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.
Circus
Stina Nordenstam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an acrobat
And make my way to
What's there
I will get dressed
Again, in spite of all
With a laziness
Of a circus
As I'm walking down the many stairs
Remembering my stunts all over
Remembering I'm sick and like to die
I will be
The only not mad woman in the park
I will be
What's left of longing on this earth
It took two weeks to lead up to this agony
The time without you is so slow
And thirty years to spot the enemy
I was not prepared to let you go
I will be
The only not mad woman in the park
I will be
What's left of longing on this earth
In Stina Nordenstam's song Circus, the singer seems to be preparing herself for a difficult task, comparing it to that of an acrobat's performance. She speaks of getting dressed, seemingly for the performance, despite her laziness, which she likens to that of a circus. She then reflects on memories of her past stunts and her current struggle with illness, noting that she will be the only "not mad" woman in the park. This may suggest that the singer feels disconnected from the people around her or that she is struggling with some sort of mental health issue.
The second half of the song shifts to a more reflective tone, as the singer remembers the pain of losing someone she loved. She characterizes this pain as "agony" and notes that it took two weeks to lead up to it. Despite the passage of time, she still feels the effects of that loss, as evidenced by her observation that it has taken thirty years to "spot the enemy" - perhaps meaning that she has only recently come to understand a situation that caused her great pain. The song ends with the singer again emphasizing her feeling of being alone, describing herself as "what's left of longing on this earth."
Overall, the lyrics to Circus are introspective and melancholy, with the comparisons to circus performers and the mention of illness and loss creating a sense of high emotion and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
Tomorrow I will stretch out
Tomorrow, I will try my best to reach new heights
Like an acrobat
Just like an acrobat who performs extraordinary feats, I will try to do the impossible
And make my way to
I'll find my way over to where I need to be
What's there
Whatever is there, I will face it with courage
I will get dressed
I'll dress myself up for the occasion
Again, in spite of all
Despite my struggles, I will keep going
With a laziness
I will move with a sense of ease, like a performer in a circus, although I feel weary
Of a circus
I'll keep moving forward, no matter how tiring it is, just like a circus performer
Before or after the performance
Whether I'm preparing for a task or winding down after having done it, I'll keep persevering
As I'm walking down the many stairs
As I go through the ups and downs of life, I'll reflect on my experiences
Remembering my stunts all over
I'll think back to the daring feats I have accomplished in the past
Remembering I'm sick and like to die
Despite feeling overwhelmed by illness and despair, I'll try to carry on
I will be
I am determined to be
The only not mad woman in the park
Although I may feel like the only sane person amidst all the chaos around me, I'll persevere
I will be
I am determined to be
What's left of longing on this earth
I am the embodiment of desire, a living reminder of longing and longing's power
It took two weeks to lead up to this agony
I have been through so much pain and suffering to get to where I am now
The time without you is so slow
The days I spend away from you drag on painfully slowly
And thirty years to spot the enemy
It took me decades to recognize my adversary; to recognize the things that are holding me back
I was not prepared to let you go
I never imagined how difficult it would be for me to lose you
I will be
I am determined to be
The only not mad woman in the park
Although I may feel like the only sane person amidst all the chaos around me, I'll persevere
I will be
I am determined to be
What's left of longing on this earth
I am the embodiment of desire, a living reminder of longing and longing's power
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STINA NORDENSTAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sirvidia
What a pleasure to see this