His debut release was the 5-track EP, Go to Hell, Miss Rydell followed later in the year by the full-length Everything. Now!. Two years later, the upbeat In a Nutshell followed. It wasn't long before the third effort The Lilac Time was released in Summer 2008.
Pelle now make music with his own children in a project called Tvillingarna, Truls & Jag.
I Just Called To Say I Love You
Pelle Carlberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But if I ever get happy, I won't give a fuck
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, cause I'm not superstitious
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, it's Friday, I'm in love
If I would try being boring
I would write songs with words like
"Beautiful" and "morning"
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, cause I'm not superstitious
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, it's Friday, I'm in love
It's ironic, don't you think?
How success can make you stink
It's ironic, don't you think?
Success can make you stink
If I ever get happy, my songs will start to suck
But if I ever get happy, I won't give a fuck
Fuck
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, cause I'm not superstitious
I just called to say I love you
Let's dance, it's Friday, I'm in love
The first verse of "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Pelle Carlberg expresses his assumption that whenever he becomes happy, his music will lose its essence. As a songwriter, he feels that his creativity and skill are at its peak when he is unhappy, and therefore, his songs will begin to "suck" if he ever achieves happiness. The next verse highlights Carlberg's desires if he were to become successful, he would attempt being mundane and create songs with words like "beautiful" and "morning." The ironic chorus implies that success can be a burden and leave a person hollow, which often overshadows their talent and ability. While being a musician brings Carlberg joy, he acknowledges that happiness and success can be detrimental.
The final verse states that despite knowing that his music will suffer if he ever achieves happiness, he will not care, indicating that he is willing to risk his creativity to attain contentment. The song's last line, "Let's dance, it's Friday, I'm in love," is a reference to the classic song "Friday I'm in Love" by The Cure. Carlberg is suggesting that he is happy at that moment in time, but he still recognizes the inherent struggle and uncertainty that comes with being an artist.
Overall, the song reflects on the relationship between happiness, creativity, and success, and illustrates how these factors can clash and hinder a musician's growth.
Line by Line Meaning
If I ever get happy, my songs will start to suck
If I am content with my life, my creative output will suffer.
But if I ever get happy, I won't give a fuck
However, I won't care about the decline in quality because my happiness is more important.
I just called to say I love you
This is a simple gesture of affection towards someone.
Let's dance, cause I'm not superstitious
The artist wants to engage in physical activity without concern for any supposed consequences.
Let's dance, it's Friday, I'm in love
The artist is expressing enthusiasm for the day of the week and the romantic feelings they have.
If I could buy an island
If the singer had unlimited financial resources to do what they wanted.
If I would try being boring
If the singer attempted to be less interesting or adventurous.
I would write songs with words like 'Beautiful' and 'morning'
Their creative output would reflect mundane and predictable themes and language.
It's ironic, don't you think?
The situation being discussed is actually unexpected or contradictory to what one might anticipate.
How success can make you stink
The artist is commenting on the unappealing qualities that can arise from having achieved success.
Fuck
An exclamation of frustration or defiance.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.