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.
what it is
Sophie Hunger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's way down in the mud
It's not something that I said
It's something in my blood
It's up above my head
It's somewhere in my kidney
Somewhere in my red
It's out there and it's in me
I don't know what it is
I don't know what it is
I don't know what it is
But it's all that I have
It's not the bones under your skin
Not the spelling of your name
It's not the things you take inside before the rain
It's not the shot of your gun
Or the sugar in your cane
It's not the tickets to the plays that you have seen
It's not the reflection in the mirror
Not the shining of your silver
Not the most important things you think you've done
And no, it's not what you have cancelled
Not the calls you didn't answer
It'll still be there when you are long time gone
I don't know what it is
I don't know what it is
I don't know what it is
But it's all that I have
It's up above my head
It's always and it's never
It's me that's part of it
A second in forever
In Sophie Hunger's song "What It Is," the singer explores the concept of something intangible that exists both outside and within us. The lyrics repeat the phrase "I don't know what it is" throughout the song, emphasizing the ambiguity of this mysterious force. It's described as being "up above my head" and "way down in the mud," indicating that it has no fixed location or form. The lyrics also suggest that this force is all-encompassing, as it's "always and it's never" and "me that's part of it, a second in forever."
Hunger implies that this force is more significant than material possessions or accomplishments through lines such as "not the most important things you think you've done" and "it'll still be there when you are long-time gone." By the end of the song, the singer seems to accept that this force may be beyond comprehension and even goes so far as to claim that it's "all that I have."
Overall, "What It Is" is a reflective and introspective song that encourages listeners to think about the intangible aspects of life that are often overlooked.
Line by Line Meaning
It's up above my head
It's beyond my comprehension
It's way down in the mud
It's gritty and difficult to grasp
It's not something that I said
It's intangible and cannot be communicated
It's something in my blood
It's ingrained within me
It's up above my head
It's beyond my comprehension
It's somewhere in my kidney
It's in the core of my being
Somewhere in my red
It's in my life force
It's out there and it's in me
It's both external and internal
I don't know what it is
I lack the understanding of it
But it's all that I have
It's my only possession
It's not the bones under your skin
It's not your physical body
Not the spelling of your name
It's not your identity
It's not the things you take inside before the rain
It's not your belongings or possessions
It's not the shot of your gun
It's not violence or aggression
Or the sugar in your cane
It's not your comfort or pleasures
It's not the tickets to the plays that you have seen
It's not your experiences or entertainment
It's not the reflection in the mirror
It's not your physical appearance
Not the shining of your silver
It's not your material wealth
Not the most important things you think you've done
It's not your achievements or accomplishments
And no, it's not what you have cancelled
It's not your mistakes or regrets
Not the calls you didn't answer
It's not your missed opportunities or failures
It'll still be there when you are long time gone
It will always exist, even after death
It's always and it's never
It's both constant and elusive
It's me that's part of it
It's an integral part of me
A second in forever
It's a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mehreen Khan
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The Wind will carry us
I'm not afraid of the journey
We have to see it; we have to taste it
The meanders in the small of the back
All will be well there
The wind will carry us
Your message to The Great Bear
And course the path takes
A moment of softness
Even if it's good for nothing, goes
The wind will take it away
All will disappear but
The wind will carry us
Caresses and hails of bullets
And this wound that tears us apart
A palace of other days
Of yesterday and tomorrow
The wind will carry them
Bound by genetics
Chromosomes in the atmosphere
Taxis for the galaxies
And my flying carpet says?
The wind will carry it away
All will disappear but
The wind will carry us
The sweet smell of yester years
that might knock at your door
An infinity of destinies
We suggest one, but can we keep it?
The wind will take it away
Whilst the tide rises
And as we count our dues
I take into my hollow shadow
Some of your dust
The wind carries it
All will disappear but
The wind will carry us....
