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).
Ready
Sophie Zelmani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tied to the dock and waits for me
Older than it appears to be
Saving one last trip for me
Roughly treated with a broken pole
For love only it’s been sold
Saw the leak under the surface and
I’m ready to head off with you
My love just had enough
Only one owner from giving up
But a shipwreck can’t in love be done
In summer air and under a dying sun
I’m ready to head off with you
Who knows how long our love will last
I come from a dream and it from the past
Who knows what it will do to me
When ropes are loosed and waters free
In the song "Ready", Sophie Zelmani talks about new love and compares it to an old ship that awaits a new voyage. The ship symbolizes the love that seems to have been around for a long time but is still strong enough to take on a new adventure. The singer describes the ship as "older than it appears to be" which probably means that the love is more mature than it outwardly seems. It has also been "roughly treated with a broken pole" which shows that the journey hasn't been smooth, but it still perseveres. The singer has made the decision to start afresh with her new love, and the ship is ready to set sail with them, "saving one last trip for me".
Sophie Zelmani uses the imagery of a ship to create a beautiful metaphor for love. The ship is an inanimate object, but it becomes a symbol of hope, resilience, and new beginnings. The song talks about the uncertainties of love, and the fact that no one knows how long it will last, but the singer is still willing to take the leap of faith and start something new. There is a sense of adventure in the song, a sense of excitement that comes from exploring new territories, both in love and in life.
Line by Line Meaning
My new love is you see
I have found a new love, and it is you.
Tied to the dock and waits for me
This love has been patiently waiting for me, like a ship anchored to the dock waiting to sail.
Older than it appears to be
This love has been around longer than it seems, perhaps hidden or unrecognized before now.
Saving one last trip for me
This love has been reserved for me, and there is one final journey or adventure we will take together.
Roughly treated with a broken pole
This love has been mistreated and damaged, like a ship with a broken pole.
For love only it’s been sold
Despite its damage, this love has only been sold for the sake of love itself.
Saw the leak under the surface and
Despite appearances, this love has recognized and addressed its flaws and leaks.
Said hold on we will sail again
This love is determined to keep going, to sail again despite setbacks and difficulties.
I’m ready to head off with you
I am eager and prepared to embark on this journey of love with you.
My love just had enough
This love has endured its fair share of struggles and is ready to move forward.
Only one owner from giving up
Despite its difficulties, this love has only had one owner and has not been given up on.
But a shipwreck can’t in love be done
Even though it has been damaged, this love cannot be completely destroyed or lost.
In summer air and under a dying sun
Perhaps in the midst of beauty and warmth, but with a sense of finality and impermanence, this love will persist.
Who knows how long our love will last
The future of this love is unknown and unpredictable.
I come from a dream and it from the past
This love may have roots in past experiences or memories, and it feels almost like a dream come true.
Who knows what it will do to me
This love has the potential to change and shape me in ways that are impossible to predict or control.
When ropes are loosed and waters free
When we finally let go of our attachments and are free to move forward, this love will truly be able to flourish.
Contributed by Henry B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.