Stina Nordenstam (born Kristina Ulrika Nordenstam on 4 March 1969 in Stockh… Read Full Bio ↴Stina Nordenstam (born Kristina Ulrika Nordenstam on 4 March 1969 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish singer, songwriter and musician.

In 1991, the year she released her first album Memories of a Colour, Nordenstam played at the Swedish parliament as part of the Year of Jazz. Her early work, including her second album, And She Closed Her Eyes, released in 1994, was significantly jazz-influenced, with only subtle elements of alternative rock. With 1997's Dynamite she started down a darker, more experimental path; most of the album was filled with processed, distorted electric guitars and unusual beats, but careful listening revealed her unique song-writing abilities.

An album of covers, People Are Strange, followed before she returned in 2001 with This Is Stina Nordenstam, an album with shorter songs and a more pop-like feel; ex-Suede vocalist Brett Anderson featured on two tracks. In 2003 Nordenstam appeared in a duet with Jonas Bjerre from Mew on Mew's third album Frengers, with a song called "Her Voice Is beyond Her Years". Between 2003 and 2004 she made the Swedish radio-theatre series called The Fears of the Ice, about one of the first polar expeditions.

Her 2004 album, The World Is Saved, continues the path set on This Is..., but presents a more realised sound and acknowledges her earlier jazz influences more.

In addition to being a musician, Nordenstam also works in other fields, such as photography and music-video directing.

Slightly reclusive, she gives very few interviews, rarely performs live and even alters her appearance using wigs and make-up for album covers and magazines. During the promotion for The World Is Saved, however, she gave more interviews than usual, and even talked about the possibility of future live performances.

In 2006, Nordenstam appeared on Snow Borne Sorrow, an album by the band Nine Horses, singing duets with the band's vocalist, David Sylvian.

125
Stina Nordenstam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We shut down the experiment
It had long gone out of hand
But the nation's funds were well spent
To the pride of modern man

One hundred and twenty-five has crossed the channel
It's the finest thing man made
And existence as we know it

Has reached another grade

We broke the code of meaning
Those who knew got paranoid
But we'll use our finest scientists
To get back in control

One hundred and twenty-five has crossed the channel
Our proud and giant bird
Gliding like a condor
Above the simple earth

One hundred and twenty-five has crossed the channel
It's the finest thing man made

And existence as we know it
Has reached another grade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stina Nordenstam's song "125" are open to interpretation, but on the surface they seem to describe the testing of a new technology that has gone awry. The experiment has been shut down because it has become uncontrollable, but the funding that was used to build it is seen as a success by those in power. The lyrics mention that the technology has been able to cross the channel, which may suggest that it is a transportation device of some kind. It is 'the finest thing man made,' and has reached a new level of existence compared to what was previously possible.

The lyrics also mention the 'code of meaning' being broken, which may refer to the knowledge that has been gained through the experiment. Those who knew what was happening became paranoid, perhaps because they were aware of the potential dangers. However, the song ends on a positive note, with the idea that the 'finest scientists' will be able to regain control. The idea of a 'giant bird' gliding above the earth also suggests that the technology is something grand and majestic.

Overall, the lyrics to "125" explore the idea of progress and experimentation, with both positive and negative outcomes. The idea of creating something new and innovative is framed as a source of pride, but there is also a sense of caution and awareness of the potential consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

We shut down the experiment
We ceased the operation of the experiment

It had long gone out of hand
It was no longer under control and had become a problem

But the nation's funds were well spent
The financial resources of the country were utilized efficiently

To the pride of modern man
This achievement was a source of pride for the people of this era

One hundred and twenty-five has crossed the channel
The train named 'One hundred and twenty-five' has crossed the channel

It's the finest thing man made
This train is considered as the best creation of mankind

And existence as we know it
Life as we experience it

Has reached another grade
Has advanced to the next level

We broke the code of meaning
We deciphered the hidden message

Those who knew got paranoid
People who were aware of it became fearful and anxious

But we'll use our finest scientists
We will employ our best scientists