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).
Maja's Song
Sophie Zelmani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said the hard man from above
I made you to a giver and a savor
But also to a loser of love
Made your heart big enough to carry
Every kind of pain
I made you to a dream for marriage
I gave your eyes the color of an ocean
Where anybody could drown
I'd swear an oath on your sterling friendship
But I will always let you down
In storms and rain, it's hard to light the candle
And I'm sorry when it's snowing on his stone
The gravel-walk's so familiar with your footsteps
That's a sound that could make me leave the throne
"I couldn't lend him to you forever"
Said the hard man from above
The opening lines of Sophie Zelmani’s Maja’s Song express the harsh reality of the impermanence of everything in this world. The song is a tribute to someone close who has passed away, and the singer is addressing their spirit. The "hard man from above" refers to God, who couldn't allow the deceased to stay in the world forever. The deceased was a giver and a savior, but also someone who experienced heartbreak and loss in love. Despite the pain that comes with it, the singer explains that the deceased's heart was made big enough to bear all kinds of pain. They were created with dreams of marriage and love, but at the same time, it was as if they were meant to be drained of their love by the world's cruel realities.
The song then explores the power of memories and the impact that they can have even after someone has passed away. The color of the deceased's eyes is compared to an ocean, which is vast and deep enough to drown in, and may represent the multitude of emotions that they carried within them. The singer is aware of the deep connection that they shared with the deceased and swears on their “sterling friendship,” but also acknowledges their own limitations to uphold those promises. The winter snow reminds the singer of the deceased’s grave, and even the sound of the footstep on the gravel walk is enough to make the singer feel like leaving their throne. The song ends on a bitter note, with the singer reminding the deceased that they couldn't have stayed forever, though it is clear they wish they had.
Line by Line Meaning
Couldn't lend him to you forever
The singer acknowledges that they were not able to give the person that the listener wanted indefinitely.
Said the hard man from above
The singer is implying that they are a higher power or spirit and that the decision was beyond their control.
I made you to a giver and a savor
The singer created the listener to be kind and generous to others, always trying to help and make others happy.
But also to a loser of love
The artist designated the listener to be someone who will not find easily everlasting love despite their good intentions.
Made your heart big enough to carry
The artist gave the listener a generous heart capable of handling life's struggles.
Every kind of pain
The listener has the ability to empathize and feel others' pain and suffering.
I made you to a dream for marriage
The singer created the listener to desire and long for a happy and committed relationship.
But also to someone I must drain
The artist also designed the listener to have a difficult time maintaining long-term relationships, which results in pain and heartache.
I gave your eyes the color of an ocean
The artist gave the listener beautiful and enchanting eyes, radiating a sense of calm, but also full of depth and intensity.
Where anybody could drown
The artist implies that the listener's eyes are powerful enough to delve into people's emotions, eventually overwhelming them.
I'd swear an oath on your sterling friendship
The singer values the listener's friendship and vows to preserve and honor it.
But I will always let you down
Despite the artist's best intentions, they will inevitably disappoint and fail the listener.
In storms and rain, it's hard to light the candle
During difficult times, it is challenging to maintain hope and keep going.
And I'm sorry when it's snowing on his stone
The singer feels remorseful and guilty when thinking about the listener's past relationships and heartache.
The gravel-walk's so familiar with your footsteps
The singer is familiar with the listener's struggles and pain, having seen and heard them firsthand.
That's a sound that could make me leave the throne
The artist is figuratively sitting on a throne, implying that they are powerful and in control. However, the sound of the listener's footsteps on the path would be enough to make them step down and join the listener on their journey.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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