Johansson and multi-instrumentalist Johan Eckeborn erect an enormous wall of electronic sound on En hand i himlen, with each song demonstrating new tricks. The title track is densely layered around an "and" beat snare pattern, building into soaring choruses and fading away into softer verses. Corkscrew synths etch a delicate melody throughout the downcast "Innan vi faller", whose mopiness is offset by its graceful segue into the relatively upbeat "Högsta taket, högsta våningen". Johansson and Eckeborn create different textures and tones from their machines, but track to track there is an ebb and flow that makes En hand i himlen play seamlessly. "Sent för oss", pushed along by a frantic bass rhythm, charges along at a fast clip into the stark "Du sa", which sounds austere but not antiseptic. With a sprinting drumbeat that threatens to leave the performers behind, "Säg vad ni vill" provides the album's climax and an opportunity for Johansson to show off his surprisingly agile voice, which moves effortlessly from wounded to triumphant, from a low whisper to a falsetto that almost sounds indistinguishable from the synths themselves.
One song obviously stands out, although its title gives few clues. "Alla vill ha hela världen" translates to "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and yes, it's a Tears for Fears cover. Johansson doesn't mess with the original much beyond singing in Swedish-- this isn't a Gary Jules-style makeover-- and while the choice may be obvious, the song fits well enough on the album, finding a balance between defiant and resigned, between introverted and extroverted. Johansson may be playing off certain early 80s styles and signifiers on En hand i himlen, but on this impressive debut, he never sounds merely imitative. Instead, he cribs from that decade only to suit his own emotional, expressive ends.
Centrum
Jonathan Johansson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Och öppnas
Snart faller ljuset
Över platsen du står
Snart kommer ingen någonsin
Tvivla längre
Snart följer hela världen
Dina spår
Snart kommer pengarna
Du alltid förtjänat
Snart kommer kärleken
Du tvingade fram
Snart ska du slita ut
Ditt trasiga hjärta
Snart kommer hela världen
Dyrka ditt namn
Och snart ska någon
Driva ut demonen
Snart ska vi vakna
I ett paradis
Snart ska vi flyta ut på
Uppsträckta händer
Snart kommer sångerna
Ett fyrverkeri
Snart ska vi sväva in
Ljusare nätter
Snart lyfter drömmarna
Och du är fri
Och snart ska någon
Driva ut demonen
Snart ska vi vakna
I ett paradis
Snart kommer tårarna
Ett regn i Sahara
Snart ska vi ångra
Vad vi hoppades på
Snart kommer vågorna
Snart kommer Atlanten
Snart ska dom största
Bli så små
Och snart ska någon
Driva ut demonen
Snart ska vi vakna
I ett paradis
The song "Centrum" by Jonathan Johansson describes a moment of triumph and fulfilment for the singer, when doors will open, light will fall over the place he stands, and the whole world will follow his lead without any hesitation. He anticipates that soon he will receive the money he has always deserved, the love he has forcefully sought, and will finally wear out his broken heart. He believes that soon everyone will worship his name, and he will be able to drive away the demon that has been haunting him. This feeling of success and power is also reflected in the vivid imagery of the song, such as waves, rain in the desert, and a fireworks display that will accompany a new era of light and freedom.
Despite the undeniable sense of achievement conveyed by the lyrics and the hopeful tone of the melody, the song seems to carry a note of irony or sarcasm, as if the singer is aware that his desire for success is futile or misplaced. For instance, when he sings that soon he will receive the love he deserves, he adds that he had to force it out. Similarly, when he speaks of driving out the demon that has been haunting him, it is unclear whether he means a metaphorical demon or a literal one. The repetition of the line "snart ska vi vakna i ett paradis" (soon we will wake up in paradise) at the end of each verse also suggests a hint of skepticism or mockery of the utopian vision the singer presents.
Overall, "Centrum" is a complex and layered commentary on the human longing for success and recognition, and the precariousness of the feeling of achievement when it is disconnected from deeper values or motivations.
