With her opera singer for a mother, theater organist father and Björk’s Homogenic on constant rotation, Oh Land was enraptured by the combination of experimental and classical arts. “My goal is to sound like I’m from 2050, but still feel really classic, like the music is an old friend,” said Oh Land. She spent her days pirouetting as a ballet dancer at the Danish Royal Ballet Academy when an injury forced her to reinvent herself and discover her true talent and passion as a musician. Oh Land was discovered by Kasper Bjørke who soon released her first album, Fauna, which garnered critical acclaim in her homeland of Denmark. Her soundscapes are lavish, crunchy, symphonic, brute and captivated with rhythms that fly apart. She translates the sounds live via her contraption - a homemade one-woman-band music box topped with balloon video projections (seeing is believing). Her music is for movement and new songs such as the thumping Sun of a Gun and euphoric White Nights have proven to make even the most portentous get up and dance. Having been discovered by Epic Records at 2009’s SXSW, she is currently putting the finishing touches on her US debut album and an EP to be released this fall.
www.ohlandmusic.com
Frostbite
Oh Land Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm tired of keeping disciplined
I'm sweltering
The heat is too much for me
Producing this shit is pure vanity
I've got a frostbite in my frontal lobe
I've got no empathy
Please won't you unwrap me from this cotton wool
I won't be bullet proof
When you just smile
You're bored of quality
You're tired of keeping disciplined
I'm not sweltering (I am sweltering)
The heat is perfect for me (it's too much for me)
Making this song is not vanity (it is vanity)
You've got a frostbite in your frontal lobe
But I've got too much empathy
So much sensitivity
Please, please wrap me in some cotton wool
I'm not bullet proof
When you just smile
The lyrics in Oh Land's song, Frostbite, are evocative and open to interpretation. The song seems to be commenting on artistic frustration, with the singer feeling stifled and stagnant. They're "bored of quality" and "tired of keeping disciplined," indicating that they're feeling constrained by self-imposed rules or external expectations. The heat they feel exacerbates these feelings, with the heat acting as a metaphor for pressure and stress. The singer sees their work as "pure vanity," indicating that they may feel their art has no real value or purpose.
The chorus then shifts the perspective to the "you," who is also "bored of quality" and "tired of keeping disciplined," but seems to approach the situation differently. The singer says they have a "frostbite in [their] frontal lobe," which could indicate a lack of creativity or inspiration. The "you" also lacks empathy and sensitivity, indicating a lack of emotional depth. The singer, on the other hand, has "too much empathy" and "so much sensitivity," suggesting they may be overly emotional and in need of protection. They ask to be "wrapped...in some cotton wool," meaning they need someone to provide care and comfort for them to feel safe.
Overall, Frostbite seems to be a commentary on the highs and lows of artistic creation. The singer and the "you" both struggle with creative frustration and burnout but have different approaches to managing it. The singer may need more emotional support and care to thrive, while the "you" may need to let down their defenses and allow themselves to feel more deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm bored of quality
I am tired of making high-quality music and want to do something different
I'm tired of keeping disciplined
I am tired of following a strict work routine and want to be more spontaneous
I'm sweltering
I am uncomfortable due to the hot weather or difficult situation I am in
The heat is too much for me
The pressure of producing good music is too much for me to handle
Producing this shit is pure vanity
Creating this music is just to satisfy my ego and has no real purpose
I've got a frostbite in my frontal lobe
I have lost my emotional and creative abilities due to overthinking or stress
I've got no empathy
I am unable to connect emotionally with others or feel their pain
No sensitivity
I am unable to perceive or respond to others feelings or emotions
Please won't you unwrap me from this cotton wool
Please help me break free from my protective shell and take risks
I won't be bullet proof
I will be vulnerable to criticism and rejection, but it's worth it to be authentic
When you just smile
Your positive energy and support can help me overcome my doubts and fears
You're bored of quality
You are fed up with making perfect music and want to experiment more
You're tired of keeping disciplined
You are tired of following a strict work routine and want more freedom
I'm not sweltering (I am sweltering)
I am not uncomfortable (I am uncomfortable) with the current situation
The heat is perfect for me (it's too much for me)
The pressure of producing music is just right (too much for me to handle)
Making this song is not vanity (it is vanity)
Creating this music is not just for my ego (it is just for my ego)
You've got a frostbite in your frontal lobe
You have lost your creative and emotional abilities due to overthinking or stress
But I've got too much empathy
I am able to connect emotionally with others and feel their pain
So much sensitivity
I am able to perceive and respond to others' feelings and emotions
Please, please wrap me in some cotton wool
Please protect me from criticism and rejection so I can feel safe
I'm not bullet proof
I am vulnerable to criticism and rejection, but I need to take risks to grow
When you just smile
Your positive energy and support can help me overcome my doubts and fears
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aisteaak
so pure.. perfect. shes my diva fo shizzle
Rosecrest
Cute fishy singing <3
James Wayne
awesome quality ! :) thanks so much
Katherine Land
some of the lyrics are wrong, but thank u for this song :)
Nina Q. Ho
Hi! Hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for posting this!
fractalign
i think i am falling in love !!!!!!!
dogfightvj
oh the fishman is singing :o hahaha
AvemNyx
what are the lyrics to this song?
Payal
@rustywoodenspoon Ok thanks, that's what my first guess was, but I got a little confused about the lyrics always saying "Wark" instead of the usual *** or --- or "beeps".
Cuneyt Cansever
hello, who is the guy who vocalizes or duet of the song? voice is really impressive. that guy voice is heards like anthony...