Initially, the band played several concerts in Bergen and Western Norway during 2007 and 2008. Their song "Diamanter & Kirsebær" was released on a compilation disc titled Opplett 2008 featuring music from Bergen-based acts including Fjorden Baby!, Kommode, The New Wine, Razika, Di Kjipe and Lars Vaular. In addition, they opened for Norwegian rock band Fjorden Baby! in a major concert on 18 December 2008.
The band was featured on NRK Urørt broadcast on P3 n 2008, and one of the finalists for best act in Urørt's annual show finishing in third place. In February 2009, they performed at the by:Larm music festival in Oslo. Also in February 2009, they were signed to Norwegian record label Voices Music & Entertainment (also known as VM&E).
The band's debut album was released on 14 September 2009 and well-received by critics and selling over 15,000 of the album. During Spellemannprisen equivalent to the Grammys held on 6 March 2010, they won the classic rock award in addition to being nominated for "best newcomer of 2009".
On 7 February 2011, the band released their second album Det nærmeste du kommer followed by an EP Vinterkarusellen with Nils Bech in February 2012.
JON&Gjengen split up as friends in 2013 as announced on Facebook by John Olav himself, and was followed by several concerts with the last one ever being held in Bergen November 16th.
Diamanter & kirsebær
John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
vil eg kysse pistolen
legge et kirsebær på hodet
og si takk og farvel.
Og eg åpner døren
med et smell
som tar meg over broen
og gjennom et fjell og
si god natt til kroppen
gir deg til vinden og la legenden leve så.
Men hon vil se farger
og eg viser hon grå.
Hon gjør det hon vil
eg gjør et par ting eg må.
Som å knuse flasker
fortauskanter
nærmeste eg kommer
diamanter
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
For det e meg og deg
i verdens sjønneste løgn
Komman, kom igjen
Vi lurer oss sjøl i kveld å åh....
Og dagene spinner
rundt flasker og kvinner
Eg forsvinner mot lyset
og selg skinnet så billig
så retter eg ryggen
og drar meg gjennom stormen
Bli med meg og sol deg i sorgen.
oppe på toppen
si god natt til kroppen
gir deg til vinden og la legenden leve så.
Men hon vil se farger
og eg e bare blå
Hon gjør det hon vil
eg gjør et par ting eg må.
Som å knuse flasker
fortauskanter
nærmeste du kommer
diamanter
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
diamanter og kirsebær
For det e meg og deg
i verdens sjønneste løgn
Komman, kom igjen
Vi lurer oss sjøl igjen å bare boom....
Gir oss over
over
mens de bare de
sover
de sover
og vi bare
gir oss over
over
til Diamanter og kirsebær...
The lyrics to John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen's song "Diamanter & kirsebær" express a sense of restlessness and a desire to escape from reality. The first verse describes a desire to flee from life and end it all with a kiss from a gun, but instead of doing so, the singer symbolically places a cherry on their head and bids farewell to life with a bang. The second verse describes the idea of wanting to please someone else (hon), but feeling unable to do so because the singer is stuck in their own world of grayness and monotony. They describe their actions as simply doing what they must do, such as smashing bottles and walking along the curb, as they try to escape from the mundane.
The chorus repeats the phrase "diamanter and kirsebær", which translates to "diamonds and cherries". This phrase is repeated to emphasize the contrast between two different worlds- the luxurious and stunning world of diamonds, and the simple, everyday world of cherries. The singer wants to be a part of the grand world of diamonds and escape the monotony of cherries, but they feel trapped and unable to do so. The final verse describes the acceptance of the reality of life, as the singer acknowledges that they must continue to "sell their skin cheap" and endure through the hardships of life. However, the chorus repeats the desire to escape to the world of diamonds and cherries and suggests the hope of finding a way to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
På kvelder som dette vil eg kysse pistolen
On evenings like this, I want to give up and escape my problems.
Legge et kirsebær på hodet og si takk og farvel.
I want to end it all and say goodbye.
Og eg åpner døren med et smell som tar meg over broen og gjennom et fjell og oppe på toppen si god natt til kroppen gir deg til vinden og la legenden leve så.
I want to leave my problems behind and start anew, saying goodbye to my old self and letting it go.
Men hon vil se farger og eg viser hon grå.
The person I care about wants more from me, but I can only give them so much.
Hon gjør det hon vil eg gjør et par ting eg må.
They do what they want, and I do what I have to do.
Som å knuse flasker, fortauskanter, nærmeste eg kommer diamanter, diamanter og kirsebær...
I distract myself by doing destructive things and settling for the little joys in life.
For det e meg og deg i verdens sjønneste løgn, Komman, kom igjen Vi lurer oss sjøl i kveld å åh....
It's just me and you in this beautiful lie. We're fooling ourselves, but it's okay for tonight.
Og dagene spinner rundt flasker og kvinner Eg forsvinner mot lyset og selg skinnet så billig så retter eg ryggen og drar meg gjennom stormen Bli med meg og sol deg i sorgen.
Days pass by in a blur of alcohol and women. I escape towards a brighter future, selling myself short but pushing through the hardships. Join me and bask in our shared sadness.
Men hon vil se farger og eg e bare blå Hon gjør det hon vil eg gjør et par ting eg må.
They want more from me, but I can only give them what I have. They do what they want and I do what I have to.
Som å knuse flasker, fortauskanter, nærmeste du kommer diamanter, diamanter og kirsebær...
Destructive habits are my distraction, and I find joy in the little things in life.
For det e meg og deg i verdens sjønneste løgn, Komman, kom igjen Vi lurer oss sjøl igjen å bare boom....
It's just you and me in this beautiful lie. We're fooling ourselves again, and it feels great.
Gir oss over over mens de bare de sover de sover og vi bare gir oss over over til Diamanter og kirsebær...
We give up and escape into our destructive habits, while everyone else sleeps. We surrender to our distractions of diamonds and cherries.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lori Wilk
Spotify randomly recommended me this song 5 years ago and I still come back to listen to it once a while
Emmanuelle Lunada
For en fantastisk sang.
Natalia Marin
Stemmen te John Olav æ som terapi for sjela, Hjertet mitt kommer nok alltid til å elske såreheten i røsten hans... Å høre han synge æ vel noe av det beste som finnes selv om tårene triller lett når musikken når øret.
Isidora Vesnic
Elsker denne sangen!
Steinar
Meget meget bra :-)
SofieH25
Driit bra sang <3 <3
Nuclearsheep
This is the catchiest song ever to come from northern europe.
Xtra Chewy
Teexamanbinnojol agreed
AndrewIsTaken
on bro
Thomas Aasen
Diamanter og kjirebær....✌🌠