Brundtland and Berge were schoolmates in their hometown Tromsø, experimenting with electronic instruments in the early 90s and being a part of their city's techno scene. As they grew up in northern Norway, they listened to local artists like Bel Canto and Biosphere. The band has also expressed their interest in the music of Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Art of Noise, Vangelis, Erik Satie, and Francis Lai. They were members of various electro acts in their youth, such as Alanïa, Drum Island and Aedena Cycle. After recording as part of Aedena Cycle, Berge and Brundtland left the group to form their own band, Röyksopp.
In 8 October 2001, Röyksopp released their debut album Melody A.M. on Wall of Sound label. This critically acclaimed downtempo album reached #1 in Norway charts, #9 in UK Albums Chart, #18 in US Top Electronic Albums. Melody A.M. spawned five singles: "So Easy" (released in 1999, re-released in 2002), "Eple" (released in July 2001, re-released in 24 February 2003; #16 UK), "Poor Leno", featuring Erlend Øye (released in 3 December 2001, re-released on 18 November 2002; #38 UK), "Remind Me", featuring Erlend Øye (5 August 2002; #21 UK), and "Sparks", featuring Anneli Drecker (2003; #41 UK).
The band became famous for their original music videos (the infographic-styled video by French company H5 for the track "Remind Me", won the 2002 MTV Europe Music Award for best music video). The single "Eple" (meaning "apple") was used by Apple Inc. as the music for the startup video for Mac OS X 10.3.
In 4 July 2005, the band issued their sophomore album The Understanding on Wall of Sound. The album was preceded by the hit single "Only This Moment", featuring Kate Havnevik (27 June 2005; #33 UK). Another four singles followed: "49 Percent" (26 September 2005; #55 UK), "Curves" (non-album single; 3 October 2005), "What Else Is There?", featuring Karin Dreijer of The Knife (5 December 2005; #4 Norway, #32 UK) and "Beautiful Day Without You" (26 June 2006).
Röyksopp's Night Out EP was released in 27 February 2006 and it contains live recordings from a concert in Norway, Rockefeller (Oslo) in November 2005. The album contains a new dance version of their single "Sparks" and a reinterpretation of the song "Go With the Flow”, originally by Queens of the Stone Age. In 5 March 2007, the group issued Back to Mine: Röyksopp, a compilation album from the Back to Mine series, compiled and mixed by the band.
On 23 March 2009, Röyksopp released their third album Junior on Wall of Sound. Röyksopp have invited several guest artists, like Robyn, Anneli Drecker, Karin Dreijer, Lykke Li, to perform on various songs from Junior. The first single "Happy Up Here" was released on 19 January 2009 (digital)/16 March 2009 (vinyl) and peaked on #3 in Norway and on #44 in UK. Another two singles supported the album' sales: "The Girl And The Robot", featuring Robyn (15 June 2009; #2 Norway) and "This Must Be It", featuring Karin Dreijer (2 November 2009).
Since 2010, the band started posting on their official site new exclusive songs available for free download (usually a song every month), known as Röyksopp.com Track Of The Month.
In 13 September 2010, Röyksopp released the fourth album Senior, the atmospheric counterpart of Junior. The first single from the album, "The Drug", was released on 9 August 2010.
Official site: http://www.royksopp.com
49 Percent
Röyksopp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
or stop your flight
I've known our plight
You know I'm right
I know about your little fling
How you hide your ring
You senseless thing - I'll cut this string
The heat has simmered for a while
At anytime, I could explode!
When you kissed your toad
You kissed your princely episode
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
bit off more than one could bite
and the taste is slight
it leaves this dullish appetite
'bout time I've finally seen the light
and said goodnight
for the sling is tight
we'll lose this fight
in a corner painted white
as you fly your kite
I shun the sight, I've seen the light!
and now I've got to say goodnight, you know I'm right!
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop you flight
or chage your night or nothing
less than half
why won't you try
to make this damage better?
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness: a sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
less than half is slight
The heat has simmered for a while...
49%
1% short of half
and less than half
ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop you flight
or chage your night or nothing
less than half
why won't you try
to make this damage better?
The lyrics to Röyksopp's song 49 Percent speaks about a relationship that is falling apart due to infidelity. The singer acknowledges that they have known about their partner's "little fling" and their attempt to hide their ring, but they won't try to stop their flight. Instead, the singer is aware that they are one percent short of half and that less than half "ain't really much of nothing". They come to terms with the fact that they have bitten off more than they could chew, and the taste is slight, leaving them with a dull appetite.
