Among her best known songs are "Private Emotion", a (duet with Ricky Martin) from his multi-Platinum album Ricky Martin (1999), and "All 'bout the Money", which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998.
She gained much popularity in the West after her single "How Crazy are You?" was used as the main theme music for the Xbox video game Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball.
Meja was born Anna Pernilla Torndahl in Nynäshamn, Stockholm County. She had her stage debut at "Ystads City theatre" at the age of 7. She was brought up in a musical family, her grandfather, Per Lundkvist, was a composer of both classical and contemporary music and her mother, a recording artist as a child before choosing a path as a painter.
In 1986, at the age of 16, she moved to Mallorca, Spain, to study. She was introduced to American jazz trumpet player/singer Stephen Frankevich and started to take vocal lessons with singer Deborah Carter.
Meja went to Stockholm in 1990. She sang in different bands there before getting out on tour as a backup singer for the Swedish group Rob n Raz DLC in 1991. In 1992 Meja moved to Los Angeles to continue her studies at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. She graduated from the vocal program in late 1992 then returned to Sweden.
n 1993, Meja worked with the dance project Legacy of Sound. She co-wrote with Anders Bagge the first single, "Happy", from the album Holy Groove. The song reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club play, and it peaked at number 68 on the Top 100 during a 12-week stay on the chart. "Happy" was released in over 20 countries. Meja recorded one more album with Legacy of Sound in 1994, Tour de Force.
Meja teamed in 1995 with Swedish manager Lasse Karlsson, manager of Ace of Base, and writer/producer Douglas Carr to provide the vocals for the demo The Juvenile titled The Goldeneye.
The first solo album Meja, was released in 1996, with songs co-written by Billy Steinberg. In 1997 Meja had her first concert tour in Japan: The Flower Girl Jam Tour.
Meja released the album Seven Sisters in 1998. Later that year Columbia (Sony) launched the album in the U.S with the single "How Crazy Are You?"
Meja went to Miami in 1999 to record "Private Emotion", a duet with Ricky Martin for his debut album Ricky Martin. After shooting a video for the song, Meja stayed in Los Angeles to work on her next album Realitales (2000) with Steinberg. She also co-wrote two tracks for the album in London with Stephen Lipson. The artwork for this album was shot by Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund.
In 2003 Meja started to work with her former Sony Music boss, Richard Ogden. The album Mellow was released in 2004, with songs in Portuguese ("Água de Beber", "Dindi") and Spanish. She covered a Caetano Veloso song "O'Leaonzinho" that she named "Little Lion." The album was produced by Hamish Stuart. One song, "Simple Days-Walking the Distance", was used in the Japanese film Lakeside Murder Case.
In 2006 Meja went back to Los Angeles to collaborate again with Steinberg on a new album, also working with writers Jeff Barry, Billy Gibbons, Jed Leiber and Boz Boorer.
The first single "At the Rainbow's End" was released in June 2009, the second single "Regrets (I Have None)" in August, and the album Urban Gypsy was released on her own label Seven Sisters Network in October on a license deal with Sony Music. A remix of Mando Diao's "Dance with Somebody" was released early 2010.
The first release from the album Stroboscope Sky was the single "Blame it on the Shadows" (2013) produced by Ebbot Lundberg. Meja teamed with producer Nicolas Gunthardt and together with his sister Alessandra they wrote "Yellow Ribbon" which served as the theme song for the album. "Yellow Ribbon" was released as a single in collaboration with Amnesty International/Free the Angola 3 to help raise awareness of the case of Albert Woodfox. A remix EP was released with remixes by Deep Forest, Dj Swami, Gota Yashiki, DF Tram, NORD and more.
Under the Sun
Meja Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you磖e not different than the rest
If you think your life磗 a misery
you better stand the test
You think you磖e in control
of all the good things you possess
but you磖e technical and cold
and you look just like a mess
You see the picture
you磖e having fun
but the adventure just has begun
Nothing is new under the sun
Nothing is new
under the sun
Nothing is new
under the sun
under the sun
The pattern is repeated
in the common things we find
inventions have been made
but we磖e so limited in our minds
We think we have expaned
but DNA has got the plan
We find the right solution
the day we understand
You see the picture
well, I turned it on
and the adventure just has begun
Nothing is new under the sun
Chorus
Meja's song Under The Sun is a soulful reflection on the cyclical nature of life throughout history. In the first verse, Meja warns us not to believe that we are any different from those who came before us, reminding us that if we think our lives are miserable, we must stand the test. She notes that while we may believe ourselves to be in control of our possessions and lives, we can come across as technical and cold and ultimately end up in a mess. The second verse highlights the recurring patterns we see in life, where new inventions may be made, but human understanding is limited to a certain extent. She points out that humanity may believe themselves to have expanded and found the right solutions, but ultimately it is limited by the blueprint found within our DNA.
The chorus, "Nothing is new under the sun," is repeated several times throughout the song, driving home the message that everything in life is cyclical and history will continue to repeat itself in one way or another. The line "you see the picture, you're having fun, but the adventure just has begun" adds an optimistic hope that despite the recurring patterns, there is always a new adventure or journey to embark on.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back at history
Reflecting on past events
you're not different than the rest
You are similar to others in the past
If you think your life's a misery
If you feel like your life is full of suffering
you better stand the test
You must endure and persevere
You think you're in control
You believe you have power over things
of all the good things you possess
Of everything positive in your life
but you're technical and cold
You are distant and unfeeling
and you look just like a mess
And your life appears disorganized and chaotic
You see the picture
You recognize the scenario
you're having fun
You’re enjoying the moment
but the adventure just has begun
But the exciting journey is only starting
Nothing is new under the sun
There is nothing entirely novel or original in the world
Nothing is new
Everything is a repetition
The pattern is repeated
The same sequence is often followed
in the common things we find
In things that are usual or normal
inventions have been made
Creativity has brought about progress
but we're so limited in our minds
But our thinking capacity is confined
We think we have expaned
We assume we have grown or developed
but DNA has got the plan
But nature already has the scheme
We find the right solution
We discover the correct answer
the day we understand
The moment we comprehend
well, I turned it on
I analyzed the situation
and the adventure just has begun
And the quest has just started
Nothing is new under the sun
Absence of real novelty or creativity
Nothing is new under the sun
Nothing is entirely new
Nothing is new under the sun
History repeats itself
under the sun
In this life or on this earth
Contributed by Henry D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christina Talent Scout
Great rhythm! Loving this one! 🎵🎵
mejaofficial
thank you so much:):)
IOSIF MARIANO
Hi Meja, i love your new song. greetings from Peru
mejaofficial
ohhh Peru.... wonderfulHoware things over there???Hope all is well...
heppolo
good one!
Wouter S.
Wait, Just watched the video for the first time. First reaction: Confusion, second reaction: I don't want to clean that kitchen. I like the way the dance times with the song, but I do not see the connection between the lyrics and the dance, Love the performance. Kudo's to the dancer. Cinclusion, Great song, awesome performance but syntax error. my brain is blown.
mejaofficial
Totally correct it expresses the confusion we have lived in now for 6 months with this darn epidemic...... so you are spot on!!!
Mario Sergio Machado dos Santos
OMG!
Mario Sergio Machado dos Santos
@mejaofficial <3
mejaofficial
I know:):):):) Desperate Lockdown feeling.....