Upon recording a few songs at a local studio, she decided to send the demos to three record companies, with no special expectations. Soon Sony Sweden gave her a phone call and offered her a record deal. At this stage, she had never played in front of an audience. Sophie started to record her self-titled debut album in 1995. The album was produced and arranged by Lars Halapi, a long time collaborator who has subsequently worked on all her material.
She was awarded a Grammy at the Swedish Grammy awards as Best Newcomer in 1995, she was also nominated for Best Female Pop Singer. Her album managed Gold status both in Sweden and Japan. After promoting her debut in the US, she finally started to work on her new album in the Autumn of 1997. This second effort entitled Precious Burden came the following year. Since the turbulence of the first album release, Zelmani has started saying no to interviews and only embarks on tour for short periods of time.
The third, fourth and fifth albums, Time to Kill (1999), Sing and Dance (2002) and Love Affair (2003) quickly followed. Ten years after her debut she released a best-of album titled A Decade Of Dreams which also included two new tracks.
Further albums released after this 'best of' are: Memory Loves You (2007), The Ocean and Me (2008), I'm The Rain, (2010), Soul (2011).
Zelmani has also contributed music to the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek". Her cover of Bob Dylan's "Most Of The Time" appears on the soundtrack to "Masked and Anonymous", and also on the album Cohen - The Scandinavian Report.
Her song "Stand By" appeared in the film "Independence Day" (1996). Her song "Always You" appeared in the film "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997).
Always You
Sophie Zelmani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wasn't the breezes,
Wasn't the white sands,
I might not be needed.
If I could sleep through the coal mines,
If I could breathe through hatred,
If I could, work through the summer,
Oh you, it's always you,
It's always you.
If red roses weren't so lovely,
Wine didn't taste so good,
Stars weren't so romantic,
Then I could do what I should.
Oh you, it's always you,
It's always you.
Oh you, it's always you,
It's always you
If you love, I could command it,
Get your head, to understand it,
I'd go twice, around the world,
Even though, I may not find it.
Oh you, it's always you,
It's always you.
You, it's always you,
It's always you.
The song "Always You" by Sophie Zelmani is a song about the power of love and how it can make even the most difficult of circumstances bearable. The singer is reflecting on how much she needs her love, and how without them, the world would be a much more difficult place. The opening lines set the tone by suggesting that the beauty of the natural world, from the oceans to the white sands, is not enough to sustain her. She needs her love just as much as she needs the air to breathe.
The second verse is even more powerful, as the singer imagines a world where she has to work through difficult and painful circumstances without the support of her love. She imagines sleeping through the coal mines and breathing through hatred, but acknowledges that without her love by her side, she would feel much more vulnerable and humble. The chorus reinforces this idea, with the repeated line "It's always you" suggesting that no matter what else is happening in her life, her love is always at the center.
The final verse offers a more optimistic perspective, as the singer reflects on how her love makes her feel invincible. She could command love if that were possible, and would go anywhere in the world to find it. The final repetition of the chorus cements the idea that love is the most powerful force in the singer's life and that their love is a constant and necessary presence.
Line by Line Meaning
If it wasn't the oceans,
If the earth's oceans did not exist,
Wasn't the breezes,
If the wind did not exist,
Wasn't the white sands,
If the sandy beaches were not there,
I might not be needed.
I might not feel important or necessary in this world.
If I could sleep through the coal mines,
If I could rest peacefully through the harsh and unforgiving conditions of coal mining,
If I could breathe through hatred,
If I could withstand and overcome hate and its destructive effects,
If I could, work through the summer,
If I could endure and persist through the difficulties of summertime,
Then I wouldn't feel so humble,
Then I wouldn't feel so insignificant or modest.
Oh you, it's always you,
Oh, it is always because of you,
If red roses weren't so lovely,
If red roses were not so beautiful,
Wine didn't taste so good,
If wine was not so enjoyable to taste,
Stars weren't so romantic,
If the stars in the sky were less romantic,
Then I could do what I should.
Then I could act according to what I know is right.
If you love, I could command it,
If you love me, I could control it,
Get your head, to understand it,
Help you understand my feelings,
I'd go twice, around the world,
I would travel the world's circumference twice,
Even though, I may not find it.
Although I may not find what I am looking for.
You, it's always you,
You, it is always because of you,
It's always you.
It is always because of you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LARS HALAPI, QUINT STARKIE, SOPHIE ZELMANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@myliferomance8470
If it wasn't the ocean
Wasn't the breezes
Wasn't the white sand
There might be no need
If I could sleep through the cool nights
If I could breathe and eat right
If I had worked all summer
Maybe I wouldn't feel so humble
Oh you, it's always you
It's always you
If red roses weren't so lovely
If wine didn't taste so good
If stars weren't so romantic
Then I could do what I should
Oh you, it's always you
It's always you
If your love I could command it
Get your head to understand it
I'd go twice around the world
Even though I wouldn't find it
@lisadee1623
We chose this as our wedding song 20+ years ago and we still love it. Thanks Sophie.
@ayoubnemri3312
I remember that beautiful summer day i discovered your music, was chilling at my grandparents house after noon and it was a tradition that the family/neighbourhood takes a nap in the afternoon back on those days, Was scrolling on youtube searching good music as always and i stumbled by your name that sounded pretty moroccan, clicked on that particular song, everything was silent around suddenly like your sound catched the silence and made a harmony out of it, my ears were sipping from some real moments of audible joy, thank you so much sophie. Im always cherishing your art with people that seeks beauty in the sound, im proud of you and hope we get to meet and talk music someday. ♡
@OmarOmar-pf9dr
ديما مغرب
@mrjallo9912
Her surname is actually Russian. She changed from Edkvist to Zelmani, her grandfather’s name (originally Zellmani). So the video was recorded in Morocco? As a child, I wanted so badly to go there, to Morocco and Yokohama (the city was mentioned in a Swedish children's song). Guess it’s not to late.
@emporergrimes
it was because she's hot.
@jfg351
C'est très beau
@melissabrazil3549
La belle époque la belle musique
@CrisSpenner
❤❤❤pure love, beauty and feelings ❤❤❤ the singer is so gorgeous and her voice, so wonderful ❤❤❤ I can't stop listening...LOVE IT!!❤❤
@piyushmalyan2174
It’s always you ❤
@nikoladajlani2099
Nostalgji e shpirtit,e zemres ,vertet nje kenge e nje Zemre ne Dashuri ❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹!!!!!!❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️