Her independently released second album "Monday's Ghost" (2008) stayed at the top of the swiss charts for several weeks and caught the attention of critics abroad. The Guardian described her as "Laura Marling, Beth Orton and Björk in one folk-rocking package".
The Swiss singer spent parts of her youth abroad, living in England and Germany. Her cosmopolitan biography is reflected in her multilingual songwriting. While most songs are in English or German language, each album contains one song in a Swiss German dialect. Her third studio album 1983 (2010) also includes a cover version of Noir Désir's Le Vent Nous Portera in French language.
Hunger has always worked in a collaborative spirit, and her many musical interests have led her to a fascinating geographic and personality mix. While she had recorded her solo début "Sketches On Sea" at home in just a few days, her latest album "The Danger Of Light" evolved over three sessions abroad. In Los Angeles she was joined by Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, PJ Harvey), Nathaniel Walcott (Bright Eyes) and Steven Nistor (Danger Mouse); in Montréal Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire), singer/songwriter Mark Bérubé, Brad Barr (The Barr Brothers) und David Payant (A Silver Mt. Zion) jammed along. That last session from Hotel2Tango-Studio in Montréal is included on the Deluxe Edition of her latest release.
Rapidly gaining a reputation as an electrifying live performer, Hunger has been sharing stages with some of Switzerlands’s most successful artists, like Erik Truffaz, The Young Gods, Kutti MC or Stephan Eicher and appearing at locations such as Olympia in Paris, Miles Davis Hall at the Montreux Jazz Festival or the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury Festival.
The musical directions of Sophie Hunger are limitless, from traditional folk songwriting bathed in jazzy moods to soul balladry. Her musical universe is very flourished, nourished by an exceptionally fragile yet mature voice as well as an ability to cross genres. For Sketches On Sea, she collaborated with a great number of musicians, from a trombone player to a flamenco guitarist. Sophie’s technical prowesses can lead her anywhere and allow her to do things that nobody else could get away with.
Sophie Hunger also contributed the soundtrack to the documentary "Zimmer 202" and the movie "Der Freund" by Micha Lewinsky.
Sites: SoundCloud, Vimeo and Facebook.
D'Red
Sophie Hunger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
U kennä ke Affäkt
I bruche dini Rose
Aber ha so viu Respäkt
So winki dä Matrose
Sie si immer nöi
Wär o gärn nöi gebore
I ha gar nüt z´säge hie
Drum frag etzt nüme na
I ha gar nüt z´sage hie
O wenn du meinsch das i das cha
Zwüsche hie u jetzt liet
Aus wo nid isch worde
Zwüsche hie u jetzt liet
Aus wo nid isch gsi
Frag nid nach mim Wahre
La mir so viu Würd
Aues het u het kei Sinn
I wet dir so viu sägä hie
Drum frag u la nid los
I wet dir so viu säg hie
Frag u la nid los
The lyrics of Sophie Hunger's song D'Red convey a sense of introspection, contemplation and uncertainty. The opening verse "I ha aui Prognose, U kennä ke Affäkt, I bruche dini Rose, Aber ha so viu Respäkt" roughly translates to "I have all the predictions but no effect, I need your rose but I have so much respect". These lines suggest that the singer has all the information about what's going on but lacks the ability to make a meaningful impact, necessitating the need for something beautiful and calming, notably a rose, to soothe their worries.
The second verse then talks about a sailor who is always looking for something new, which he hopes will cure his ennui. Though it's not clear why this is important, it suggests that the singer is searching for meaning or novelty, something harder to achieve than they had assumed. The chorus "I ha gar nüt z'säge hie, Drum frag etzt nüme na, I ha gar nüt z'sage hie, O wenn du meinsch das i das cha," continually reiterates that the singer does not have much to say, even if it's asked of them. There is one more verse, further reinforcing the idea that the singer is searching for something and struggling with what they should say, yet they still have nothing concrete.
Overall, the song appears to be about uncertainty, searching, a sense of the transitional nature of things, and fearing that one may not have much to show even though they have all the potential. It's a song about the struggle to be oneself, even if one doesn't know who that is yet.
Line by Line Meaning
I ha aui Prognose
I have all the predictions
U kennä ke Affäkt
And you can't affect them
I bruche dini Rose
I need your rose
Aber ha so viu Respäkt
But I have so much respect
So winki dä Matrose
So the sailor is waving
Sie si immer nöi
He is always new
Wär o gärn nöi gebore
Who would like to be born again
Gedankelos allei
Thoughtless and alone
I ha gar nüt z'säge hie
I have nothing to say here
Drum frag etzt nüme na
So don't ask me now
O wenn du meinsch das i das cha
Even if you think I can
Zwüsche hie u jetzt liet
Between here and now lies
Aus wo nid isch worde
Where it hasn't become
Zwüsche hie u jetzt liet
Between here and now lies
Aus wo nid isch gsi
Where it hasn't been
Frag nid nach mim Wahre
Don't ask for my truth
La mir so viu Würd
Let us have dignity
Aues het u het kei Sinn
Everything has and hasn't a meaning
I wet dir so viu sägä hie
I want to tell you so much here
Drum frag u la nid los
So don't ask and don't let go
I wet dir so viu säg hie
I want to tell you so much here
Contributed by Penelope Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shaggasonnofdulf
I have all prognoses I dont know any affect
I need your roses but
have so much respect
So I wave at the seamen.
they are always new
Would also gladly been born newly
Thoughtslessly alone
I dont have to say much here
So dont ask again
I dont have to say much here
Althought you think that I can do so
Between here and now lies everthing that didnt come true.
Between here and now lyies everthing that wasnt meant to be
Dont ask for my true self
Let me as much dignity
Everthing has and has no sense
I want to tell you so much here therefore ask and dont let go.
I want to tell you so much here therefore ask and dont let go.
@Kezartik
Unfortunately i don't speak german and not even swiss-german... but this song goes to the deepest place in my heart. So it is because of this kind of situation that i say that music has no boundaries. May music unite us all. Peace from Dominican Republic.
@chileanseataji4205
Greetings from Chile amigo mio :)
@onetrickpony2236
Same here. It makes me cry whenever I listen to it and whatever mood I am in. It`s beautiful. I am German, only understand half of what she sings - but no need to search for the lyrics, it works without.
@blimao86
I don't speak German either and I agree...this music is just so gorgeous. When you can't understand the meaning of what is spoken, Sophie's voice just becomes another instrument and a most elegant, tenured one at that! Bravo from the United States!
@marcjanssens4248
Grâce, talent, intelligence, chaleur de la voix ; que demander de plus ? Et une interprétation de "Ne me quitte pas" de Brel, que le maître lui-même n'aurait pas reniée ...
@chileanseataji4205
Sigo a Sophie hace 10 años, es tan talentosa e infravalorada... saludos desde Chile
@emmaa6837
FINALLY I found this song again After years of search ✨
@lioneldupas
Comment ne pas aimer Sophie Hunger ? Les fées se sont penchées sur son berceau et lui ont tout donné : le talent, la voix, le charme.
@walessoninacio6232
Simples e sofisticado, perfeito os detalhes dos acordes vocais
@laurencedoyon223
superbe voix! musique parfaite! wow merci