Wolff grew up in Gubbängen in Farsta and moved to Karlstad at the age of ten. He started to study acting at Skara skolscen in 1978 and then began his professional career in the theatre group Vågspel in Södertälje. He worked at Teater Aurora from 1980 to 1982, where he played the lead role in Friedrich Schiller's play Don Carlos. He toured with several successful song repertoires performing French chanson, with his inspirations Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel and Barbara.
He voiced Scar in the Swedish dub of The Lion King. He also starred in the movie House of Angels, and its two sequels, among other films. Wolff had also done various plays, such as Midsommarnatts Dröm (a Swedish version of A Midsummer Night's Dream), and solo acts such as Chanson Suicide and music tours.
His albums included Pojken på månen and Du får mig (om jag får dig).
He took part in Melodifestivalen 2013 with the song "En förlorad sommar", written by Tomas Andersson Wij, in a bid to represent Sweden during Eurovision Song Contest. He performed the song on 9 February 2013 during semi-final 2 of the series, but failed to qualify to later rounds.
He had expanded his theatre career by acting in the play Waiting for Godot at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm in 1990, Hamlet at Östgötateatern in 1995, A Chorus Line in 2002 at The Göteborg Opera, Richard III at Riksteatern in 2006, and conferencier at Colin Nutleys Cabaret at Stockholm City Theatre.
Throughout the years he wrote and performed his own songs and recorded several albums, and in 2001 he won a Grammis award for "Allra störst är kärleken". Wolff took part in the opening ceremony for the Friends Arena in Stockholm, where he performed one of his best known songs, "Pojken på månen".
Between 1984 and 1987 he studied at the Swedish National Academy of Mime and Acting in Malmö, where he came into contact with and started a co-operation with director Rickard Günther which led to a role in the play Mefisto. During his study years he worked with Suzanne Osten in Affären Danton, and acted in Osten's directoral debut film, Lethal Film, in 1988. His role as the poet Paul Andersson in the television series Apelsinmannen led to his big breakthrough in the Swedish public in 1990.
In 2001 Wolff won a Grammis for Min allra största kärlek. In 2011 he was awarded the royal medal Litteris et Artibus for his services as an actor. In June 2013 French president François Hollande made him a Knight of the Legion of Honour for his dedication and work with French music. In addition he was awarded several prizes and stipends, including the 2017 theatre prize of the Swedish Academy.
Wolff was openly homosexual. He had one daughter with Stina Gardell, a Swedish producer and journalist, sister of the Swedish novelist, playwright, screenwriter and comedian Jonas Gardell and of and of the religion scholar Mattias Gardell.
Wolff had pulmonary emphysema since 1988 and died on 17 November 2017, aged 59.
Bind en duk
Rikard Wolff Lyrics
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Игорь крутой, Игорь Крутой
Игорь Крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, ты крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Игорь Крутой
Я не понимаю
Почему она не может выговорить моё имя?
Малая в Америке зовёт меня Игорь
Игорь Крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я иду, стой
(Игорь Крутой)
Переехал в Одинцово (Зачем?)
Ведь моя бывшая Вика
Его дочь зовут Вика
Мы оба любим музыку и любим Крида
Самолюбивый ЧСВ-шник
Этот Егор - они в комментах пишут
Слава Богу все это не мне, ведь меня зовут Игорь
Мы похожи так сильно, вы видите?
Мы оба работали с Тимати
Нас обоих любят родители
Совпадение, да - удивительно
Я прям так отвечал этой девушке
Чуть сбавив напор
Она в итоге сказала мне
Игорь, а кто этот Егор?
Малая в Европе зовёт меня Игорь
Игорь крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я иду, стой
Россия, она знает, что я Егор
Егор крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Крутой, я иду, стой
(Игорь Крутой)
(Это Егор Крид)
The lyrics of the song "Bind en duk" by Rikard Wolff ponders on the confusion that arises from being addressed by a different name than one's own. The song opens with the singer being called "Igor" by a girl in America, who claims that he is as cool as Igor Krutoy. However, the singer, perplexed, wonders why she can't say his real name. He goes on to narrate his move to Odintsovo and how his daughter, Vika, shares her name with his former lover. The singer points out how he and Egor Krid are often confused on social media and in the music industry despite having different names. The song suggests that the singer is proud of being called by his own name and not confused with someone else.
The lyrics of the song subtly point to the importance of identity and recognition. Being addressed by a different name can cause confusion and chaos, making one feel unrecognized and challenged in their sense of self. The song seems to suggest that this is a personal issue that is also relevant in a broader context where confusion has become all too common in social and political situations today.
Line by Line Meaning
Малая в Америке зовёт меня Игорь
A girl in America calls me Igor
Игорь крутой, Игорь Крутой
I am cool, Igor the Cool
Игорь Крутой, как Игорь Крутой
I am just as cool as my namesake
Крутой, ты крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
We are both cool, you are cool, just like me
Я не понимаю
I don't understand
Почему она не может выговорить моё имя?
Why can't she say my name?
Чё?
What?
Переехал в Одинцово (Зачем?)
Moved to Odintsovo (Why?)
Ведь моя бывшая Вика
Because my ex, Vika
Его дочь зовут Вика
His daughter is named Vika
Мы оба любим музыку и любим Крида
We both love music and love Kreed
Самолюбивый ЧСВ-шник
Conceited narcissist
Этот Егор - они в комментах пишут
They write about that Egor in the comments
Слава Богу все это не мне, ведь меня зовут Игорь
Thank God it's not me, since I'm called Igor
Мы похожи так сильно, вы видите?
We look so alike, don't you see?
Мы оба работали с Тимати
We both worked with Timati
Нас обоих любят родители
Both our parents love us
Совпадение, да - удивительно
Coincidence, yes - it's amazing
Я прям так отвечал этой девушке
I just answered the girl like that
Чуть сбавив напор
Slightly taking a break
Она в итоге сказала мне
In the end she said to me
Игорь, а кто этот Егор?
Igor, who is this Egor?
Малая в Европе зовёт меня Игорь
A girl in Europe calls me Igor
Россия, она знает, что я Егор
Russia, she knows I'm Egor
Егор крутой, как Игорь Крутой
Egor is cool, like Igor the Cool
Крутой, я крутой, как Игорь Крутой
I'm cool, like Igor the Cool
Крутой, я иду, стой
Cool, I'm on my way, stop
(Игорь Крутой)
(Igor the Cool)
(Это Егор Крид)
(This is Egor Kreed)
Writer(s): ðððð ðð£ððð¢ððð, александр матвеевич брашовян
Contributed by Isabella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.