Jay-Jay Johanson was born Jäje Johansson on 11 October 1969 in Trollhättan, Västra Götaland. His debut album, Whiskey, was released in August 1996. Recorded at Break My Heart Studios in the Stockholm archipelago, the album was characterized by its jazzy vocals over trippy, film noir arrangements.
In 1998, Johanson released Tattoo, taking a step into a more richly textured, poetic ambience. Johansson's third album, Poison, was released in April 2000 and went straight into the French charts at number four. The album featured contributions from Cocteau Twins founder and guitarist Robin Guthrie. The same year Johanson also composed the soundtrack to French director Ilan Duran Cohen's film La Confusion des Genres, and in 2001, Johanson emerged with "Cosmodrome", a sound-and-image installation first exhibited in the French city of Dijon. This art-piece has travelled around the world and was last shown at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Antenna was released in 2002, recorded with assistance from German experimental electronic group Funkstörung. 2004 marked the release of the compilation Prologue, meant for the American market. It was followed by Rush in 2005, an album partly produced by French producer Jean-Pierre Ensuque.
Johanson co-wrote and contributed vocals to The Knife's 2006 song "Marble House".[1] In the spring of 2006, he called together the musicians he had worked with on the three first albums, and January 2007 saw the release of their collaborative effort The Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known. A tour in promotion of the album kicked off in China and continued to more than thirty cities around the world.
Johanson's eighth studio album Spellbound was released on 2 May 2011.[2] "Dilemma" was released as the album's lead single on 11 March 2011.[3]
On 3 March 2017, "You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" was released via iTunes as the first single from Johanson's upcoming album Bury The Hatchet, due 15 September 2017 on 29 Music. [4]
Spellbound
Jay-Jay Johanson Lyrics
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Collecting branches, raking leaves
Looks like they're gonna make a fire
I guess it's that time of the year
The opening lines of Jay-Jay Johanson’s song “Spellbound” paint a vivid picture of an idyllic scene on the beach. The scene is one of tranquility and simplicity, with individuals contently gathering driftwood, branches, and leaves for their fire. The lyrics convey a sense of community and togetherness, as if the individuals involved are spending time with loved ones, enjoying each other’s company while in the company of nature. The scene can be interpreted as a metaphor for finding pleasure in the simple things in life and the importance of being present in the moment.
However, as the song progresses, the tone shifts. The lyrics become darker, and the previously idyllic scene on the beach becomes eerie and unsettling. The soothing music that accompanies the lyrics only serves to intensify the paradox between the unsettling tone and the calmness of the melody. Johanson describes feeling “spellbound” by a “ghost” with a “pale skin”, which suggests that he has been trapped or haunted by his past. The song sends the message that the haunting of the past can overtake even the most idyllic present.
Line by Line Meaning
They gather driftwood on the beach
They're picking up and taking home dry pieces of wood that have been carried to the shore by water.
Collecting branches, raking leaves
They're gathering tree branches and using a tool to scrape and gather fallen leaves from the ground.
Looks like they're gonna make a fire
From the items they're collecting, it appears that their intention is to ignite a blaze.
I guess it's that time of the year
The season and surrounding environment imply that it's a customary period for these outdoor activities.
Contributed by Mateo Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.