Cortini debuted the project in the summer of 2010 with four tracks online, which would appear on his debut LP, Blue, released later that fall. Explaining that the project name stems from the Italian phrase "sono io" ("it's me"), Cortini also announced that the effort was recorded entirely with one of his favorite instruments, the Buchla modular synthesizer. He put out a remix album of the record in December of 2010 titled Non (Blue), which featured reinterpretations of Blue's tracks from the likes of Big Black Delta and Ladytron. Sonoio's sophomore effort, Red, arrived six months later and featured one of the project's definitive tracks, "Enough," as its lead single. Another companion remix album arrived later that December and, in keeping with the theme of previous efforts, was titled Non (Blue). The release featured remixes from Telefon Tel Aviv, Drumcell, and erstwhile Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery.
Several years of inactivity followed while Cortini focused on working and touring with Nine Inch Nails and creating a string of instrumental records under his own name. He returned with new Sonoio material in late 2014, a song titled "Thanks for Calling," which he had made available online. The project remained quiet for the next three and a half years while he returned to his duties in Nine Inch Nails and worked with Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Mariqueen Maandig Reznor in a new band called How to Destroy Angels in addition to other creative endeavors. Sonoio's third record, Fine, was released in July 2018. "Thanks for Calling" appeared on the LP as its lead single, and Cortini announced that the record would be the last under the Sonoio moniker.
No Fun
SONOIO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am whatever you want
I live life, live today
I don't know what I want
Here comes Saturday night
You're only making plans to stay inside
It's not that hard to see you live
Here comes rainy days
You waste it all away try to stay awake
It's not that hard to see you go
I don't like you like myself
I have nothing you don't
I stand right here by myself
I don't know what I want
Here comes Saturday night
You're only making plans to stay inside
It's not that hard to see you live
Only different, it's always different
Here comes rainy days
You waste it all away try to stay awake
It's not that hard to see you go
Always different
I'm tired of living a lie
Something else must be
Someone else must see
Nothing
is impossible
When you feel so invisible
SONOIO's song No Fun talks about feeling lost, uncertain and disillusioned in life. The opening lines, "I am something different, I am whatever you want," shows that the singer is conflicted about their identity and can be shaped based on the expectations of others. The following lines, "I live life, live today. I don't know what I want" depict a life where the singer is going through the motions without a clear purpose or direction. The repetition of the line "I don't know what I want" emphasizes the confusion the singer is experiencing.
The chorus of the song talks about two different scenarios - Saturday night and rainy days. In both cases, the singer is observing someone who seems to be stuck and not living fully. The line "It's not that hard to see you live" suggests that the person is just existing and not truly living. The line "Only different, it's always different" shows that this observation is not unique and that the singer has seen this pattern before.
The final lines of the song "I'm tired of living a lie. Something else must be. Someone else must see. Nothing is impossible when you feel so invisible" indicate the desire for change, growth and the need to be seen. The singer is tired of pretending to be someone they are not and wants to explore their true self. The line "nothing is impossible" shows that the singer still has hope despite their current state of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
I am something different
I am unique and not like everyone else
I am whatever you want
I am adaptable and can be whatever you need me to be
I live life, live today
I focus on the present and live in the moment
I don't know what I want
I am uncertain about my desires and goals in life
Here comes Saturday night
The weekend is approaching
You're only making plans to stay inside
You are not inclined to go out and socialize
It's not that hard to see you live
It is apparent that you exist, but you are not actively engaging with life
Here comes rainy days
A period of gloom and sadness is approaching
You waste it all away try to stay awake
You pass the time in a unproductive manner, struggling to stay alert
It's not that hard to see you go
It is evident that you are leaving, whether physically or emotionally
I don't like you like myself
I do not relate to or identify with you
I have nothing you don't
There is nothing that separates us significantly
I stand right here by myself
I am alone, but content with my own company
I don't know what I want
I am uncertain about my desires and goals in life
Only different, it's always different
The only thing that sets me apart is my uniqueness, which is always evolving
I'm tired of living a lie
I am exhausted from pretending to be someone I am not
Something else must be
There must be something more fulfilling in life
Someone else must see
I hope that someone else can recognize the truth behind my facade
Nothing
In the end, nothing may truly matter
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
21st Century Guerrilla Fishing
I really feel he is one of the best musicians and so underrated ... not only did he drive NIN with the square wave waterfalls and the windy sounds and a decapitator .... he is a powerhouse of creativity ....
tranceotaku
I have friends like this. I tend to be like this. Brilliant song.
The Hiver
Awesome Track.
WesDesto
like it, love it, need it.
Paulo V. O. Moreira
I need the lyrics D: got plenty of it but not everything, and what I got was pretty neat
elias tacheron
<3
For The Faint Hearted
wow, i think i just found my new fav band (well, erm, composer i guess, seein as its just him....)
Allmatters
hot!!!!
Pumpkineer
This is SO much better than BLUE!
devian
debatable.
signed,
bluefan1492