Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi), Georg Hólm, and Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson formed the group in Reykjavík, Iceland in August 1994. They soon won a record deal with a local record label, Smekkleysa (Bad Taste). In 1997, they released Von (Hope) and in 1998, released a remix collection named Von brigði. The name is Icelandic wordplay: Vonbrigði means "disappointment," but Von brigði means "hope alteration." (In English, the album is sometimes known by the alternative name "Recycle Bin.")
International acclaim came with 1999's Ágætis Byrjun ("An alright start"), for which the band were joined by Kjartan Sveinsson. The album's reputation slowly spread by word of mouth over the next two years. Soon, many critics worldwide hailed it as one of the best albums of its time, and the band was playing with Radiohead and other big names. Drummer Ágúst left the band after the recording of Ágætis Byrjun and was replaced by Orri Páll Dýrason.
After the release of Ágætis Byrjun, the band became perhaps most well known for Birgisson's signature style of playing guitar with the bow from a cello, accentuated with reverb, creating a sweeping, fluid sound that is unique for an electric guitar.
In early 2001, Sigur Rós set out to record some songs in their newly-completed álafoss swimming pool studio with their friend Steindór Andersen who is a fisherman and chairman of the Icelandic poetry society, Iðunn. Steindór is a chanter/singer of the traditional Icelandic epic poetry form, called "rímur," for which the band named their next EP, Rímur. Only 1000 copies of the EP were printed and sold in the spring tour of 2001.
In 2002, their highly anticipated follow-up album ( ) was released. Upon release, all tracks on the album were untitled, though the band later published song names on their website. Famously, all of the lyrics on ( ) are sung in vonlenska ("Hopelandic"), nonsensical vocalizations that resemble the sound of the Icelandic language. It has also been said that the listener is supposed to interpret their own meanings of the lyrics, which can then be written in the blank pages in the album booklet.
In October of 2003, Sigur Rós joined Radiohead in composing music for Merce Cunningham's dance piece Split Sides; Sigur Rós’s three tracks were named "Ba Ba," "Ti Ki," and "Di Do" and released in March of 2004 on an EP titled Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do The three songs are separate tracks, but the band intended that all three be played at the same time to form one single song. The band's 1997 debut album Von also finally found a United States and United Kingdom release in October of 2004. Their latest full-length album, Takk... (Thanks...), was released on September 13, 2005, with a free legal download of their first single, "Glósóli," made available on August 15. For North American fans, "Sæglópur" was made available for download on August 16."Hoppípolla," the second official single from Takk..., was released on November 28 alongside a new studio remake of "Hafsól," a song which was previously released on the band's 1997 debut, Von.
Sæglópur EP was released on July 10 in most parts of the world and on August 8 in the United States. Its original release date was May 8, but because of the sudden demand of "Hoppípolla," especially in the UK due to its inclusion on BBC's "Planet Earth," it was pushed back from that date. Sigur Rós recorded three new songs for the EP: "Refur," "Ófriður," and "Kafari."
The Hvarf/Heim double album was released on November 5, 2007. Hvarf contains reworkings of songs dating back to the bands' first album, whereas Heim contains live acoustic versions of more well-known songs. The double album was an accompaniment to the film Heima. Heima is a documentary showing footage of the band's tour of Iceland, including live footage and interviews. The official web site is www.heimafilm.com.
Sigur Rós has sold over 2.5 million albums worldwide.
On June 23, 2008, they released Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust.
The single "Gobbledigook" was available for a free download on their website.
In January 2010, the band began a hiatus, and they are now working on new material. On August 11, 2011, the band's website showed a trailer for a project called Inni. A week later, the project was revealed to be a new live album and DVD, although the release date is currently unknown.
Sigur Rós'' sixth studio album, Valtari, was released on May 29, 2012 on Parlophone.
In January 2013, Kjartan Sveinsson left the band and was not replaced. Sigur Rós's first album following his departure was titled Kveikur and released in June 2013.
In 2014, the band made a guest appearance in the HBO show 'Game of Thrones,' performing The Rains of Castamere in the 2nd episode of the 4th season.
Websites
Both websites include discography, band trivia, song lyrics, and news: http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk and http://www.sigurros.com.
Með suð í eyrum
Sigur Rós Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
og suð í eyrunum
og silfurlituð tár
og sót í augunum
En glóandi andliti á?
Eldurinn lýsir á?
Mér svíður í lófana
Með blóðugum höndum
Við berjum öll saman
Við trommurnar lömdum
Skítug í framan
En glóandi andliti á?
Eldurinn lýsir á?
Mér svíður í lófana
Nákvæmlega sama
Mér svíður í lófana
???? ???? lófana
???? ???? ????