Yasmin K
Je n'ai pas peur de la route
Faudrait voir, faut qu'on y goûte
Des méandres au creux des reins
Et tout ira bien
Le vent l'emportera
Ton message à la grande ourse
Et la trajectoire de la course
A l'instantané de velours
Même s'il ne sert à rien
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent nous portera
La caresse et la mitraille
Cette plaie qui nous tiraille
Le palais des autres jours
D'hier et demain
Le vent les portera
Génétique en bandoulière
Des chromosomes dans l'atmosphère
Des taxis pour les galaxies
Et mon tapis volant dis?
Ce parfum de nos années mortes
Ceux qui peuvent frapper à ta porte
Infinité de destin
On en pose un, qu'est-ce qu'on en retient?
Le vent l'emportera
Pendant que la marée monte
Et que chacun refait ses comptes
J'emmène au creux de mon ombre
Des poussières de toi
Bi susar mısın
Je n'ai pas peur de la route
Faudrait voir, faut qu'on y goûte
Des méandres au creux des reins
Et tout ira bien
Le vent nous portera
Ton message à la Grande Ourse
Et la trajectoire de la course
Un instantané de velours
Même s'il ne sert à rien,
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent nous portera
La caresse et la mitraille
Et cette plaie qui nous tiraille
Le palais des autres jours
D'hier et demain
Le vent les portera
Génétique en bandoulière
Des chromosomes dans l'atmosphère
Des taxis pour les galaxies
Et mon tapis volant
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent nous portera
Ce parfum de nos années mortes
Ce qui peut frapper à ta porte
L'infinité de destins
On en pose un et qu'est-ce qu'on en retient?
Le vent l'emportera
Pendant que la marée monte
Et que chacun refait ses comptes
J'emmène au creux de mon ombre
Des poussières de toi
Le vent les portera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent nous portera
isabellule1
Je n'ai pas peur de la route
Faut la voir, faut qu'on y goûte
Des méandres au creux des reins
Et tout ira bien
Le vent l'emportera
Ton message à la grande ourse
Et la trajectoire de la course
A l'instantané de velours
Même s'il ne sert à rien
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent l'emportera
La caresse et la mitraille
Cette plaie qui nous tiraille
Le palais des autres jours
D'hier et de demain
Le vent les portera
Génétique en bandoulière
Des chromosomes dans l'atmosphère
Des taxis pour les galaxies
Et mon tapis volant ?
Le vent l' emportera
Tout disparaitra
Le vent nous portera
Ces parfums de nos années mortes
Ceux qui peuvent frapper à ta porte
Infinité de destin
On en pose un,et qu'est-ce qu'on en retient?
Le vent l'emportera
Pendant que la marée monte
Et que chacun refait ses comptes
J'amène au creux de mon ombre
Des poussières de toi
Le vent les portera
Tout disparaitra
Le vent l'emportera
Louise
Paroles :
Je n'ai pas peur de la route
Faudrait voir, faut qu'on y goûte
Des méandres au creux des reins
Et... tout ira bien...
Le vent l'emportera
Ton message à la grande ourse
Et la trajectoire de la course
A l'instantané de velours
Même s'il ne sert à rien
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaîtra
Le vent nous portera
La caresse et la mitraille
Cette plaie qui nous tiraille
Le palais des autres jours
D'hier et demain
Le vent les portera
Génétique en bandoulière
Des chromosomes dans l'atmosphère
Des taxis pour les galaxies
Et mon tapis volant, (lui?)
Le vent l'emportera
Tout disparaitra
Le vent nous portera
...
Ce parfum de nos années mortes
Ceux qui peuvent frapper à ta porte
Infinité de destin
On en pose un, qu'est-ce qu'on en retient?
