Born in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway, the young Lerche was heavily influenced by the 80's music emanating from his older siblings' rooms. Compelled by a defining fascination for bands such as a-ha, The Beach Boys, and Prefab Sprout, Lerche began formal guitar instruction at age eight. Not satisfied with the lessons at school, Lerche experimented with original tunes on his own accord, eventually penning his first song, "Locust Girl" at the age of fourteen. While still underage, Lerche held acoustic performances at the club where his sister worked; Lerche was eventually discovered by Norwegian producer Hans-Petter "HP" Gundersen.
While under Gundersen's mentorship, Lerche was exposed to diverse music genres, including psychedelia, 60's pop, and mainstream Brazilian music, broadening his appreciation for eclectic music styles. Around this time Lerche was also introduced to Oslo-based manager Tatiana Penzo, resulting in a recording contract with Virgin Norway. With steadily growing popularity in his home country, he recorded his debut album in 2000. The album's release was postponed until Lerche fulfilled several academic requirements; in the interim, he was named Best New Act at Spellemannprisen (the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammys) and performed locally as a support act for major acts such as Beth Orton.
Officially released in Norway during September of 2001, Lerche's debut album Faces Down was a chart success in Norway. 2002 saw the album's international release, garnering praise from international publications and critics; Rolling Stone placed it in their top 50 albums of 2002. He embarked on subsequent tours in Europe and the United States. Lerche toured with various acts, including a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with his long-time idols, a-ha. A studio/live compilation EP, Don't Be Shallow, was released in 2003. During the same year, he would have the opportunity to tour with another of his musical idols, Elvis Costello, with whom he would tour once more in 2005.
Lerche's second studio album, Two Way Monologue, was released in 2004. The album displayed Lerche's penchant for experimentation with eclectic styles to an even greater extent than his earlier works, its content ranging from upbeat pop songs to mellow, melancholic tunes. In 2006, Lerche released his third studio album, Duper Sessions. A classical jazz album featuring original songs, as well as a cover of the jazz standard "Night and Day", it was recorded by Lerche and the Faces Down, augmented by pianist Erik Halvorsen, at Duper Studios in Bergen, hence its name.
In 2007, Phantom Punch, a rock album with a distinctly more aggressive sound than his earlier works, was released. Lerche and the Faces Down recorded and mixed the album in Los Angeles in April and May 2006, with producer Tony Hoffer. The same year, he composed the musical score for the film Dan in Real Life. Lerche and the Faces Down also made an appearance in the film itself, performing the song "Modern Nature" as a duet with actress Marci Occhino (the actual vocals were performed by Lillian Samdal). Another song of Lerche's, "Dear Laughing Doubters", was featured in the film Dinner for Schmucks; both films starred actor Steve Carell.
In 2009, Sondre Lerche released Heartbeat Radio. 2011 saw the release of his self-titled sixth studio album, Sondre Lerche.
Virtue and Wine
Sondre Lerche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hesitate and tell you
When people leave without goodbye
I lose another brick
The buildings are tall
The world explains all
And here I stand and face myself:
I lead the way for us
I've frozen down my memory
It's morning when she gets up
She puts on Lionel Ritchie
I've already had enough
The queues are long
Guess I am wrong
This chemical environment is getting out of hand
Virtue and wine cannot help you swim
Pain and sorrow must come
If you go
It´s the chemistry and the things we should´nt do
I am nothing without you
Ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba
The lyrics of Sondre Lerche's "Virtue and Wine" paint a picture of loneliness and introspection. The song talks about how the summer season has taken away the people that the singer has loved, leaving them alone to face themselves. The opening line of the song is a strong one, as it mentions death and loss, which is an overall theme of the song. The singer then hesitates to talk about this loss, indicating that perhaps they are unable to confront the issue head-on.
The second stanza hints at the singer trying to drown out their thoughts with other activities. The mention of Lionel Ritchie as a source of distraction and the long queues imply an attempt to fill the void left by the loss of the loved ones. However, the singer knows that they are wrong and that this attempt to escape their feelings is not sustainable. The line "This chemical environment is getting out of hand" could be interpreted as a metaphor for how the singer is doing more harm than good by trying to forget the pain.
The chorus of "Virtue and Wine" suggests that there is no quick fix to the pain and sorrow of losing someone. The title itself is an oxymoron, as virtue implies a moral high ground, while wine is associated with indulgence and pleasure. The line "I am nothing without you" is a poignant acknowledgement of how the loss of the loved ones has affected the singer's sense of self. Overall, the lyrics of "Virtue and Wine" are introspective and melancholic, touching on themes of grief, loss, and the struggle to cope.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer killed the ones you love
The loss of loved ones during summertime hurts deeply
I hesitate and tell you
I'm unsure and hesitant to share my feelings
When people leave without goodbye
It hurts even more when people leave without saying farewell
I lose another brick
Each goodbye takes away a piece of my emotional foundation
The buildings are tall
The world seems big and intimidating
The world explains all
The world has the answers and reasons behind everything
And here I stand and face myself:
I'm left alone to confront my emotions
I lead the way for us
I'll take charge and guide us through tough times
I've frozen down my memory
I've suppressed my memories and emotions
It's morning when she gets up
She wakes up much later than me
She puts on Lionel Ritchie
She listens to Lionel Ritchie to start her day
I've already had enough
I'm already feeling overwhelmed
The queues are long
There's a long wait for something
Guess I am wrong
Maybe I'm mistaken
This chemical environment is getting out of hand
This toxic atmosphere is becoming unbearable
Virtue and wine cannot help you swim
Moral goodness and alcohol won't save you from drowning in your emotions
Pain and sorrow must come
Experiencing pain and sadness is inevitable
If you go
If you leave
It's the chemistry and the things we shouldn't do
Our attraction is based on chemistry and we know it's wrong
I am nothing without you
I feel incomplete and lost without you
Ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba
Musical interlude
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SONDRE LERCHE VAULAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertocatalancarvajal4384
come to chile!
@TaurusCurrie
Perfection!
@talitamilani8339
what is the lyrics for chorus? i cant find it anywhere
@nikobil
I asked the boss himself, and he answered!
It's just the attitude, or in fact, the lack of it
You are nothing without it
And it's the chemicals and the things we shouldn't do
I am nothing without you