???? ???? nákvæmlega
The lyrics to Sigur Rós's "Með suð í eyrum" can be translated from Icelandic to English as:
With burnt-out eyelashes
and ringing ears
and silver-salted tears
and sickness in the eyes
But is there a glowing countenance?
Does the fire illuminate?
My palms are burning
Exactly the same
With bloody hands
We all fight together
We beat on the drums
Dirty in front
But is there a glowing countenance?
Does the fire illuminate?
My palms are burning
Exactly the same
My palms are burning
???? ???? palms
???? ???? ????
Exactly the same
The song is open to interpretation, but to me, the lyrics seem to paint a picture of struggle and pain. The opening verse describes physical pain with burnt-out eyelashes, ringing ears, tears, and sickness in the eyes. The next verse switches to a more metaphorical pain and refers to a "glowing countenance" and fire, perhaps alluding to the emotional turmoil the singer feels. The final verse brings back the imagery of struggling and fighting, with bloody, dirty hands beating on drums.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of perseverance in the face of pain and struggle. The repeated motif of "exactly the same" seems to indicate a sense of unity in suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Með sviðin augnahár
With swollen eyelids
og suð í eyrunum
And buzzing in the ears
og silfurlituð tár
And tears tinged with silver
og sót í augunum
And dirt in the eyes
En glóandi andliti á?
But a glowing face is here?
Eldurinn lýsir á?
Is the fire shining?
Mér svíður í lófana
My palms are burning
Nákvæmlega sama
Exactly the same
Með blóðugum höndum
With bloody hands
Við berjum öll saman
We all fight together
Við trommurnar lömdum
Beating the drums
Skítug í framan
Dirty in the front
Mér svíður í lófana
My palms are burning
???? ???? lófana
Scratching my palms
???? ???? ????
I feel the pain
???? ???? nákvæmlega
Exactly the same
Contributed by Gavin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@old_rube5857
LYRICS:
With singed eyebrows
And a buzz in the ears
And silver-colored tears
And soot in the eyes
Red-glowing face and
The fire shines on it
My palms are hurting
But I don´t care.
With bloody hands
we all drum together.
We beat the drums
with dirt in our face
Red-glowing face and
The fire shines on it
My palms are hurting
But I don't care
My palms are hurting
I lie down in the moss and
The sleep is coming
I want to close my eyes
ISLANDI:
Með sviðin augnahár
Og suð í eyrunum
Og silfurlituð tár
Og sót í augunum
Rauðglóandi andlit og
Eldurinn lýsir á
Mér svíður í lófana
Nákvæmlega sama
Með blóðugum höndum
Við berjum öll saman
Við trommurnar lömdum
Skítug í framan
Rauðglóandi andlit og
Eldurinn lýsir á
Mér svíður í lófana
Nákvæmlega sama
Mér svíður í lófana
Legg mig í mosann og
Svefninn, hann svífur á
Augunum loka vil
@Sebywai
VERSION FR
Avec des sourcils brûlés
Et un bourdonnement dans les oreilles
Et des larmes argentées
Et de la suie dans les yeux
Le visage rougeoyant et
Le feu y brille
Mes paumes me font mal
Mais je m'en fiche.
Avec des mains ensanglantées
nous tambourinons tous ensemble.
Nous battons les tambours
avec de la terre sur le visage
Un visage rougeoyant et
Le feu brille sur lui
Mes paumes me font mal
Mais je m'en fiche
Mes paumes sont douloureuses
Je m'allonge dans la mousse et
Le sommeil vient
Je veux fermer les yeux
33 DAMIEN <3
@remy1309
c'est impossible de dire laquelle est la plus belle. Elles sont toutes superbes. Je pourrais rester étendu à écouter leurs albums pendant des heures.
@HikariNoiresia
You discovered them 15 minutes ago? Then you've just made the biggest and best discovery in your musical lifetime.
@rosemary2144
Dear Pascale! 14 years ago, and I'm just now hearing this Amazing Music! TYSM, my friend 🤗 💓
@spoiledrottengreatdane9580
I don't understand one single stitch of Icelandic, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating this work of art.
@gatheringleaves
+Spoiled Rotten Great Dane You're an embarrassment to Great Danes worldwide, you are certainly not great! :(
@whiterabbit5491
ikr :3
@LAURAM0822
i went out a walk in the sun today while listening to this and i felt alive ; )
@krauser3806
I'm a total metalhead but even I bow down to Sigur Ros' technique to take my breath away like nothing else. Those guys know exactly how to pull what strings inside a person.
@pascale_eagles
one of jonsi - the sigur ros singer- favourite band is... Iron Maiden 😃👍
@weteyemoon
so transcendental. i feel like i'm in flight.