Le vent l'emportera
Pendant que la marée monte
Et que chacun fait ses comptes
J'emmène au creux de mon ombre
Des poussières de toi
vassiliki kaspiris
Θα μάς πάρει ο Άνεμος
Δε φοβάμαι το Ταξίδι
πρέπει να βλέπεις, να γεύεσαι
μαίανδροι στα κομμένα μας ήπατα
κι όλα θα πάνε καλά
Θα τα πάρει ο Άνεμος
Το μήνυμά σου στη Μεγάλη Άρκτο
κι η πορεία της διαδρομής
Μια βελούδινη στιγμή
Κι ας είναι άχρηστη
Θα την πάρει ο Άνεμος
Όλα θα χαθούν
Θα μάς πάρει ο Άνεμος
Το χάδι και το μυδράλλιο
Η πληγή που μας τυρρανά
Τ' αλλοτινά παλάτια
Τού χτες και τού αύριο
Θα τα πάρει ο Άνεμος
Γενετική τσέπης
Χρωμοσώματα στην ατμόσφαιρα
γαλαξιακά ταξί
Και το ιπτάμενό μου χαλί, για δες
Θα το πάρει ο Άνεμος
Όλα θα χαθούν
Θα μάς πάρει ο Άνεμος
Το άρωμα των νεκρών μας χρόνων
Όσα θα μάς χτυπήσουν την πόρτα
Τ' άπειρα πεπρωμένα μας
Επιλέγουμε ένα, και τί μένει;
Θα μάς πάρει ο Άνεμος
Καθώς η παλίρροια ανεβαίνει
κι όλοι ξαναμετρούν τα κουκκιά τους
κουβαλώ βαθιά μες στη σκιά μου
τις στάχτες σου
Θα τις πάρει ο Άνεμος
Όλα θα χαθούν
Θα μάς πάρει ο Άνεμος
Robin Karel
Lyrics translation:
I am not afraid of the journey,
We must see it, we must taste it,
The twists turn deep inside,
Everything is ok there,
The wind will carry us,
And the direction of the journey,
A moment of softness,
Even if it doesn't work,
The wind will take it away
Everything will disappear, but
The wind will carry us,
A caress and a bullet shower,
And this crust that attracts us,
The palace of another time,
From yesterday and tomorrow,
The wind will carry us,
Genetics connected,
Chromosomes in the atmosphere,
Taxis for galaxies,
And my flying carpet says?
The wind will take it away
Everything will disappear, but
The wind will carry us,
The scent of years gone by,
They can knock on your door,
An infinite destination,
We propose one, but can we keep it?
The wind will take it away
While the tide is rising,
And everyone counts his contribution,
I will take you to the depths of my shadow,
Your ashes
The wind will carry them,
Everything will disappear, but
The wind will carry us.
Bryan Irving
When you hear a song like this you appreciate the beauty of the French language even if you don't understand the words.
Zamansele Gabela
I heard this song at the end of a movie called The Life of Zucchini and I instantly fell in love. In quarantine all the way in South Africa. #AloneTogether
Bryan Irving
@Zamansele Gabela Yes, that's where I saw it. Somehow it was perfect for the movie. Keep well.
Zamansele Gabela
@Bryan Irving thank you
northern lights
true that! Xavier nadioo...i dont understand a word these artists are saying , but yeah,love love 0❤
patrick maillard
Hello Bryan, I am french and your words move me as I love french language especially in songs with artists as J. Brel, Barbara, J. Higelin, E. De Pretto and so many others. I also listen to much american singers such as J. Baez, Bob Dylan and all great americans bands from the 70' and 80'
I don't know where you are from, but your words make me feel that people all over this planet can share their culture and understand each other for a better future.
For me, you told words of HOPE. Thank you for that.
The song tells in a very poetic way about one's own way of living choice and self-confidence. I have a picture in mind like young grown ups in a squat talking about the way they will go tomorrow morning.
Originally sang by Noir Desir (Bertrand Cantat)
Cordially
Vaginetta McSnapper
This song is so hypnotizing and other-worldly. When I close my eyes and listen to this woman's angelic voice, I feel every hair on the back up my neck stand up. I don't even understand the words, but I feel them. I wish I understood French - it's such a beautiful language. It sounds so musical and magical and passionate.
1mp3rial
it's about an unrequited love, where one is addicted to the other, but the other is not as serious, but the former accepts it because addicted, and is not afraid, so even if it is useless, it doesn't matter because everything disappears in the end anyway, so "le vent nous portera": let the wind carry us - just go with the flow, for the moments of opportunity to be with the loved one.
Marie
It’s about death and about what remains of a life
Ede Moi
The song ist from Noir Désir.