreams, Buddy! as well as a full length album, Let Me Introduce My Friends - both of which were well-received critically. Their second full-length album, Who Killed Harry Houdini?, was released in October 2008. Forever Today followed in March 2011.
Bandmembers
Emanuel Lundgren, Frida Öhnell, Cornelia Norgren, Philip Erixon, Micke Larsson, Johan Mårtensson, Anna Fröderberg, Johan Aineland, Martin Alfredsson, Erik Ottosson, Tina Håkansson, David Ljung, Christofer Olofsson, Daniel Lindlöf, Mattias Johansson, Tobias Granstrand, Emma Öhnell, Mathias Alrikson, Jonas Tjäder, David Ottosson, Maria Eriksson, Olof Gardestrand, Marcus Carlholt, Julie Witwicki Carlsson, Rikard Ljung, Henrik Olofsson, Jacob Sollenberg, Fredrik Karp, Johan Viking
Glasses
I'm from Barcelona Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Though I know that I should
So I have to take chances
When I walk through the hood
If you seemed to say hi
And you don't really know me
It's not that I'm nice
Don't want to wear glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
Glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
Though I know that I should
So I have to take chances
When I walk through the hood
If you seemed to say hi
And you don't really know me
It's not that I'm nice
It's just that I can't see
Don't want to wear glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
Glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
I don't want to wear glasses
The lyrics "I don't want to wear glasses / Though I know that I should / So I have to take chances / When I walk through the hood" by I'm from Barcelona in their song Glasses, could be interpreted in various ways. On a literal level, it could refer to the singer's struggles with poor eyesight, opting not to wear their glasses even though they know they should. This could result in them taking risks while walking around, especially in potentially dangerous areas like the "hood".
On a metaphorical level, the song could allude to the notion of hiding one's flaws and vulnerabilities, making it difficult to connect with others genuinely. The singer admits that their seeming friendliness towards those who greet them is not borne out of being a nice person but rather out of circumstances, as they cannot see well enough to make out who is greeting them. This could be interpreted as the singer's way of acknowledging their social awkwardness or inability to understand social cues without announcing it directly, allowing them to still engage with others without having to face this issue head-on.
Overall, the song highlights the tension between the need to hide one's imperfections and the desire for genuine connection and understanding with others.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to wear glasses
The singer does not want to wear glasses even though they know they should.
Though I know that I should
The singer understands that they should wear glasses for clear vision.
So I have to take chances
Without glasses, the singer must take risks while walking.
When I walk through the hood
The risk-taking happens while traveling through the neighborhood.
If you seemed to say hi
If someone appears to be greeting the artist,
And you don't really know me
But they do not actually know the singer,
It's not that I'm nice
The singer's friendly attitude is not intentional.
It's just that I can't see
The artist cannot actually see the person greeting them without glasses.
Don't want to wear glasses
Reiterating the artist's dislike of glasses.
Glasses
The symbol of the glasses as an unwanted accessory.
I don't want to wear glasses
A final repetition of the singer's reluctance to wear glasses.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fabián R.
Escuchándola en el 2021. Que recuerdos.