I 2008 mødte Dinesen den britiske singer-songwriter Allan Taylor, der kom til at fungere som hans mentor.
Hans debutalbum, Count the Ways, udkom i 2015. Det indeholdt sangene "Dancing Devil" og "Will You Stay". Han slog for alvor igennem i 2016 da det andet studiealbum Brace Against the Storm udkom et år efter. Albummet blev godt modtaget i musikmagasinet GAFFA. Fra dette album kommer også sangene "Roll with Me" og "Jessie", som blev meget spillet på bl.a. DR P4. Albummet gik direkte ind som nummer 1 på den danske albumhitliste og solgte over 10.000 eksemplarer, hvilket certificerede det guld.
I 2017 spillede han en lang række udsolgte koncerter rundt om i hele landet, og han deltog på flere af årets musikfestivaler som bl.a. Skagen Festival, Nibe Festival og Tønder Festival. I februar var han blandt de nominerede til GAFFA-Prisen 2016 i kategorien Årets nye danske navn.
Reel Life
Jacob Dinesen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for prophecies in a land of yards
A mother with a stroller in the pouring rain
Says she'll never walk this way again
A student walking down the street
Thinking about the riches he'll never see
Telling time on his broken watch
Though he knows it won't tell him much
Well, real life
This isn't the real life, baby
Oh, reality will get you
It cuts like a knife
Real life
A schoolgirl running to catch the bus
She was delayed while taking that million dollar shot
It's hard for her to break away
She's got so much more to say
Well, real life
This isn't the real life, baby
Oh, reality will get you
It cuts like a knife
Real life
Oh, real life, baby
Three dudes having fun in a Volkswagen up
Laughing too hard they can't get enough
One hand on freedom while he shifts into third gear
They just wanna get out of here
They just wanna get out of here
Real life
This isn't the real life, baby
Reality will get you
It cuts like a knife
Real life
Real life, baby
A social media star I'll never be
I just put it in my latest tweet
Oh, real life
This isn't the real life, baby
Reality will get you
It cuts like a knife
Real life
Oh, real life, baby
This isn't the real life, baby
Oh, reality will get you
It cuts like a knife
Real life
Oh, real life, baby
This isn't real life
The lyrics of Jacob Dinesen's song "Reel Life" reflect on the contrast between the fantasies and expectations we often have about life and the harsh realities that we actually face. The song introduces various characters in different situations, each grappling with their own struggles and disillusionments.
The first verse describes a hipster with a beanie and deck of cards, perhaps symbolizing someone trying to find meaning and guidance in life through unconventional means. The mother with a stroller in the pouring rain conveys a sense of exhaustion and defeat, expressing her reluctance to continue on her current path. The student walking down the street is filled with dreams of wealth and success, but deep down knows that those aspirations may remain unattainable. The overarching theme in these verses is the clash between hopes and reality.
The chorus centers around the phrase "real life" and emphasizes that the situations these characters find themselves in are not the idealized versions they had envisioned. The repetition of "real life" implies a growing realization of the disappointments and hardships that come with the actuality of our existence. It highlights the fact that reality is often stark and unforgiving, cutting deep like a knife.
The second verse mentions a schoolgirl who is delayed while trying to capture a significant moment, suggesting that even though she may have achieved something noteworthy, she still feels restrained and longs to express herself further. The chorus repeats, reinforcing the notion that these experiences are not the true representation of life.
The third verse introduces three friends having fun in a car, seeking a taste of freedom and escapism from their current circumstances. They yearn to break free from their mundane lives and explore something beyond their current reality.
The final verse mentions a desire to become a social media star, reflecting the unrealistic aspirations and pressures of our digital age. The repetition of "real life, baby" suggests a resigned acceptance of the fact that the social media world is an artifice, far removed from the genuine experiences and emotions of real life.
Overall, the lyrics of "Reel Life" convey a sense of disillusionment and a recognition of the difference between our fantasies and the harshness of reality. It serves as a reminder to embrace and accept the true complexities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
A hipster with a beanie and a deck of cards
An individual who is trying to appear trendy and alternative, with a hat and a set of playing cards
Looking for prophecies in a land of yards
Seeking predictions or insights in a mundane and ordinary environment
A mother with a stroller in the pouring rain
A woman pushing a baby carriage under heavy rainfall
Says she'll never walk this way again
Expressing that she refuses to go through the same difficult situation again
A student walking down the street
A person who is studying, moving along the road
Thinking about the riches he'll never see
Contemplating the wealth that will always be out of his reach
Telling time on his broken watch
Attempting to determine the time using a watch that no longer functions properly
Though he knows it won't tell him much
Despite being aware that the watch can't provide him with significant information
Well, real life
Referring to the true nature of existence and experience
This isn't the real life, baby
Acknowledging that the current situation is not representative of actual reality
Oh, reality will get you
Indicating that the truth of life will have an impact on a person
It cuts like a knife
Highlighting the painful and harsh nature of reality
A schoolgirl running to catch the bus
A young girl hurrying to catch the public transportation vehicle
She was delayed while taking that million-dollar shot
She was held up while attempting to capture a photograph worth a significant amount
It's hard for her to break away
Facing difficulty in breaking free from her current situation
She's got so much more to say
She possesses numerous thoughts and opinions that she wants to express
Three dudes having fun in a Volkswagen up
A group of three individuals enjoying themselves inside a Volkswagen vehicle
Laughing too hard they can't get enough
Laughing excessively to the point where they desire even more
One hand on freedom while he shifts into third gear
Having a sense of liberation while changing gears in the car
They just wanna get out of here
Expressing the desire to escape from the current environment
A social media star I'll never be
Admitting that one will never achieve fame on social media platforms
I just put it in my latest tweet
Only sharing it in a recent message posted on a social media platform
This isn't real life
Stating that the situation being depicted is not an accurate representation of actual life
Writer(s): Jacob Noerby Dinesen, Sebastian Wolff
Contributed by Mateo N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.