Nergaard's musical journey began early. At age 16, she stepped on stage joining a jam session at Moldejazz, Norway’s international jazz festival, with a band comprised of musicians from the band of the late jazz bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius. The country's jazz journalists applauded the young talent. Since that day, she has steadily developed as a composer and become popular for her unique voice and talent for songwriting.
Since her 1990 inaugural jazz album, Tell Me Where You're Going, produced by jazz guitar maestro Pat Metheny, Nergaard has become one among very few Norwegian artists to have had commercial releases in major music markets around the globe - including Brazil, Germany, the U.S., and the United Kingdom - and doing so with great success.
Her later albums, Port of Call (2000), At First Light (2001), and Nightwatch (2003), have all proved resounding commercial successes and received rapturous critical praise. With Nightwatch she also made history: no other jazz artist before her had shot straight into the Norwegian sales charts twice to reach #1 within the first week of release. In 2004 she received a Norwegian music award for Musician of the Year.
With the 2007 release of her critically-acclaimed Darkness Out of Blue, Nergaard finally realized her dream of working with Grammy Award winner and renowned arranger Vince Mendoza, (Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), who contributed string arrangements to two songs in the album, Paper Boats and Let Me Be Troubled, with his beautiful sound and touch.
A year or two earlier, Nergaard had already decided to make a change in her music, which meant having to change some of her musicians, who had been touring with her for the past several years. As much as the style and 'voice' they had developed together were important to her, she came to realize that "you come to a point where you know you need to have a new challenge."
On October 4, 2007, it was officially announced in the Netherlands that Darkness Out of Blue had garnered Nergaard the Edison Award, the Dutch equivalent of the Grammy. The prize was presented to her by the Norwegian ambassador to the Netherlands at the Edison Music Awards Gala on November 6 in Eindhoven, during which Nergaard also performed the two songs from the album that Mendoza had arranged, backed by The Metropole Orchestra.
The new and promising musical collaboration between them in Darkness led inevitably to Mendoza's involvement once again in Nergaard's latest studio project, A Thousand True Stories, which was released in Norway on February 9, 2009, and will be available internationally in the autumn. The songs from the album were written the previous year and recorded in August 2008 with The Metropole Orchestra from the Netherlands, and arranged by its conductor Mendoza.
Here's a press kit video of A Thousand True Stories, with all interviews in English.
Watch the making of Nergaard's latest project, A Thousand True Stories:
video clip 1 (9:34) | video clip 2 (9:54)
Official website: http://www.siljenergaard.com
Silje on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/siljenergaard
Silje on Facebook: click here
Faces
Silje Nergaard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Funny faces, pretty faces
faces everywhere I go
faces that reminds me of other faces
faces that I'll never know
Well, I get along with me very vell
I'm perfect company
I'm wild and free!
The crowded streetis thrilling me
watch out - look left and right
it's like going to the movies for free
Hey, look at that handsome guy -
I'm just a curious girl
looking everywhere
Always kind of looking for something -
O. O. O. -
Alone together - we're all alone
O. O., in this whole big crowd
alone together - we're all alone
Some people like me
The're easy to read -
They've got faces like an open book
Others walk around
with only their headlines written down
Afraid to let a stranger through
Ah, who are you?
Funny faces, pretty faces
happy faces, serious faces
smiling faces, dreaming faces
angry faces, curious faces
A beggar around the corner
Girl in high-healed shoes
Well, it's a kind of good to be alone -
Some people like me
The're easy to read -
They've got faces like an open book
Others walk around
with only their headlines written down
Afraid to let a stranger through
Ah, who are you?
The lyrics to Silje Nergaard's song "Faces" explore the idea of encountering different faces and how they impact our lives. The opening lines describe the multitude of faces the singer comes across in their daily life, ranging from funny to pretty. These faces serve as reminders of other individuals and familiar emotions, even though they may never truly know these people. However, the singer states that they get along well with themselves and find comfort in their own company, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency and independence. They express a sense of freedom and adventure as they embark on their journey.
