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.
Everyone Else in the World
Stina Nordenstam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You have to close your eyes
And when I'm finished
I don't believe you can call
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you
False promises of love
Still promise love
You'll get what you want
When you just want what you get
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
But not you
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you
In the song "Everyone Else in the World" by Stina Nordenstam, we can recognize the desire for a sincere relationship that has been broken before. In the first verse, she talks about how the other person has to stand still and close their eyes, possibly indicating that the relationship requires particular attention and needs to be nurtured. The second verse shows the singer feeling neglected and abandoned by everyone else in the world but not the person she's addressing. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing that she is aware of being abandoned by others, but not by this person.
The bridge of the song is particularly interesting because it describes the false promises of love, and how it happens when people promise someone they love them, but they don't mean it. This part is vital as it underlines the fact the singer is looking for something genuine and sincere.
The entire song seems to say how much the singer values this person for being true and sincere, indicating a past full of broken promises of love. She appreciates the fact that the person she's addressing has been there all the while, while everyone else has failed to provide her with a stable, wholesome relationship. The contrasts of her experiences with the person she's addressing and that of everyone else she's encountered create a sense of gratitude, knowing that despite the past relationships' failure, this one is still standing and genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
You have to stand perfectly still
You need to be motionless
You have to close your eyes
You must shut your eyes
And when I'm finished
After I'm done
I don't believe you can call
I doubt you can reach out
Everyone else in the world
All the other people across the globe
Who left me by now
Who abandoned me already
Who left me from day one
Who deserted me from the beginning
But not you
Except for you
Everyone else in the world
All the other people across the globe
Who left me by now
Who abandoned me already
Who left me in a crowd
Who deserted me in a group
But not you
Except for you
False promises of love
Insincere declarations of affection
Still promise love
Still declare love
You'll get what you want
You'll have what you desire
When you just want what you get
When you merely desire what you possess
Everyone else in the world
All the other people across the globe
Who left me by now
Who abandoned me already
Who left me from day one
Who deserted me from the beginning
But not you
Except for you
Everyone else in the world
All the other people across the globe
Who left me by now
Who abandoned me already
Who left me in a crowd
Who deserted me in a group
But not you
Except for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STINA NORDENSTAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maggiepuput6910
You have to stand perfectly still
You have to close your eyes
And when I'm finished
I don't believe you can call
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
But not you
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you
False promises of love
Still promise love
You'll get what you want
When you just want what you get
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
But not you
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you
@dmrballer10
this made me cry..... my mother was an alchohalic and took too many pills. she accidentally overdosed and passed away the second week of my freshman year of highschool. I found her on the ground when I got home from school. I dont know why I am sharing this. but if you are watching this video...just know, that reality is just as hard as this portrays. be good to yourself for children. do not forsake them.
@clumsiii
Me too - I always thought this was a love song...but my mom drank herself to death too. Omg it never goes away stina you genius
@lepantspants5058
Sorry to hear.
@madrereus16
Stina music is always so touching, cruel and yet so beautiful. Sometimes you just can't stand such levels of reality in her lyrics, then she shows up a video that is even stronger and you feel shot right in your heart.
@Cornishman
Yes,its an official video / film. Independiente/ Stina commissioned various film-makers to create a film for each song from the 'This Is Stina Nordensatm' album on a budget of £5k per film. They certainly got their moneys worth with this very moving film. Very moving song too.
@eklund8
I showed this video the other day to one of my coworkers. She watched it on her computer and listened to the song and afterwards she said: "This does not feel good at all..." and tears formed in her eyes. That is proof of how powerful Stina Nordenstams music is.
@EnautP
I LOVE to see her getting in the light when she opens the door in the end! There is always hope.
@Jonrobbie74
first heard her in 95, her music would lull me to sleep, in a good way! Her voice is so hypnotic
@aprilnicole3071
Thank you for writing this, Stina... It is so very moving.
@maggiepuput6910
You have to stand perfectly still
You have to close your eyes
And when I'm finished
I don't believe you can call
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
But not you
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you
False promises of love
Still promise love
You'll get what you want
When you just want what you get
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me from day one
But not you
Everyone else in the world
Who left me by now
Who left me in a crowd
But not you