The band was formed in 1982, with a lineup consisting of Nielsen on guitar and vocals, his long time partner May-Irene Aasen on drums and Håkon Torgersen on bass. Their debut album Alt kan repareres was released in 1986.
Much of the band's lyrics revolved around alcohol, and Jokke had a reputation of frequently getting drunk on stage. In 1992, he created a scandal when he received a Norwegian Grammy award whilst under the influence of drugs.
In the mid-90s, Jokke had developed a heroin addiction, and had several stays at rehabilitation clinics. By the turn of the millennium, many of his close friends believed that he had conquered his inner demons. In October 2000, while on leave from a rehabilitation clinic, Jokke died from a drug overdose.
In 2005, a double tribute album entitled "Det beste til meg og mine venner" (English: The best for me and my friends) was released, which featured some of Jokke's best known songs covered by Norwegian artists.
Spenn
Jokke & Valentinerne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Og de beste knullene var dem som bare var ljug
Her går jeg i en by full av spenn med lommene vrengt
Hos alle mine venner er kreditten stengt fom lengst
Jeg kan godt gå på kino uten reklame
Jeg trenger ikke selskap av ei struttende dame
Gi meg spenn
Gi meg spenn så jeg alltid kan stikke et sted
Spenn så jeg slepper å komme ned
Spenn sånn at jeg kan stryke med i fred
Jeg sitter på rommet mitt, jeg sitter på ræva
Dem bokser meg i trynet, jeg tryner mot taua
Og alle folk går rundt og bare snakkker snikk-snakk
Om jobben, skatten, krigen, og alt dem har av pikk-pakk
Jeg vil sprade på gata og kjøre mercedes
Jeg vil at en tysker skal spørre "Wie geht es?"
Gi meg spenn
Gi meg spenn
Gi meg spenn
Gi meg spenn så jeg slepper å komme ned
Spenn så jeg alltid kan stikke et sted
Spenn sånn at jeg kan stryke med i fred
The lyrics of "Spenn" by Jokke & Valentinerne talk about the desire for money and how it can solve all problems. The song speaks about the pleasures that money can buy, such as cigarettes and sex. The singer is in a city, where everyone is struggling with debts and credit limit, but he desires money to be able to do what he wants without any restriction. He does not need the company of a woman or any other person, but he wishes to be free enough to walk around the streets and drive a Mercedes.
The chorus of the song repeatedly says, "Give me money, so I can always escape somewhere, so I do not need to come down, so I can die in peace." The idea behind this is that money can provide freedom, power, and the ability to live life the way he wants, without any struggle. The verses talk about how the singer is annoyed with people talking about things that he has no interest in and wishes to escape from it all by having a lot of money.
Overall, "Spenn" is a song that highlights the materialistic desire for money and how it can solve a lot of issues. It portrays how individuals can feel trapped in society and how the only thing that can provide them with absolute freedom is money.
Line by Line Meaning
De beste sigarettene var dem som jeg røyka i smug
I remember the best cigarettes I ever had were the ones I smoked secretly
Og de beste knullene var dem som bare var ljug
And the best sexual experiences were the ones that were just lies
Her går jeg i en by full av spenn med lommene vrengt
Here I am, walking around a city full of money, with my pockets empty
Hos alle mine venner er kreditten stengt fom lengst
All my friends have been cut off by creditors for some time now
Jeg kan godt gå på kino uten reklame
I can afford to see a movie without being bothered by commercials
Jeg trenger ikke selskap av ei struttende dame
I don't need the company of a woman with a curvy figure
Gi meg spenn
Give me money
Gi meg spenn så jeg alltid kan stikke et sted
Give me money so I can always go somewhere
Spenn så jeg slepper å komme ned
Money so I don't have to come down
Spenn sånn at jeg kan stryke med i fred
Enough money so I can die in peace
Jeg sitter på rommet mitt, jeg sitter på ræva
I'm sitting in my room, sitting on my ass
Dem bokser meg i trynet, jeg tryner mot taua
They hit me in the face, I fall towards the ropes
Og alle folk går rundt og bare snakkker snikk-snakk
And everyone else is just talking nonsense
Om jobben, skatten, krigen, og alt dem har av pikk-pakk
About work, taxes, war, and all the irrelevant stuff
Jeg vil sprade på gata og kjøre mercedes
I want to strut around the streets and drive a Mercedes
Jeg vil at en tysker skal spørre "Wie geht es?"
I want a German to ask me "How are you?"
Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Erik-vp5bm
Beste versjon av denne låta!
@knerkenknerkesen2835
Refrain, Gimme money so i dont have to come down, Money so i always can go a place, money so i can die in peace
@fuqupal
His singing: "Gimme money so i don't have the beat the shit out of you!"