The crowded street mentioned in the song brings excitement to the singer, possibly due to the diversity of faces they encounter. They compare the experience to watching a movie for free, suggesting that the multitude of different faces feels like a captivating show unfolding before their eyes. The lyrics also include a reference to a handsome guy, highlighting the singer's curiosity and their propensity to observe and take an interest in others. They convey a sense of constantly searching and looking for something, which could mean searching for connections or meaningful experiences.
The chorus repeats the phrase "alone together - we're all alone," suggesting that despite being surrounded by people, there can still be a sense of isolation and detachment. It reflects on the paradoxical nature of being in a crowd yet feeling lonely. The singer recognizes that some individuals are easy to read, as their faces are like open books, revealing their true emotions and intentions. However, others hide behind their external appearances, only showcasing their surface-level identities or headlines. They are afraid to let strangers in, implying a fear of vulnerability and a reluctance to connect with others on a deeper level.
The lyrics continue with a list of different types of faces, expressing that people can have a variety of emotions, including happiness, seriousness, and curiosity. The mention of a beggar and a girl in high-heeled shoes alludes to the diverse range of individuals the singer encounters, from different socioeconomic backgrounds to contrasting lifestyles. The song ends with the recurring question: "Ah, who are you?" It speaks to the curiosity and longing for connection that the singer harbors and highlights the importance of understanding and embracing each other's identities beyond mere appearances.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny faces, pretty faces
There are amusing and attractive faces all around me.
faces everywhere I go
I encounter faces no matter where I go.
faces that reminds me of other faces
Certain faces bring back memories of other faces.
faces that I'll never know
There are faces that I will never have the chance to know.
Well, I get along with me very well
I have a great relationship with myself.
I'm perfect company
I find my own company to be ideal.
Now I'm on my way again -
I am once again embarking on a journey.
I'm wild and free!
I feel liberated and untamed.
The crowded streetis thrilling me
The busy street exhilarates me.
watch out - look left and right
Be cautious and observe in both directions.
it's like going to the movies for free
It feels as though I am enjoying a free movie experience.
Hey, look at that handsome guy -
Oh, take a look at that attractive man.
I'm just a curious girl
I am simply a girl filled with curiosity.
looking everywhere
I am searching in every direction.
Always kind of looking for something -
I am constantly seeking something.
O. O. O. -
Indicating a musical expression or excitement.
Alone together - we're all alone
Despite being surrounded by others, we can still feel loneliness.
O. O., in this whole big crowd
Amidst this large crowd, it remains the same.
alone together - we're all alone
Even when we are together, we can still feel isolated.
Some people like me
Certain individuals appreciate me.
The're easy to read -
Their emotions and thoughts are easily discernible.
They've got faces like an open book
Their facial expressions reveal their innermost feelings.
Others walk around
On the other hand, some individuals move about.
with only their headlines written down
They only display a superficial part of themselves.
Afraid to let a stranger through
They are hesitant to allow a stranger into their lives.
Ah, who are you?
Expressing curiosity towards an unknown individual.
happy faces, serious faces
There are joyful and solemn expressions.
smiling faces, dreaming faces
Faces filled with smiles and those lost in reverie.
angry faces, curious faces
Faces displaying anger and faces marked by curiosity.
A beggar around the corner
A person in need situated nearby.
Girl in high-healed shoes
A young woman wearing high-heeled shoes.
Well, it's a kind of good to be alone -
Being alone can have its advantages.
Some people like me
Certain individuals appreciate me.
The're easy to read -
Their emotions and thoughts are easily discernible.
They've got faces like an open book
Their facial expressions reveal their innermost feelings.
Others walk around
On the other hand, some individuals move about.
with only their headlines written down
They only display a superficial part of themselves.
Afraid to let a stranger through
They are hesitant to allow a stranger into their lives.
Ah, who are you?
Expressing curiosity towards an unknown individual.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind