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.
Svefn
Sigur Rós Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inn í þig
(Það er) svo gott að vera (hér)
En stoppa stutt við
Ég flýt um í neðarsjávar hýði
(á hóteli)
Beintengdur við rafmagnstöfluna
Tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú
En biðin gerir mig (leiðan)
Brot (hættan) sparka frá mér (og kall á)
Ég verð að fara (hjálp)
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú
Ég spring út og friðurinn í loft upp
(Baðaður nýju ljósi
Ég græt og ég græt, aftengdur)
Ónýttur heili settur á brjóst og mataður af svefn
Svefn-g-englum
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú
Sigur Ros's song Svefn is a beautiful and haunting song, sung in Icelandic. The lyrics reflect a deep sense of longing for connection, but also a desire to be free and independent. The first few lines speak of the singer coming back into someone, potentially a lover or a close friend, and feeling the goodness of being there. However, they also express a desire to not stop there and to keep moving forward, perhaps indicating a restlessness or sense of unfinished business.
The lines "Ég flýt um í neðarsjávar hýði" are a bit more difficult to interpret, but can be roughly translated as "I hurry around in the shelter of the ocean floor" (in the hotel) and "Beintengdur við rafmagnstöfluna" means "connected to the power grid". These lines may be a reference to the singer's current situation and surroundings, and feeling confined or trapped in them. The repeated "tjú" in the song may be a reference to a train whistle, adding to the sense of movement and escape.
Later in the song, the singer expresses a feeling of being bored and afraid, and wanting to break free from it. They cry out for help, indicating that they are struggling to cope with these feelings. The final lines speak vividly of the singer leaping out and experiencing the freedom of the open sky, with images of new light and a fresh start.
Overall, the lyrics to Svefn are open to interpretation and imbued with a sense of longing and searching for something more. The song's dreamy and atmospheric sound perfectly captures the mood of the words and adds to the emotional impact.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ég) er kominn aftur (á ný)
I have returned once again, ready to start anew.
Inn í þig
Into you I go, seeking solace and peace.
(Það er) svo gott að vera (hér)
It feels so good to be here, in this place of comfort.
En stoppa stutt við
But I can only linger briefly before I must leave.
Ég flýt um í neðarsjávar hýði
I rush about in the underwater depths, hiding.
(á hóteli)
(in the hotel)
Beintengdur við rafmagnstöfluna
Connected directly to the electricity source, sustaining myself.
(og nærist)
(and nourishing myself)
Tjú, tjú
Sound of a train, perhaps symbolizing the passage of time.
En biðin gerir mig (leiðan)
But waiting makes me restless and bored.
Brot (hættan) sparka frá mér (og kall á)
I try to cast off danger and anxiety, calling for help.
Ég verð að fara (hjálp)
I must leave now to seek aid and respite.
Ég spring út og friðurinn í loft upp
I escape and soar into the peaceful sky above.
(Baðaður nýju ljósi
(Bathed in new light,
Ég græt og ég græt, aftengdur)
I cry and cry, disconnected and alone.
Ónýttur heili settur á brjóst og mataður af svefn
My untainted mind rests on my heart, nourished by sleep.
Svefn-g-englum
Sleepwalking angels.
Tjú, tjú, tjú
The sound of the train fades into the distance, as I sink deeper into peaceful slumber.
Tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú
The train is now gone, and all is quiet in the tranquility of sleep.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AGUST AEVAR GUNNARSSON, GEORG HOLM, JON THOR BIRGISSON, KJARTAN SVEINSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ragingrampage2188
er kominn aftur (á ný)
Inn í þig
(Það er) svo gott að vera (hér)
En stoppa stutt við
Ég flýt um í neðarsjávar hýði
(á hóteli)
Beintengdur við rafmagnstöfluna
(og nærist)
Tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú
En biðin gerir mig (leiðan)
Brot (hættan) sparka frá mér (og kall á)
Ég verð að fara (hjálp)
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú
Ég spring út og friðurinn í loft upp
(Baðaður nýju ljósi
Ég græt og ég græt, aftengdur)
Ónýttur heili settur á brjóst og mataður af svefn
Svefn-g-englum
@rva
This is it
@yuangc2022
???
@cring2469
Yes, this is it. Full Circle. OM
@coffeeclub4
This is it amazing u mean 😱
@skiaddict08
It hits the spot
@LizG117
im ready
@davidlafleur2934
I discovered this song on the Vanilla Sky soundtrack 17 years ago. I have been playing this song for my special needs daughter every night as part of our bedtime routine since she was born six years ago. This song is on a short playlist of bedtime songs and although we don’t understand they lyrics she hums herself to sleep to it every time. I just now looked for the video for it for the first time ever. There is really nothing I can say about the way I feel right now except serendipitous.
@rickc2102
💜
@ragingrampage2188
er kominn aftur (á ný)
Inn í þig
(Það er) svo gott að vera (hér)
En stoppa stutt við
Ég flýt um í neðarsjávar hýði
(á hóteli)
Beintengdur við rafmagnstöfluna
(og nærist)
Tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú
En biðin gerir mig (leiðan)
Brot (hættan) sparka frá mér (og kall á)
Ég verð að fara (hjálp)
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú
Tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú, tjú
Ég spring út og friðurinn í loft upp
(Baðaður nýju ljósi
Ég græt og ég græt, aftengdur)
Ónýttur heili settur á brjóst og mataður af svefn
Svefn-g-englum
@jeanhartely
That beats what my Dad used to sing to me. He used to sing "A very fine BM, a very fine BM, hi-ho the dairy-O, a very fine BM." And I loved it! Yup, we were a sick bunch.