Through the use of math and imagery, the lyrics suggest that the situation equates to cacophony, multiplies muteness, and subtracts silence. The heat has been simmering for a while, and the singer knows they could explode at any time. As they shun the sight of their partner flying their kite, they can see the light and know that they must say goodnight. They won't try to change their night or stop their flight, but they hold on to the hope that their partner will try to make the damage better. Overall, the song speaks about the realization that a relationship is coming to an end and accepting that less than half is slight.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't try to dent you right
I won't try to harm you
or stop your flight
or stop you from leaving
I've known our plight
I'm aware of our unfortunate situation
You know I'm right
You know that what I'm saying is true
I know about your little fling
I'm aware of your affair
How you hide your ring
How you conceal your wedding ring
You senseless thing - I'll cut this string
You foolish person - I'll end our relationship
The heat has simmered for a while
The tension has been building up for some time
It's not my style - so versatile... and with a smile
It's not my typical behavior, but I can hide it with a smile
At anytime, I could explode!
I could lose control at any moment
When you kissed your toad
When you made a poor romantic choice
You kissed your princely episode
You let go of your chance at a fairy-tale ending
49%
Just under half
1% short of half
Almost, but not quite, half
and less than half
And not meeting the halfway point
ain't really much of nothing
Isn't really significant
bit off more than one could bite
Attempted more than one could handle
and the taste is slight
And the reward is minimal
it leaves this dullish appetite
It leaves one feeling unsatisfied
'bout time I've finally seen the light
It's about time I realized the truth
and said goodnight
And decided to end things
for the sling is tight
For things have become strained
we'll lose this fight
We'll ultimately fail in resolving our issues
in a corner painted white
In a hopeless situation
as you fly your kite
As you live your carefree life
I shun the sight, I've seen the light!
I avoid the sight of you, now that I understand the truth
and now I've got to say goodnight, you know I'm right!
And now I have to say goodbye, because I know I'm right
less than half
Not even halfway there
why won't you try
Why won't you attempt
to make this damage better?
To repair the harm that's been done
Math and imagery
Using numbers and metaphors
Equates cacophony
Equals dissonance
Multiplies muteness: a sum better disturbed
Intensifies silence, which is better left unbroken
For silence subtracts
Because silence takes away
And shadows divide light
And darkness eliminates brightness
less than half is slight
Missing the halfway point is insignificant
I won't try to stop you flight
I won't try to prevent you from leaving
or chage your night or nothing
Or change your plans in any way
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GENE CHELONIS RIDGEWAY JONES, SVEIN BERGE, TORBJORN BRUNDTLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PixelSubstream
(49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing)
(49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing)
I won't try to dent your night
Or stop your flight
I know our plight - You know I'm right
I know about your little fling
How you hide your ring
You senseless thing - I'll cut this string
The heat has simmered for a while
It's not my style - so versatile and with a smile
At anytime I could explode
When you kissed your toad
You kill your princely episode
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Bit off more than one could bite
And the taste is slight
It leaves this dullish appetite
'Bout time I've finally seen the light
And said goodnight
For the sling is tight - We'll lose this fight
In a corner painted white
As you fly your kite - I shun the sight, I've seen the light
And now I gotta say goodnight
You know I'm right
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
I won't try
To stop you flight or change your night or nothing
Less than half
Why won't you try to make this damage better?
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness
A sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
Less than half is slight
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness
A sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
Less than half is slight
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
I won't try
To stop you flight or change your night or nothing
Less than half
Why won't you try to make this damage better?
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
49 percent
1 percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
@roiybenkel682
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to dent you right
Or stop your flight
I've known our plight
You know I'm right
I know about your little fling
How you hide your ring
You senseless thing
I'll cut this string
The heat has simmered for a while
It's not my style
So versatile and with a smile
At anytime, I could explode
When you kissed your toad
You kissed your princely episode
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Bit off more than one could bite
And the taste is slight
It leaves this dullish appetite
About time I've finally seen the light
And said goodnight
For the sling is tight
We'll lose this fight
In a corner painted white
As you fly your kite
I shun the sight, i've seen the light
And now i've got to say goodnight
You know I'm right
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop you flight
Or change your night or nothing
Less than half
Why won't you try
To make this damage better
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness
A sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
Less than half is slight
Math and imagery
Equates cacophony
Multiplies muteness
A sum better disturbed
For silence subtracts
And shadows divide light
Less than half is slight
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
I won't try to stop you flight
Or chage your night or nothing
Less than half
Why won't you try
To make this damage better
Forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing
Oh forty-nine percent
One percent short of half
And less than half
Ain't really much of nothing, yeah
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
The heat has simmered for a while
@Stringsloth
Dramatically beautiful song. I miss Royksopp old days so much...
@hithere4321
MASTERPIECE.
@moazamization
Indeed
@nhmllr725
I didn't like this song the first time I heard it, but the more I listen to it the more it grows on me. I really do enjoy it.
@AirplusRecordings
this song is ...genius
@FrankLAntoniusPedersen
"My "no 1 song on the album
@clarencep90
Sombre detune was cold too
@skurinski
So underrated! I remember the video on MTV Portugal
@andreamantovani007
Bellissima, una delle migliori dell'album.
@bellalover200
Good song! It has a 90's nostalgic feel to it