Line by Line Meaning
Snart kommer dörrarna slå upp
Soon the doors will open
Och öppnas
And be unlocked
Snart faller ljuset
Soon the light will shine down
Över platsen du står
Over the place where you stand
Snart kommer ingen någonsin
Soon no one will ever
Tvivla längre
Doubt anymore
Snart följer hela världen
Soon the whole world will
Dina spår
Follow your tracks
Snart kommer pengarna
Soon the money
Du alltid förtjänat
You always deserved
Snart kommer kärleken
Soon the love
Du tvingade fram
You forced
Snart ska du slita ut
Soon you will wear out
Ditt trasiga hjärta
Your broken heart
Snart kommer hela världen
Soon the whole world will
Dyrka ditt namn
Worship your name
Och snart ska någon
And soon someone will
Driva ut demonen
Cast out the demon
Snart ska vi vakna
Soon we will wake up
I ett paradis
In a paradise
Snart ska vi flyta ut på
Soon we will float out on
Uppsträckta händer
Outstretched hands
Snart kommer sångerna
Soon the songs will
Ett fyrverkeri
Be a fireworks display
Snart ska vi sväva in
Soon we will float in
Ljusare nätter
Brighter nights
Snart lyfter drömmarna
Soon the dreams will lift
Och du är fri
And you are free
Snart kommer tårarna
Soon the tears will come
Ett regn i Sahara
Like rain in the Sahara
Snart ska vi ångra
Soon we will regret
Vad vi hoppades på
What we hoped for
Snart kommer vågorna
Soon the waves will come
Snart kommer Atlanten
Soon the Atlantic will come
Snart ska dom största
Soon the biggest ones will
Bli så små
Become so small
Och snart ska någon
And soon someone will
Driva ut demonen
Cast out the demon
Snart ska vi vakna
Soon we will wake up
I ett paradis
In a paradise
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HC Clifford
Hello! Posting from not my own account, but here are the lyrics....
Soon the doors will slam and open.
Soon the light will fall over the place you stand.
Soon nobody will doubt anymore.
Soon the whole world will follow your steps.
Soon comes the money you always deserved.
Soon comes the love you forced.
Soon you will rip out your broken heart.
Soon the whole world will worship your name.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Soon we will float on a sea of hands.
Soon comes the songs, fireworks.
Soon we will float in to brighter nights.
Soon the dreams will lift and you'll be free.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Soon comes the tears, a rain in Sahara.
Soon we will regret what we was hoping for.
Soon comes the waves, soon comes Atlantis.
Soon the greatest will be small.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Casper Jönsson
Tricia Cherie
My best attempt keeping in mind my English is not great.
Soon the doors will open up
And opened
Soon the light falls
Over the place you stand
Soon no one will ever doubt anymore
Soon the whole world will follow your tracks
Soon the money will come that you always deserved
Soon comes the love that you forced out
Soon you will wear out your broken heart
Soon the whole world will worship your name
And soon someone will drive out the demon
Soon we will wake up in paradise
Soon we will float upon up-stretched hands
Soon the songs will come
A fireworks display
Soon we will float in brighter nights
Soon the dreams will rise
And you’re free
And soon someone will drive out the demon
Soon we will wake up in paradise
Soon the tears will come
A rain in the Sahara
Soon we will regret what we were hoping for
Soon the waves will come
Soon the Atlantic will come
Soon shall the greatest be so small
And soon someone will drive out the demon
Soon we will wake up in paradise.
Casper Jönsson
This guy is absolutely amazing. His music is from heaven. He should be massive, he isn’t, that’s typical but nonetheless the ones he touches will never forget.
Dion
Totally agree! Fewer and fewer people seem to look for and enjoy good music, a sine of the era we live in. But hey! We found it 😊
Backtriggs
well said brother
Jesper Ericsson
Så jävla vacker låt att jag kan börja grina! Kan inte sluta lyssna på den!
Robert R
Pt1 Soon the doors will be opened up Soon the light falls over the place you're standing Soon no one will ever doubt you again Soon the whole world will follow your footsteps Soon the money will come, that you always deserved Soon the love will come, that you forced out Soon you will rip out your broken heart Soon the whole world will worship your name And soon someone will drive out the demon Soon we shall wake up in a paradise
Robert R
Pt2 Soon we will flow out on raised hands Soon comes the songs A firework Soon we shall hover in brighter nights Soon the dreams will lift, and you are free And soon someone will drive out the demons Soon we shall wake up in a paradise Soon comes the tears, a rain in the Sahara Soon we shall regret what we hoped for Soon comes the waves Soon comes the Atlantic Soon the biggest shall become so small
indieclock
this song is so amazing. i wish i could read the lyrics in english. still, i'm glad Jonathan sings in Swedish.
ModernNomad
Want to me to translate?
HC Clifford
Hello! Posting from not my own account, but here are the lyrics....
Soon the doors will slam and open.
Soon the light will fall over the place you stand.
Soon nobody will doubt anymore.
Soon the whole world will follow your steps.
Soon comes the money you always deserved.
Soon comes the love you forced.
Soon you will rip out your broken heart.
Soon the whole world will worship your name.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Soon we will float on a sea of hands.
Soon comes the songs, fireworks.
Soon we will float in to brighter nights.
Soon the dreams will lift and you'll be free.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Soon comes the tears, a rain in Sahara.
Soon we will regret what we was hoping for.
Soon comes the waves, soon comes Atlantis.
Soon the greatest will be small.
And soon somebody will exercise the demon.
Soon we'll be waking in a paradise!
Robin Larsson
Du gör detta så förbannat bra Jonathan, tack för alla fantastiska kvällar!